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ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies) | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2023
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, 2022. 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 | 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 variable interest entity 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.
Discontinued Operations | Discontinued Operations On February 27, 2020, the FES Debtors emerged from bankruptcy and were deconsolidated from FirstEnergy’s consolidated federal income tax group. The bankruptcy, emergence and deconsolidation resulted in FirstEnergy recognizing certain income tax benefits and charges, which were classified as discontinued operations. During the third quarter of 2023, FirstEnergy recognized a $21 million tax-effected charge to income tax expense as a result of identifying an out of period adjustment related to the allocation of certain deferred income tax liabilities associated with the FES Debtors and their tax return deconsolidation in 2020. This adjustment at Corporate/Other for segment reporting was immaterial to the 2023 and prior period financial statements, and is reflected within “Discontinued Operations” on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income and “Loss on disposal, net of tax” on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow.
Equity Method Investments | Equity Method Investments Investments 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 on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The percentage of FE's ownership share of the entity’s earnings is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income and reflected in “Other Income (Expense)”.
Goodwill | Goodwill FirstEnergy evaluates goodwill for impairment annually on July 31 and more frequently if indicators of impairment arise. For 2023, 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 Issued Pronouncements - FirstEnergy is currently assessing the impact of new authoritative accounting guidance issued by the FASB that has not yet been adopted and the impact it will have on its financial statements and disclosures, as well as the potential to early adopt where applicable. The current expectation is that such new standards will not significantly impact FirstEnergy's financial reporting.
Customer Receivables | Customer Receivables Receivables from contracts with 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 customer receivables 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 the pandemic and the impact on customer receivable balances outstanding and write-offs since the pandemic began and subsequent economic slowdown. FirstEnergy’s uncollectible risk on PJM receivables, resulting from transmission and wholesale sales, is minimal due to the nature of PJM’s settlement process and as a result there is no current allowance for doubtful accounts. During 2023, various regulatory actions, including extended installment plans, continue to impact the level of past due balances in certain states, resulting in the allowances for uncollectible customer receivables to remain elevated above 2019 pre-pandemic levels. However, normal collection activity has resumed and arrears levels continue to decline towards pre-pandemic levels. As a result, FirstEnergy recognized a $52 million decrease to its allowance during the first nine months of 2023, of which $27 million was applied to existing deferred regulatory assets.
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 and convertible securities. 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. The dilutive effect of the 2026 Convertible Notes, as further discussed in Note 6, “Fair Value Measurements” under Long-term debt and other long-term obligations, is computed using the if-converted method.
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 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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