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Impact of New Accounting Standards and Interpretations | 12 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract] |
Impact of New Accounting Standards and Interpretations | The following are accounting standard updates issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") that TVA adopted during 2018.
Derivatives and Hedging - Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments
Description | This guidance clarifies the requirements for assessing whether contingent call or put options that can accelerate the payment of principal on debt instruments are clearly and closely related to their debt hosts. An entity performing the assessment under the amendments in this update is required to assess the embedded call or put options solely in accordance with a four-step decision sequence. The standard includes interim periods within the fiscal year of adoption and requires a modified retrospective transition.
Effective Date for TVA | October 1, 2017
Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters | TVA has two issues of Putable Automatic Rate Reset Securities ("PARRS") outstanding. After a fixed-rate period of five years, the coupon rate on the PARRS may automatically be reset downward under certain market conditions on an annual basis. The coupon rate reset on the PARRS is based on a calculation. If the coupon rate is going to be reset, holders may request, for a limited period of time, redemption of the PARRS at par value, with repayment of principal on the reset date. This put option is otherwise not available. For both series of PARRS, the coupon rate will reset downward on the reset date if the rate calculated is below the then-current coupon rate on the PARRS. TVA has determined under the new guidance that contingent put options that can accelerate the payment of principal on the PARRS are clearly and closely related to their debt hosts. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on TVA's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Inventory Valuation
Description | This guidance changes the model used for the subsequent measurement of inventory from the previous lower of cost or market model to the lower of cost or net realizable value. The guidance applies only to inventory valued using methods other than last-in, first-out or the retail inventory method (for example, first-in, first-out or average cost). This amendment is intended to simplify the subsequent measurement of inventory. The standard includes interim periods within the fiscal year of adoption and requires a prospective transition.
Effective Date for TVA | October 1, 2017
Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters | The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on TVA's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
The following accounting standards have been issued but as of September 30, 2018, were not effective and had not yet been adopted by TVA.
Defined Benefit Costs
Description | This guidance changes how information about defined benefit costs for pension plans and other post-retirement benefit plans is presented in employer financial statements. The guidance requires employers that present a measure of operating income in their statement of income to include only the service cost component of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost in operating expenses (together with other employee compensation costs). The other components of net benefit cost, including amortization of prior service cost/credit and settlement and curtailment effects, are to be included in nonoperating expenses. Additionally, the guidance stipulates that only the service cost component of net benefit cost is eligible for capitalization in assets.
Effective Date for TVA | The new standard is effective for TVA's interim and annual reporting periods beginning October 1, 2018. While early adoption is permitted, TVA did not adopt the standard early.
Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters | TVA has evaluated the impact of adopting this guidance, and if the guidance had been effective for TVA for the years ended 2018, 2017, and 2016, TVA would have reclassified $256 million, $758 million, and $178 million, respectively, of net periodic benefit costs from Operating and maintenance expense to Other income (expense), net on the consolidated statements of operations. There will be no impact on the consolidated balance sheets because TVA has historically capitalized only the service cost component, which is consistent with the new guidance.
Financial Instruments
Description | This guidance applies to the recognition and measurement of financial assets and liabilities. The standard requires all equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through net income (other than those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee). The standard also amends presentation requirements related to certain changes in the fair value of a liability and eliminates certain disclosure requirements of significant assumptions for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet. Public entities must apply the amendments by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption.
Effective Date for TVA | The new standard is effective for TVA's interim and annual reporting periods beginning October 1, 2018. Early adoption is not permitted unless specific early adoption guidance is applied. TVA did not adopt the standard early.
Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters | TVA currently measures all of its equity investments (other than those that result in the consolidation of the investee) at fair value, with changes in the fair value recognized through net income, unless regulatory accounting is applied. The TVA Board has authorized the use of regulatory accounting for changes in fair value of certain equity investments, and as a result, those changes in fair value are deferred as regulatory assets or liabilities. TVA currently discloses significant assumptions around its estimates of fair value for financial instruments carried at amortized cost on its consolidated balance sheet. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on TVA's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows because TVA holds no available-for-sale securities.
Revenue Recognition
Description | This guidance is related to revenue from contracts with customers, including subsequent amendments, and replaces the existing accounting standard and industry specific guidance for revenue recognition with a five-step model for recognizing and measuring revenue from contracts with customers. The underlying principle of the guidance is to recognize revenue related to the transfer of goods or services to customers at the amount expected to be collected. The objective of the new standard is to provide a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers to improve comparability within and across industries. The new standard also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and the related cash flows arising from contracts with customers.
Effective Date for TVA | The new standard is effective for TVA's interim and annual reporting periods beginning October 1, 2018. While early adoption is permitted, TVA did not adopt the standard early.
Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters | TVA has completed its evaluation of its revenue and adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on results of operations, financial position, or cash flows, other than changes in required financial statement disclosures. Consistent with current industry practice, revenues recognized from sales of bundled energy commodities (i.e., contracts involving the delivery of multiple energy commodities such as electricity, capacity, ancillary services, etc.) are generally expected to be recognized upon delivery to the customer in an amount based on the invoice price given that it corresponds directly with the value of the commodities transferred to the customer. TVA has also concluded contributions in aid of construction are not in scope for the guidance and will continue to be accounted for as a reduction of property, plant, and equipment. TVA will utilize certain practical expedients including applying the guidance to open contracts at the date of adoption and to portfolios of contracts with similar characteristics and recognizing revenue for certain contracts under the invoice practical expedient which allows revenue recognition to be consistent with invoiced amounts. TVA will apply the modified retrospective method of adoption effective October 1, 2018. Under the modified retrospective method of adoption, prior year reported results are not restated; however, any cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings at October 1, 2018 would be recorded. The adoption did not result in a cumulative-effect adjustment. The disclosure requirements included in the guidance will result in increased information being provided in the financial statements. TVA will include disaggregation of revenue including information already provided outside of the financial statement footnotes.
Statement of Cash Flows - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments
Description | This standard adds or clarifies guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments on the statement of cash flows as follows: debt prepayment or extinguishment costs, settlement of zero-coupon bonds, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies and bank-owned life insurance policies, distributions received from equity method investees, beneficial interest in securitization transactions, and the application of the predominance principle to separately identifiable cash flows.
Effective Date for TVA | This standard is effective for TVA's interim and annual reporting periods beginning October 1, 2018. While early adoption is permitted, TVA did not adopt the standard early.
Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters | TVA's previous treatment of the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments is consistent with the new standard and there will be no impact on TVA's financial condition, results of operations, or presentation or disclosure of cash flows.
Statement of Cash Flows - Restricted Cash
Description | This guidance requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. This guidance does not provide a definition of restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents.
Effective Date for TVA | The new standard is effective for TVA's interim and annual reporting periods beginning October 1, 2018. While early adoption is permitted, TVA did not adopt the standard early.
Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters | Adoption of this standard will result in a change to the amount of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash presented when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the consolidated statement of cash flows. For the years ended September 30, 2018, 2017, and 2016, TVA would reflect $13 million, $0 million, and $15 million in transfers of cash and cash equivalents to restricted cash within cash flow from operating activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows. TVA will apply the standard using a retrospective transition method to each period presented.
Derivatives and Hedging - Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities
Description | This guidance better aligns an entity's risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. To meet that objective, the amendments expand and refine hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and align the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements.
Effective Date for TVA | The new standard is effective for TVA's interim and annual reporting periods beginning October 1, 2019. While early adoption is permitted, TVA did not adopt the standard early.
Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters | TVA does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on TVA's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Lease Accounting
Description | This guidance changes the provisions of recognition in both the lessee and lessor accounting models. The standard requires entities that lease assets ("lessees") to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by leases with terms of more than 12 months. The recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on its classification as a finance (similar to current capital leases) or operating lease. However, unlike current lease accounting rules, which require only capital leases to be recognized on the balance sheet, the new standard will require both types of leases to be recognized on the balance sheet. Operating leases will result in straight-line expense, while finance leases will result in recognition of interest on the lease liability separate from amortization expense. The accounting for the owner of the assets leased by the lessee ("lessor accounting") will remain largely unchanged from current lease accounting rules. The standard allows for certain practical expedients to be elected related to lease term determination, separation of lease and non-lease elements, reassessment of existing leases, and short-term leases. When the standard becomes effective, it will include interim periods within the fiscal year of adoption and will be required to be applied using a modified retrospective transition.
Effective Date for TVA | The new standard is effective for TVA's interim and annual reporting periods beginning October 1, 2019. While early adoption is permitted, TVA does not currently plan to adopt the standard early.
Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters | TVA is currently evaluating the potential impact of these changes on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The standard is expected to impact financial position as adoption will increase the amount of assets and liabilities recognized on TVA’s consolidated balance sheets. The standard is not expected to have a material impact on results of operations or cash flows as expense recognition is intended to be substantially the same as under the existing standard. TVA plans to elect certain of the practical expedients included in the new standard. Efforts to date have consisted of evaluating the completeness of the lease population, the effectiveness of internal control related to leases, and appropriate financial statement disclosure and selecting a lease system solution. TVA is also continuing to monitor unresolved industry implementation issues and will analyze the related impacts to lease accounting.
Defined Benefit Plans - Disclosure Requirements
Description | This guidance applies to all employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans and modifies or clarifies the disclosure requirements for those plans. The amendments in this update remove disclosures that no longer are considered cost-beneficial, clarify the specific requirements of disclosures, and add disclosure requirements identified as relevant. Entities are required to apply the amendments retrospectively.
Effective Date for TVA | The new standard is effective for TVA's annual reporting periods beginning October 1, 2021. While early adoption is permitted, TVA does not currently plan to adopt the standard early.
Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters | TVA is currently evaluating the potential impact of these changes on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs in a Cloud Arrangement That is a Service Contract
Description | This guidance relates to the accounting for a customer’s implementation costs in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract. The amendments align the requirements for capitalizing those implementation costs with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license. The amendments also provide requirements for the classification of the capitalized costs and related expense and cash flows in the financial statements, the application of impairment guidance to the capitalized costs, and the application of abandonment guidance to the capitalized costs. Entities are required to apply the amendments either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the adoption date.
Effective Date for TVA | The new standard is effective for TVA's interim and annual reporting periods beginning October 1, 2020. While early adoption is permitted, TVA does not currently plan to adopt the standard early.
Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters | TVA is currently evaluating the potential impact of these changes on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for reporting accounting changes and error corrections. It includes the conveyance of information necessary for a user of the Company's financial information to understand all aspects and required disclosure information concerning all changes and error corrections reported in the Company's financial statements for the period. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 250 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122394 + Details
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