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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements

NOTE 8. 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. We have not changed the valuation techniques or types of inputs we use to measure fair value during the three months ended March 31, 2016.

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 March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. 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.

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 March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 in the tables below include the following:

  • Nuclear decommissioning trusts reflect the assets of SDG&E’s nuclear decommissioning trusts, 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. Equity and certain debt 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 debt 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 under “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 March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

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 March 31, 2016
Level 1Level 2Level 3Netting(1)Total
Assets:
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:
Equity securities$623$―$―$―$623
Debt securities:
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other
U.S. government corporations and agencies6243――105
Municipal bonds―156――156
Other securities―190――190
Total debt securities62389――451
Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(2)685389――1,074
Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments―8――8
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery119―2040
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery―16832101
Total$686$417$68$52$1,223
Liabilities:
Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments$―$181$―$―$181
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery36―(7)2
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery―6757(55)69
Total$3$254$57$(62)$252
Fair value at December 31, 2015
Level 1Level 2Level 3Netting(1)Total
Assets:
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:
Equity securities$619$―$―$―$619
Debt securities:
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other
U.S. government corporations and agencies4744――91
Municipal bonds―156――156
Other securities―182――182
Total debt securities47382――429
Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(2)666382――1,048
Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments―5――5
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery2216―(4)34
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery―17228101
Total$688$404$72$24$1,188
Liabilities:
Interest rate and foreign exchange instruments$―$171$―$―$171
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery53―(4)4
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery―6853(54)67
Total$5$242$53$(58)$242
(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 March 31, 2016
Level 1Level 2Level 3Netting(1)Total
Assets:
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:
Equity securities$623$―$―$―$623
Debt securities:
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other
U.S. government corporations and agencies6243――105
Municipal bonds ―156――156
Other securities ―190――190
Total debt securities62389――451
Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(2)685389――1,074
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery―――22
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery――683098
Total$685$389$68$32$1,174
Liabilities:
Interest rate instruments$―$39$―$―$39
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery1――(1)―
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery―6657(55)68
Total$1$105$57$(56)$107
Fair value at December 31, 2015
Level 1Level 2Level 3Netting(1)Total
Assets:
Nuclear decommissioning trusts:
Equity securities$619$―$―$―$619
Debt securities:
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other
U.S. government corporations and agencies4744――91
Municipal bonds ―156――156
Other securities ―182――182
Total debt securities47382――429
Total nuclear decommissioning trusts(2)666382――1,048
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery―――11
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery――722799
Total$666$382$72$28$1,148
Liabilities:
Interest rate instruments$―$37$―$―$37
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery1――(1)―
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery―6753(54)66
Total$1$104$53$(55)$103
(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 March 31, 2016
Level 1Level 2Level 3Netting(1)Total
Assets:
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery$―$―$―$1$1
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery―1―23
Total$―$1$―$3$4
Liabilities:
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery$1$―$―$(1)$―
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery―1――1
Total$1$1$―$(1)$1
Fair value at December 31, 2015
Level 1Level 2Level 3Netting(1)Total
Assets:
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery$―$1$―$1$2
Total$―$1$―$1$2
Liabilities:
Commodity contracts not subject to rate recovery$1$―$―$(1)$―
Commodity contracts subject to rate recovery―1――1
Total$1$1$―$(1)$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 congestion revenue rights (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 March 31,
20162015
Balance as of January 1$19$107
Realized and unrealized (losses) gains (1)6
Settlements(7)(11)
Balance as of March 31$11$102
Change in unrealized (losses) gains relating to
instruments still held at March 31$(1)$1

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 California Independent System Operator (CAISO), an objective source. Annual auction prices are published once a year, typically in the middle of November, and remain in effect for the following year. The impact associated with discounting is negligible. Because 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. From January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016, the auction prices range from $(24) per MWh to $10 per MWh at a given location, and from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015, the auction prices ranged from $(16) per MWh to $8 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. At March 31, 2016, these electricity forward prices range from $15.85 per MWh to $57.43 per MWh. 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 recoverable 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 also 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, current 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 March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
(Dollars in millions)
March 31, 2016
CarryingFair value
amountLevel 1Level 2Level 3Total
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
Noncurrent due from unconsolidated affiliates(1)$173$―$92$72$164
Total long-term debt(2)(3)13,761―14,36365215,015
Preferred stock of subsidiary20―23―23
SDG&E:
Total long-term debt(3)(4)$4,285$―$4,517$312$4,829
SoCalGas:
Total long-term debt(5)$2,513$―$2,731$―$2,731
Preferred stock22―25―25
December 31, 2015
CarryingFair value
amountLevel 1Level 2Level 3Total
Sempra Energy Consolidated:
Noncurrent due from unconsolidated affiliates(1)$175$―$97$69$166
Total long-term debt(2)(3)13,761―13,98564814,633
Preferred stock of subsidiary20―23―23
SDG&E:
Total long-term debt(3)(4)$4,304$―$4,355$315$4,670
SoCalGas:
Total long-term debt(5)$2,513$―$2,621$―$2,621
Preferred stock22―25―25
(1)Excluding accumulated interest outstanding of $13 million and $11 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.
(2)Before reductions for unamortized discount (net of premium) and debt issuance costs of $106 million and $107 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and excluding build-to-suit and capital lease obligations of $386 million and $387 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, 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 $312 million and $315 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, related to Otay Mesa VIE.
(4)Before reductions for unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $43 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, and excluding capital lease obligations of $243 million and $244 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.
(5)Before reductions for unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $24 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, and excluding capital lease obligations of $1 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

We base the fair value of certain noncurrent amounts due from unconsolidated affiliates, long-term debt and preferred stock on a market approach using quoted market prices for identical or similar securities in thinly-traded markets (Level 2). We value other noncurrent amounts due from unconsolidated affiliates of Sempra South American Utilities 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 nuclear decommissioning trust funds related to the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) in Note 9 below.

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measures – Sempra Energy Consolidated

Sempra Natural Gas – Rockies Express

In March 2016, Sempra Natural Gas agreed to sell its 25-percent interest in Rockies Express to a subsidiary of Tallgrass Development, LP for cash consideration of $440 million, subject to adjustment at closing. We consider the sale price for our equity interest in Rockies Express to be a market participants’ view of the total value of Rockies Express and have measured the fair value of our investment based on the equity sale price. In March 2016, we recorded a noncash impairment of our investment in Rockies Express of $44 million ($27 million after-tax), which is included in Equity Earnings, Before Income Tax, on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Use of this market participant input as the indicator of fair value is a Level 2 measurement in the fair value hierarchy.

The following table summarizes significant inputs impacting non-recurring fair value measures related to our investment in Rockies Express:

NON-RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASURES – SEMPRA ENERGY CONSOLIDATED
(Dollars in millions)
EstimatedFair% ofInputs used to
fairvaluefair valuedevelopRange of
valueValuation techniquehierarchymeasurementmeasurementinputs
Investment in
Rockies Express$440(1)Market approachLevel 2100%Equity sale price100%
(1)At measurement date of March 29, 2016. At March 31, 2016, our investment in Rockies Express had a carrying value of $436 million, reflecting subsequent equity method activity to record a distribution.