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Basis of Presentation | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016
Basis of Presentation [Abstract] |
Basis of Presentation | BASIS OF PRESENTATION Nature of Operations Portland General Electric Company (PGE or the Company) is a single, vertically integrated electric utility engaged in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and retail sale of electricity in the State of Oregon. The Company also participates in the wholesale market by purchasing and selling electricity and natural gas in an effort to obtain reasonably-priced power for its retail customers. PGE operates as a single segment, with revenues and costs related to its business activities maintained and analyzed on a total electric operations basis. The Company’s corporate headquarters is located in Portland, Oregon and its approximately 4,000 square mile, state-approved service area is located entirely within the State of Oregon. PGE’s allocated service area includes 51 incorporated cities, of which Portland and Salem are the largest. As of December 31, 2016, PGE served approximately 863,000 retail customers with a service area population of approximately 1.9 million, comprising approximately 46% of the population of the state. As of December 31, 2016, PGE had 2,752 employees, with 783 employees covered under one of two separate agreements with Local Union No. 125 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Such agreements cover 730 and 53 employees and expire March 2020 and August 2017, respectively. PGE is subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Utility Commission of Oregon (OPUC) with respect to retail prices, utility services, accounting policies and practices, issuances of securities, and certain other matters. Retail prices are based on the Company’s cost to serve customers, including an opportunity to earn a reasonable rate of return, as determined by the OPUC. The Company is also subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in matters related to wholesale energy transactions, transmission services, reliability standards, natural gas pipelines, hydroelectric project licensing, accounting policies and practices, short-term debt issuances, and certain other matters. Consolidation Principles The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of PGE, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and those variable interest entities (VIEs) in which PGE has determined it is the primary beneficiary. The Company’s ownership share of direct expenses and costs related to jointly-owned generating plants are also included in its consolidated financial statements. For further information on PGE’s jointly-owned plant, see Note 16, Jointly-Owned Plan. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. For entities that are determined to meet the definition of a VIE and in which the Company has determined it is the primary beneficiary, the VIE is consolidated and a noncontrolling interest is recognized for any third party interests. This has resulted in the Company consolidating entities in which it has less than a 50% equity interest. There were no material VIEs in 2016 or 2015. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosures of gain or loss contingencies, as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Reclassifications To conform with the 2016 presentation, PGE has reclassified Proceeds received from Trojan spent fuel legal settlement of $6 million to Other, net within the operating activities section, and Proceeds received from insurance recoveries of $3 million and Proceeds from sale of properties of $5 million to Other, net within the investing activities section of the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2014.

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