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Basis of Presentation | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
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, 2017, PGE served approximately 875,000 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, 2017, PGE had 2,906 employees, with 785 employees covered under one of two separate agreements with Local Union No. 125 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Such agreements cover 732 and 53 employees and expire March 2020 and August 2022, 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 and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. 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 Plant. 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 2017 or 2016. 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 2017 presentation, PGE has reclassified Cash received to be returned to customers pursuant to the Residential Exchange Program, net of amortization of $6 million and $1 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively, and Contribution to voluntary employees’ benefit association trust of $2 million and $4 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively, to Other net within the operating activities section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. PGE has also reclassified the Regulatory deferral of settled derivative instruments of $2 million in both 2016 and 2015 to Other non-cash income and expense, net within the operating activities section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

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