Exhibit 99.1
DTE Gas Company
Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
DTE Gas Company
Quarter Ended September 30, 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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DEFINITIONS |
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ASU | Accounting Standards Update issued by the FASB |
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Company | DTE Gas Company and any subsidiary companies |
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Customer Choice | Michigan legislation giving customers the option of retail access to alternative suppliers for natural gas |
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DTE Energy | DTE Energy Company, directly or indirectly the parent of DTE Electric Company, DTE Gas Company, and numerous non-utility subsidiaries |
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DTE Gas | DTE Gas Company (an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of DTE Energy) and subsidiary companies |
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FASB | Financial Accounting Standards Board |
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FERC | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
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MGP | Manufactured Gas Plant |
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MPSC | Michigan Public Service Commission |
DTE Gas Company
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended | | Nine Months Ended |
| September 30, | | September 30, |
| 2015 | | 2014 | | 2015 | | 2014 |
| (In millions) |
Operating Revenues | $ | 150 |
| | $ | 145 |
| | $ | 1,003 |
| | $ | 1,157 |
|
| | | | | | | |
Operating Expenses | | | | | | | |
Cost of gas | 18 |
| | 10 |
| | 378 |
| | 505 |
|
Operation and maintenance | 99 |
| | 111 |
| | 318 |
| | 333 |
|
Depreciation and amortization | 25 |
| | 24 |
| | 75 |
| | 72 |
|
Taxes other than income | 11 |
| | 14 |
| | 47 |
| | 46 |
|
| 153 |
| | 159 |
| | 818 |
| | 956 |
|
Operating Income (Loss) | (3 | ) | | (14 | ) | | 185 |
| | 201 |
|
| | | | | | | |
Other (Income) and Deductions | | | | | | | |
Interest expense | 15 |
| | 14 |
| | 46 |
| | 43 |
|
Interest income | (2 | ) | | (2 | ) | | (5 | ) | | (5 | ) |
Other income | (1 | ) | | (2 | ) | | (5 | ) | | (7 | ) |
Other expenses | 2 |
| | 1 |
| | 2 |
| | 2 |
|
| 14 |
| | 11 |
| | 38 |
| | 33 |
|
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes | (17 | ) | | (25 | ) | | 147 |
| | 168 |
|
| | | | | | | |
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) | (6 | ) | | (9 | ) | | 53 |
| | 61 |
|
| | | | | | | |
Net Income (Loss) | $ | (11 | ) | | $ | (16 | ) | | $ | 94 |
| | $ | 107 |
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See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
DTE Gas Company
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended | | Nine Months Ended |
| September 30, | | September 30, |
| 2015 | | 2014 | | 2015 | | 2014 |
| (In millions) |
Net Income (Loss) | $ | (11 | ) | | $ | (16 | ) | | $ | 94 |
| | $ | 107 |
|
Transfer of benefit obligations, net of taxes of $—, $—, $2 and $—, respectively | — |
| | — |
| | 4 |
| | — |
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Comprehensive Income (Loss) | $ | (11 | ) | | $ | (16 | ) | | $ | 98 |
| | $ | 107 |
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See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
DTE Gas Company
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited)
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| | | | | | | |
| September 30, | | December 31, |
| 2015 | | 2014 |
| (In millions) |
ASSETS |
Current Assets | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
|
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $25 and $23, respectively) | | | |
Customer | 141 |
| | 334 |
|
Affiliates | 45 |
| | 52 |
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Other | 2 |
| | 1 |
|
Inventories | | | |
Gas | 97 |
| | 43 |
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Materials and supplies | 18 |
| | 15 |
|
Gas customer choice deferred asset | 64 |
| | 89 |
|
Deferred income taxes | 31 |
| | 36 |
|
Notes receivable | | | |
Affiliates | 2 |
| | 18 |
|
Other | 6 |
| | 5 |
|
Regulatory assets | 11 |
| | 28 |
|
Prepaid property tax | 23 |
| | 12 |
|
Other | 4 |
| | 7 |
|
| 444 |
| | 640 |
|
| | | |
Investments | 26 |
| | 27 |
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| | | |
Property | | | |
Property, plant and equipment | 4,405 |
| | 4,257 |
|
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization | (1,677 | ) | | (1,635 | ) |
| 2,728 |
| | 2,622 |
|
Other Assets | | | |
Regulatory assets | 713 |
| | 733 |
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Net investment in lease | 57 |
| | 60 |
|
Prepaid pension costs — affiliates | 127 |
| | 114 |
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Prepaid postretirement costs — affiliates | 94 |
| | 45 |
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Other | 8 |
| | 8 |
|
| 999 |
| | 960 |
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Total Assets | $ | 4,197 |
| | $ | 4,249 |
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See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
DTE Gas Company
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited) - Continued
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| | | | | | | |
| September 30, | | December 31, |
| 2015 | | 2014 |
| (In millions, except shares) |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY |
Current Liabilities | | | |
Accounts payable | | | |
Affiliates | $ | 10 |
| | $ | 20 |
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Other | 140 |
| | 194 |
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Short-term borrowings — other | 128 |
| | 145 |
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Current portion of long-term debt | — |
| | 140 |
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Regulatory liabilities | 29 |
| | 3 |
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Other | 56 |
| | 86 |
|
| 363 |
| | 588 |
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| | | |
Long-Term Debt (net of current portion) | 1,124 |
| | 959 |
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| | | |
Other Liabilities | | | |
Deferred income taxes | 825 |
| | 780 |
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Regulatory liabilities | 380 |
| | 422 |
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Accrued pension liability — affiliates | 112 |
| | 145 |
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Accrued postretirement liability — affiliates | 10 |
| | 10 |
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Asset retirement obligations | 136 |
| | 130 |
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Other | 49 |
| | 46 |
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| 1,512 |
| | 1,533 |
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Commitments and Contingencies (Note 9) | | | |
| | | |
Shareholder's Equity | | | |
Common stock, $1 par value, 15,100,000 shares authorized, 10,300,000 shares issued and outstanding | 534 |
| | 534 |
|
Retained earnings | 664 |
| | 639 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | — |
| | (4 | ) |
| 1,198 |
| | 1,169 |
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Total Liabilities and Shareholder's Equity | $ | 4,197 |
| | $ | 4,249 |
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See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
DTE Gas Company
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
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| | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended |
| September 30, |
| 2015 | | 2014 |
| (In millions) |
Operating Activities | | | |
Net income | $ | 94 |
| | $ | 107 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities: | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | 75 |
| | 72 |
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Allowance for equity funds used during construction | (1 | ) | | — |
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Deferred income taxes | 39 |
| | 56 |
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Changes in assets and liabilities: | | | |
Accounts receivable, net | 199 |
| | 172 |
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Inventories | (57 | ) | | (104 | ) |
Prepaid pension costs — affiliates | (13 | ) | | (14 | ) |
Prepaid postretirement costs — affiliates | (49 | ) | | (21 | ) |
Accounts payable | (63 | ) | | 7 |
|
Accrued pension liability — affiliates | (33 | ) | | (15 | ) |
Regulatory assets and liabilities | 43 |
| | (46 | ) |
Other current and noncurrent assets and liabilities | 5 |
| | (18 | ) |
Net cash from operating activities | 239 |
| | 196 |
|
Investing Activities | | | |
Plant and equipment expenditures | (194 | ) | | (152 | ) |
Notes receivable and other | 18 |
| | 2 |
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Net cash used for investing activities | (176 | ) | | (150 | ) |
Financing Activities | | | |
Short-term borrowings, net - other | (17 | ) | | 96 |
|
Short-term borrowings, net - affiliate | — |
| | 2 |
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Issuance of long-term debt, net of issuance costs | 164 |
| | — |
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Redemption of long-term debt | (140 | ) | | (80 | ) |
Dividends on common stock | (69 | ) | | (64 | ) |
Other | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) |
Net cash used for financing activities | (63 | ) | | (47 | ) |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents | — |
| | (1 | ) |
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period | — |
| | 1 |
|
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
|
| | | |
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities | | | |
Plant and equipment expenditures in accounts payable | $ | 28 |
| | $ | 25 |
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See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
DTE Gas Company
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholder's Equity (Unaudited)
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Additional Paid-in Capital | | Retained Earnings | | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | | |
| Common Stock | | | | | |
| Shares | | Amount | | | | | Total |
| (Dollars in millions, shares in thousands) |
Balance, December 31, 2014 | 10,300 |
| | $ | 10 |
| | $ | 524 |
| | $ | 639 |
| | $ | (4 | ) | | $ | 1,169 |
|
Net income | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 94 |
| | — |
| | 94 |
|
Dividends declared on common stock | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (69 | ) | | — |
| | (69 | ) |
Transfer of benefit obligations, net of tax | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 4 |
| | 4 |
|
Balance, September 30, 2015 | 10,300 |
| | $ | 10 |
| | $ | 524 |
| | $ | 664 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 1,198 |
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See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
DTE Gas Company
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Corporate Structure
DTE Gas is a natural gas utility engaged in the purchase, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of natural gas to approximately 1.2 million customers throughout Michigan and the sale of storage and transportation capacity. DTE Gas is regulated by the MPSC and the FERC.
References in this Report to “we”, “us”, “our” or “Company” are to DTE Gas and its subsidiaries, collectively.
Basis of Presentation
The Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the DTE Gas 2014 Consolidated Financial Statements furnished on Form 8-K.
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These accounting principles require management to use estimates and assumptions that impact reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from the Company's estimates.
The Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited, but in the Company's opinion include all adjustments necessary to present a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature, except as otherwise disclosed in these Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Financial results for this interim period are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015.
Certain prior year balances were reclassified to match current year's financial statement presentation.
Principles of Consolidation
The Company consolidates all majority-owned subsidiaries and investments in entities in which it has controlling influence. Non-majority owned investments are accounted for using the equity method when the Company is able to influence the operating policies of the investee. When the Company does not influence the operating policies of an investee, the cost method is used. The Company eliminates all intercompany balances and transactions.
NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, reclassifications out of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were not material. Refer to Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Retirement Benefits and Trusteed Assets", regarding the transfer of a portion of the DTE Gas benefit obligations during the year. Changes in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are presented in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholder's Equity.
Income Taxes
The Company had an income tax receivable due from DTE Energy of $40 million at September 30, 2015 and $48 million at December 31, 2014.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company received an allocation of costs from DTE Energy associated with stock-based compensation of $2 million and $4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, while such allocation was $5 million and $12 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
DTE Gas Company
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) - (Continued)
NOTE 3 — NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The objectives of this ASU are to improve upon revenue recognition requirements by providing a single comprehensive model to determine the measurement of revenue and timing of recognition. The core principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU also requires expanded qualitative and quantitative disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. In July 2015, the FASB deferred implementation of the revenue standard to be effective for the first interim period within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The standard is to be applied retrospectively and early adoption is permitted in the preceding year. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this ASU on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. This ASU requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. This ASU is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim periods therein. It is to be applied retrospectively and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this ASU will not have a significant impact on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330), Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. The ASU replaces the current lower of cost or market test with a lower of cost or net realizable value test when cost is determined on a first-in, first-out or average cost basis. The standard is effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods therein. It is to be applied prospectively and early adoption is permitted. The ASU will not have a significant impact on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
NOTE 4 — ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
A reconciliation of the asset retirement obligation for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 follows:
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| | | |
| (In millions) |
Asset retirement obligations at December 31, 2014 | $ | 130 |
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Accretion | 6 |
|
Asset retirement obligations at September 30, 2015 | $ | 136 |
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NOTE 5 — FAIR VALUE
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date in a principal or most advantageous market. Fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on inputs, which refer broadly to assumptions that market participants use in pricing assets or liabilities. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated, or generally unobservable inputs. The Company makes certain assumptions it believes that market participants would use in pricing assets or liabilities, including assumptions about risk, and the risks inherent in the inputs to valuation techniques. Credit risk of the Company and its counterparties is incorporated in the valuation of assets and liabilities through the use of credit reserves, the impact of which was immaterial at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014. The Company believes it uses valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable market-based inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.
A fair value hierarchy has been established that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value in three broad levels. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). In some cases, the inputs used to measure fair value might fall in different levels of the fair value hierarchy. All assets and liabilities are required to be classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Assessing the significance of a particular input may require judgment considering factors specific to the asset or liability, and may affect the valuation of the asset or liability and its placement within the fair value hierarchy. The Company classifies fair value balances based on the fair value hierarchy defined as follows:
DTE Gas Company
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) - (Continued)
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• | Level 1 — Consists of unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access as of the reporting date. |
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• | Level 2 — Consists of inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are directly observable for the asset or liability or indirectly observable through corroboration with observable market data. |
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• | Level 3 — Consists of unobservable inputs for assets or liabilities whose fair value is estimated based on internally developed models or methodologies using inputs that are generally less readily observable and supported by little, if any, market activity at the measurement date. Unobservable inputs are developed based on the best available information and subject to cost-benefit constraints. |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of financial instruments included in the table below is determined by using quoted market prices when available. When quoted prices are not available, pricing services may be used to determine the fair value with reference to observable interest rate indexes. The Company has obtained an understanding of how the fair values are derived. The Company also selectively corroborates the fair value of its transactions by comparison of market-based price sources. Discounted cash flow analyses based upon estimated current borrowing rates are also used to determine fair value when quoted market prices are not available. The fair values of notes receivable, excluding capital leases, are estimated using discounted cash flow techniques that incorporate market interest rates as well as assumptions about the remaining life of the loans and credit risk. Depending on the information available, other valuation techniques may be used that rely on internal assumptions and models. Valuation policies and procedures are determined by the Company's Treasury Department which reports to the Company's Vice President and Treasurer.
The following table presents the carrying amount and fair value of financial instruments as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| September 30, 2015 | | December 31, 2014 |
| Carrying | | Fair Value | | Carrying | | Fair Value |
| Amount | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Amount | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 |
| (In millions) |
Notes receivable — affiliates | $ | 2 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 2 |
| | $ | 18 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 18 |
|
Short-term borrowings — other | $ | 128 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 128 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 145 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 145 |
| | $ | — |
|
Long-term debt | $ | 1,124 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 699 |
| | $ | 491 |
| | $ | 1,099 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 1,162 |
| | $ | 68 |
|
NOTE 6 — FINANCIAL AND OTHER DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The Company recognizes all derivatives at their fair value as Derivative assets or liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position unless they qualify for certain scope exceptions, including the normal purchases and normal sales exception. Further, derivatives that qualify and are designated for hedge accounting are classified as either hedges of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (cash flow hedge); or as hedges of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment (fair value hedge). For cash flow hedges, the portion of the derivative gain or loss that is effective in offsetting the change in the value of the underlying exposure is deferred in Accumulated other comprehensive income and later reclassified into earnings when the underlying transaction occurs. Gains or losses from the ineffective portion of cash flow hedges are recognized in earnings immediately. For fair value hedges, changes in fair values for the derivative and hedged item are recognized in earnings each period. For derivatives that do not qualify or are not designated for hedge accounting, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings each period.
The Company's primary market risk exposure is associated with commodity prices, credit, and interest rates. The Company has risk management policies to monitor and manage market risks. DTE Gas purchases, stores, transports, distributes and sells natural gas, and sells storage and transportation capacity. The Company has fixed-priced contracts for portions of its expected natural gas supply requirements through March 2018. Substantially all of these contracts meet the normal purchases and normal sales exception and are therefore accounted for under the accrual method. The Company may also sell forward transportation and storage capacity contracts. Forward transportation and storage contracts are generally not derivatives and are therefore accounted for under the accrual method.
DTE Gas Company
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) - (Continued)
NOTE 7 — LONG-TERM DEBT
Debt Issuances
In 2015, the following debt was issued:
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| | | | | | | | | | |
Month | | Type | | Interest Rate | | Maturity | | Amount |
| | | | | | | | (In millions) |
August | | Mortgage Bonds (a) | | 3.35% | | 2027 | | $ | 40 |
|
August | | Mortgage Bonds (a) | | 4.21% | | 2045 | | $ | 125 |
|
| | | | | | | | $ | 165 |
|
_______________________________________
| |
(a) | Proceeds were used for the redemption of long-term debt and for general corporate purposes. |
Debt Redemptions
In 2015, the following debt was redeemed:
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| | | | | | | | | | |
Month | | Type | | Interest Rate | | Maturity | | Amount |
| | | | | | | | (In millions) |
September | | Senior Notes | | 5.94% | | 2015 | | $ | 140 |
|
| | | | | | | | $ | 140 |
|
NOTE 8 — SHORT-TERM CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS AND BORROWINGS
DTE Gas has a $300 million unsecured revolving credit agreement that can be used for general corporate borrowings, but is intended to provide liquidity support for the Company's commercial paper program. Borrowings under the facility are available at prevailing short-term interest rates. The facility will expire in April 2020. At September 30, 2015, there was $128 million outstanding against the facility, while there was $145 million outstanding against the facility at December 31, 2014.
The agreement requires the Company to maintain a total funded debt to capitalization ratio of no more than 0.65 to 1. In the agreements, “total funded debt” means all indebtedness of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, including capital lease obligations, hedge agreements, and guarantees of third parties’ debt, but excluding contingent obligations, nonrecourse and junior subordinated debt, and, except for calculations at the end of the second quarter, certain DTE Gas short-term debt. “Capitalization” means the sum of (a) total funded debt plus (b) “consolidated net worth,” which is equal to consolidated total stockholders’ equity of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries (excluding pension effects under certain FASB statements), as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. At September 30, 2015, the total funded debt to total capitalization ratio for DTE Gas is 0.48 to 1 and is in compliance with this financial covenant.
DTE Gas Company
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) - (Continued)
NOTE 9 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Environmental
Contaminated and Other Sites — Prior to the construction of major interstate natural gas pipelines, gas for heating and other uses was manufactured locally from processes involving coal, coke or oil. The facilities, which produced gas, have been designated as MGP sites. DTE Gas owns or previously owned, 14 former MGP sites. Investigations have revealed contamination related to the by-products of gas manufacturing at each site. Cleanup of five of the MGP sites is complete and the sites are closed. We have also completed partial closure of two additional sites. Cleanup activities associated with the remaining sites will be continued over the next several years. The MPSC has established a cost deferral and rate recovery mechanism for investigation and remediation costs incurred at former MGP sites. In addition to the MGP sites, the Company is also in the process of cleaning up other contaminated sites, including gate stations, gas pipeline releases, and underground storage tank locations. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had $23 million and $24 million accrued for remediation, respectively. Any change in assumptions, such as remediation techniques, nature and extent of contamination and regulatory requirements, could impact the estimate of remedial action costs for the sites and affect the Company’s financial position and cash flows. The Company anticipates the cost amortization methodology approved by the MPSC for DTE Gas, which allows DTE Gas to amortize the MGP costs over a ten-year period beginning with the year subsequent to the year the MGP costs were incurred, will prevent environmental costs from having a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations.
Guarantees
In certain limited circumstances, the Company enters into contractual guarantees. The Company may guarantee another entity’s obligation in the event it fails to perform and may provide guarantees in certain indemnification agreements. Finally, the Company may provide indirect guarantees for the indebtedness of others.
Labor Contracts
There are several bargaining units for the Company's approximately 1,100 represented employees. The majority of the represented employees are under contracts that expire in 2017.
Purchase Commitments
As of September 30, 2015, the Company was party to numerous long-term purchase commitments relating to a variety of goods and services required for its business. These agreements primarily consist of long-term natural gas purchase and transportation agreements. The Company estimates that these commitments will be approximately $900 million from 2015 through 2051. In addition, DTE Gas has made certain commitments in connection with 2015 annual capital expenditures that are expected to be approximately $300 million.
Bankruptcies
Certain of the Company's customers and suppliers have filed for bankruptcy protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The Company regularly reviews contingent matters relating to these customers and suppliers and their purchase and sale contracts and records provisions for amounts considered at risk of probable loss. The Company believes its accrued amounts are adequate for probable loss.
Other Contingencies
The Company is involved in certain other legal, regulatory, administrative, and environmental proceedings before various courts, arbitration panels and governmental agencies concerning claims arising in the ordinary course of business. These proceedings include certain contract disputes, additional environmental reviews and investigations, audits, inquiries from various regulators, and pending judicial matters. The Company cannot predict the final disposition of such proceedings. The Company regularly reviews legal matters and records provisions for claims that it can estimate and are considered probable of loss. The resolution of these pending proceedings is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's operations or financial statements in the periods they are resolved.
DTE Gas Company
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) - (Continued)
NOTE 10 — RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND TRUSTEED ASSETS
The following table details the components of net periodic benefit costs for pension benefits and other postretirement benefits:
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Pension Benefits | | Other Postretirement Benefits |
| 2015 | | 2014 | | 2015 | | 2014 |
| (In millions) |
Three Months Ended September 30 | | | | | | | |
Service cost | $ | 6 |
| | $ | 4 |
| | $ | 2 |
| | $ | 2 |
|
Interest cost | 11 |
| | 11 |
| | 5 |
| | 5 |
|
Expected return on plan assets | (20 | ) | | (19 | ) | | (10 | ) | | (9 | ) |
Amortization of: | | | | | | | |
Net actuarial loss | 12 |
| �� | 10 |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
|
Prior service credit | — |
| | — |
| | (7 | ) | | (8 | ) |
Net periodic benefit cost (credit) | $ | 9 |
| | $ | 6 |
| | $ | (9 | ) | | $ | (9 | ) |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Pension Benefits | | Other Postretirement Benefits |
| 2015 | | 2014 | | 2015 | | 2014 |
| (In millions) |
Nine Months Ended September 30 | | | | | | | |
Service cost | $ | 16 |
| | $ | 13 |
| | $ | 6 |
| | $ | 6 |
|
Interest cost | 34 |
| | 33 |
| | 14 |
| | 15 |
|
Expected return on plan assets | (60 | ) | | (55 | ) | | (30 | ) | | (26 | ) |
Amortization of: | | | | | | | |
Net actuarial loss | 35 |
| | 26 |
| | 5 |
| | 4 |
|
Prior service credit | (1 | ) | | — |
| | (21 | ) | | (23 | ) |
Net periodic benefit cost (credit) | $ | 24 |
| | $ | 17 |
| | $ | (26 | ) | | $ | (24 | ) |
Pension and Other Postretirement Contributions
During the first nine months of 2015, the Company made cash contributions of $30 million to its pension plans.
During the first nine months of 2015, the Company made cash contributions of $24 million to the Master VEBA Trust for its other postretirement benefit plans.
Plan Changes
In 2015, certain executive retirement benefit plans were amended to transfer the obligation for benefits as attributed to DTE Energy Corporate Services, LLC (LLC), a subsidiary of DTE Energy. The related plan liabilities were transferred from DTE Gas to LLC.