XML 16 R9.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.6
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Regulated Operations [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Significant Accounting Policies
We have prepared our consolidated financial statements using the accounting policies described in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") ASU No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement, which requires new disclosures about fair value measurements. Specifically, additional disclosures are required regarding significant unobservable inputs used for Level 3 fair value measurements, a company's valuation process, transfers between Levels 1 and 2, and hierarchy classifications for items whose fair value is not recorded on the balance sheet, but disclosed in the notes. For WRIT, the primary impact of this ASU was to require disclosure of the hierarchy classifications (Level 1, 2 or 3) for our disclosures of the fair values of financial instruments in our notes to the consolidated financial statements. We adopted this ASU on January 1, 2012.
In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income, which requires the presentation of comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This ASU eliminates the option of presenting the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in shareholders' equity. This ASU is effective for fiscal years (including interim periods) beginning after December 15, 2011. We adopted this ASU on January 1, 2012 with the presentation of a separate statement of comprehensive income.

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of WRIT, its majority-owned subsidiaries and entities in which WRIT has a controlling interest, including where WRIT has been determined to be a primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
We have prepared the accompanying unaudited financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although we believe that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. In addition, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented have been included. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
Within these notes to the financial statements, we refer to the three months ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011 as the “2012 Quarter” and the “2011 Quarter”, respectively.
Use of Estimates in the Financial Statements
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation due to the reclassification of certain properties as discontinued operations (see note 3 to the consolidated financial statements).