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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Note [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Cash and Cash Equivalents Highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition are classified as cash equivalents, of which PGE had none as of December 31, 2011 and 2010. Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable are recorded at invoiced amounts and do not bear interest when recorded. Late payment fees on balances in arrears are first assessed 16 business days after the due date. An inactive account balance is charged-off in the period in which the receivable is deemed uncollectible, but no sooner than 45 business days after the final due date. Estimated provisions for uncollectible accounts receivable related to retail sales, charged to Administrative and other expense, are recorded in the same period as the related revenues, with an offsetting credit to the allowance for uncollectible accounts. Such estimates are based on management’s assessment of the probability of collection of customer accounts, aging of accounts receivable, bad debt write-offs, actual customer billings, and other factors. Provisions related to wholesale accounts receivable and unsettled positions, charged to Purchased power and fuel expense, are based on a periodic review and evaluation that includes counterparty non-performance risk and contractual rights of offset when applicable. Actual amounts written off are charged to the allowance for uncollectible accounts. Price Risk Management PGE engages in price risk management activities, utilizing financial instruments such as forward, swap, and option contracts for electricity, natural gas, oil and foreign currency. These instruments are measured at fair value and recorded on the consolidated balance sheets as assets or liabilities from price risk management activities, unless they qualify for the normal purchases and normal sales exception. Changes in fair value are recognized in the statement of income, offset by the effects of regulatory accounting. Certain electricity forward contracts that were entered into in anticipation of serving the Company’s regulated retail load meet the requirements for treatment under the normal purchases and normal sales exception. Other activities consist of certain electricity forwards, options and swaps, certain natural gas forwards, options, and swaps, and forward contracts for acquiring Canadian dollars. Such activities are utilized as economic hedges to protect against variability in expected future cash flows due to associated price risk and to manage exposure to volatility in net power costs for the Company’s retail customers. In accordance with ratemaking and cost recovery processes authorized by the OPUC, PGE recognizes a regulatory asset or liability to defer unrealized losses or gains, respectively, on derivative instruments until settlement. At the time of settlement, PGE recognizes a realized gain or loss on the derivative instrument. Contracts that qualify for the normal purchases and normal sales exception are not required to be recorded at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses from contracts that qualify as cash flow hedges are recorded net in Other comprehensive income and contracts not designated as cash flow hedges are recorded net in Purchased power and fuel expense on the statements of income. Physical electricity sale and purchase transactions are recorded in Revenues and Purchased power and fuel expense upon settlement, respectively, while financial transactions are recorded on a net basis in Purchased power and fuel expense upon settlement. Pursuant to transactions entered into in connection with PGE’s price risk management activities, the Company may be required to provide collateral with certain counterparties. The collateral requirements are based on the contract terms and commodity prices and can vary period to period. Cash deposits provided as collateral are classified as Margin deposits in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and were $80 million and $83 million as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Letters of credit provided as collateral are not recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet and were $104 million and $180 million as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Inventories PGE’s inventories, which are recorded at average cost, consist primarily of materials and supplies for use in operations, maintenance and capital activities and fuel for use in generating plants. Fuel inventories include natural gas, oil, and coal. Periodically, the Company assesses the realizability of inventory for purposes of determining that inventory is recorded at the lower of average cost or market. Electric Utility Plant Capitalization Policy Electric utility plant is capitalized at its original cost. Costs include direct labor, materials and supplies, and contractor costs, as well as indirect costs such as engineering, supervision, employee benefits, and an allowance for funds used during construction (AFDC). Plant replacements are capitalized, with minor items charged to expense as incurred. Periodic major maintenance inspections and overhauls at the Company’s generating plants charged to expense as incurred, subject to regulatory accounting as applicable. Costs to purchase or develop software applications for internal use only are capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life of the software. Costs of obtaining a FERC license for the Company’s hydroelectric projects are capitalized and amortized over the related license period. PGE records AFDC, which is intended to represent the Company’s cost of funds used for construction purposes and is based on the rate granted in the latest general rate case for equity funds and the cost of actual borrowings for debt funds. AFDC is capitalized as part of the cost of plant and credited to the consolidated statements of income. The average rate used by PGE was 8% in 2011 and 2010, and 7% in 2009. AFDC from borrowed funds was $3 million in 2011, $9 million in 2010, and $12 million in 2009 and is reflected as a reduction to Interest expense. AFDC from equity funds was $5 million in 2011, $13 million in 2010, and $18 million in 2009 and is reflected as a component of Other income, net. Costs which are disallowed for recovery in customer prices are charged to expense at the time such disallowance is probable. Depreciation and Amortization Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method, based upon original cost, and includes an estimate for cost of removal and expected salvage. Depreciation expense as a percent of the related average depreciable plant in service was 3.7% in 2011, 3.9% in 2010, and 3.8% in 2009. Estimated asset retirement removal costs included in depreciation expense were $49 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 and $47 million in each of the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. Periodic studies are conducted to update depreciation parameters (i.e. retirement dispersion patterns, average service lives, and net salvage rates), including estimates of asset retirement obligations (AROs) and asset retirement removal costs. The studies are conducted every five years and are filed with the OPUC for approval and inclusion in a future rate proceeding. On September 13, 2010, PGE received an order from the OPUC authorizing new depreciation rates to be effective January 2011. Thermal production plants are depreciated using a life-span methodology which ensures that plant investment is recovered by the estimated retirement dates, which range from 2020 to 2050. Depreciation is provided on the Company’s other classes of plant in service over their estimated average service lives, which are as follows (in years):
Production, excluding thermal: |
Hydro | 86 |
Wind | 27 |
Transmission | 53 |
Distribution | 40 |
General | 14 |
The original cost of depreciable property units, net of any related salvage value, is charged to accumulated depreciation when property is retired and removed from service. Cost of removal expenditures are charged to AROs for assets that meet the definition of a legal obligation and to accumulated asset retirement removal costs, included in Regulatory liabilities, for assets without AROs. On June 21, 2011, PGE received an order from the OPUC authorizing an increase in customer prices effective July 1, 2011 for depreciation expense and decommissioning costs related to the Company’s commitment to cease coal-fired operations at Boardman at the end of 2020. Intangible plant consists primarily of computer software development costs, which are amortized over either five or ten years, and hydro licensing costs, which are amortized over the applicable license term, which range from 30 to 50 years. Accumulated amortization was $153 million and $133 million as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, with amortization expense of $19 million in 2011, $17 million in 2010, and $16 million in 2009. Future estimated amortization expense as of December 31, 2011 is as follows: $20 million in 2012; $14 million in 2013; $12 million in 2014; $11 million in 2015; and $8 million in 2016. Marketable Securities All of PGE’s investments in marketable securities, included in the Non-qualified benefit plan trust and Nuclear decommissioning trust on the consolidated balance sheets, are classified as trading. Trading securities are stated at fair value based on quoted market prices. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on the Non-qualified benefit plan trust assets are included in Other income, net. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on the Nuclear decommissioning trust fund assets are recorded as regulatory liabilities or assets, respectively, for future ratemaking. The cost of securities sold is based on the average cost method. Regulatory Accounting Regulatory Assets and Liabilities As a rate-regulated enterprise, the Company applies regulatory accounting, resulting in regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities. Regulatory assets represent (i) probable future revenue associated with certain costs that are expected to be recovered from customers through the ratemaking process, or (ii) probable future collections from customers resulting from revenue accrued for completed alternative revenue programs, provided certain criteria are met. Regulatory liabilities represent probable future reductions in revenue associated with amounts that are expected to be credited to customers through the ratemaking process. Regulatory accounting is appropriate as long as prices are established by or subject to approval by independent third-party regulators; prices are designed to recover the specific enterprise’s cost of service; and in view of demand for service, it is reasonable to assume that prices set at levels that will recover costs can be charged to and collected from customers. Once the regulatory asset or liability is reflected in prices, the respective regulatory asset or liability is amortized to the appropriate line item in the statement of income over the period in which it is included in prices. Circumstances that could result in the discontinuance of regulatory accounting include (i) increased competition that restricts the Company’s ability to establish prices to recover specific costs, and (ii) a significant change in the manner in which prices are set by regulators from cost-based regulation to another form of regulation. PGE periodically reviews the criteria of regulatory accounting to ensure that its continued application is appropriate. Based on a current evaluation of the various factors and conditions, management believes that recovery of the Company’s regulatory assets is probable. For additional information concerning the Company’s regulatory assets and liabilities, see Note 6, Regulatory Assets and Liabilities. Power Cost Adjustment Mechanism PGE is subject to a power cost adjustment mechanism (PCAM) as approved by the OPUC. Pursuant to the PCAM, the Company can adjust future customer prices to reflect a portion of the difference between each year’s forecasted net variable power costs (NVPC) included in customer prices (baseline NVPC) and actual NVPC. PGE is subject to a portion of the business risk or benefit associated with the difference between actual NVPC and baseline NVPC by application of an asymmetrical “deadband.” If the difference between actual NVPC and baseline NVPC falls within the established deadband range, PGE absorbs the incremental cost or benefit, with the difference falling outside the lower and upper thresholds of the deadband range being shared 90/10 between customers and the Company, respectively. Any customer refund or collection is also subject to a regulated earnings test. A refund will occur only to the extent that it results in PGE’s actual regulated return on equity (ROE) for that year being no less than 1% above the Company’s latest authorized ROE. A collection will occur only to the extent that it results in PGE’s actual regulated ROE for that year being no greater than 1% below the Company’s last authorized ROE. PGE’s authorized ROE was 10% for 2011, 2010, and 2009. A final determination of any customer refund or collection is made by the OPUC through an annual public filing and review. PGE estimates and records amounts related to the PCAM on a quarterly basis during the year. If the projected difference between baseline and actual NVPC for the year exceeds the established deadband, and if forecasted earnings exceed the level required by the regulated earnings test, a regulatory liability is recorded for any future amount payable to retail customers, with offsetting amounts recorded to Purchased power and fuel expense. If the difference is below the lower end of the deadband, a regulatory asset is recorded for any future amount due from retail customers. For 2011, the deadband ranged from $15 million below to $30 million above baseline NVPC. PGE’s actual NVPC as determined pursuant to the PCAM for 2011 was below baseline NVPC by $34 million, which is $19 million below the lower deadband threshold. For 2011, PGE recorded an estimated refund to customers of $10 million, reduced from the $17 million potential refund to customers as a result of the regulated earnings test. A final determination regarding the 2011 PCAM results will be made by the OPUC through a public filing and review in 2012. For 2010, the deadband ranged from $17 million below to $35 million above baseline NVPC. Although PGE’s actual NVPC as determined pursuant to the PCAM for 2010 was below baseline NVPC by $12 million, it was within the established deadband range and, accordingly, no customer refund was recorded in 2010. A final determination regarding the 2010 PCAM results was made by the OPUC through a public filing and review in 2011, which concluded that no customer refund was warranted for 2010. For 2009, the deadband ranged from $15 million below to $29 million above baseline NVPC. Although PGE’s actual NVPC as determined pursuant to the PCAM for 2009 exceeded baseline NVPC by $22 million, it was within the established deadband range and, accordingly, no customer collection was recorded in 2009. A final determination regarding the 2009 PCAM results was made by the OPUC through a public filing and review in 2010, which concluded that no customer collection was warranted for 2009. Asset Retirement Obligations An ARO is recognized in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. PGE recognizes those legal obligations related to dismantlement and restoration costs associated with the future retirement of tangible long-lived assets. Due to the long lead time involved until decommissioning activities occur, the Company uses present value techniques because quoted market prices and a market-risk premium are not available. The present value of estimated future removal expenditures is capitalized as an ARO on the consolidated balance sheets and revised periodically, with actual expenditures charged to the ARO as incurred. The estimated capitalized costs of AROs are depreciated over the estimated life of the related asset, which is included in Depreciation and amortization in the consolidated statements of income. Contingencies Contingencies are evaluated using the best information available at the time the consolidated financial statements are prepared. Loss contingencies are accrued and disclosed when it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability incurred as of the financial statement date and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. If a reasonable estimate of probable loss cannot be determined, a range of loss may be established, in which case the minimum amount in the range is accrued, unless some other amount within the range appears to be a better estimate. Legal costs incurred in connection with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred. A loss contingency will also be disclosed when it is reasonably possible that an asset has been impaired or a liability incurred. If a probable or reasonably possible loss cannot be reasonably estimated, disclosure of the loss contingency includes a statement to that effect and the reasons. If an asset has been impaired or a liability incurred after the financial statement date, but prior to the issuance of the financial statements, the loss contingency is disclosed, if material, and the amount of any estimated loss is recorded in the subsequent reporting period. Gain contingencies are recognized when realized and are disclosed when material. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Accumulated other comprehensive loss (AOCL) is comprised of the difference between the non-qualified benefit plans’ obligations recognized in net income and the unfunded position as of December 31, 2011 and 2010. Revenue Recognition Revenues are recognized as electricity is delivered to customers and include amounts for any services provided. The prices charged to customers are subject to federal (FERC), and state (OPUC) regulation. Franchise taxes, which are collected from customers and remitted to taxing authorities, are recorded on a gross basis in PGE’s consolidated statements of income. Amounts collected from customers are included in Revenues, net and amounts due to taxing authorities are included in Taxes other than income taxes and totaled $41 million in 2011, $39 million in 2010, and $38 million in 2009. Retail revenue is billed monthly based on meter readings taken throughout the month. Unbilled revenue represents the revenue earned from the last meter read date through the last day of the month, which has not been billed as of the last day of the month. Unbilled revenue is calculated based on each month’s actual net retail system load, the number of days from the last meter read date through the last day of the month, and current retail customer prices. As a rate-regulated utility, there are situations in which PGE accrues revenue to be billed to customers in future periods or defers the recognition of certain revenues to the period in which the related costs are incurred or approved by the OPUC for amortization. For additional information, see “Regulatory Assets and Liabilities” in this Note 2. Stock-Based Compensation The measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all share-based payment awards, including restricted stock units, is based on the estimated fair value of the awards. The fair value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service period. PGE attributes the value of stock-based compensation to expense on a straight-line basis. Income Taxes Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between financial statement carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in current and future periods that includes the enactment date. Any valuation allowance is established to reduce deferred tax assets to the “more likely than not” amount expected to be realized in future tax returns. As a rate-regulated enterprise, changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities that are related to certain property are required to be passed on to customers through future prices and are charged or credited directly to a regulatory asset or regulatory liability. These amounts were recognized as net regulatory assets of $87 million and $95 million as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and will be included in prices when the temporary differences reverse. Investment tax credits utilized were deferred and amortized to income over the lives of the related properties, and were fully amortized by the end of 2011. Unrecognized tax benefits represent management’s expected treatment of a tax position taken in a filed tax return, or planned to be taken in a future tax return, that has not been reflected in measuring income tax expense for financial reporting purposes. Until such positions are no longer considered uncertain, PGE would not recognize the tax benefits resulting from such positions and would report the tax effect as a liability in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. PGE records any interest and penalties related to income tax deficiencies in Interest expense and Other income, net, respectively, in the consolidated statements of income. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820) - Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements (ASU 2010-06) requires, among other matters, separate reporting about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements for Level 3 fair value measurements. For additional information on Level 3, see Note 4, Fair Value of Financial Instruments. In accordance with the provisions of ASU 2010-06, PGE adopted this requirement of ASU 2010-06 on January 1, 2011, which did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations, or consolidated cash flows. All other requirements of ASU 2010-06 were adopted on January 1, 2010 in accordance with ASU 2010-06. In May 2011, ASU 2011-04, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820) - Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs (ASU 2011-04) was issued. Many of the amendments in ASU 2011-04 change the wording used to describe principles and requirements to align with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, and are not intended to change the application of Topic 820. Some of the amendments clarify the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s intent on the application of existing fair value guidance or change a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or fair value disclosures. The amendments in ASU 2011-04 are to be applied prospectively and are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 for public entities, with early application not permitted. PGE will adopt the amendments contained in ASU 2011-04 on January 1, 2012, which are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations, or consolidated cash flows. In June 2011, ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) - Presentation of Comprehensive Income (ASU 2011-05) was issued. The amendments of ASU 2011-05 require, among other things, that an entity report items of other comprehensive income in one of two ways: (i) a single statement with components of net income and total net income, the components of other comprehensive income and total other comprehensive income, and a total for comprehensive income; or (ii) two statements with components of net income and total net income in the first statement, immediately followed by a statement that presents the components of other comprehensive income, a total for other comprehensive income, and a total for comprehensive income. The amendments in ASU 2011-05 are to be applied retrospectively and are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, with early application permitted. PGE adopted the amendments contained in ASU 2011-05 on December 31, 2011, which had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations, or consolidated cash flows. In December 2011, ASU 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) - Presentation of Comprehensive Income (ASU 2011-12) was issued and defers only the changes in ASU 2011-05 that relate to the presentation of reclassification adjustments, which pertain to how and where reclassification adjustments are presented. ASU 2011-12 is effective at the same time as ASU 2011-05. Accordingly, PGE adopted the amendments contained in ASU 2011-12 on December 31, 2011, which had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations, or consolidated cash flows.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18743-107790 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18854-107790 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 22 -Paragraph 8 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18861-107790 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18726-107790 + Details
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