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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies SCE is an investor-owned public utility primarily engaged in the business of supplying electricity to an approximately 50,000 square-mile area of southern California. SCE is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Edison International. Basis of Presentation The consolidated financial statements include SCE and its subsidiaries. Effective January 1, 2010, SCE deconsolidated four cogeneration projects in accordance with authoritative guidance for Variable Interest Entities ("VIEs"). Intercompany transactions have been eliminated. SCE's accounting policies conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, including the accounting principles for rate-regulated enterprises, which reflect the ratemaking policies of the California Public Utility Commission ("CPUC") and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"). SCE applies authoritative guidance for rate-regulated enterprises to the portion of its operations in which regulators set rates at levels intended to recover the estimated costs of providing service, plus a return on capital. Regulators may also impose certain penalties or grant certain incentives. Due to timing and other differences in the collection of operating revenue, these principles require an incurred cost that would otherwise be charged to expense by a nonregulated entity to be capitalized as a regulatory asset if it is probable that the cost is recoverable through future rates; and conversely the principles require recording of a regulatory liability for amounts collected in rates to recover costs expected to be incurred in the future or amounts collected in excess of costs incurred. SCE assesses, at the end of each reporting period, whether regulatory assets are probable of future recovery. See Note 14 for composition of regulatory assets and liabilities. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make 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 revenue and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Cash Equivalents Cash equivalents included investments in money market funds totaling $21 million and $243 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Generally, the carrying value of cash equivalents equals the fair value, as these investments have maturities of three months or less. SCE temporarily invests the ending daily cash balance in its primary disbursement accounts until required for check clearing. SCE reclassified $220 million and $196 million of checks issued, but not yet paid by the financial institution, from cash to accounts payable at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts SCE records an allowance for uncollectible accounts, based upon a variety of factors, including historical amounts written-off, current economic conditions and assessment of customer collectability. Inventory Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market, cost being determined by the average cost method for fuel and materials and supplies. Inventory consisted of the following:
| December 31,
(in millions) | 2011 |  | 2010
Fuel | $ | 24 |  |  | $ | 21 |
Materials and supplies, spare parts | 326 |  |  | 311 |
Total inventory | $ | 350 |  |  | $ | 332 |
Renewable Energy Credits Renewable energy certificates or credits ("RECs") represent property rights established by governmental agencies for the environmental, social, and other nonpower qualities of renewable electricity generation. A REC, and its associated attributes and benefits, can be sold separately from the underlying physical electricity associated with a renewable-based generation source in certain markets. Retail sellers of electricity obtain RECs through renewable power purchase agreements, internal generation or separate purchases in the market to comply with renewable portfolio standards established in certain such governmental agencies. RECs are the mechanism used to verify renewable portfolio standards compliance and are recognized at the lower of weighted-average cost or market when amounts purchased are in excess of the amounts needed to comply with RPS requirements. The cost of RECs is recoverable as part of the cost of purchased power by SCE. Property, Plant and Equipment Utility Property, Plant and Equipment Utility plant additions, including replacements and betterments, are capitalized. Such costs include direct material and labor and indirect costs such as construction overhead, administrative and general costs, pension and benefits, and property taxes. The CPUC authorizes a rate for each of the indirect costs which are allocated to each project based on either labor or total costs. In addition, allowance for funds used during construction ("AFUDC") is capitalized for certain projects. Estimated useful lives (authorized by the CPUC) and weighted-average useful lives of SCE's property, plant and equipment, are as follows:
| Estimated Useful Lives | Weighted-Average Useful Lives
Generation plant | 25 years to 70 years | 40 years
Distribution plant | 30 years to 60 years | 40 years
Transmission plant | 35 years to 65 years | 46 years
General and Other plant | 5 years to 60 years | 22 years
Depreciation of utility property, plant and equipment is computed on a straight-line, remaining-life basis. Depreciation expense stated as a percent of average original cost of depreciable utility plant was, on a composite basis, 4.3%, 4.1% and 4.2% for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Replaced or retired property costs are charged to the accumulated provision for depreciation. Cash payments for removal costs less salvage reduce the liability for asset retirement obligations ("AROs"). Nuclear fuel is recorded as utility plant (nuclear fuel in the fabrication and installation phase is recorded as construction in progress) in accordance with CPUC ratemaking procedures. Nuclear fuel is amortized using the units of production method. AFUDC represents the estimated cost of debt and equity funds that finance utility-plant construction and is capitalized during certain plant construction. AFUDC is recovered in rates through depreciation expense over the useful life of the related asset. AFUDC equity represents a method to compensate SCE for the estimated cost of equity used to finance utility plant additions and is recorded as part of construction in progress. AFUDC equity was $96 million, $100 million and $116 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. AFUDC debt was $42 million, $41 million and $32 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The FERC issued an order granting return on equity ("ROE") incentive adders, recovery of the return on rate base including incentive adders during the construction phase (referred to as CWIP) and recovery of abandoned plant costs, if needed, for several of SCE's transmission projects. In addition, the FERC granted an ROE incentive to SCE for California Independent System Operator ("CAISO") participation. The order permits SCE to include 100% of prudently-incurred capital expenditures in rate base during construction of the projects and earn a return on equity, rather than capitalizing AFUDC. Major Maintenance Certain plant facilities and equipment require periodic major maintenance. These costs are expensed as incurred. Asset Retirement Obligations The fair value of a liability for an ARO is recorded in the period in which it is incurred, including a liability for the fair value of a conditional ARO, if the fair value can be reasonably estimated even though uncertainty exists about the timing and/or method of settlement. When an ARO liability is initially recorded, the entity capitalizes the cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is increased for accretion expense each period and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Settlement of an ARO liability for an amount other than its recorded amount results in an increase or decrease in expense. AROs related to decommissioning of SCE's nuclear power facilities are based on site-specific studies. Those site-specific studies are updated as part of each Nuclear Decommissioning Cost Triennial Proceeding ("NDCTP"). The initial establishment of a nuclear-related ARO is at fair value. Subsequent layers of an ARO are established for updated site-specific decommissioning cost estimates as approved by the CPUC on the NDCTP. For further discussion, see "Nuclear Decommissioning" below and Notes 4 and 15. A reconciliation of the changes in the ARO liability is as follows:
(in millions) |  | 2011 | 2010
Beginning balance |  | $ | 2,507 |  | $ | 3,198 |
Accretion expense |  | 62 |  | 195 |
Revisions 1 |  | 42 |  | (867 | )
Liabilities settled |  | (1 | ) | (1 | )
Transfers in or out 2 |  | — |  | (18 | )
Ending balance |  | $ | 2,610 |  | $ | 2,507 |
1 | Revisions in 2010 represent the most recent site-specific studies approved by the CPUC.
2 | Transfers in or out consist of the deconsolidation of the Big 4 projects (Kern River, Midway-Sunset, Sycamore and Watson) effective January 1, 2010. For further discussion, see Note 3.
In 2003, SCE recorded the fair value of its liability for AROs related to the decommissioning of its nuclear power facilities. At that time, SCE adjusted its nuclear decommissioning obligation, capitalized the initial costs of the ARO into a nuclear-related ARO regulatory asset and also recorded an ARO regulatory liability as a result of timing differences between the recognition of costs and the recovery of costs through the ratemaking process. Once a Commission decision is rendered, a revised ARO layer reflecting the updated cost estimate is established and accreted over the lives of San Onofre and Palo Verde. The ARO liability related to San Onofre and Palo Verde was $2.5 billion at both December 31, 2011 and 2010. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets SCE evaluates the impairment of its long-lived assets based on a review of estimated future cash flows expected to be generated whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such investments or assets may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of a long-lived asset exceeds expected future cash flows, undiscounted and without interest charges, an impairment loss is recognized in the amount of the excess of fair value over the carrying amount. Fair value is determined via market, cost and income based valuation techniques, as appropriate. SCE's impaired assets are recorded as a regulatory asset if it is deemed probable that such amounts will be recovered from customers. Leases SCE enters into power purchase agreements that may contain leases, as discussed under "Power Purchase Agreements" below. SCE has entered into a number of agreements to lease property and equipment in the normal course of business. Minimum lease payments under operating leases for property, plant and equipment are levelized (total minimum lease payments divided by the number of years of the lease) and recorded as rent expense over the terms of the leases. Lease payments in excess of the minimum are recorded as rent expense in the year incurred. Capital leases are reported as long-term obligations on the consolidated balance sheets under "Other deferred credits and other long-term liabilities." As a rate regulated enterprise, SCE's capital lease amortization expense and interest expense are reflected in "Purchased power" on the consolidated statements of income. Nuclear Decommissioning SCE plans to decommission its nuclear generating facilities by a prompt removal method authorized by the NRC. Decommissioning is expected to begin after expiration of the plants' operating licenses. The plants' operating licenses are currently set to expire in 2022 for San Onofre Units 2 and 3, unless license renewal proves feasible, and 2045, 2046 and 2047 for Palo Verde units 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Decommissioning costs, which are recovered through nonbypassable customer rates over the term of each nuclear facility's operating license, are recorded as a component of depreciation expense, with a corresponding credit to the ARO regulatory liability. Amortization of the ARO asset (included within the unamortized nuclear investment) and accretion of the ARO liability are deferred as increases to the ARO regulatory liability account, resulting in no impact on earnings. SCE has collected in rates amounts for the future costs of removal of its nuclear assets, and has placed those amounts in independent trusts. The cost of removal amounts, in excess of fair value collected for assets not legally required to be removed, are classified as regulatory liabilities. Due to regulatory recovery of SCE's nuclear decommissioning expense, nuclear decommissioning activities do not affect SCE's earnings. SCE's nuclear decommissioning trust investments primarily consist of debt and equity investments that are classified as available-for-sale. Due to regulatory mechanisms, earnings and realized gains and losses (including other-than-temporary impairments) have no impact on operating revenue. Unrealized gains and losses on decommissioning trust funds increase or decrease the trust assets and the related regulatory asset or liability and have no impact on operating revenue or decommissioning expense. SCE reviews each security for other-than-temporary impairment on the last day of each month. If the fair value on the last day of two consecutive months is less than the cost for that security, SCE recognizes a loss for the other-than-temporary impairment. If the fair value is greater or less than the cost for that security at the time of sale, SCE recognizes a related realized gain or loss, respectively. Deferred Financing Costs Debt premium, discount and issuance expenses incurred in connection with obtaining financing are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis as interest expense over the term of the related debt. Under CPUC ratemaking procedures, debt reacquisition expenses are amortized over the remaining life of the reacquired debt or, if refinanced, the life of the new debt. SCE had unamortized losses on reacquired debt of $249 million and $268 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, reflected in "Regulatory assets" in the long-term section of the consolidated balance sheets. SCE had unamortized debt issuance costs of $60 million at both December 31, 2011 and 2010, reflected in "Other long-term assets" on the consolidated balance sheets. Amortization of deferred financing costs charged to interest expense was $33 million, $30 million and $27 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Revenue Recognition Operating revenue is recognized when electricity is delivered and includes amounts for services rendered but unbilled at the end of each reporting period. Rates charged to customers are based on CPUC and FERC-authorized revenue requirements. CPUC rates are implemented upon final approval, and beginning in 2012 FERC rates are based on a forecasted revenue requirement, subject to refund and settlement procedures and will be trued-up annually based on actual amounts. CPUC rates decouple authorized revenue from the volume of electricity sales, so that SCE earns revenue equal to amounts authorized. Differences between amounts collected and authorized levels are either collected from or refunded to customers, and therefore, such differences do not impact operating revenue. SCE remits to the California Department of Water Resources ("CDWR"), and does not recognize as revenue the amounts that SCE bills and collects from its customers for electric power purchased and sold by the CDWR to SCE's customers, as well as CDWR-bond-related costs and a portion of direct access exit fees. Power purchased by the CDWR for these long-term contracts are not considered a cost to SCE because SCE is acting as a limited agent to CDWR for these transactions. The amounts collected and remitted to CDWR were $1.1 billion, $1.2 billion, and $1.8 billion for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. All power contracts that CDWR allocated to SCE had expired by the end of 2011. The bond-related charges and direct access exit fees continue until 2022. Power Purchase Agreements SCE, generally as the purchaser, enters into power purchase agreements in the normal course of business. Accounting for power purchase agreements is complex and varies based on the terms and conditions of each agreement. A power purchase agreement may be considered a variable interest in a variable interest entity. Under this classification, the power purchase agreement is evaluated to determine if SCE is the primary beneficiary in the variable interest entity, in which case, such entity would be consolidated. None of SCE's contracts resulted in consolidation of a variable interest entity at December 31, 2011. See Note 3 for further discussion of power purchase agreements that are considered variable interests. A power purchase agreement may also contain a lease for accounting purposes. This generally occurs when a power purchase agreement (signed or modified after June 30, 2003) designates a specific power plant in which the buyer purchases substantially all of the output and does not otherwise meet a fixed price per unit of output exception. SCE has a number of power purchase agreements that contain leases. SCE's recognition of lease expense conforms to the ratemaking treatment for SCE's recovery of the cost of electricity and is recorded in purchased power. See Note 9 for further discussion of SCE's power purchase agreements, including agreements that are classified as capital leases for accounting purposes. A power purchase agreement that does not contain a lease may be classified as a derivative. subject to a normal purchase and sale exception, in which case, the power purchase agreement is classified as an executory contract and accounted for on an accrual basis. Most of SCE's QF contracts are not required to be recorded on the consolidated balance sheets because they either do not meet the definition of a derivative or meet the normal purchase and sale exception. However, SCE purchases power from certain QFs in which the contract pricing is based on a natural gas index, but the power is not generated with natural gas. These contracts are not eligible for the normal purchase and sale exception and are recorded as a derivative on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. See Note 6 for further information on derivatives and hedging activities. Power purchase agreements that do not meet the above classifications are accounted for on an accrual basis. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities SCE records derivative instruments on its consolidated balance sheets as either assets or liabilities measured at fair value unless otherwise exempted from derivative treatment as normal purchases or sales. The normal purchases and sales exception requires, among other things, physical delivery in quantities expected to be used or sold over a reasonable period in the normal course of business. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments are expected to be recovered from or refunded to customers through regulatory mechanisms and, therefore, SCE's fair value changes have no impact on purchased-power expenses or earnings. SCE does not use hedge accounting for derivative transactions due to regulatory accounting treatment. Where SCE's derivative instruments are subject to a master netting agreement and certain criteria are met, SCE presents its derivative assets and liabilities on a net basis on its consolidated balance sheets. In addition, derivative positions are offset against margin and cash collateral deposits. The results of derivative activities are recorded as part of cash flows from operating activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows. See Note 6 for further information on derivative and hedging activities. Sales and Use Taxes SCE bills certain sales and use taxes levied by state or local governments to its customers. Included in these sales and use taxes are franchise fees, which SCE pays to various municipalities (based on contracts with these municipalities) in order to operate within the limits of the municipality. SCE bills these franchise fees to its customers based on a CPUC-authorized rate. These franchise fees, which are required to be paid regardless of SCE's ability to collect from the customer, are accounted for on a gross basis and reflected in operating revenue and other operation and maintenance expense. SCE's franchise fees billed to customers and recorded as operating revenue were $101 million, $102 million and $102 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. When SCE acts as an agent and when the tax is not required to be remitted as not having been collected from the customer, the taxes are accounted for on a net basis. Amounts billed to and collected from customers for these taxes are remitted to the taxing authorities and are not recognized as operating revenue. Stock-Based Compensation Stock options, performance shares, deferred stock units and restricted stock units have been granted under Edison International's long-term incentive compensation programs. Generally, Edison International does not issue new common stock for settlement of equity awards. Rather, a third party is used to purchase shares from the market and delivery for settlement of option exercises, performance shares and restricted stock units. Performance shares earned are settled half in cash and half in common stock; however, Edison International has discretion under certain of the awards to pay the half subject to cash settlement in Edison International's common stock. Deferred stock units granted to management are settled in cash, and represent a liability. Restricted stock units are settled in common stock; however, Edison International will substitute cash awards to the extent necessary to pay tax withholding or any government levies. SCE recognizes stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. SCE recognizes stock-based compensation expense for awards granted to retirement-eligible participants on a prorated basis over the initial year or over the period between the date of grant and the date the participant first becomes eligible for retirement. Dividend Restrictions The CPUC regulates SCE's capital structure which limits the dividends it may pay Edison International. In SCE's most recent cost of capital proceeding, the CPUC set an authorized capital structure for SCE which included a common equity component of 48%. SCE may make distributions to Edison International as long as the common equity component of SCE's capital structure remains at or above the 48% authorized level on a 13-month weighted average basis. At December 31, 2011, SCE's 13-month weighted-average common equity component of total capitalization was 50.4% resulting in the capacity to pay $436 million in additional dividends. Income Taxes SCE and its subsidiaries are included in Edison International's consolidated federal income tax and combined state franchise tax returns. Pursuant to an income tax-allocation agreement approved by the CPUC, SCE's tax liability is computed as if it filed its federal and state income tax returns on a separate return basis. SCE estimates its income taxes for each jurisdiction in which it operates. This involves estimating current period tax expense along with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items (such as depreciation) for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included within SCE's consolidated balance sheets. Income tax expense includes the current tax liability from operations and the change in deferred income taxes during the year. Investment tax credits are deferred and amortized to income tax expense over the lives of the properties. Interest income, interest expense and penalties associated with income taxes are reflected in "Income tax expense" on the consolidated statements of income. Management evaluates its uncertain tax positions at each reporting date. Liabilities for uncertain tax positions are reflected in "Accrued taxes" and "Other deferred credits and long-term liabilities" on the consolidated balance sheets. Related Party Transactions Specified administrative services such as payroll and employee benefit programs, performed by SCE employees, are shared among all subsidiaries of Edison International, and the cost of these corporate support services are allocated to all subsidiaries. Costs are allocated based on one of the following formulas: relative amount of equity in investment, number of employees, or multi-factor method (operating revenue, operating expenses, total assets and number of employees). In addition, services of SCE employees are sometimes directly requested by Edison International or one of its subsidiaries. Labor and additional expenses of these directly requested services are specifically identified and billed . SCE participates in the insurance program of Edison International, including property, general liability, workers' compensation and various other specialty policies. SCE's insurance premiums are generally based on SCE's share of risk related to each policy. New Accounting Guidance Accounting Guidance Adopted in 2011 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an accounting standards update modifying the disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements. Under these requirements, purchases and settlements for Level 3 fair value measurements are presented on a gross basis, rather than net. SCE adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2011. Accounting Guidance Not Adopted in 2011 Fair Value Measurement In May 2011, the FASB issued an accounting standards update modifying the fair value measurement and disclosure guidance. This guidance prohibits grouping of financial instruments for purposes of fair value measurement and requires the value be based on the individual security. This amendment also results in new disclosures primarily related to Level 3 measurements including quantitative disclosure about unobservable inputs and assumptions, a description of the valuation processes and a narrative description of the sensitivity of the fair value to changes in unobservable inputs. SCE will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of 2012. The adoption of this accounting standards update is not expected to have a material impact on SCE's consolidated financial position. Presentation of Comprehensive Income In June 2011 and December 2011, the FASB issued an accounting standards update on the presentation of comprehensive income. An entity can elect to present items of net income and other comprehensive income in one continuous statement, referred to as the statement of comprehensive income, or in two separate but consecutive statements. SCE will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of 2012. SCE currently presents the statement of comprehensive income immediately following the statement of income and will continue to do so. The adoption of this accounting standards update will not change the items that constitute net income and other comprehensive income. Offsetting Assets and Liabilities In December 2011, the FASB issued an accounting standards update modifying the disclosure requirements about the nature of an entity's rights of offsetting assets and liabilities in the statement of financial position under master netting agreements and related arrangements associated with financial and derivative instruments. The guidance requires increased disclosure of the gross and net recognized assets and liabilities, collateral positions and narrative descriptions of setoff rights. SCE will adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2013. SCE does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on SCE's consolidated statements of income, financial position or cash flows.

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