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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2013
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 $104 million as of December 31, 2013 and none as of December 31, 2012. Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable are recorded at invoiced amounts based on prices that are subject to federal (FERC) and state (OPUC) regulations. Balances do not bear interest; however, late fees are assessed beginning 16 business days after the invoice due date. Accounts that are inactivated due to nonpayment are charged-off in the period in which the receivable is deemed uncollectible, but no sooner than 45 business days after the due date of the final invoice. Provisions for uncollectible accounts receivable related to retail sales are charged to Administrative and other expense and 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, aging of accounts receivable, bad debt write-offs, actual customer billings, and other factors. Provisions for uncollectible accounts receivable related to wholesale sales are charged to Purchased power and fuel expense and are recorded periodically based on a review of counterparty non-performance risk and contractual right of offset when applicable. There have been no material write-offs of accounts receivable related to wholesale sales in 2013, 2012 and 2011. Price Risk Management PGE engages in price risk management activities, utilizing financial instruments such as forward, future, 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. Changes in fair value are recognized in the consolidated 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 may meet the requirements for treatment under the normal purchases and normal sales scope exception. Such contracts are not recorded at fair value and are recognized under accrual accounting. Price risk management 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. Electricity sale and purchase transactions that are physically settled are recorded in Revenues and Purchased power and fuel expense upon settlement, respectively, while transactions that are not physically settled (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 consolidated balance sheets and were $9 million and $46 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Letters of credit provided as collateral are not recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet and were $29 million and $45 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, 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, which includes 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 are 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. During the period of construction, costs expected to be included in the final value of the constructed asset, and depreciated once the asset is complete and placed in service, are classified as Construction work-in-progress (CWIP) in Electric utility plant on the consolidated balance sheets. If the project becomes probable of being abandoned, such costs are expensed in the period such determination is made. If any costs are expensed, the Company may seek recovery of such costs in customer prices, although there can be no guarantee such recovery would be granted. During the year ended December 31, 2013, PGE charged $52 million of costs previously included in CWIP related to the Cascade Crossing Transmission Project (Cascade Crossing), which was originally proposed as a 215-mile, 500 kV transmission project between Boardman, Oregon and Salem, Oregon. Based on an updated forecast of demand and future transmission capacity in the region, PGE determined in the second quarter of 2013 that the original projections of transmission capacity limitations contemplated in the Company’s 2009 Integrated Resource Plan, as acknowledged by the OPUC, were not likely to fully materialize. As a result, PGE and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) worked toward refining the scope of the project and executed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) in May 2013. In connection with the MOU, the parties explored a new option under which BPA could provide PGE with ownership of approximately 1,500 MW of transmission capacity rights. As a result of the changed conditions reflected in the MOU, PGE also suspended permitting and development of Cascade Crossing and charged the capitalized costs related to Cascade Crossing to expense in the second quarter of 2013. In October 2013, the parties determined that they would not be able to reach an agreement on the financial terms for the proposed ownership of transmission capacity rights and, therefore, agreed to discontinue discussions on this option. The Company has determined that, under current conditions, the best option for meeting its transmission needs is to continue to acquire transmission service offered under BPA’s Open Access Transmission Tariff. PGE has determined that it will not seek recovery of these costs. 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 7.5% in 2013 and in 2012 and 7.8% in 2011. AFDC from borrowed funds was $7 million in 2013, $4 million in 2012, and $3 million in 2011 and is reflected as a reduction to Interest expense. AFDC from equity funds was $13 million in 2013, $6 million in 2012, and $5 million in 2011 and is included in Other income, net. Costs disallowed for recovery in customer prices, if any, 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 2013, 3.8% in 2012, and 3.7% in 2011. Estimated asset retirement removal costs included in depreciation expense were $55 million in 2013 and 2012, and $49 million in 2011. 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 at a minimum of every five years and are filed with the OPUC for approval and inclusion in a future rate proceeding. The most recent depreciation study was completed for 2009, with an order received from the OPUC in September 2010 authorizing new depreciation rates effective January 1, 2011. During 2013, a depreciation study was completed, which has been incorporated into the Company’s general rate case filed with the OPUC on February 13, 2014, with new prices expected to become effective January 1, 2015. Thermal generation 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):
Generation, excluding thermal: |
Hydro | 87 |
Wind | 27 |
Transmission | 53 |
Distribution | 40 |
General | 13 |
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 recorded against AROs or to accumulated asset retirement removal costs, included in Regulatory liabilities, for assets without AROs. 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 $170 million and $151 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, with amortization expense of $22 million in 2013 and in 2012, and $19 million in 2011. Future estimated amortization expense as of December 31, 2013 is as follows: $23 million in 2014; $22 million in 2015; $19 million in 2016; $16 million in 2017; and $14 million in 2018. 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. These securities are classified as noncurrent because they are not available for use in operations. 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 actual or estimated 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 consolidated 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,” which ranges from $15 million below to $30 million above baseline NVPC. NVPC consists of (i) the cost of power purchased and fuel used to generate electricity to meet PGE’s retail load requirements, as well as the cost of settled electric and natural gas financial contracts, all of which is classified as Purchased power and fuel in the Company’s consolidated statements of income; and is net of (ii) wholesale sales, which are classified as Revenues, net in the consolidated statements of income. To the extent actual NVPC, subject to certain adjustments, is outside the deadband range, the PCAM provides for 90% of the variance to be collected from or refunded to customers, subject to a regulated earnings test. Pursuant to the 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, while 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 authorized ROE. PGE’s authorized ROE was 10% for 2013, 2012 and 2011. Any estimated refund to customers pursuant to the PCAM is recorded as a reduction in Revenues in the Company’s consolidated statements of income, while any estimated collection from customers is recorded as a reduction in Purchased power and fuel expense. A final determination of any customer refund or collection is made in the following year by the OPUC through a public filing and review. For 2013, actual NVPC was above baseline NVPC by $11 million, which is within the established deadband range. Accordingly, no estimated collection from customers was recorded as of December 31, 2013. A final determination regarding the 2013 PCAM results will be made by the OPUC through a public filing and review in 2014. For 2012, actual NVPC was below baseline NVPC by $17 million, and exceeded the lower deadband threshold of $15 million. However, based on results of the regulated earnings test, no estimated refund to customers was recorded as of December 31, 2012. A final determination regarding the 2012 PCAM results was made by the OPUC through a public filing and review in 2013, which confirmed no refund to customers pursuant to the PCAM for 2012. For 2011, actual NVPC was below baseline NVPC by $34 million, and exceeded the lower deadband threshold of $15 million. PGE recorded an estimated refund to customers of $10 million as of December 31, 2011, 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 was made by the OPUC through a public filing and review in 2012, which, based upon the application of an updated regulated earnings test, resulted in a revised refund to customers of $6 million to be returned to customers over a one-year period beginning January 1, 2013. Asset Retirement Obligations Legal obligations related to the future retirement of tangible long-lived assets are classified as AROs on PGE’s consolidated balance sheet. An ARO is recognized in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. 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 dismantlement and restoration costs is capitalized and included in Electric utility plant, net on the consolidated balance sheets with a corresponding offset to ARO. Such estimates are 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. Changes in the ARO resulting from the passage of time (accretion) is based on the original discount rate and recognized as an increase in the carrying amount of the liability and as a charge to accretion expense, which is classified as Depreciation and amortization expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. The difference between the timing of the recognition of the AROs’ depreciation and accretion expenses and the amount included in customers’ prices is recorded as a regulatory asset or liability in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. PGE had a regulatory liability related to AROs in the amount of $39 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012. See Note 6, Regulatory Assets and Liabilities. Contingencies Contingencies are evaluated using the best information available at the time the consolidated financial statements are prepared. Loss contingencies are accrued, and disclosed if material, 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 the estimate or range of potential loss is material. 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) presented on the consolidated balance sheets is comprised of the difference between the non-qualified benefit plans’ obligations recognized in net income and the unfunded position. 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 2013, $42 million in 2012, and $41 million in 2011. 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 recognizes 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 vesting 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 $76 million and $80 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and will be included in prices when the temporary differences reverse. 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 Pronouncement Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-11, Balance Sheet (Topic 210) - Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (ASU 2011-11), requires an entity to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of its financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. In addition, ASU 2013-01, Balance Sheet (Topic 210) - Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (ASU 2013-01), was issued in January 2013 and clarifies that the scope of ASU 2011-11 applies to financial instruments accounted for in accordance with Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging. Both ASUs were effective January 1, 2013 for the Company, and require retrospective application. PGE adopted the amendments contained in ASU 2011-11 and ASU 2013-01 on January 1, 2013, which did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations, or consolidated cash flows. See Note 5, Price Risk Management, for the additional disclosures made pursuant to the adoption of these ASUs.

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