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Commitments and Contingencies | 6 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | Commitments and Contingencies Third-Party Power Purchase Agreements During the six months ended June 30, 2012, SCE had new power purchase contracts classified as operating leases. The additional commitments are estimated to be: $21 million in 2015, $45 million in 2016 and $944 million for the period remaining thereafter. In July 2012, SCE entered into new power purchase contracts with commitments estimated to be: $51 million in 2014, $53 million in 2015, $50 million in 2016 and $199 million for the period remaining thereafter. Indemnities Indemnity Provided as Part of the Acquisition of Mountainview In connection with the acquisition of the Mountainview power plant, SCE agreed to indemnify the seller with respect to specific environmental claims related to SCE's previously owned San Bernardino Generating Station, divested by SCE in 1998 and reacquired as part of the Mountainview acquisition. SCE retained certain responsibilities with respect to environmental claims as part of the original divestiture of the station. The aggregate liability for either party to the purchase agreement for damages and other amounts is a maximum of $60 million. This indemnification for environmental liabilities expires on or before March 12, 2033. SCE has not recorded a liability related to this indemnity. Mountainview Filter Cake Indemnity SCE has indemnified the City of Redlands, California in connection with Mountainview's California Energy Commission permit for cleanup or associated actions related to groundwater contaminated by perchlorate due to the disposal of filter cake at the City's solid waste landfill. The obligations under this agreement are not limited to a specific time period or subject to a maximum liability. SCE has not recorded a liability related to this indemnity. Other Indemnities SCE provides other indemnifications through contracts entered into in the normal course of business. These are primarily indemnifications against adverse litigation outcomes in connection with underwriting agreements, and indemnities for specified environmental liabilities and income taxes with respect to assets sold. SCE's obligations under these agreements may or may not be limited in terms of time and/or amount, and in some instances SCE may have recourse against third parties. SCE has not recorded a liability related to these indemnities. The overall maximum amount of the obligations under these indemnifications cannot be reasonably estimated. Contingencies In addition to the matters disclosed in these Notes, SCE is involved in other legal, tax and regulatory proceedings before various courts and governmental agencies regarding matters arising in the ordinary course of business. SCE believes the outcome of these other proceedings, individually and in the aggregate, will not materially affect its results of operations or liquidity. San Onofre Outage, Inspection and Repair Issues SCE replaced four steam generators at San Onofre Units 2 and 3 in 2010 and 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, a water leak suddenly occurred in one of the heat transfer tubes in San Onofre's Unit 3 steam generators. Unit 3 was safely taken off-line. At the time, San Onofre Unit 2 was off-line for a planned outage when isolated areas of wear in some of its heat transfer tubes were found. Both Units remain off-line for ongoing, extensive inspections, testing and analysis of their steam generators, and will be restarted only when SCE determines that it is safe to do so and when start-up has been approved by the NRC. In 2005, the CPUC authorized expenditures of approximately $525 million ($665 million after adjustment for inflation) for SCE's 78.21% share of San Onofre to purchase and install the four new steam generators in Units 2 and 3 and remove and dispose of their predecessors. SCE has spent $593 million through June 30, 2012 on the steam generator replacement project. Those expenditures remain subject to CPUC reasonableness review upon submission of SCE's final costs for the overall project. As a result of outages associated with the steam generator inspection and repair, electric power and capacity normally provided by San Onofre is being purchased in the market by SCE on behalf of customers (commencing on February 1 for Unit 3 and March 5 for Unit 2). Market costs through June 30, 2012 were approximately $117 million, net of avoided nuclear fuel costs, and are recoverable through the ERRA balancing account, subject to CPUC reasonableness review. Because of the uncertainties associated with when and at what output levels the Units will or may be returned to service, total potential market power costs cannot be estimated at this time. Costs for power are likely to be higher during the summer months. SCE's 2012 annual revenue requirement request for its direct operating and maintenance costs, depreciation and return on its investment in San Onofre Unit 2, Unit 3 and related common plant is approximately $650 million. At June 30, 2012, San Onofre rate base was $1.2 billion and the net investment and related inventory associated with San Onofre was $2.0 billion. Under California Public Utilities Code Section 455.5, SCE will be required to notify the CPUC if either of the San Onofre Units has been out of service for nine consecutive months, or November 2012 for Unit 3 and December 2012 for Unit 2 (not including preplanned outages). In that event, the CPUC is required within 45 days of SCE's notice for a particular Unit to initiate an investigation to determine whether to remove from customer rates some or all of the revenue requirement associated with the portion of the facility that is out of service. From the initiation date of the investigation, such rates are collected subject to refund. Under Section 455.5 any determination to adjust rates is made after hearings are conducted in connection with the utility's next general rate case. If, after investigation and hearings, the costs associated with a Unit are disallowed recovery because it is out of service and the Unit is subsequently returned to service, rates may be readjusted to reflect that return to service after 100 continuous hours of operation. Notwithstanding the requirements of Section 455.5, the CPUC may institute other proceedings relating to the impact of the extended outage at San Onofre and its potential effects on rates, and there is currently pending before the CPUC a proposal to initiate an Order Instituting Investigation regarding such impacts. The steam generators were designed and supplied by MHI and are warranted for an initial period of 20 years from acceptance. MHI is contractually obligated to repair or replace defective items and to pay specified damages for certain repairs. SCE's purchase contract with MHI states that MHI's liability under the purchase agreement is limited to $137 million and excludes consequential damages, defined to include "the cost of replacement power." Such limitations in the contract are subject to applicable exceptions. In addition, San Onofre carries both property damage and outage insurance for San Onofre issued by Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited (“NEIL”) and has placed NEIL on notice of potential claims for loss recovery. SCE will pursue recoveries arising from available agreements and insurance, but there is no assurance that SCE will recover all of its applicable costs pursuant to these arrangements. CPSD Investigations San Gabriel Valley Windstorm Investigation In November 2011, a windstorm resulted in significant damage to SCE’s electric system and service outages for SCE customers primarily in the San Gabriel Valley. The CPUC directed its Consumer Protection and Safety Division (“CPSD”) to conduct an investigation focused on the cause of the outages, SCE’s service restoration effort, and SCE’s customer communications during the outages. The CPSD issued its preliminary report on February 1, 2012. The report asserts that SCE and others with whom SCE shares utility poles violated certain CPUC safety rules applicable to overhead line construction, maintenance and operation, which may have caused the failures of affected poles and supporting cables. The report also concludes that SCE’s restoration time was not adequate and makes other assertions. Additionally, the report contends that SCE violated CPUC rules by failing to preserve evidence relevant to the investigation when it did not retain damaged poles that were replaced following the windstorm. If the CPUC issues an Order Instituting Investigation ("OII") regarding this matter and SCE is found to have violated any CPUC rules, it could face penalties. In addition, the cost of any large scale review of poles or other equipment for safety compliance could be significant. SCE is unable to estimate a possible loss or range of loss associated with any penalties that may be imposed by the CPUC on SCE. Malibu Fire Order Instituting Investigation Following a 2007 wildfire in Malibu, California, the CPUC issued an OII to determine if any statutes, CPUC general orders, rules or regulations were violated by SCE or telecomm providers (“OII Respondents”) that shared the use of three failed power poles in the wildfire area. The CPSD has alleged, among other things, that the poles were overloaded, that the OII Respondents violated the CPUC's rules governing the design, construction and inspection of poles and misled the CPUC during its investigation of the fire, and that SCE failed to preserve evidence relevant to the investigation. In October 2011, the CPSD proposed that the OII Respondents be assessed penalties of approximately $99 million, with SCE being allocated approximately $50 million of the total. SCE has denied the allegations and believes the proposed penalties are excessive. Four Corners New Source Review Litigation In October 2011, four private environmental organizations filed a CAA citizen lawsuit against the co-owners of Four Corners. The complaint alleges that certain work performed at the Four Corners generating units 4 and 5, over the approximate periods of 1985-1986 and 2007-present, constituted plant “major modifications” and the plant's failure to obtain permits and install best available control technology ("BACT") violated the PSD requirements and the New Source Performance Standards of the CAA. The complaint also alleges subsequent and continuing violations of BACT air emissions limits. The lawsuit seeks injunctive and declaratory relief, civil penalties, including a mitigation project and litigation costs. In November 2010, SCE entered into an agreement to sell its ownership interest in generating units 4 and 5 to APS. The sale is subject to certain closing conditions and is expected to close not earlier than December 2012. Under the agreement SCE would remain responsible for its pro rata share of certain environmental liabilities, including penalties arising from environmental violations prior to the sale, but SCE would not be liable for any costs of installing BACT or other costs related to continuing or extending Four Corners operations. SCE is unable to estimate a possible loss or range of loss associated with this matter. Concurrently, the US EPA has proposed a regional haze federal implementation plan based on an APS proposal that would require shut down of units 1, 2 and 3 by 2016 and the installation of selective catalytic reduction technology on units 4 and 5 by 2018. APS' proposal contemplated that these actions would both satisfy the federal regional haze requirements and resolve any New Source Review claims the US EPA might have. A final federal implementation plan is expected in 2012. Environmental Remediation SCE records its environmental remediation liabilities when site assessments and/or remedial actions are probable and a range of reasonably likely cleanup costs can be estimated. SCE reviews its sites and measures the liability quarterly, by assessing a range of reasonably likely costs for each identified site using currently available information, including existing technology, presently enacted laws and regulations, experience gained at similar sites, and the probable level of involvement and financial condition of other potentially responsible parties. These estimates include costs for site investigations, remediation, operation and maintenance, monitoring and site closure. Unless there is a single probable amount, SCE records the lower end of this reasonably likely range of costs (reflected in "Other long-term liabilities") at undiscounted amounts as timing of cash flows is uncertain. At June 30, 2012, SCE's recorded estimated minimum liability to remediate its 25 identified material sites (sites in which the upper end of the range of the costs is at least $1 million) and 33 identified immaterial sites was $43 million (which includes $11 million related to San Onofre) and $3 million, respectively. Of the $46 million total environmental remediation liability, $43 million has been recorded as a regulatory asset. SCE expects to recover $28 million through an incentive mechanism that allows SCE to recover 90% of its environmental remediation costs at certain sites (SCE may request to include additional sites) and $15 million through a mechanism that allows SCE to recover 100% of the costs incurred at certain sites through customer rates. SCE's identified sites include several sites for which there is a lack of currently available information, including the nature and magnitude of contamination, and the extent, if any, that SCE may be held responsible for contributing to any costs incurred for remediating these sites. Thus, no reasonable estimate of cleanup costs can be made for these sites. The ultimate costs to clean up SCE's identified sites may vary from its recorded liability due to numerous uncertainties inherent in the estimation process, such as: the extent and nature of contamination; the scarcity of reliable data for identified sites; the varying costs of alternative cleanup methods; developments resulting from investigatory studies; the possibility of identifying additional sites; and the time periods over which site remediation is expected to occur. SCE believes that, due to these uncertainties, it is reasonably possible that cleanup costs at the identified material sites and immaterial sites could exceed its recorded liability by up to $216 million and $6 million, respectively. The upper limit of this range of costs was estimated using assumptions least favorable to SCE among a range of reasonably possible outcomes. SCE expects to clean up its identified sites over a period of up to 30 years. Remediation costs in each of the next five years are expected to range from $7 million to $17 million. Costs incurred for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 were $4 million and $7 million, respectively. Based upon the CPUC's regulatory treatment of environmental remediation costs, SCE believes that costs ultimately recorded will not materially affect its results of operations, financial position or cash flows. There can be no assurance, however, that future developments, including additional information about existing sites or the identification of new sites, will not require material revisions to estimates. Nuclear Insurance Federal law limits public liability claims from a nuclear incident to the amount of available financial protection, which is currently approximately $12.6 billion. SCE and other owners of San Onofre and Palo Verde have purchased the maximum private primary insurance available ($375 million). The balance is covered by a loss sharing program among nuclear reactor licensees. If a nuclear incident at any licensed reactor in the United States results in claims and/or costs which exceed the primary insurance at that plant site, all nuclear reactor licensees could be required to contribute their share of the liability in the form of a deferred premium. Based on its ownership interests, SCE could be required to pay a maximum of approximately $235 million per nuclear incident. However, it would have to pay no more than approximately $35 million per incident in any one year. If the public liability limit above is insufficient, federal law contemplates that additional funds may be appropriated by Congress. This could include an additional assessment on all licensed reactor operators as a measure for raising further federal revenue. NEIL, a mutual insurance company owned by entities with nuclear facilities, issues primary property damage, decontamination and excess property damage and accidental outage insurance policies. At San Onofre and Palo Verde, property damage insurance covers losses up to $500 million, including decontamination costs. Decontamination liability and excess property damage coverage exceeding the primary $500 million also has been purchased in amounts greater than the federal requirement of a minimum of approximately $1.1 billion. Property damage insurance also covers damages caused by acts of terrorism up to specified limits. Additional outage insurance covers part of replacement power expenses during an accident-related nuclear unit outage. If losses at any nuclear facility covered by the arrangement were to exceed the accumulated funds for these insurance programs, SCE could be assessed retrospective premium adjustments of up to approximately $49 million per year. Insurance premiums are charged to operating expense. Wildfire Insurance Severe wildfires in California have given rise to large damage claims against California utilities for fire-related losses alleged to be the result of the failure of electric and other utility equipment. Invoking a California Court of Appeal decision, plaintiffs pursuing these claims have relied on the doctrine of inverse condemnation, which can impose strict liability (including liability for a claimant's attorneys' fees) for property damage. On September 1, 2011, SCE's parent, Edison International, renewed its insurance coverage, which included coverage for SCE's wildfire liabilities up to a $575 million limit (with a self-insured retention of $10 million per wildfire occurrence). Various coverage limitations within the policies that make up the insurance coverage could result in additional self-insured costs in the event of multiple wildfire occurrences during the policy period (September 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012). SCE may experience coverage reductions and/or increased insurance costs in future years. No assurance can be given that future losses will not exceed the limits of SCE's insurance coverage. Spent Nuclear Fuel Under federal law, the Department of Energy ("DOE") is responsible for the selection and construction of a facility for the permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The DOE did not meet its contractual obligation to begin acceptance of spent nuclear fuel by January 31, 1998. Extended delays by the DOE have led to the construction of costly alternatives and associated siting and environmental issues. Currently, both San Onofre and Palo Verde have interim storage for spent nuclear fuel on site sufficient for the current license period. In June 2010, the United States Court of Federal Claims issued a decision granting SCE and the San Onofre co-owners damages of approximately $142 million to recover costs incurred through December 31, 2005 for the DOE's failure to meet its obligation to begin accepting spent nuclear fuel from San Onofre. SCE received payment from the federal government in the amount of the damage award in November 2011. SCE has returned to the San Onofre co-owners their respective share of the damage award paid. SCE, as operating agent, filed a lawsuit on behalf of the San Onofre owners against the DOE in the Court of Federal Claims in December 2011 seeking damages of approximately $98 million for the period from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2010 for the DOE's failure to meet its obligation to begin accepting spent nuclear fuel. Additional legal action would be necessary to recover damages incurred after December 31, 2010. Any damages recovered by SCE are subject to CPUC review as to how these amounts would be distributed among customers, shareholders, or to offset fuel decommissioning or storage costs.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6398077&loc=d3e12565-110249 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 14 -Paragraph 3 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 440 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394976&loc=d3e25287-109308 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6449706&loc=d3e16207-108621 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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