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GENERAL INFORMATION (Policies) | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2017
Accounting policies |
Consolidation | As used in these notes, the term "financial statements" refers to the condensed consolidated financial statements. This includes the income statements, statements of comprehensive income, balance sheets, and statements of cash flows, unless otherwise noted. In this report, when we refer to "the Company," "us," "we," "our," or "ours," we are referring to WEC Energy Group and all of its subsidiaries.
Basis of Accounting | We have prepared the unaudited interim financial statements presented in this Form 10-Q pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC and GAAP. Accordingly, these financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and footnotes in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. Financial results for an interim period may not give a true indication of results for the year. In particular, the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, are not necessarily indicative of expected results for 2017 due to seasonal variations and other factors.
Stock-Based Compensation - Forfeitures | As allowed under this ASU, we have also elected to account for forfeitures as they occur, rather than estimating potential future forfeitures and recording them over the vesting period.
Fair Value Measurement | Fair value is 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 (exit price). Fair value accounting rules provide a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurement) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurement). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows: Level 1 – Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. Level 2 – Pricing inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly, but are not quoted prices included within Level 1. Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued using external inputs within models or other valuation methods. Level 3 – Pricing inputs include significant inputs that are generally less observable from objective sources. These inputs may be used with internally developed methods that result in management's best estimate of fair value. Level 3 instruments include those that may be more structured or otherwise tailored to customers' needs. Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. We use a mid-market pricing convention (the mid-point price between bid and ask prices) as a practical measure for valuing certain derivative assets and liabilities. We primarily use a market approach for recurring fair value measurements and attempt to use valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. When possible, we base the valuations of our financial assets and liabilities on quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets. These valuations are classified in Level 1. The valuations of certain contracts not classified as Level 1 may be based on quoted market prices received from counterparties and/or observable inputs for similar instruments. Transactions valued using these inputs are classified in Level 2. Certain derivatives are categorized in Level 3 due to the significance of unobservable or internally-developed inputs. We recognize transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy at their value as of the end of the reporting period.
Derivative Instruments | We use derivatives as part of our risk management program to manage the risks associated with the price volatility of purchased power, generation, and natural gas costs for the benefit of our customers and shareholders. Our approach is non-speculative and designed to mitigate risk. Regulated hedging programs are approved by our state regulators. We record derivative instruments on our balance sheets as an asset or liability measured at fair value unless they qualify for the normal purchases and sales exception, and are so designated. We continually assess our contracts designated as normal and will discontinue the treatment of these contracts as normal if the required criteria are no longer met. Changes in the derivative's fair value are recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met or we receive regulatory treatment for the derivative. For most energy-related physical and financial contracts in our regulated operations that qualify as derivatives, our regulators allow the effects of fair value accounting to be offset to regulatory assets and liabilities.
New Accounting Pronouncements | Revenue Recognition In May 2014, the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board issued their joint revenue recognition standard, ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Several amendments were issued subsequent to the standard to clarify the guidance. The core principle of the guidance is to recognize revenue in an amount that an entity is entitled to receive in exchange for goods and services. The guidance also requires additional disclosures about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenues and the related cash flows arising from contracts with customers. We intend to adopt this standard for interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2018, as required, and plan to use the modified retrospective method of adoption. If applicable, this method requires a cumulative-effect adjustment to be recorded on the balance sheet as of the beginning of 2018, as if the standard had always been in effect. If applicable, disclosures in 2018 will include a reconciliation of results under the new revenue recognition guidance compared with what would have been reported in 2018 under the old revenue recognition guidance in order to help facilitate comparability with the prior periods. We are finalizing our review of our contracts with customers and the related financial disclosures to evaluate the impact of the amended guidance on our existing revenue recognition policies and procedures. We consider tariff sales at our regulated utilities, excluding the revenue component related to alternative revenue programs, to be in the scope of the new standard. We have evaluated the nature of our operating revenues and do not expect that there will be a significant shift in the timing or pattern of revenue recognition. However, in our evaluation, we are also monitoring unresolved implementation issues for our industry. The final resolution of these issues could impact our current accounting policies and revenue recognition. Recognition and Measurement of Financial Instruments In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities. This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and will be recorded, if applicable, with a cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which the guidance is effective. This guidance requires equity investments, including other ownership interests such as partnerships, unincorporated joint ventures, and limited liability companies, to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. It also simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values and amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments. This ASU does not apply to investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting. We do not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a significant impact on our financial statements. Leases In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, and will be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The main provision of this ASU is that lessees will be required to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for most leases, including those classified as operating leases under GAAP. We are currently assessing the effects this guidance may have on our financial statements. Financial Instruments Credit Losses In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. This ASU introduces a new impairment model known as the current expected credit loss model. The ASU requires a financial asset measured at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. Previously, recognition of the full amount of credit losses was generally delayed until the loss was probable of occurring. We are currently assessing the effects this guidance may have on our financial statements. Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, and will be applied using a retrospective transition method. There are eight main provisions of this ASU for which current GAAP either is unclear or does not include specific guidance. We do not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a significant impact on our financial statements. Restricted Cash In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Restricted Cash. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Under this ASU, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-the period and end-of-the period total amounts shown on the statements of cash flows. We do not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a significant impact on our financial statements. Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Under this ASU, an employer is required to disaggregate the service cost component from the other components of the net benefit cost. The amendments provide explicit guidance on how to present the service cost component and the other components of the net benefit cost in the income statement and allow only the service cost component of the net benefit cost to be eligible for capitalization. The amendments should be applied retrospectively for the presentation of the service cost component and the other components of the net benefit cost in the income statement, and prospectively for the capitalization of the service cost component in assets. While we have not fully determined the impacts of the adoption of this standard, we expect that as a result of the application of accounting principles for rate regulated entities, a similar amount of net benefit cost (including non-service components), will be recognized in our financial statements consistent with the current ratemaking treatment. As a result, we believe the impacts of adoption will be limited to changes in classification of non-service costs in the income statements.

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