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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Derivative Financial Instruments

NOTE 7. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

We use derivative instruments primarily to manage exposures arising in the normal course of business. Our principal exposures are commodity market risk and benchmark interest rate risk. We may also manage foreign exchange rate exposures using derivatives. Our use of derivatives for these risks is integrated into the economic management of our anticipated revenues, anticipated expenses, assets and liabilities. Derivatives may be effective in mitigating these risks (1) that could lead to declines in anticipated revenues or increases in anticipated expenses, or (2) that our asset values may fall or our liabilities increase. Accordingly, our derivative activity summarized below generally represents an impact that is intended to offset associated revenues, expenses, assets or liabilities that are not presented below.

We record all derivatives at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. We designate each derivative as (1) a cash flow hedge, (2) a fair value hedge, or (3) undesignated. Depending on the applicability of hedge accounting and, for the California Utilities and other operations subject to regulatory accounting, the requirement to pass impacts through to customers, the impact of derivative instruments may be offset in other comprehensive income (loss) (cash flow hedge), on the balance sheet (fair value hedges and regulatory offsets), or recognized in earnings. We classify cash flows from the settlements of derivative instruments as operating activities on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

In certain cases, we apply the normal purchase or sale exception to derivative accounting and have other commodity contracts that are not derivatives. These contracts are not recorded at fair value and are therefore excluded from the disclosures below.

HEDGE ACCOUNTING

We may designate a derivative as a cash flow hedging instrument if it effectively converts anticipated revenues or expenses to a fixed dollar amount. We may utilize cash flow hedge accounting for derivative commodity instruments, foreign currency instruments and interest rate instruments. Designating cash flow hedges is dependent on the business context in which the instrument is being used, the effectiveness of the instrument in offsetting the risk that a given future revenue or expense item may vary, and other criteria.

We may designate an interest rate derivative as a fair value hedging instrument if it effectively converts our own debt from a fixed interest rate to a variable rate. The combination of the derivative and debt instrument results in fixing that portion of the fair value of the debt that is related to benchmark interest rates. Designating fair value hedges is dependent on the instrument being used, the effectiveness of the instrument in offsetting changes in the fair value of our debt instruments, and other criteria.

ENERGY DERIVATIVES

Our market risk is primarily related to natural gas and electricity price volatility and the specific physical locations where we transact. We use energy derivatives to manage these risks. The use of energy derivatives in our various businesses depends on the particular energy market, and the operating and regulatory environments applicable to the business.

  • The California Utilities use natural gas energy derivatives, for the benefit of customers, with the objective of managing price risk and basis risks, and lowering natural gas costs. These derivatives include fixed price natural gas positions, options, and basis risk instruments, which are either exchange-traded or over-the-counter financial instruments. This activity is governed by risk management and transacting activity plans that have been filed with and approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Natural gas derivative activities are recorded as commodity costs that are offset by regulatory account balances and are recovered in rates. Net commodity cost impacts on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations are reflected in Cost of Electric Fuel and Purchased Power or in Cost of Natural Gas.
  • SDG&E is allocated and may purchase congestion revenue rights (CRRs), which serve to reduce the regional electricity price volatility risk that may result from local transmission capacity constraints. Unrealized gains and losses do not impact earnings, as they are offset by regulatory account balances. Realized gains and losses associated with CRRs are recorded in Cost of Electric Fuel and Purchased Power, which is recoverable in rates, on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
  • Sempra Mexico and Sempra Natural Gas may use natural gas and electricity derivatives, as appropriate, to optimize the earnings of their assets which support the following businesses: liquefied natural gas (LNG), natural gas transportation, power generation, and Sempra Natural Gas’ storage. Gains and losses associated with undesignated derivatives are recognized in Energy-Related Businesses Revenues or in Cost of Natural Gas, Electric Fuel and Purchased Power on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Certain of these derivatives may also be designated as cash flow hedges. Sempra Mexico also uses natural gas energy derivatives with the objective of managing price risk and lowering natural gas prices at its Mexican distribution operations. These derivatives, which are recorded as commodity costs that are offset by regulatory account balances and recovered in rates, are recognized in Cost of Natural Gas on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
  • From time to time, our various businesses, including the California Utilities, may use other energy derivatives to hedge exposures such as the price of vehicle fuel.

We summarize net energy derivative volumes at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 as follows:

NET ENERGY DERIVATIVE VOLUMES
Segment and CommodityMarch 31, 2015December 31, 2014
California Utilities:
SDG&E:
Natural gas57 million MMBtu55 million MMBtu(1)
Congestion revenue rights24 million MWh27 million MWh(2)
SoCalGas - natural gas1 million MMBtu1 million MMBtu
Energy-Related Businesses:
Sempra Natural Gas - natural gas7 million MMBtu29 million MMBtu
(1)Million British thermal units
(2)Megawatt hours

In addition to the amounts noted above, we frequently use commodity derivatives to manage risks associated with the physical locations of our assets and other contractual obligations, such as natural gas purchases and sales.

INTEREST RATE DERIVATIVES

We are exposed to interest rates primarily as a result of our current and expected use of financing. We periodically enter into interest rate derivative agreements intended to moderate our exposure to interest rates and to lower our overall costs of borrowing. We utilize interest rate swaps typically designated as fair value hedges, as a means to achieve our targeted level of variable rate debt as a percent of total debt. In addition, we may utilize interest rate swaps, typically designated as cash flow hedges, to lock in interest rates on outstanding debt or in anticipation of future financings.

Interest rate derivatives are utilized by the California Utilities as well as by other Sempra Energy subsidiaries. Although the California Utilities generally recover borrowing costs in rates over time, the use of interest rate derivatives is subject to certain regulatory constraints, and the impact of interest rate derivatives may not be recovered from customers as timely as described above with regard to natural gas derivatives. Interest rate derivatives are generally accounted for as hedges at the California Utilities, as well as at the rest of Sempra Energy’s subsidiaries. Separately, Otay Mesa VIE has entered into interest rate swap agreements to moderate its exposure to interest rate changes. This activity was designated as a cash flow hedge as of April 1, 2011.

At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the net notional amounts of our interest rate derivatives, excluding the cross-currency swaps discussed below, were:

INTEREST RATE DERIVATIVES
(Dollars in millions)
March 31, 2015December 31, 2014
Notional debtMaturitiesNotional debtMaturities
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
Cash flow hedges(1)$3962015-2028$3992015-2028
Fair value hedges30020163002016
SDG&E:
Cash flow hedge(1)32220193252019
(1)Includes Otay Mesa VIE. All of SDG&E’s interest rate derivatives relate to Otay Mesa VIE.

FOREIGN CURRENCY DERIVATIVES

We are exposed to exchange rate movements at our Mexican subsidiaries, which have U.S. dollar denominated cash balances, receivables and payables (monetary assets and liabilities) that give rise to Mexican currency exchange rate movements for Mexican income tax purposes. These subsidiaries also have deferred income tax assets and liabilities that are denominated in the Mexican peso, which must be translated into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes. From time to time, we may utilize foreign currency derivatives at our subsidiaries and at the consolidated level as a means to manage the risk of exposure to significant fluctuations in our income tax expense from these impacts. We may also utilize cross-currency swaps to hedge exposure related to Mexican peso-denominated debt at our Mexican subsidiaries and joint ventures.

In addition, Sempra South American Utilities may utilize foreign currency derivatives at its subsidiaries and joint ventures as a means to manage foreign currency rate risk. We discuss such swaps at Chilquinta Energía’s Eletrans joint venture investment in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION

Each Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet reflects the offsetting of net derivative positions and cash collateral with the same counterparty when a legal right of offset exists. The following tables provide the fair values of derivative instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, including the amount of cash collateral receivables that were not offset, as the cash collateral is in excess of liability positions.

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS ON THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in millions)
March 31, 2015
Deferred
credits
CurrentCurrentand other
assets:liabilities:liabilities:
Fixed-priceInvestmentsFixed-priceFixed-price
contractsand othercontractscontracts
and otherassets:and otherand other
derivatives(1)Sundryderivatives(2)derivatives
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments(3)$10$3$(17)$(130)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments1128(7)(25)
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery12925(137)(22)
Associated offsetting commodity contracts(123)(21)12321
Associated offsetting cash collateral――101
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery2876(35)(33)
Associated offsetting commodity contracts(1)―1―
Associated offsetting cash collateral――2727
Net amounts presented on the balance sheet54111(35)(161)
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
not subject to rate recovery16―――
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
subject to rate recovery19―――
Total(4)$89$111$(35)$(161)
SDG&E:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate instruments(3)$―$―$(16)$(32)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery――(1)―
Associated offsetting cash collateral――1―
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery2676(34)(33)
Associated offsetting cash collateral――2727
Net amounts presented on the balance sheet2676(23)(38)
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
not subject to rate recovery1―――
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
subject to rate recovery17―――
Total(4)$44$76$(23)$(38)
SoCalGas:
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery$―$―$(2)$―
Associated offsetting cash collateral――2―
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery2―(1)―
Associated offsetting commodity contracts(1)―1―
Net amounts presented on the balance sheet1―――
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
not subject to rate recovery1―――
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
subject to rate recovery2―――
Total$4$―$―$―
(1)Included in Current Assets: Other for SoCalGas.
(2)Included in Current Liabilities: Other for SoCalGas.
(3)Includes Otay Mesa VIE. All of SDG&E’s amounts relate to Otay Mesa VIE.
(4)Normal purchase contracts previously measured at fair value are excluded.

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS ON THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in millions)
December 31, 2014
Deferred
credits
CurrentCurrentand other
assets:liabilities:liabilities:
Fixed-priceInvestmentsFixed-priceFixed-price
contractsand othercontractscontracts
and otherassets:and otherand other
derivatives(1)Sundryderivatives(2)derivatives
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments(3)$10$3$(17)$(109)
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery25―――
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate instruments827(7)(22)
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery14332(135)(29)
Associated offsetting commodity contracts(129)(27)12927
Associated offsetting cash collateral(11)―――
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery3676(36)(20)
Associated offsetting commodity contracts(3)(1)31
Associated offsetting cash collateral――2313
Net amounts presented on the balance sheet79110(40)(139)
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
subject to rate recovery14―――
Total(4)$93$110$(40)$(139)
SDG&E:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate instruments(3)$―$―$(16)$(31)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery3276(32)(20)
Associated offsetting commodity contracts―(1)―1
Associated offsetting cash collateral――2313
Net amounts presented on the balance sheet3275(25)(37)
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
subject to rate recovery12―――
Total(4)$44$75$(25)$(37)
SoCalGas:
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery$4$―$(4)$―
Associated offsetting commodity contracts(3)―3―
Net amounts presented on the balance sheet1―(1)―
Additional cash collateral for commodity contracts
subject to rate recovery2―――
Total$3$―$(1)$―
(1)Included in Current Assets: Other for SoCalGas.
(2)Included in Current Liabilities: Other for SoCalGas.
(3)Includes Otay Mesa VIE. All of SDG&E’s amounts relate to Otay Mesa VIE.
(4)Normal purchase contracts previously measured at fair value are excluded.

The effects of derivative instruments designated as hedges on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (OCI) and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (AOCI) for the three months ended March 31 were

FAIR VALUE HEDGE IMPACT ON THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in millions)
Gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in earnings
Three months ended March 31,
Location20152014
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
Interest rate instrumentsInterest Expense$2$3
Interest rate instrumentsOther Income, Net1(4)
Total(1)$3$(1)
(1)There was no hedge ineffectiveness on these swaps in the three months ended March 31, 2015 and $2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2014. All other changes in the fair values of the interest rate swap agreements are exactly offset by changes in the fair value of the underlying long-term debt and recorded in Other Income, Net.

CASH FLOW HEDGE IMPACT ON THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in millions)
Pretax gain (loss) recognizedGain (loss) reclassified from AOCI
in OCI (effective portion)into earnings (effective portion)
Three months ended March 31,Three months ended March 31,
20152014Location20152014
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
Interest rate and foreign
exchange instruments(1)$(18)$(3)Interest Expense$(6)$(3)
Gain on Sale of Equity
Interest rate instruments―(2) Interest―(2)
Equity Earnings,
Interest rate instruments(78)(15) Before Income Tax(3)(3)
Commodity contracts not subjectRevenues: Energy-Related
to rate recovery(1)(6) Businesses7(10)
Total(2)$(97)$(26)$(2)$(18)
SDG&E:
Interest rate instruments(1)(2)$(5)$(3)Interest Expense$(3)$(3)
(1)Amounts include Otay Mesa VIE. All of SDG&E’s interest rate derivative activity relates to Otay Mesa VIE.
(2)There was a negligible amount of ineffectiveness related to these hedges in 2015 and 2014.

For Sempra Energy Consolidated we expect that losses of $23 million, which are net of income tax benefit, that are currently recorded in AOCI (including $13 million in noncontrolling interests, of which $12 million is related to Otay Mesa VIE at SDG&E) related to cash flow hedges will be reclassified into earnings during the next twelve months as the hedged items affect earnings. Actual amounts ultimately reclassified into earnings depend on the interest rates in effect when derivative contracts that are currently outstanding mature.

SoCalGas expects that negligible losses, which are net of income tax benefit, currently recorded in AOCI related to cash flow hedges will be reclassified into earnings during the next twelve months as the hedged items affect earnings.

For all forecasted transactions, the maximum term over which we are hedging exposure to the variability of cash flows at March 31, 2015 is approximately 14 years and 4 years for Sempra Energy Consolidated and SDG&E, respectively. The maximum term of hedged interest rate variability is 20 years, and is related to debt at Sempra Renewables’ equity method investees.

The effects of derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31 were

UNDESIGNATED DERIVATIVE IMPACT ON THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in millions)
Gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in earnings
Three months ended March 31,
Location20152014
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
Foreign exchange instrumentsEquity Earnings,
Net of Income Tax$(1)$(2)
Commodity contracts not subjectRevenues: Energy-Related
to rate recovery Businesses3(5)
Commodity contracts subjectCost of Electric Fuel
to rate recovery and Purchased Power(20)12
Commodity contracts subject
to rate recoveryCost of Natural Gas12
Total$(17)$7
SDG&E:
Commodity contracts subjectCost of Electric Fuel
to rate recovery and Purchased Power$(20)$12
SoCalGas:
Commodity contracts subject
to rate recoveryCost of Natural Gas$1$2

CONTINGENT FEATURES

For Sempra Energy Consolidated and SDG&E, certain of our derivative instruments contain credit limits which vary depending upon our credit ratings. Generally, these provisions, if applicable, may reduce our credit limit if a specified credit rating agency reduces our ratings. In certain cases, if our credit ratings were to fall below investment grade, the counterparty to these derivative liability instruments could request immediate payment or demand immediate and ongoing full collateralization. 

For Sempra Energy Consolidated, the total fair value of this group of derivative instruments in a net liability position at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is $7 million and $9 million, respectively. At March 31, 2015, if the credit ratings of Sempra Energy were reduced below investment grade, $7 million of additional assets could be required to be posted as collateral for these derivative contracts.

For SDG&E, the total fair value of this group of derivative instruments in a net liability position was $4 million and $2 million at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. At March 31, 2015, if the credit ratings of SDG&E were reduced below investment grade, $4 million of additional assets could be required to be posted as collateral for these derivative contracts.

For Sempra Energy Consolidated, SDG&E and SoCalGas, some of our derivative contracts contain a provision that would permit the counterparty, in certain circumstances, to request adequate assurance of our performance under the contracts. Such additional assurance, if needed, is not material and is not included in the amounts above.