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EX-32.1 - EX-32.1 - InfraREIT, Inc.hifr-ex321_7.htm
EX-32.2 - EX-32.2 - InfraREIT, Inc.hifr-ex322_12.htm
EX-31.2 - EX-31.2 - InfraREIT, Inc.hifr-ex312_10.htm
EX-31.1 - EX-31.1 - InfraREIT, Inc.hifr-ex311_13.htm

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

SHARYLAND UTILITIES, L.P.

Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2016

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


SHARYLAND UTILITIES, L.P.

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

7,388

 

 

$

22,346

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

33,658

 

 

 

34,356

 

Due from affiliates

 

 

18,959

 

 

 

34,317

 

Inventory

 

 

370

 

 

 

-

 

Prepayments and other current assets

 

 

4,546

 

 

 

3,371

 

Total current assets

 

 

64,921

 

 

 

94,390

 

Property, Plant and Equipment - net

 

 

1,673,381

 

 

 

1,610,640

 

Goodwill

 

 

1,100

 

 

 

1,100

 

Deferred Charges – Regulatory Assets, net

 

 

34,568

 

 

 

34,767

 

Total Assets

 

$

1,773,970

 

 

$

1,740,897

 

Partners' Capital and Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

$

38,668

 

 

$

59,719

 

Current portion of financing obligation

 

 

36,192

 

 

 

32,006

 

Due to affiliates

 

 

26,197

 

 

 

27,085

 

Fair value of derivative liabilities

 

 

58

 

 

 

26

 

Current state margin tax payable

 

 

1,903

 

 

 

1,545

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

103,018

 

 

 

120,381

 

Long-Term Financing Obligation - net of Deferred Financing Costs

 

 

1,559,638

 

 

 

1,513,346

 

Long-Term Debt

 

 

51,200

 

 

 

59,200

 

Regulatory Liabilities

 

 

6,310

 

 

 

5,940

 

OPEB and Other Liabilities

 

 

8,570

 

 

 

8,787

 

Total Liabilities

 

 

1,728,736

 

 

 

1,707,654

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

 

1,163

 

 

 

1,163

 

Partners' Capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General partner

 

 

390

 

 

 

269

 

Limited partner

 

 

43,739

 

 

 

31,837

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(58

)

 

 

(26

)

Total partners' capital

 

 

44,071

 

 

 

32,080

 

Total Partners' Capital and Liabilities

 

$

1,773,970

 

 

$

1,740,897

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.


SHARYLAND UTILITIES, L.P.

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Revenues

 

$

67,963

 

 

$

63,639

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution expense

 

 

5,591

 

 

 

6,639

 

Transmission expense

 

 

7,490

 

 

 

5,859

 

General and administrative expense

 

 

10,560

 

 

 

10,175

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

9,668

 

 

 

7,618

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

33,309

 

 

 

30,291

 

Operating Income

 

 

34,654

 

 

 

33,348

 

Other Expense – net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

(32,667

)

 

 

(29,140

)

Other income, net

 

 

571

 

 

 

65

 

Tax reimbursements for contributions in aid of construction

 

 

164

 

 

 

289

 

Total other expense - net

 

 

(31,932

)

 

 

(28,786

)

Net Income Before Income Taxes

 

 

2,722

 

 

 

4,562

 

Income Tax Expense

 

 

357

 

 

 

477

 

Net Income

 

$

2,365

 

 

$

4,085

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.


SHARYLAND UTILITIES, L.P.

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Net income

 

$

2,365

 

 

$

4,085

 

Change in fair value of cash flow hedging instrument

 

 

(32

)

 

 

-

 

Comprehensive net income

 

$

2,333

 

 

$

4,085

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.


SHARYLAND UTILITIES, L.P.

 

Consolidated Statements of Partners’ Capital

Three Months Ended March 31, 2016

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

Total

 

 

 

General

 

 

Limited

 

 

Comprehensive

 

 

Partners'

 

 

 

Partner

 

 

Partner

 

 

Loss

 

 

Capital

 

Balance at December 31, 2015

 

$

269

 

 

$

31,837

 

 

$

(26

)

 

$

32,080

 

Partners' contributions

 

 

97

 

 

 

9,561

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

9,658

 

Net income

 

 

24

 

 

 

2,341

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,365

 

Change in fair value of cash flow heding instrument

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(32

)

 

 

(32

)

Balance at March 31, 2016

 

$

390

 

 

$

43,739

 

 

$

(58

)

 

$

44,071

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.


SHARYLAND UTILITIES, L.P.

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

2,365

 

 

$

4,085

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

 

8,776

 

 

 

6,822

 

Amortization of deferred costs

 

 

1,006

 

 

 

796

 

Allowance for funds used during contruction - equity

 

 

(535

)

 

 

-

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

698

 

 

 

(3,077

)

Due from affiliates

 

 

15,358

 

 

 

13,888

 

Inventory

 

 

(370

)

 

 

-

 

Prepayments and other current assets

 

 

(1,275

)

 

 

521

 

Deferred charges - regulatory assets and liabilities

 

 

(507

)

 

 

(167

)

Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other

 

 

(21,570

)

 

 

(6,396

)

Due to affiliates

 

 

(888

)

 

 

1,280

 

State margin tax payable

 

 

358

 

 

 

477

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

3,416

 

 

 

18,229

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additions to electric plant

 

 

(10,997

)

 

 

(1,759

)

Purchase of transmission assets under construction

 

 

-

 

 

 

(15,909

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(10,997

)

 

 

(17,668

)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners' contributions

 

 

9,658

 

 

 

6,300

 

Proceeds from short-term borrowing

 

 

5,000

 

 

 

5,000

 

Proceeds from short-term borrowing from affiliates

 

 

4,000

 

 

 

10,000

 

Proceeds from borrowing of long-term debt

 

 

-

 

 

 

14,700

 

Repayments of short-term borrowing

 

 

(5,000

)

 

 

-

 

Repayments of short-term borrowing to affiliates

 

 

(4,000

)

 

 

(3,500

)

Repayments of long-term debt

 

 

(8,000

)

 

 

-

 

Deferred financing costs

 

 

-

 

 

 

(1,855

)

Repayments of financing obligation

 

 

(9,035

)

 

 

(9,956

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

 

(7,377

)

 

 

20,689

 

Net  (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(14,958

)

 

 

21,250

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

 

22,346

 

 

 

7,383

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at end of period

 

$

7,388

 

 

$

28,633

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.


 

SHARYLAND UTILITIES, L.P.

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2016

(Unaudited)

 

(1)

Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

(a)

Description of Business

Sharyland Utilities, L.P. (the Partnership or SULP) is a regulated electricity transmission and distribution partnership engaged in providing delivery services to retail electric providers (REPs) serving over 53,000 electric delivery points in 29 counties throughout Texas. The Partnership’s customers are principally residential, commercial and irrigation customers located in the cities of Mission and McAllen, Texas, in the outlying areas of Hidalgo County in south Texas, in the Midland-Stanton area of west Texas, in the central Texas area around Brady, and in northeast Texas in Hunt, Collin and Fannin Counties.

The Partnership is also engaged in the transmission of electricity throughout Texas. Those transmission activities include: a 138 Kilovolt (kV) looped system 365 miles in length, through a 300 megawatt (MW) high-voltage direct current transmission interconnection between Texas and Mexico (Railroad DC Tie); and a 300 mile 345 kV transmission loop in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains near Amarillo, Texas.

The Partnership was organized as a Texas limited partnership on November 3, 1998, as an electrical distribution utility located in Hidalgo County, Texas. Effective May 8, 2015, SU FERC, L.L.C., the sole subsidiary of the Partnership was merged with and into SULP as approved by the PUCT pursuant to Docket No. 43589. Immediately following the merger of SU FERC, L.L.C. into SULP, the Partnership created a new wholly owned subsidiary, also named SU FERC, L.L.C. On March 24, 2016, the Partnership transferred its ownership in SU FERC, L.L.C. to its General Partner.

On March 18, 2016, Hunt Power, L.P. (HP), an affiliate of the Partnership, contributed GS Project Entity, L.L.C. (GSPE) to the partners of the Partnership (Partners). The Partners contributed the interest in GSPE to the Partnership. GSPE became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership. See Note 2.

The Partnership leases some of its transmission and distribution assets from a related party, Sharyland Distribution & Transmission Services, L.L.C. (SDTS) under Master Lease Agreements. See Note 3.

 

(b)

Principles of Consolidated and Presentation

All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The Partnership maintains accounting records in accordance with the uniform system of accounts, as prescribed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The Partnership’s consolidated financial statements reflect the effects of the different rate making principles mandated by the FERC and PUCT regulating its operations.

The Partnership accounted for the contribution of GSPE as a common control transaction whereby the net assets acquired are combined with the Partnership at their carrying value. Prior periods Consolidated Balance Sheet, Consolidated Statement of Operations, Consolidated Statement of Partner’s Capital and Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, have been recast in accordance with ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations.

 

(c)

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

(d)

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2015-03, Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30), Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. ASU 2015-03 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 the debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. ASU 2015-03 was effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2015 with early adoption permitted. The adoption of the new guidance was applied on a retrospective basis with each balance sheet presented reflecting the new guidance along with transitional disclosures. The adoption did change the presentation of our financial position. As a result, $561,000 and $748,000 of deferred financing costs were reclassed from

(Continued)


2

SHARYLAND UTILITIES, L.P.

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

deferred charges – regulatory assets - net to long-term financing obligation, less unamortized deferred financing costs on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. The adoption of the new guidance did not have an impact on our results of operations or cash flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. ASU 2016-02 amended the existing accounting standard for lease accounting, including requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets and making targeted changes to lessor accounting. ASU 2016-02 is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2018 with early adoption permitted. The new standard requires a modified retrospective transition approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial application, with an option to use certain transition relief. The Partnership is currently evaluating the new guidance and have not determined the impact this standard may have on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

(2)

Acquisition

On March 18, 2016, Hunt Power, L.P. (HP), an affiliate of the Partnership, contributed GS Project Entity, L.L.C. (GSPE) to the Partners. The Partners contributed the interest in GSPE to the Partnership. GSPE became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership. GSPE was formed on January 6, 2015 for the purpose of financing and owning the Golden Spread 345 kV-Transmission Line Project (GS Project). The Partnership’s financial statements have been adjusted to reflect GSPE’s activities from the formation date. The GS Project was acquired by GSPE on March 31, 2015, therefore there was no impact on the consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The approximately 55 mile transmission line connects Golden Spread Electric Co-op (GSEC) gas-fired generation facilities to the White River Station in the Texas Panhandle which is owned by SDTS.

(3)

Master Lease Agreements

The Partnership leases some of its Transmission and all of its Distribution (T&D) assets from SDTS, a related party, under Master Lease Agreements (MLA). Also under these same MLAs, SDTS is responsible for funding all prudently incurred electric plant capital expenditures deemed necessary to serve customers by the Partnership. In accordance with the lease agreements, the Partnership is responsible for the maintenance and the operation of the T&D assets and for the compliance with all regulatory requirements of the PUCT, the FERC, and any other regulatory entity with jurisdiction over the T&D assets. The lease agreements obligate the Partnership to pay all property-related expenses, including maintenance, repairs, taxes on equipment in service, insurance, and to comply with the terms of the secured credit facilities and secured-term loan, if any, affecting the leased assets. The leases are subject to failed sale-leaseback accounting. See Note 4.

The MLAs, as amended, expire at various dates from December 31, 2017 through December 31, 2022. Each agreement includes annual base payments while all but one agreement includes additional payments, based on an agreed upon percentage of revenue earned by the Partnership, as defined in the lease agreements, in excess of annual specified breakpoints. The rate used to calculate additional payments varies by lease and ranges from a high of 37% to a low of 23% over the term of the agreements. Fixed payments were approximately $36.7 million and $31.5 million during the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The Partnership’s lease agreements include a rent validation after year end to true up lease payments for the difference between actual and estimated incremental capital expenditures placed in service. As a result of the rent validation, the Partnership made additional fixed payments of approximately $858,000 on April 12, 2016 associated with the year ended December 31, 2015. The Partnership made additional fixed payments of approximately $2.4 million on March 31, 2015 and the Partnership received approximately $2.5 million for overpayments of variable payments associated with the year ended December 31, 2014.

The Partnership is also subject to certain restrictive covenants, including indebtedness limits, contained in the lease agreements. The Partnership was in compliance with all covenants as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

(Continued)


3

SHARYLAND UTILITIES, L.P.

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Future minimum lease payments in accordance with these lease agreements are as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

Total

 

Year Ending December 31:

 

 

 

 

2016

 

$

112,004

 

2017

 

 

155,855

 

2018

 

 

81,673

 

2019

 

 

78,923

 

2020

 

 

65,601

 

Thereafter

 

 

12,145

 

Total future minimum lease payments

 

$

506,201

 

 

(4)

Failed Sale Leaseback – Financing Obligation

The Partnership leases some of its T&D assets from SDTS, a related party. SDTS has legal title to such T&D assets under lease. The Partnership, as a managing member of SDTS, has the exclusive power and authority on behalf of SDTS to manage, control, administer, and operate the T&D assets and business affairs of SDTS in accordance with the limited liability company agreement governing SDTS. These rights and obligations constitute continuing involvement, which results in failed sale-leaseback (financing) accounting. Under failed sale-leaseback accounting, the Partnership is deemed owner of the assets under all master lease agreements, including assets currently under construction. Consequently, the T&D assets, including assets currently under construction and corresponding financial obligations are included in the Partnership’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The leases are considered a failed sale-leaseback (financing) due to the Partnership’s continuing involvement in SDTS and due to the ongoing involvement in the construction of the T&D assets as defined by ASC Topic 840, Accounting for Leases.

Approximately $1.6 billion and $1.5 billion are included in long-term financing obligation liabilities related to the failed sale-leaseback (financing), as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. Approximately $36.2 million and $32.0 million of the failed sale-leaseback (financing) obligation are included in current liabilities as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

Included in interest expense is interest on the failed sale-leaseback (financing). Interest expense on failed sale-leaseback (financing) was approximately $32.8 million and $29.1 million during the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The fixed portion of the failed sale-leaseback interest expense was approximately $26.3 million and $22.6 million during the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The variable portion of the failed sale-leaseback (financing) interest expense was approximately $6.5 million during each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

As a result of the failed sale-leaseback (financing) transaction, the Partnership accounts for lease payments to the lessor as a reduction of its financing obligation. Payments on the long-term financing obligation during the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 were approximately $9.0 million and $10.0 million, respectively.

(Continued)


4

SHARYLAND UTILITIES, L.P.

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Future payments of the financing obligation as of March 31, 2016 are as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

Total

 

Year Ending December 31:

 

 

 

 

2016

 

$

24,936

 

2017

 

 

35,338

 

2018

 

 

18,420

 

2019

 

 

13,561

 

2020

 

 

8,415

 

Thereafter

 

 

1,223,744

 

Total financing obligation

 

 

1,324,414

 

Less: current portion of financing obligation

 

 

(36,192

)

Leased system under construction obligation

 

 

248,184

 

Lease deferral (Note 6)

 

 

23,793

 

Less: deferred financing costs

 

 

(561

)

Long-term lease obligation

 

$

1,559,638

 

 

The Partnership recorded depreciation expense of approximately $7.5 million and $6.3 million during the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to the assets accounted for in accordance with failed sale-leaseback.

(5)

Prepaids and Other Current Assets

Prepaids and other current assets at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are as follows:

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31

 

(In thousands)

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Field service agent for right of way acquisition

 

$

3,133

 

 

$

1,633

 

Other

 

 

1,413

 

 

 

1,738

 

Total Prepaids and Other Current Assets

 

$

4,546

 

 

$

3,371

 

 

(6)

Property, Plant and Equipment - net

The major classes of property, plant and equipment at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are as follows:

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leased system

 

$

1,554,842

 

 

$

1,484,792

 

Transmission plant

 

 

85,740

 

 

 

-

 

General plant

 

 

31,549

 

 

 

31,485

 

 

 

 

1,672,131

 

 

 

1,516,277

 

Construction Work in Progress:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leased system under construction

 

 

248,184

 

 

 

258,908

 

Transmission plant under contruction

 

 

-

 

 

 

75,982

 

General plant under construction

 

 

3,294

 

 

 

1,182

 

 

 

 

251,478

 

 

 

336,072

 

Other

 

 

293

 

 

 

293

 

Total Property, plant and equipment

 

 

1,923,902

 

 

 

1,852,642

 

Accumulated Depreciation - Leased system

 

 

(233,352

)

 

 

(225,880

)

Accumulated Depreciation - Transmission plant

 

 

(313

)

 

 

-

 

Accumulated Depreciation - General plant

 

 

(16,856

)

 

 

(16,122

)

Property, Plant, and Equipment - net

 

$

1,673,381

 

 

$

1,610,640

 

(Continued)


5

SHARYLAND UTILITIES, L.P.

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

 

See Note 3 in regards to the transmission plant under construction.

See Note 4 in regards to leased system and leased system under construction.

General plant consists of a warehouse, furniture, fixtures, equipment, computer hardware, software, and vehicles.

(7)

Deferred Charges – Regulatory Assets - Liabilities

Deferred Charges – Regulatory Assets, Net

Regulatory assets represent probable future recovery of costs from customers through the regulatory ratemaking process. The table below provides detail of other deferred charges that are included on the Partnership’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

Net deferred costs recoverable in future years as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are as follows:

 

 

 

March 31, 2016

 

 

December 31, 2015

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

 

 

Carrying

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

Carrying

 

 

Carrying

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

Carrying

 

(In thousands)

 

Amount

 

 

Amortization

 

 

Amount

 

 

Amount

 

 

Amortization

 

 

Amount

 

Deferred financing costs

 

$

2,024

 

 

$

(458

)

 

$

1,566

 

 

$

2,024

 

 

 

(344

)

 

$

1,680

 

Deferred costs recoverable in future years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inception operating costs

 

 

23,793

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

23,793

 

 

 

23,793

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

23,793

 

Rate case costs

 

 

5,915

 

 

 

(2,726

)

 

 

3,189

 

 

 

5,471

 

 

 

(2,210

)

 

 

3,261

 

Study costs

 

 

3,628

 

 

 

(1,153

)

 

 

2,475

 

 

 

3,628

 

 

 

(994

)

 

 

2,634

 

Transition to competition

 

 

1,964

 

 

 

(230

)

 

 

1,734

 

 

 

1,963

 

 

 

(200

)

 

 

1,763

 

Advanced metering costs

 

 

1,715

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,715

 

 

 

1,636

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,636

 

Deferred overhead costs

 

 

96

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

96

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Net Deferred Charges - Regulatory Assets

 

$

39,135

 

 

$

(4,567

)

 

$

34,568

 

 

$

38,515

 

 

$

(3,748

)

 

$

34,767

 

 

The Partnership filed a rate case with the PUCT under Docket No. 41474 (2013 rate case) to adjust the retail delivery tariff for the Stanton, Brady, and Celeste customers. The application was based on a test year ended December 31, 2012, with an effective date of May 1, 2014. The final order was issued January 23, 2014. The final order of the 2013 rate case addressed recovery for costs associated with the transition to competition and certain study costs. Recovery of those costs began when the new tariff went into effect on May 1, 2014. In addition to those costs, the recovery of the 2013 rate case expenses was proposed under a separate docket – PUCT Docket No. 41723.

Deferred financing costs included in net deferred charges – regulatory assets consist of debt issuance costs incurred in connection with the construction credit agreement associated with GSPE. These assets are classified as regulatory assets and amortized over the length of the related loan. These costs will be included in the costs to be recovered in connection with a future rate case.

The inception operating costs of approximately $23.8 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 represent operating costs incurred from inception through December 31, 2007. The 2013 rate case settlement established that the Partnership may seek recovery in a future rate case, pursuant to the mechanism established in Docket Nos. 21591 and 27556, of the inception operating costs plus related return on rate base. Consequently, the Partnership has recorded a corresponding liability in financing obligation.

Regulatory Liabilities

Regulatory liabilities represent probable future refunds associated with the over-recovery of costs from customers through the regulatory ratemaking process. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, approximately $6.3 million and $5.9 million, respectively, are included in regulatory liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(Continued)


6

SHARYLAND UTILITIES, L.P.

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The carrying amount of the regulatory liabilities as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are as follows:

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31

 

(In thousands)

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Postretirement benefits costs

 

$

3,051

 

 

$

3,051

 

Postretirement benefits collections

 

 

1,673

 

 

 

1,255

 

Over-recovered TCRF

 

 

805

 

 

 

1,043

 

Energy efficiency cost recovery factor

 

 

524

 

 

 

591

 

Estimated net removal costs

 

 

257

 

 

 

-

 

Regulatory liabilities

 

$

6,310

 

 

$

5,940

 

 

(8)

Related-Party Transactions

The Partnership made payments associated with the lease of some of its T&D assets to SDTS of approximately $42.4 million and $38.0 million during the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The Partnership received payments throughout the period related to the acquisition of gross property plant and equipment, contracted services, direct labor, materials and supervision associated with its existing asset build out on the T&D assets from SDTS of approximately $58.2 million and $66.3 million during the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. These costs are included on the Consolidated Balance Sheet under property, plant and equipment - net as leased system.

The Partnership received payments of approximately $153,000 during the three month period ended March 31, 2016 for contracted services, direct labor, materials and supervision associated with the interconnection into the 345 kV transmission line in South Texas near the Mexican border from Cross Valley Project Entity, LLC. The Partnership did not receive payments during the three month period ended March 31, 2015 from Cross Valley Project Entity, LLC associated with this interconnection. The costs for this project are included on the Partnership’s Consolidated Balance Sheet under Property, Plant and Equipment - net as leased system under construction.

On February 12, 2015, the Partnership received a subordinated and unsecured loan agreement of $10.0 million from Loyal Trust No. 1, a related party, which originally matured on February 12, 2016. The loan agreement was amended and restated on February 15, 2016 with all the terms superseded and established a subordinated revolving promissory note of $10.0 million that matures on December 31, 2016. The revolving promissory note accrues interest at the floating JP Morgan Chase Prime Rate with all interest compounded semiannually. The note accrues interest at the greater of the three month London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus one hundred fifteen basis points as adjusted or at the floating JP Morgan Chase Prime Rate with all interest compounded semiannually. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Partnership had no amount outstanding on the subordinated note. The interest expense and fees on the subordinated note were approximately $5,000 and $42,000 during the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

An affiliate of the Partnership provides services to the Partnership at contractually agreed upon rates per hour and set amounts for infrastructure support. Charges for such services included in general and administrative expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations amounted to approximately $434,000 and $951,000 during the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Accrued fees included in due to affiliates on the Partnership’s Consolidated Balance Sheets related to these charges were approximately $654,000 and $1.0 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

(9)

Allocation of Partners’ Capital

Revenues, income, gains, losses, expenditures, deductions, credits and distributions, as defined in the partnership agreement, are allocated 1 percent to the general partner and 99 percent to the limited partner.

(Continued)


7

SHARYLAND UTILITIES, L.P.

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

(10)

Credit Facility 

On May 15, 2014, the Partnership entered into an unsecured revolving credit facility of $5.0 million with Amegy Bank, as amended December 10, 2014. The credit facility accrues interest on the outstanding balance at the Prime Rate. In addition to the interest on the outstanding balance, commitment fees accrue at 0.35% for the unused portion of the credit facility. The revolving credit facility expires on May 15, 2017.

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the partnership had no amount outstanding on the revolving credit facility. The interest expense and fees for the revolving credit facility were approximately $34,000 and $19,000 during the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The agreement requires maintenance of certain financial ratios and imposes certain restricted covenants. The Partnership was in compliance with all covenants as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

(11)

Long-Term Debt

 

(In thousands)

 

March 31, 2016

 

 

December 31, 2015

 

Senior secured credit facilities

 

$

51,200

 

 

 

2.19

%*

 

$

59,200

 

 

 

1.98

%*

Total long-term debt

 

 

51,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

59,200

 

 

 

 

 

Less: current portion of long-term debt

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory liabilities

 

$

51,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

59,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

Interest base on LIBOR plus an applicable margin

Senior Secured Credit Facilities – On March 31, 2015, GSPE entered into a construction-term loan agreement consisting of $84.0 million syndicated to 3 banks. The senior secured credit facilities are collateralized by GSPE’s assets.

The $84.0 million construction-term loan accrues interest at LIBOR plus 1.75%. LIBOR resets at each selected interest period (one, two, three or six months), at GSPE’s discretion, at the current market rate. Interest is payable monthly, with a principal conversion term upon completion. Principal conversion is expected to happen once the GS Project is placed in service and transmission cost of service (TCOS) rates are approved by the PUCT. Principal conversion must occur no later than December 31, 2016. The construction-term loan will mature on the third anniversary after principal conversion. The total outstanding borrowing under the construction-term loan, letters of credit and debt drawn cannot exceed $84.0 million. As of March 31, 2016, GSPE had no letters of credit outstanding under the construction-term loan capacity. As of December 31, 2015, GSPE had $2.8 million letters of credit outstanding that expired on March 30, 2016. The outstanding borrowing under the construction-term loan at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was $51.2 million and $59.2 million, respectively.

The construction-term loan agreement contains certain default triggers, including without limitation: failure to maintain compliance with financial and other covenants contained in the agreement, limitation on liens, investments and the incurrence of additional indebtedness. GSPE was in compliance with all debt covenants for the construction-term loan agreement at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

Future maturities of the total long-term debt as of March 31, 2016 are as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

Total

 

Year Ending December 31:

 

 

 

 

2016

 

$

-

 

2017

 

 

-

 

2018

 

 

-

 

2019

 

 

51,200

 

2020

 

 

-

 

Thereafter

 

 

-

 

 

 

$

51,200

 

 

(Continued)


8

SHARYLAND UTILITIES, L.P.

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

(12)

Derivative Instruments 

Interest – On June 15, 2015, GSPE entered into an interest rate swap agreement that has been designated as a cash flow hedge against variable interest with DNB Capital LLC, a lender in the senior secured credit facilities, serving as counterparty, whereby GSPE receives variable (1 month LIBOR), the qualifying benchmark rate and pays a fixed rate at 0.760% per annum, thereby converting a portion of the construction-term loan to a fixed rate.

The cash flow hedging instrument was recorded as a liability, with an offset to accumulated other comprehensive income to the extent the cash flow hedging instrument was effective. The cash flow hedging instrument gains and losses included in other comprehensive income were reclassified into earnings as the underlying transaction occurred. There was not cash flow hedging instrument ineffectiveness recorded during the three month period ended March 31, 2016.

The fair value of derivative liabilities relating to interest rate swaps are as follows:

 

 

 

Balance Sheet

 

March 31

 

 

December 31

 

(In thousands)

 

Location

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Fair value of derivative liabilities - current

 

Current liabilities

 

$

58

 

 

$

26

 

Fair value of derivative liabilities

 

 

 

$

58

 

 

$

26

 

 

GSPE reclassified approximately $32,000, included in other comprehensive income, during the three month period ended March 31, 2016 to interest expense, net on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. As of March 31, 2016, unrealized derivative fair value losses of approximately $58,000 relate to the cash flow hedges was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Partnership’s Consolidated Statements of Partners’ Capital.

(13)

Transmission Cost of Service

All Transmission Service Providers (TSPs) within Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) provide open access transmission service and the costs are ultimately passed through to end-use customers. The PUCT regulates the transmission rates that are charged by the ERCOT TSPs. The Partnership is billed based on the Partnership’s pro rata share, during the prior year, of the average of ERCOT coincident peak demand for the months of June, July, August, and September (ERCOT 4CP), excluding the portion of coincident peak demand attributable to wholesale storage load. Each TSP files a tariff for transmission service to establish its rates, calculated as the TSP’s commission-approved transmission cost of service, or revenue requirement, divided by the aggregate ERCOT 4CP during the prior year. Therefore, the monthly transmission service charge to be paid by the Partnership is the product of each TSP’s monthly rate as specified in its tariff and the Partnership’s previous year’s share of the aggregate ERCOT 4CP.

Taking power over the ERCOT network requires the Partnership to pay fees regulated by the PUCT. The annual charges to use the ERCOT transmission network cover the period from January 1 through December 31 of each year. Because the use of the network is governed by ERCOT and falls under the jurisdiction of the PUCT, a contract is not required with each ERCOT TSP.

(14)

Postretirement Benefits

The Partnership provides continued major medical and dental coverage to retired employees and their dependents meeting certain eligibility requirements. The Partnership’s postretirement health care benefit plan provides prescription drug coverage. The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 includes a federal subsidy for plans that offer prescription drug benefits that are actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D. The Partnership and the actuarial advisors have determined that the prescription drug coverage provided by the Partnership’s postretirement health care benefit plan is actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D, and accordingly, the subsidy provides some relief for ongoing retiree prescription costs.

The Partnership is required to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan as an asset or liability on its balance sheet. FASB guidance requires an entity to include items that have not yet been recognized as net periodic postretirement benefit cost as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. However, for a regulated utility this information is allowed to be recorded as a regulatory asset if: (i) the utility has historically recovered and currently recovers postretirement benefit plan expenses in its electric rates; and (ii) there is no negative evidence that the existing regulatory treatment will change. The Partnership has recorded the unrecognized components of net periodic postretirement benefit cost as a regulatory asset (liability) as these expenses are probable of future recovery.

(Continued)


9

SHARYLAND UTILITIES, L.P.

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

(15)

Fair Value of Financial Instruments 

In accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, the Partnership is required to assess the fair value of its financial instruments and disclose the level of inputs used for that estimate set forth in ASC 820.

The carrying amounts of the Partnership’s cash and cash equivalents, due to and from affiliates, and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities.

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Partnership had approximately $51.2 million and $59.2 million, respectively, of borrowings under the construction-term loan which accrued interest under a floating rate structure. Accordingly, the carrying value of such indebtedness approximated the fair value for the amounts outstanding.

The Partnership’s derivative contracts consist of cash flow hedging instruments which are not traded on a public exchange. The fair values of the cash flow hedging instrument contracts were determined using discounted cash flow techniques. The techniques incorporate Level 2 inputs and quotes from the counterparty to interest swap contract. These market inputs were utilized in a discounted cash flows calculation considering the cash flow hedging instrument term, credit risk, notional amount and discount rate and were classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Financial instruments, measured at fair value as defined by ASC 820, by level within the fair value hierarchy were as follows:

 

 

 

Carrying

 

 

Fair Value

 

(In thousands)

 

Value

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

March 31, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of derivative liabilities

 

$

58

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

58

 

 

$

-

 

December 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of derivative liabilities

 

$

26

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

26

 

 

$

-

 

 

(16)

Commitments and Contingencies

Leases

The Partnership has various obligations under operating leases pertaining to equipment, facilities and office space. Charges for the operating leases included in general and administrative expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations amounted to approximately $94,000 and $103,000 during the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments required under operating leases with a term of greater than 12 months at inception as of March 31, 2016:

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

Year Ending December 31:

 

 

 

 

2016 - Q2, Q3 and Q4

 

$

179

 

2017

 

 

272

 

2018

 

 

219

 

2019

 

 

168

 

Thereafter

 

 

-

 

 

 

$

838

 

 

Regulatory proceedings

The Partnership is involved in various legal and regulatory proceedings. While management is unable to predict the outcome of these proceedings, management does not believe that the ultimate resolution will have a materially adverse effect on the Partnership’s results of operation, cash flows or financial position.

 

 

(Continued)


10

SHARYLAND UTILITIES, L.P.

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

As mandated in the final order for the 2013 rate case, the Partnership had agreed to file its next rate case on or before July 1, 2016, however on December 3, 2015, in the PUCT commission open meeting, the Partnership agreed to file its next rate case on or before April 30, 2016.

Contingencies

On or about January 14, 2002, the Partnership and Southwestern Public Service Company (SPS) entered into a Transmission Agent Agreement (the Contract) for SPS to obtain transmission services from Southwest Power Pool (SPP) for the Partnership. On or about December 31, 2013, the Partnership disconnected from SPP and transitioned its load to ERCOT. On or about July 3, 2014, SPS filed a lawsuit against the Partnership for allegedly breaching the Contract. In the lawsuit, SPS claims the Partnership owes it approximately $2.9 million in pass-through fees associated with 2014 calendar year. SPS simultaneously filed an action with FERC, asking FERC to waive all the Partnership’s fees incurred after the Partnership moved to ERCOT. The FERC proceeding denied SPS’s request for a waiver of the fees. In August 2015, the trial court entered an order placing the case on an active docket. The ultimate outcome may vary pending on further discovery.

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, accrued amounts for legal proceedings of approximately $1.2 million are included in commitment and contingencies on the Partnership’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(17)

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

Supplemental cash flow information and non-cash investment and financing activities for the three month periods ended March 31 are as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Supplemental cash flow information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

 

$

33,211

 

 

$

28,171

 

Cash paid for margin taxes

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Non-cash investing and financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash right of way additions to property, plant and equipment

 

 

100

 

 

 

-

 

Noncash financing obligation incurred

 

 

59,326

 

 

 

74,058

 

Change in accrued additions to property, plant and equipment

 

 

302

 

 

 

-

 

Allowance for funds used during contruction - debt

 

 

692

 

 

 

-

 

 

(18)

Subsequent Events

On April 14, 2016 and April 20, 2016, the Partnership drew $3.0 million and $2.0 million under its revolving credit facility with Amegy Bank. The credit facility accrues interest on the outstanding balance at the Prime Rate at 3.50%.

The Partnership has evaluated subsequent events from the Balance Sheets date through April 29, 2016, the date at which the Financial Statements were made available to be issued, and determined there are no other items to disclose.