Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Other Balance Sheet Information

The following table presents the accumulated depreciation included in property, plant and equipment, net and accumulated amortization included in intangible assets, net:


(In millions)	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019
Property, plant and equipment accumulated depreciation	$	1,901	$	1,752
Intangible assets accumulated amortization	1,314		1,262

Credit Losses

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, or ASU No. 2016-13, using the modified retrospective approach. Following the adoption of the new standard, the Company’s process of estimating expected credit losses remains materially consistent with its historical practice. Information prior to January 1, 2020, which was previously referred to as the allowance and provision for bad debt, has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for that period.

Retail trade receivables are reported on the balance sheet net of the allowance for credit losses. The Company accrues an allowance for current expected credit losses based on (i) estimates of uncollectible revenues by analyzing accounts receivable aging and current and reasonable forecasts of expected economic factors including, but not limited to, unemployment rates and weather-related events, (ii) historical collections and delinquencies, and (iii) counterparty credit ratings for commercial and industrial customers.

The following table represents the activity in the allowance for credit losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020:


(In millions)	Three months ended September 30, 2020		Nine months ended September 30, 2020
Beginning balance	$	47	$	43
Provision for credit losses	26		74
Write-offs	(19)		(71)
Recoveries collected	3		11
Ending balance	$	57	$	57

Restricted Cash

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and funds deposited by counterparties reported within the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the statements of cash flows:


(In millions)	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019
Cash and cash equivalents	$	697	$	345
Funds deposited by counterparties	15		32
Restricted cash	6		8
Cash and cash equivalents, funds deposited by counterparties and restricted cash shown in the statement of cash flows	$	718	$	385

Funds deposited by counterparties consist of cash held by the Company as a result of collateral posting obligations from its counterparties. Some amounts are segregated into separate accounts that are not contractually restricted but, based on the Company's intention, are not available for the payment of general corporate obligations. Depending on market fluctuations and the settlement of the underlying contracts, the Company will refund this collateral to the hedge counterparties pursuant to the terms and conditions of the underlying trades. Since collateral requirements fluctuate daily and the Company cannot predict if any collateral will be held for more than twelve months, the funds deposited by counterparties are classified as a current asset on the Company's balance sheet, with an offsetting liability for this cash collateral received within current liabilities.

Restricted cash consists primarily of funds held within the Company's projects that are restricted for specific uses.

Pension Plan Contributions

In the Company's 2019 Form 10-K, NRG had anticipated making contributions of $56 million to its pension plans in 2020. Cash contributions of $12 million were made during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and the remaining planned contributions for 2020 were satisfied by available pre-funded pension balances (previous contributions in excess of required pension contributions). No additional contributions are planned in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Recent Accounting Developments - Guidance Adopted in 2020

ASU 2018-17 — In October 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-17, Consolidations (Topic 810): Targeted Improvements to Related Party Guidance for Variable Interest Entities, or ASU No. 2018-17, in response to stakeholders’ observations that Topic 810, Consolidations, could be improved thereby improving general purpose financial reporting. Specifically, ASU No. 2018-17 requires application of the variable interest entity (VIE) guidance to private companies under common control and consideration of indirect interest held through related parties under common control for determining whether fees paid to decision makers and service providers are variable interests. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. All entities are required to apply the amendments retrospectively. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows, or statement of financial position.

ASU 2018-15 — In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract, or ASU No. 2018-15. The amendments in ASU No. 2018-15 align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangement that include an internal-use software license). The amendment also requires the customer to amortize the capitalized implementation costs of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract over the term of the hosting arrangement. The Company adopted the amendments effective January 1, 2020 using the prospective approach. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows, or statement of financial position.

ASU 2018-13 — In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirement for Fair value Measurement), or ASU No. 2018-13. The amendments in ASU No. 2018-13 eliminate such disclosures as the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and add new disclosure requirements for Level 3 measurements. ASU No. 2018-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Certain disclosures in ASU No. 2018-13 are required to be applied on a retrospective basis and others on a prospective basis. The Company adopted the amendments effective January 1, 2020. As the amendments contemplates changes in disclosures only, it did not have an impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows, or statement of financial position.

ASU 2016-13 — In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Statements, or ASU No. 2016-13, which was further amended through various updates issued by the FASB thereafter. The guidance in ASU No. 2016-13 provides a new model for recognizing credit losses on financial assets carried at amortized cost using an estimate of expected credit losses, instead of the "incurred loss" methodology previously required for recognizing credit losses that delayed recognition until it was probable that a loss was incurred. The estimate of expected credit losses is to be based on consideration of past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future conditions. The Company adopted the standard and its subsequent corresponding updates effective January 1, 2020 using the modified retrospective approach. Results for the reporting periods after January 1, 2020 are presented under Topic 326 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP. The Company's adoption of Topic 326 did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, cash flows, or statement of financial position.

Recent Accounting Developments - Guidance Not Yet Adopted

ASU 2020-06 — In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40), or ASU No. 2020-06. The guidance in ASU 2020-06 reduces the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock. In addition, ASU 2020-06 improves and amends the related earnings per share guidance. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently in the process of assessing the impact of this guidance on the consolidated financial statements and disclosures related to earnings per share.

ASU 2019-12 — In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, or ASU No. 2019-12, to simplify various aspects related to accounting for income taxes. The guidance in ASU 2019-12 amends the general principles in Topic 740 to eliminate certain exceptions for recognizing deferred taxes for investment, performing intraperiod allocation and calculating income taxes in interim periods. This ASU also includes guidance to reduce complexity in certain areas, including recognizing deferred taxes for tax goodwill and allocating taxes to members of a consolidated group. ASU 2019-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years,. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company is currently in the process of assessing the impact of this guidance on the consolidated financial statements.