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Organization and Basis of Presentation (Policies) | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2021
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] |
Basis of Accounting | These interim financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC for Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements and notes prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. FE and its subsidiaries follow GAAP and comply with the related regulations, orders, policies and practices prescribed by the SEC, FERC, and, as applicable, the PUCO, the PPUC, the MDPSC, the NYPSC, the WVPSC, the VSCC and the NJBPU. The accompanying interim financial statements are unaudited, but reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of the financial statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make periodic estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The reported results of operations are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for any future period. FE and its subsidiaries have evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through the date the financial statements were issued.
Consolidation Policy | FE and its subsidiaries consolidate all majority-owned subsidiaries over which they exercise control and, when applicable, entities for which they have a controlling financial interest. Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation as appropriate and permitted pursuant to GAAP. FE and its subsidiaries consolidate a VIE when it is determined that it is the primary beneficiary. Investments in affiliates over which FE and its subsidiaries have the ability to exercise significant influence, but do not have a controlling financial interest, follow the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, the interest in the entity is reported as an investment in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the percentage of FE’s ownership share of the entity’s earnings is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.
Customer Receivables | Customer Receivables Receivables from customers include distribution services and retail generation sales to residential, commercial and industrial customers of the Utilities. The allowance for uncollectible customer receivables is based on historical loss information comprised of a rolling 36-month average net write-off percentage of revenues, in conjunction with a qualitative assessment of elements that impact the collectability of receivables to determine if allowances for uncollectible accounts should be further adjusted in accordance with the accounting guidance for credit losses. FirstEnergy reviews its allowance for uncollectible customer receivables utilizing a quantitative and qualitative assessment. Management contemplates available current information such as changes in economic factors, regulatory matters, industry trends, customer credit factors, amount of receivable balances that are past-due, payment options and programs available to customers, and the methods that the Utilities are able to utilize to ensure payment. This analysis includes consideration of the outbreak of COVID-19 and the impact on customer receivable balances outstanding and write-offs since the pandemic began. Beginning March 13, 2020, FirstEnergy temporarily suspended customer disconnections for nonpayment and ceased collection activities as a result of the ongoing pandemic and in accordance with state regulatory requirements. The temporary suspension of disconnections for nonpayment and ceasing of collection activities extended into the fourth quarter of 2020 but resumed for many customers before the end of 2020, except in New Jersey where the moratorium was extended until the end of 2021. Customers are subject to each state's applicable regulations on winter moratoriums for residential customers, which begin as early as November 1, 2020, and were in effect until April 15, 2021. During 2021, FirstEnergy has experienced a reduction in the amount of receivables that are past due by greater than 30 days since the end of 2020. While total customer arrears balances continue to decrease in 2021, balances that are over 120 days past due continue to be elevated. Furthermore, FirstEnergy also considered other factors as part of this qualitative assessment, such as certain federal stimulus and state funding being made available to assist with past due utility bills. As a result of this qualitative analysis, FirstEnergy did not recognize any incremental uncollectible expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Receivables from customers also include PJM receivables resulting from transmission and wholesale sales. FirstEnergy’s uncollectible risk on PJM receivables is minimal due to the nature of PJM’s settlement process whereby members of PJM legally agree to share the cost of defaults and as a result there is no allowance for doubtful accounts
Goodwill | GoodwillFirstEnergy evaluates goodwill for impairment annually on July 31 and more frequently if indicators of impairment arise. For 2021, FirstEnergy performed a qualitative assessment of the Regulated Distribution and Regulated Transmission reporting units' goodwill, assessing economic, industry and market considerations in addition to the reporting units' overall financial performance. Key factors used in the assessment included: growth rates, interest rates, expected capital expenditures, utility sector market performance, regulatory and legal developments, and other market considerations. It was determined that the fair values of these reporting units were, more likely than not, greater than their carrying values and a quantitative analysis was not necessary.
New Accounting Pronouncements | New Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted Pronouncements ASU 2019-12, "Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes" (Issued in December 2019): ASU 2019-12 enhances and simplifies various aspects of the income tax accounting guidance, including the elimination of certain exceptions related to the approach for intra-period tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. The new guidance also simplifies aspects of the accounting for franchise taxes and enacted changes in tax laws or rates and clarifies the accounting for transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill. FirstEnergy adopted the guidance as of January 1, 2021, with no material impact to the financial statements. Recently Issued Pronouncements - FirstEnergy has assessed new authoritative accounting guidance issued by the FASB that has not yet been adopted and none are currently expected to have a material impact to the financial statements.
Revenue | FirstEnergy accounts for revenues from contracts with customers under ASC 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” Revenue from leases, financial instruments, other contractual rights or obligations and other revenues that are not from contracts with customers are outside the scope of the standard and accounted for under other existing GAAP. FirstEnergy has elected to exclude sales taxes and other similar taxes collected on behalf of third parties from revenue as prescribed in the standard. As a result, tax collections and remittances are excluded from recognition in the income statement and instead recorded through the balance sheet. Excise and gross receipts taxes that are assessed on FirstEnergy are not subject to the election and are included in revenue. FirstEnergy has elected the optional invoice practical expedient for most of its revenues and utilizes the optional short-term contract exemption for transmission revenues due to the annual establishment of revenue requirements, which eliminates the need to provide certain revenue disclosures regarding unsatisfied performance obligations. FirstEnergy’s revenues are primarily derived from electric service provided by the Utilities and Transmission Companies.
Earnings Per Share | Basic EPS is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the relevant period as the denominator. The denominator for diluted EPS of common stock reflects the weighted average of common shares outstanding plus the potential additional common shares that could result if dilutive securities and other agreements to issue common stock were exercised. Diluted EPS reflects the dilutive effect of potential common shares from share-based awards. The dilutive effect of outstanding share-based awards was computed using the treasury stock method, which assumes any proceeds that could be obtained upon the exercise of the award would be used to purchase common stock at the average market price for the period.
Investments | INVESTMENTS All temporary cash investments purchased with an initial maturity of three months or less are reported as cash equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at cost, which approximates their fair market value. Investments other than cash and cash equivalents include equity securities, AFS debt securities and other investments. FirstEnergy has no debt securities held for trading purposes. Generally, unrealized gains and losses on equity securities are recognized in income whereas unrealized gains and losses on AFS debt securities are recognized in AOCI. However, the spent nuclear fuel disposal trusts of JCP&L, ME and PN are subject to regulatory accounting with all gains and losses on equity and AFS debt securities offset against regulatory assets.
Long-Term Debt and Other Long-Term Obligations | LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONSAll borrowings with initial maturities of less than one year are defined as short-term financial instruments under GAAP and are reported as Short-term borrowings on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at cost. Since these borrowings are short-term in nature, FirstEnergy believes that their costs approximate their fair market value.

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