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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
We discuss the valuation techniques and inputs we use to measure fair value and the definition of the three levels of the fair value hierarchy in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report.
RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASURES
The three tables below, by level within the fair value hierarchy, set forth our financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. We classify financial assets and liabilities in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities, and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. We have not changed the valuation techniques or types of inputs we use to measure recurring fair value during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.
The fair value of commodity derivative assets and liabilities is presented in accordance with our netting policy, as we discuss in Note 7 under “Financial Statement Presentation.”
The determination of fair values, shown in the tables below, incorporates various factors, including but not limited to, the credit standing of the counterparties involved and the impact of credit enhancements (such as cash deposits, letters of credit and priority interests).
Our financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 in the tables below include the following:
Nuclear decommissioning trusts reflect the assets of SDG&E’s NDT, excluding cash balances. A third party trustee values the trust assets using prices from a pricing service based on a market approach. We validate these prices by comparison to prices from other independent data sources. Securities are valued using quoted prices listed on nationally recognized securities exchanges or based on closing prices reported in the active market in which the identical security is traded (Level 1). Other securities are valued based on yields that are currently available for comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings (Level 2).
For commodity contracts, interest rate derivatives and foreign exchange instruments, we primarily use a market approach with market participant assumptions to value these derivatives. Market participant assumptions include those about risk, and the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation techniques. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated, or generally unobservable. We have exchange-traded derivatives that are valued based on quoted prices in active markets for the identical instruments (Level 1). We also may have other commodity derivatives that are valued using industry standard models that consider quoted forward prices for commodities, time value, current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, volatility factors, and other relevant economic measures (Level 2). Level 3 recurring items relate to CRRs and long-term, fixed-price electricity positions at SDG&E, as we discuss below in “Level 3 Information.”
Rabbi Trust investments include marketable securities that we value using a market approach based on closing prices reported in the active market in which the identical security is traded (Level 1). These investments in marketable securities were negligible at both September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
There were no transfers into or out of Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 for Sempra Energy Consolidated, SDG&E or SoCalGas during the periods presented.
RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASURES – SEMPRA ENERGY CONSOLIDATED
(Dollars in millions)
 
Fair value at September 30, 2017
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Netting(1)
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
503

 
$
5

 
$

 
$

 
$
508

Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government corporations and agencies
44

 
7

 

 

 
51

Municipal bonds

 
245

 

 

 
245

Other securities

 
210

 

 

 
210

Total debt securities
44

 
462

 

 

 
506

Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(2)
547

 
467

 

 

 
1,014

Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments

 
135

 

 

 
135

Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery
6

 
12

 

 
2

 
20

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery

 
2

 
122

 
16

 
140

Total
$
553

 
$
616

 
$
122

 
$
18

 
$
1,309

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments
$

 
$
194

 
$

 
$

 
$
194

Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery

 
4

 

 

 
4

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
23

 
7

 
159

 
(23
)
 
166

Total
$
23

 
$
205

 
$
159

 
$
(23
)
 
$
364

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value at December 31, 2016
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Netting(1)
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
508

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
508

Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government corporations and agencies
36

 
16

 

 

 
52

Municipal bonds

 
206

 

 

 
206

Other securities

 
141

 

 

 
141

Total debt securities
36

 
363

 

 

 
399

Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(2)
544

 
363

 

 

 
907

Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments

 
9

 

 

 
9

Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery

 
15

 

 
9

 
24

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
1

 
3

 
96

 
32

 
132

Total
$
545

 
$
390

 
$
96

 
$
41

 
$
1,072

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments
$

 
$
252

 
$

 
$

 
$
252

Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery
16

 
11

 

 
(17
)
 
10

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
19

 
8

 
170

 
(18
)
 
179

Total
$
35

 
$
271

 
$
170

 
$
(35
)
 
$
441

(1)
Includes the effect of the contractual ability to settle contracts under master netting agreements and with cash collateral, as well as cash collateral not offset.
(2)
Excludes cash balances and cash equivalents.
 
RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASURES – SDG&E
(Dollars in millions)
 
Fair value at September 30, 2017
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Netting(1)
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
503

 
$
5

 
$

 
$

 
$
508

Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government corporations and agencies
44

 
7

 

 

 
51

Municipal bonds

 
245

 

 

 
245

Other securities

 
210

 

 

 
210

Total debt securities
44

 
462

 

 

 
506

Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(2)
547

 
467

 

 

 
1,014

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery

 

 
122

 
15

 
137

Total
$
547

 
$
467

 
$
122

 
$
15

 
$
1,151

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate instruments
$

 
$
17

 
$

 
$

 
$
17

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
23

 
5

 
159

 
(23
)
 
164

Total
$
23

 
$
22

 
$
159

 
$
(23
)
 
$
181

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value at December 31, 2016
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Netting(1)
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
508

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
508

Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government corporations and agencies
36

 
16

 

 

 
52

Municipal bonds

 
206

 

 

 
206

Other securities

 
141

 

 

 
141

Total debt securities
36

 
363

 

 

 
399

Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(2)
544

 
363

 

 

 
907

Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery

 

 

 
1

 
1

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
1

 
2

 
96

 
30

 
129

Total
$
545

 
$
365

 
$
96

 
$
31

 
$
1,037

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate instruments
$

 
$
25

 
$

 
$

 
$
25

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
17

 
7

 
170

 
(16
)
 
178

Total
$
17

 
$
32

 
$
170

 
$
(16
)
 
$
203

(1)
Includes the effect of the contractual ability to settle contracts under master netting agreements and with cash collateral, as well as cash collateral not offset.
(2)
Excludes cash balances and cash equivalents.
 
RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASURES – SOCALGAS
(Dollars in millions)
 
Fair value at September 30, 2017
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Netting(1)
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
$

 
$
2

 
$

 
$
1

 
$
3

Total
$

 
$
2

 
$

 
$
1

 
$
3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
$

 
$
2

 
$

 
$

 
$
2

Total
$

 
$
2

 
$

 
$

 
$
2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value at December 31, 2016
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Netting(1)
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
1

 
$
1

Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery

 
1

 

 
2

 
3

Total
$

 
$
1

 
$

 
$
3

 
$
4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery
$
2

 
$
1

 
$

 
$
(2
)
 
$
1

Total
$
2

 
$
1

 
$

 
$
(2
)
 
$
1

(1)
Includes the effect of the contractual ability to settle contracts under master netting agreements and with cash collateral, as well as cash collateral not offset.
Level 3 Information
The following table sets forth reconciliations of changes in the fair value of CRRs and long-term, fixed-price electricity positions classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy for Sempra Energy Consolidated and SDG&E:
LEVEL 3 RECONCILIATIONS
(Dollars in millions)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
Balance at July 1
$
(90
)
 
$
24

Realized and unrealized gains (losses)
30

 
(145
)
Settlements
23

 
34

Balance at September 30
$
(37
)
 
$
(87
)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to
 
 
 
 instruments still held at September 30
$
38

 
$
(114
)
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
Balance at January 1
$
(74
)
 
$
19

Realized and unrealized gains (losses)
14

 
(138
)
Settlements
23

 
32

Balance at September 30
$
(37
)
 
$
(87
)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to
 
 
 
 instruments still held at September 30
$
26

 
$
(111
)

SDG&E’s Energy and Fuel Procurement department, in conjunction with SDG&E’s finance group, is responsible for determining the appropriate fair value methodologies used to value and classify CRRs and long-term, fixed-price electricity positions on an ongoing basis. Inputs used to determine the fair value of CRRs and fixed-price electricity positions are reviewed and compared with market conditions to determine reasonableness. SDG&E expects all costs related to these instruments to be recoverable through customer rates. As such, there is no impact to earnings from changes in the fair value of these instruments.
CRRs are recorded at fair value based almost entirely on the most current auction prices published by the CAISO, an objective source. Annual auction prices are published once a year, typically in the middle of November, and are the basis for valuation for the following year. The impact associated with discounting is negligible. Because these auction prices are a less observable input, these instruments are classified as Level 3. The fair value of these instruments is derived from auction price differences between two locations. For CRRs settling from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017, the auction price inputs ranged from $(12) per MWh to $7 per MWh at a
given location, and for CRRs settling from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016, the auction price inputs ranged from $(24) per MWh to $10 per MWh at a given location. Positive values between two locations represent expected future reductions in congestion costs, whereas negative values between two locations represent expected future charges. Valuation of our CRRs is sensitive to a change in auction price. If auction prices at one location increase (decrease) relative to another location, this could result in a higher (lower) fair value measurement. We summarize CRR volumes in Note 7.
Long-term, fixed-price electricity positions that are valued using significant unobservable data are classified as Level 3 because the contract terms relate to a delivery location or tenor for which observable market rate information is not available. The fair value of the net electricity positions classified as Level 3 is derived from a discounted cash flow model using market electricity forward price inputs. These inputs range from $21.35 per MWh to $48.97 per MWh at September 30, 2017. A significant increase or decrease in market electricity forward prices would result in a significantly higher or lower fair value, respectively. We summarize long-term, fixed-price electricity position volumes in Note 7.
Realized gains and losses associated with CRRs and long-term electricity positions, which are included in rates, are recorded in Cost of Electric Fuel and Purchased Power on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded as regulatory assets and liabilities and therefore do not affect earnings.
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The fair values of certain of our financial instruments (cash, temporary investments, accounts and notes receivable, short-term amounts due to/from unconsolidated affiliates, dividends and accounts payable, short-term debt and customer deposits) approximate their carrying amounts because of the short-term nature of these instruments. Investments in life insurance contracts that we hold in support of our Supplemental Executive Retirement, Cash Balance Restoration and Deferred Compensation Plans are carried at cash surrender values, which represent the amount of cash that could be realized under the contracts. The following table provides the carrying amounts and fair values of certain other financial instruments that are not recorded at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
(Dollars in millions)
 
September 30, 2017
 
Carrying
amount
 
Fair value
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term amounts due from unconsolidated affiliates(1)
$
476

 
$

 
$
346

 
$
92

 
$
438

Total long-term debt(2)(3)
15,459

 

 
15,930

 
464

 
16,394

SDG&E:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total long-term debt(3)(4)
$
4,871

 
$

 
$
5,029

 
$
297

 
$
5,326

SoCalGas:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total long-term debt(5)
$
3,009

 
$

 
$
3,169

 
$

 
$
3,169

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
Carrying
amount
 
Fair value
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term amounts due from unconsolidated affiliates(1)
$
184

 
$

 
$
91

 
$
84

 
$
175

Total long-term debt(2)(3)
15,068

 

 
15,455

 
492

 
15,947

SDG&E:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total long-term debt(3)(4)
$
4,654

 
$

 
$
4,727

 
$
305

 
$
5,032

SoCalGas:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total long-term debt(5)
$
3,009

 
$

 
$
3,131

 
$

 
$
3,131

(1)
Excluding accumulated interest outstanding of $31 million and $17 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and excluding foreign currency translation of $(1) million on a Mexican peso-denominated loan at September 30, 2017.
(2)
Before reductions for unamortized discount (net of premium) and debt issuance costs of $112 million and $109 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and excluding build-to-suit and capital lease obligations of $879 million and $383 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. We discuss our long-term debt in Note 6 above and in Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report.
(3)
Level 3 instruments include $297 million and $305 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, related to Otay Mesa VIE.
(4)
Before reductions for unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $47 million and $45 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and excluding capital lease obligations of $734 million and $240 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
(5)
Before reductions for unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $25 million and $27 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and excluding capital lease obligations of $1 million at September 30, 2017.

We determine the fair value of certain long-term amounts due from unconsolidated affiliates and long-term debt based on a market approach using quoted market prices for identical or similar securities in thinly-traded markets (Level 2). We value certain other long-term amounts due from unconsolidated affiliates using a perpetuity approach based on the obligation’s fixed interest rate, the absence of a stated maturity date and a discount rate reflecting local borrowing costs (Level 3). We value other long-term debt using an income approach based on the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at rates available for similar securities (Level 3).
We provide the fair values for the securities held in the NDT related to SONGS in Note 9.NON-RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASURES
TdM
In February 2016, management approved a plan to market and sell Sempra Mexico’s TdM, a natural gas-fired power plant, and classified it as held for sale on the Sempra Energy Consolidated Balance Sheet, as we discuss in Note 3 above and in Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report. In connection with the sales process, Sempra Mexico received a purchase price offer resulting from negotiations with an active market participant. This market information indicated that the fair value of TdM was lower than its carrying value at June 30, 2017. As a result, in the second quarter of 2017, Sempra Mexico further reduced the carrying value of TdM by recognizing a noncash impairment charge of $71 million, recorded in Other Impairment Losses on Sempra Energy’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The purchase price offer is considered to be a Level 2 input in the fair value hierarchy, as it represents an observable pricing input.
The following table summarizes significant inputs impacting this non-recurring fair value measure:
NON-RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASURE – SEMPRA ENERGY CONSOLIDATED
(Dollars in millions)
 
 
Estimated
fair
value
 
Valuation technique
 
Fair
value
hierarchy
 
% of
fair value
measurement
 
Inputs used to
develop
measurement
 
Range of
inputs
TdM
 
$
62

 
(1)
 
Market approach
 
Level 2
 
100%
 
Purchase price offer
 
100%
(1)
At measurement date of June 30, 2017. At September 30, 2017, TdM has a carrying value of $70 million, reflecting subsequent business activity, and is classified as held for sale.