Recent Accounting Pronouncements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

We are currently evaluating the impact of certain ASUs on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) and Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited), which are described below:



Standard	Description	Effective Date	Effect on the financial statements or other significant matters
ASU 2018-14, Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans—General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans	This pronouncement modifies the disclosure requirements for defined benefit pension or other postretirement benefit plans. The guidance removes disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial, clarifies the specific requirements of disclosures and adds disclosure requirements identified as relevant. The modifications affect annual period disclosures and must be applied on a retrospective basis to all periods presented.	Annual periods ending after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted.	We are currently in discussions with our third-party specialist to evaluate the effects of this pronouncement on our Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited). We expect to adopt this ASU on its effective date.
ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes	This pronouncement simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions to the general principles in ASC 740, income taxes. It also improves consistency of application for other areas of the guidance by clarifying and amending existing guidance.	Annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020 Early adoption is permitted.	We are currently evaluating the effects of this pronouncement on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) and Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited). The most relevant amendment requires that an entity recognize a franchise tax (or similar tax) that is partially based on income as an income-based tax and account for any incremental amount incurred as a non-income-based tax. For NiSource, these taxes may include franchise taxes based on gross receipts, commercial activity taxes and utilities receipts taxes. We expect to adopt this ASU on its effective date.
ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Statements	This pronouncement provides temporary optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP principles to contract modifications and hedging relationships to ease the financial reporting burdens of the expected market transition from LIBOR and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates.	Upon issuance on March 12, 2020, and will apply though December 31, 2022.	We are currently evaluating the temporary expedients and options available under this guidance, and the effects of this pronouncement on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) and Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited). As of March 31, 2020, we have not applied any expedients and options available under this ASU.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements



Standard	Adoption
ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments	In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASC 326). ASC 326 revised the GAAP guidance on the impairment of most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. ASC 326 introduces the current expected credit loss (CECL) model that is based on expected losses for instruments measured at amortized cost rather than incurred losses. It also requires entities to record an allowance for available-for-sale debt securities rather than impair the carrying amount of the securities. Subsequent improvements to the estimated credit losses of available-for-sale debt securities will be recognized immediately in earnings, instead of over-time as they would under historic guidance. In 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivative and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments. This pronouncement clarified and improved certain areas of guidance related to the recently issued standards on credit losses, hedging, and recognition and measurement. We adopted ASC 326 effective January 1, 2020, using a modified retrospective method. Adoption of this standard did not have material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited). No adjustments were made to the January 1, 2020 opening balances as a result of this adoption. As required under the modified retrospective method of adoption, results for the reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2020 are presented under ASC 326, while prior period amounts are not adjusted. See Note 3, "Revenue Recognition," and Note 11, "Fair Value," for our discussion of the implementing these standards.
ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326)