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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Other Matters | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Other Matters | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Other Matters Principles of Consolidation The Companies’ consolidated financial statements include the accounts of their respective majority-owned subsidiaries, and variable interest entities (see Note R), as required. All intercompany balances and intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Accounting Policies The accounting policies of Con Edison and its subsidiaries conform to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP). For the Utilities, these accounting principles include the accounting rules for regulated operations and the accounting requirements of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the state regulators having jurisdiction. The accounting rules for regulated operations specify the economic effects that result from the causal relationship of costs and revenues in the rate-regulated environment and how these effects are to be accounted for by a regulated enterprise. Revenues intended to cover some costs may be recorded either before or after the costs are incurred. If regulation provides assurance that incurred costs will be recovered in the future, these costs would be recorded as deferred charges or “regulatory assets” under the accounting rules for regulated operations. If revenues are recorded for costs that are expected to be incurred in the future, these revenues would be recorded as deferred credits or “regulatory liabilities” under the accounting rules for regulated operations. The Utilities’ principal regulatory assets and liabilities are detailed in Note B. In general, the Utilities are receiving or being credited with a return on their regulatory assets for which a cash outflow has been made, and are paying or being charged with a return on their regulatory liabilities for which a cash inflow has been received. The Utilities’ regulatory assets and liabilities at December 31, 2020 are recoverable from customers, or to be applied for customer benefit, in accordance with rate provisions that have been approved by state regulators. Other significant accounting policies of the Companies are referenced below in this Note A and in the notes that follow. Financial Instruments – Credit Losses Adoption of New Standard In January 2020, the Companies adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” The amendments replace the incurred loss impairment methodology which involved delayed recognition of credit losses. The amendments introduce an expected credit loss impairment model which requires immediate recognition of anticipated losses over the instrument’s life. A broader range of reasonable and supportable information must be considered in developing the credit loss estimates. The Companies' financial instruments subject to the amendments are included in the lines “Accounts receivable – customers” and “Other receivables.” Substantially all of these in-scope financial instruments are expected to be collected within one year of billing. The Companies adopted the amendments using the modified retrospective method for all financial instruments measured at amortized costs. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2020 are presented under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 326 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP. No prior period adjustment or charge to retained earnings for cumulative impact was required as a result of the Companies’ adoption of the amendments. Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts The Utilities’ “Account receivable – customers” balance consists of utility bills due (bills are generally due the month following billing) from customers who have energy delivered, generated, or services provided by the Utilities. The balance also reflects the Utilities’ purchase of receivables from energy service companies to support the retail choice programs. “Other receivables” balance generally reflects costs billed by the Utilities for goods and services provided to external parties, such as accommodation work for private parties and certain governmental entities, real estate rental and pole attachments. The Clean Energy Businesses’ other receivables balance includes bills related to the sale of energy from renewable electric production projects. The Clean Energy Businesses’ customer accounts receivable balance generally reflects the management of energy supply assets, energy-efficiency services to government and commercial customers, and the engineering, procurement, and construction services of renewable energy projects. The Clean Energy Businesses calculate an allowance for uncollectible accounts related to their energy services customers based on an aging and customer-specific analysis. The amount of such reserves was not material at December 31, 2020. The Companies develop expected loss estimates using past events data and consider current conditions and future reasonable and supportable forecasts. Changes to the Utilities’ reserve balances that result in write-offs of customer accounts receivable balances above existing rate allowances are not reflected in rates during the term of the current rate plans. For the Utilities’ customer accounts receivable allowance for uncollectible accounts, past events considered include write-offs relative to customer accounts receivable; current conditions include macro-and micro-economic conditions related to trends in the local economy, bankruptcy rates and aged customer accounts receivable balances, among other factors; and forecasts about the future include assumptions related to the level of write-offs and recoveries. Generally, the Utilities write off customer accounts receivable as uncollectible 90 days after the account is turned off for non-payment, or the account is closed during the collection process. See "COVID-19 Regulatory Matters" in Note B. Other receivables allowance for uncollectible accounts is calculated based on a historical average of collections relative to total other receivables, including current receivables. Current macro- and micro-economic conditions are also considered when calculating the current reserve. Probable outcomes of pending litigation, whether favorable or unfavorable to the Companies, are also included in the consideration. During the year of 2020, the potential economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was also considered in forward-looking projections related to write-off and recovery rates and resulted in increases to the allowance for uncollectible accounts. The increases to the allowance for customer uncollectible accounts for Con Edison and CECONY were $78 million and $73 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2020. Customer accounts receivable and the associated allowance for uncollectible accounts are included in the line “Accounts receivable – customers” on the Companies’ consolidated balance sheets. Other receivables and the associated allowance for uncollectible accounts are included in “Other receivables” on the consolidated balance sheets. The table below presents a rollforward by major portfolio segment type for the year ended December 31, 2020:
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2020
| Con Edison |  | CECONY
(Millions of Dollars) | Accounts receivable - customers |  | Other receivables |  | Accounts receivable - customers |  | Other receivables
Allowance for credit losses |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Beginning Balance at January 1, 2020 | $70 |  | $4 |  | $65 |  | $3
Recoveries | 8 |  | — |  |  | 6 |  | — |
Write-offs | (54) |  | (2) |  | (50) |  | (1)
Reserve adjustments | 124 |  | 5 |  | 117 |  | 2
Ending Balance December 31, 2020 | $148 |  | $7 |  | $138 |  | $4
Revenues CECONY’s electric and gas rate plans and O&R’s New York electric and gas rate plans each contain a revenue decoupling mechanism, that covers all residential and most commercial customers, under which the company’s actual energy delivery revenues are compared with the authorized delivery revenues and the difference accrued, with interest, for refund to, or recovery from, customers, as applicable. See “Rate Plans” in Note B. The NYSPSC requires utilities to record gross receipts tax revenues and expenses on a gross income statement presentation basis (i.e., included in both revenue and expense). The recovery of these taxes is generally provided for in the revenue requirement within each of the respective NYSPSC-approved rate plans. Total excise taxes (inclusive of gross receipts taxes) recorded in operating revenues were as follows:
| For the Years Ended December 31,
(Millions of Dollars) | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Con Edison | $335 |  | $323 |  | $330
CECONY | 323 |  | 312 |  | 318
For information about the Companies' revenue recognition policies, see Note M. Plant and Depreciation Utility Plant Utility plant is stated at original cost. The cost of repairs and maintenance is charged to expense and the cost of betterments is capitalized. The capitalized cost of additions to utility plant includes indirect costs such as engineering, supervision, payroll taxes, pensions, other benefits and an allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC). The original cost of property is charged to expense over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Upon retirement, the original cost of property is charged to accumulated depreciation. See Note S. Rates used for AFUDC include the cost of borrowed funds and a reasonable rate of return on the Utilities’ own funds when so used, determined in accordance with regulations of the FERC or the state public utility regulatory authority having jurisdiction. The rate is compounded semiannually, and the amounts applicable to borrowed funds are treated as a reduction of interest charges, while the amounts applicable to the Utilities’ own funds are credited to other income (deductions). The AFUDC rates for CECONY were 5.2 percent, 5.1 percent and 5.4 percent for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The AFUDC rates for O&R were 5.3 percent, 5.3 percent and 2.2 percent for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Utilities generally compute annual charges for depreciation using the straight-line method for financial statement purposes, with rates based on average service lives and net salvage factors. The average depreciation rates for CECONY were 3.5 percent for 2020 and 3.2 percent for 2019 and 2018. The average depreciation rates for O&R were 3.2 percent for 2020, 3.0 percent for 2019 and 2.9 percent for 2018. The estimated lives for utility plant for CECONY range from 5 to 85 years for electric, 5 to 90 years for gas, 5 to 80 years for steam and 5 to 55 years for general plant. For O&R, the estimated lives for utility plant range from 5 to 75 years for electric and gas and 5 to 50 years for general plant. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the capitalized cost of the Companies’ utility plant, net of accumulated depreciation, was as follows:
| Con Edison |  | CECONY
(Millions of Dollars) | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2020 |  | 2019
Electric |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Generation | $572 |  | $591 |  | $572 |  | $591
Transmission | 3,786 |  | 3,634 |  | 3,496 |  | 3,380
Distribution | 21,481 |  | 20,676 |  | 20,366 |  | 19,602
General | 52 |  | 43 |  |  | 52 |  | 43 |
Gas (a) | 9,206 |  | 8,617 |  | 8,522 |  | 7,961
Steam | 1,854 |  | 1,813 |  | 1,854 |  | 1,813
General | 2,507 |  | 2,365 |  | 2,286 |  | 2,143
Held for future use | 92 |  | 75 |  | 84 |  | 67
Construction work in progress | 2,474 |  | 1,937 |  | 2,320 |  | 1,812
Net Utility Plant | $42,024 |  | $39,751 |  | $39,552 |  | $37,412
(a) Primarily distribution. General utility plant of Con Edison and CECONY included $86 million and $81 million, respectively, at December 31, 2020, and $93 million and $88 million, respectively, at December 31, 2019, related to a May 2018 acquisition of software licenses. The estimated aggregate annual amortization expense for Con Edison and CECONY is $7 million. The accumulated amortization for Con Edison and CECONY was $17 million at December 31, 2020 and $10 million at December 31, 2019. Under the Utilities’ rate plans, the aggregate annual depreciation allowance for the period ended December 31, 2020 was $1,694 million, including $1,604 million under CECONY’s electric, gas and steam rate plans that have been approved by the NYSPSC. Non–Utility Plant Non-utility plant is stated at original cost. For Con Edison, non-utility plant consists primarily of the Clean Energy Businesses’ renewable electric production projects. Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and include capitalized interest during construction. Depreciation is computed under the straight-line method over the useful lives of the assets. Solar power generating assets and wind power generating assets have useful lives of 35 years and 30, respectively. For the Utilities, non-utility plant consists of land and conduit for telecommunication use. Depreciation on these assets is computed using the straight-line method for financial statement purposes over their estimated useful lives, which is 10 years. Other Deferred Charges and Noncurrent Assets and Prepayments Other deferred charges and noncurrent assets and prepayments of Con Edison, net of accumulated depreciation, included $54 million ($51 million for CECONY) and $12 million ($11 million for CECONY), respectively at December 31, 2020, related to implementation costs incurred in cloud computing arrangements. The amounts recorded in 2019 were not material. Depreciation on these assets is computed using the straight-line method for financial statement purposes over their estimated useful lives. Depreciation expense related to these assets incurred during the year ended December 31, 2020 for Con Edison and CECONY was $7 million and $6 million, respectively. Accumulated depreciation related to these assets for Con Edison and CECONY was $10 million and $8 million, respectively at December 31, 2020 and was not material at December 31, 2019. Long–Lived and Intangible Assets The Companies test long-lived and intangible assets for recoverability when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of long-lived or intangible assets may not be recoverable. The carrying amount of a long-lived asset or intangible asset with a definite life is deemed not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the assets. In the event a test indicates that such cash flows cannot be expected to be sufficient to fully recover the assets, the assets are considered impaired and written down to their estimated fair value. Con Edison's intangible assets with definite lives consist primarily of power purchase agreements, which were identified as part of purchase price allocations associated with acquisitions made by the Clean Energy Businesses in 2016 and 2018. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, intangible assets arising from power purchase agreements, including the PG&E PPAs (discussed below), were $1,457 million and $1,554 million, net of accumulated amortization of $220 million and $119 million, respectively, and are being amortized over the life of each agreement. Excluding power purchase agreements, Con Edison’s other intangible assets were $3 million, net of accumulated amortization of $8 million and $7 million, at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. CECONY’s other intangible assets were immaterial at December 31, 2020 and 2019. Con Edison recorded amortization expense related to its intangible assets of $102 million in 2020, $99 million in 2019, and $14 million in 2018. Con Edison expects amortization expense to be $102 million per year over the next five years. Con Edison recorded $2 million of impairment charges in 2018. No impairment charges were recorded on Con Edison's long-lived assets or intangible assets with definite lives in 2020 or 2019. In January 2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The output of certain of the Clean Energy Businesses' renewable electric production projects is sold to PG&E under long-term power purchase agreements. As a result of the PG&E bankruptcy, distributions from the related projects to the Clean Energy Businesses were restricted and PG&E-related project debt was reclassified on Con Edison’s consolidated balance sheet from long-term debt to long-term debt due within one year. In July 2020, PG&E’s plan of reorganization became effective and the Clean Energy Businesses began receiving previously restricted distributions and all related project debt with a maturity longer than one year was reclassified to long-term debt. Recoverable Energy Costs The Utilities generally recover all of their prudently incurred fuel, purchased power and gas costs, including hedging gains and losses, in accordance with rate provisions approved by the applicable state public utility regulators. If the actual energy supply costs for a given month are more or less than the amounts billed to customers for that month, the difference in most cases is recoverable from or refundable to customers. Differences between actual and billed electric and steam supply costs and costs of its electric demand management programs are generally deferred for charge or refund to customers during the next billing cycle (normally within one or two months). For the Utilities’ gas costs, differences between actual and billed gas costs during the 12-month period ending each August are charged or refunded to customers during a subsequent 12-month period. New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) The Utilities purchase electricity through the wholesale electricity market administered by the NYISO. The difference between purchased power and related costs initially billed to the Utilities by the NYISO and the actual cost of power subsequently calculated by the NYISO is refunded by the NYISO to the Utilities, or paid to the NYISO by the Utilities. The reconciliation payments or receipts are recoverable from or refundable to the Utilities’ customers. Certain other payments to or receipts from the NYISO are also subject to reconciliation, with shortfalls or amounts in excess of specified rate allowances recoverable from or refundable to customers. These include proceeds from the sale through the NYISO of transmission rights on CECONY’s transmission system (transmission congestion contracts or TCCs). Temporary Cash Investments Temporary cash investments are short-term, highly-liquid investments that generally have maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase. They are stated at cost, which approximates market. The Companies consider temporary cash investments to be cash equivalents. Investments Accounting for Investments Con Edison’s investments consist primarily of the investments of Con Edison Transmission that are accounted for under the equity method, and the fair value of the Utilities’ supplemental retirement income plan and deferred income plan assets. The accounting rules require Con Edison to periodically evaluate its investments to determine whether they are impaired. The standard for determining whether an impairment exists and must be recorded is whether an other-than-temporary decline in carrying value has occurred. Changes in economic conditions, forecasted cash flows and the regulatory environment, among other factors, could require equity method investments to recognize a decrease in carrying value for an other-than-temporary decline. When management believes such a decline may have occurred, the fair value of the investment is estimated using a market valuation model such as a discounted cash flow analysis. The fair value is compared to the carrying value of the investment in order to determine the amount of impairment to record, if any. The evaluation and measurement of impairments involves uncertainties. The judgments that Con Edison makes to estimate the fair value of its equity method investments are based on assumptions that management believes are reasonable, and variations in these estimates or the underlying assumptions could have a material impact on whether a triggering event is determined to exist or the amount of any such impairment. Additionally, if the projects in which Con Edison holds these investments recognize an impairment, Con Edison may record a share of that impairment loss and would evaluate its investment for an other-than-temporary decline in carrying value. Con Edison evaluated its equity method investments and determined that there was an other-than-temporary decline in the value of its investment in Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC (MVP) and therefore recorded a partial impairment at December 31, 2020, as described below. Also, Con Edison is considering strategic alternatives with respect to its 50 percent interest in Stagecoach Gas Services, LLC (Stagecoach), a joint venture that owns and operates an existing gas pipeline and storage business located in northeastern Pennsylvania and the southern tier of New York. As such strategic alternatives are evaluated, Con Edison may be required to determine whether an other-than-temporary decline in value has occurred for its Stagecoach investment. Partial Impairment of Investment in Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC (MVP) In January 2016, Con Edison Gas Pipeline and Storage, LLC (CET Gas), an indirect subsidiary of Con Edison, acquired a 12.5 percent equity interest in MVP, a company developing a proposed gas transmission project (the Project) in West Virginia and Virginia. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, CET Gas' cash contributions to MVP were approximately $530 million, and the carrying value at December 31, 2020 prior to recording an impairment loss was $662 million, reflecting CET Gas' proportionate share of allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC) income from the Project. During 2019, Con Edison determined that, as it was permitted to do under the MVP joint venture agreement, it would limit its cash contributions to the joint venture to approximately $530 million, which limit was reached in 2019, and that is expected to result in the further reduction of Con Edison’s ownership share in the joint venture. At December 31, 2020, CET Gas owned an 11.3 percent interest in MVP that is expected to be reduced to 8.8 percent based on the current project cost estimate and CET Gas’ previous capping of its cash contributions to the joint venture. During 2020, progress was made on the construction of the Project, and the U.S. Supreme Court issued favorable decisions in cases unrelated to MVP, regarding the permitting process for pipeline construction and water crossings. In November 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a stay on the Nationwide Permit 12, effectively blocking the Project’s ability to pursue water crossings under that permit. As a result, in November 2020 the Project applied to the FERC for a certificate amendment to bore under water bodies in the first 77 miles of the Project in West Virginia, allowing this portion of the pipe to be completed and placed in-service while a plan for the remaining water crossings was pursued. If approved, this amendment would lead to additional Project costs and would extend the anticipated in-service date of the Project to late 2021. The uncertainty related to obtaining the necessary permits in lieu of the Nationwide Permit 12, the resulting Project costs and the likelihood of the Project not reaching eventual completion have increased, constituting a triggering event which required Con Edison to test its investment in MVP for an other-than-temporary impairment as of December 31, 2020. Further, in January 2021, the FERC did not approve the requested amendment. In its discussion, a FERC commissioner indicated that the commission should have the plan for the entire Project’s water crossings rather than the first 77 miles and that all of the Federal permits be restored before allowing additional construction to resume. Later in January 2021, the Project indicated its plans to apply for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers individual permits for certain water crossings and a certificate amendment for other water crossings that, in total, would cover the entire Project length. In addition, the second largest partner in the Project announced it had recorded a significant impairment of their investment in the Project at year-end 2020. In response to the triggering event, Con Edison assessed the value of its equity investment in the Project to determine whether the fair value of its investment in MVP had declined below its carrying value on an other-than-temporary basis. The estimated fair value of the investment was determined using a discounted cash flow analysis, which is a level 3 fair value measurement. The analysis discounted probability-weighted future cash flows, including revenues based on long-term firm transportation contracts, that are secured for the first 20 years following completion of the Project. See Note T. Con Edison has also assumed cash flows extending beyond this period. All cash flows were discounted at a pre-tax discount rate of 8.3 percent and then weighted based on Con Edison’s estimate of the likelihood that the Project will be completed. Con Edison believes that the likelihood of Project completion is in the upper end of a reasonably possible range. The likelihood that the Project is completed and the discount rate are the most significant and sensitive assumptions; changes in these assumptions may materially change the results of the impairment calculation. Based on the discounted cash flow analysis, Con Edison concluded that the fair value of its investment in MVP declined below its carrying value and the decline is other-than-temporary. Accordingly, Con Edison recorded a pre-tax impairment loss of $320 million ($223 million, after tax), for the year ended December 31, 2020 to reduce the carrying value of its investment in MVP from $662 million to $342 million. The impairment was recorded within “Investment income (loss)” on Con Edison’s Consolidated Income Statement. In addition, Con Edison will not record non-cash equity in earnings from allowance for funds used during construction, if any, from MVP beginning in 2021 and until such time as substantial construction activities are resumed, which would be indicative of probable Project completion. There is risk that the fair value of Con Edison’s investment in MVP may be further or fully impaired in the future. There are ongoing legal and regulatory matters that must be resolved favorably before the Project can be completed. Assumptions and estimates used to test Con Edison’s investment in MVP for impairment may change if adverse or delayed resolutions to the Project’s pending legal and regulatory challenges were to occur, which could have a material adverse effect on the fair value of Con Edison’s investment in MVP. Summary of Investment Balances The following investment assets are included in the Companies' consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2020 and 2019:
| Con Edison |  | CECONY
(Millions of Dollars) | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2020 |  | 2019
CET Gas investment in Stagecoach Gas Services, LLC | $845 |  | $924 |  | $— |  |  | $— |
CET Gas investment in Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC (a) | 342 |  | 602 |  | — |  |  | — |
Supplemental retirement income plan assets (b) | 465 |  | 397 |  | 439 |  | 371
Deferred income plan assets | 92 |  | 81 |  | 92 |  | 81
CET Electric investment in New York Transco, LLC | 69 |  | 59 |  | — |  |  | — |
Other | 3 |  | 2 |  | 10 |  | 9
Total investments | $1,816 |  | $2,065 |  | $541 |  | $461
(a)At December 31, 2020 and 2019, CET Gas' cash investment in MVP was $530 million. In January 2021, the operator of the Mountain Valley Pipeline indicated that, subject to receipt of certain authorizations and resolution of certain challenges, it is continuing to target an in-service date for the Project of late 2021 at an overall Project cost of $5,800 million to $6,000 million, excluding allowance for funds used during construction. For the year ended December 31, 2020, CET Gas owned an 11.3 percent interest in MVP and reduced the carrying value of its investment in MVP from $662 million to $342 million by recognizing a noncash impairment loss of $320 million, pre-tax ($223 million, after tax), and based on total estimated Project costs and CET Gas’ previous capping of its cash contributions to the joint venture, its ownership interest in the joint venture is expected to be reduced to 8.8%. (b)See Note E. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits The accounting rules for retirement benefits require an employer to recognize an asset or liability for the overfunded or underfunded status of its pension and other postretirement benefit plans. For a pension plan, the asset or liability is the difference between the fair value of the plan’s assets and the projected benefit obligation. For any other postretirement benefit plan, the asset or liability is the difference between the fair value of the plan’s assets and the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation. The accounting rules generally require employers to recognize all unrecognized prior service costs and credits and unrecognized actuarial gains and losses in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) (OCI), net of tax. Such amounts will be adjusted as they are subsequently recognized as components of total periodic benefit cost or income pursuant to the current recognition and amortization provisions. For the Utilities’ pension and other postretirement benefit plans, regulatory accounting treatment is generally applied in accordance with the accounting rules for regulated operations. Unrecognized prior service costs or credits and unrecognized actuarial gains and losses are recorded to regulatory assets or liabilities, rather than OCI. See Notes E and F. The total periodic benefit costs are recognized in accordance with the accounting rules for retirement benefits. Investment gains and losses are recognized in expense over a 15-year period and other actuarial gains and losses are recognized in expense over a 10-year period, subject to the deferral provisions in the rate plans. In accordance with the Statement of Policy issued by the NYSPSC and its current electric, gas and steam rate plans, CECONY defers for payment to or recovery from customers the difference between such expenses and the amounts for such expenses reflected in rates. O&R also defers such difference pursuant to its New York rate plans. See Note B. The Companies calculate the expected return on pension and other postretirement benefit plan assets by multiplying the expected rate of return on plan assets by the market-related value (MRV) of plan assets at the beginning of the year, taking into consideration anticipated contributions and benefit payments that are to be made during the year. The accounting rules allow the MRV of plan assets to be either fair value or a calculated value that recognizes changes in fair value in a systematic and rational manner over not more than five years. The Companies use a calculated value when determining the MRV of the plan assets that adjusts for 20 percent of the difference between fair value and expected MRV of plan assets. This calculated value has the effect of stabilizing variability in assets to which the Companies apply the expected return. Federal Income Tax In accordance with accounting rules for income taxes, the Companies have recorded an accumulated deferred federal income tax liability at current tax rates for temporary differences between the book and tax basis of assets and liabilities. In accordance with rate plans, the Utilities have recovered amounts from customers for a portion of the tax liability they will pay in the future as a result of the reversal or “turn-around” of these temporary differences. As to the remaining deferred tax liability, the Utilities had established regulatory assets for the net revenue requirements to be recovered from customers for the related future tax expense pursuant to the NYSPSC's 1993 Policy Statement approving accounting procedures consistent with accounting rules for income taxes and providing assurances that these future increases in taxes will be recoverable in rates. Upon enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 on December 22, 2017 (the TCJA), the Companies re-measured their deferred tax assets and liabilities based upon the 21 percent corporate income tax rate under the TCJA. The tax effects of changes in tax laws are to be recognized in the period in which the law is enacted and deferred tax assets and liabilities are to be re-measured at the enacted tax rate expected to apply when temporary differences are to be realized or settled. For the Utilities, in accordance with their New York rate plans and the accounting rules for regulated operations, the change in deferred taxes was recorded as either an offset to a regulatory asset or a regulatory liability. For Con Edison’s other businesses, the change in deferred taxes was reflected as a decrease in income tax expense, which increased Con Edison's net income. See “Other Regulatory Matters” and “Regulatory Assets and Liabilities” in Note B and Note L. Accumulated deferred investment tax credits are amortized ratably over the lives of the related properties and applied as a reduction to future federal income tax expense. Con Edison and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. The consolidated income tax liability is allocated to each member of the consolidated group using the separate return method. Each member pays or receives an amount based on its own taxable income or loss in accordance with a consolidated tax allocation agreement. Tax loss and tax credit carryforwards are allocated among members in accordance with consolidated tax return regulations. State Income Tax Con Edison and its subsidiaries file a combined New York State Corporation Business Franchise Tax Return. Similar to a federal consolidated income tax return, the income of all entities in the combined group is subject to New York State taxation, after adjustments for differences between federal and New York law and apportionment of income among the states in which the company does business. Each member’s share of the New York State tax is based on its own New York State taxable income or loss. Research and Development Costs Research and development costs are charged to operating expenses as incurred. Research and development costs were as follows:
| For the Years Ended December 31,
(Millions of Dollars) | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Con Edison | $24 |  | $24 |  | $24
CECONY | 23 |  | 23 |  | 23
Reclassification Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified within Note L to conform with current year presentation. Earnings Per Common Share Con Edison presents basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) on the face of its consolidated income statement. Basic EPS is calculated by dividing earnings available to common shareholders (“Net income for common stock” on Con Edison’s consolidated income statement) by the weighted average number of Con Edison common shares outstanding during the period. In the calculation of diluted EPS, weighted average shares outstanding are increased for additional shares that would be outstanding if potentially dilutive securities were converted to common stock. Potentially dilutive securities for Con Edison consist of restricted stock units and deferred stock units for which the average market price of the common shares for the period was greater than the exercise price (see Note N) and its common shares that are subject to forward sale agreements (see Note C). Before the issuance of common shares upon settlement of the forward sale agreements, the shares will be reflected in the company’s diluted earnings per share calculations using the treasury stock method. Under this method, the number of common shares used in calculating diluted earnings per share is deemed to be increased by the excess, if any, of the number of shares that would be issued upon physical settlement of the forward sale agreements over the number of shares that could be purchased by the company in the market (based on the average market price during the period) using the proceeds due upon physical settlement (based on the adjusted forward sale price at the end of the reporting period). Basic and diluted EPS for Con Edison are calculated as follows:
| For the Years Ended December 31,
(Millions of Dollars, except per share amounts/Shares in Millions) | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Net income for common stock | $1,101 |  | $1,343 |  | $1,382
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic | 334.8 |  | 328.5 |  | 311.7
Add: Incremental shares attributable to effect of potentially dilutive securities | 0.9 |  | 1.0 |  | 1.2
Adjusted weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted | 335.7 |  | 329.5 |  | 312.9
Net Income per common share – basic | $3.29 |  | $4.09 |  | $4.43
Net Income per common share – diluted | $3.28 |  | $4.08 |  | $4.42
The computation of diluted EPS for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 excludes immaterial amounts of performance share awards that were not included because of their anti-dilutive effect. Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) by Component Changes to accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) (OCI) for Con Edison and CECONY are as follows:
(Millions of Dollars) | Con Edison |  | CECONY
Accumulated OCI, net of taxes, at December 31, 2017 (a) | $(26) |  | $(6)
OCI before reclassifications, net of tax of $3 for Con Edison | 4 |  | — |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI related to pension plan liabilities, net of tax of $(2) for Con Edison (a)(b) | 6 |  | 1
Total OCI, net of taxes, at December 31, 2018 | 10 |  | 1
Accumulated OCI, net of taxes, at December 31, 2018 (a) | $(16) |  | $(5)
OCI before reclassifications, net of tax of $(6) and $(1) for Con Edison and CECONY, respectively | (10) |  | (3) |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI related to pension plan liabilities, net of tax of $(2) for Con Edison (a)(b) | 7 |  | 2
Total OCI, net of taxes, at December 31, 2019 | (3) |  | (1)
Accumulated OCI, net of taxes, at December 31, 2019 (a) | $(19) |  | $(6)
OCI before reclassifications, net of tax of $4 and $1 for Con Edison and CECONY, respectively | (11) |  | (3)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI related to pension plan liabilities, net of tax of $(2) for Con Edison (a)(b) | 5 |  | 2
Total OCI, net of taxes, at December 31, 2020 | (6) |  | (1)
Accumulated OCI, net of taxes, at December 31, 2020 (a) | $(25) |  | $(7)
(a) Tax reclassified from accumulated OCI is reported in the income tax expense line item of the consolidated income statement. (b) For the portion of unrecognized pension and other postretirement benefit costs relating to the Utilities, costs are recorded into, and amortized out of, regulatory assets and liabilities instead of OCI. The net actuarial losses and prior service costs recognized during the period are included in the computation of total periodic pension and other postretirement benefit cost. See Notes E and F. Reconciliation of Cash, Temporary Cash Investments and Restricted Cash Cash, temporary cash investments and restricted cash are presented on a combined basis in the Companies’ consolidated statements of cash flows. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, cash, temporary cash investments and restricted cash for Con Edison and CECONY were as follows:
| At December 31,
| Con Edison |  | CECONY
(Millions of Dollars) | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2020 |  | 2019
Cash and temporary cash investments | $1,272 |  | $981 |  | $1,067 |  | $933
Restricted cash (a) | 164 |  | 236 |  | — |  |  | — |
Total cash, temporary cash investments and restricted cash | $1,436 |  | $1,217 |  | $1,067 |  | $933
(a)Restricted cash included cash of the Clean Energy Businesses' renewable electric production project subsidiaries ($164 million and $236 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively) that, under the related project debt agreements, is either restricted until the various maturity dates of the project debt to being used for normal operating expenses and capital expenditures, debt service, and required reserves or, for the December 31, 2019 amount, was restricted as a result of the PG&E bankruptcy. During the pendency of the PG&E bankruptcy, cash was not distributed from the related projects to the Clean Energy Businesses. In July 2020, PG&E's plan of reorganization became effective and the Clean Energy Businesses received previously restricted distributions and have resumed receiving distributions for all projects. See "Long-Lived and Intangible Assets,” above.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122369 + Details
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