Get Started for Free Contexxia identifies hard-to-find pieces of information in SEC filings. No more highlighters, no more redlining, no more poring over huge documents. CONSOLIDATED EDISON INC (1047862) 10-Q published on May 02, 2019 at 5:02 pm
Reporting Period: Mar 30, 2019
In August 2018, the NYSPSC ordered CECONY to begin on January 1, 2019 to credit the company's electric and gas customers, and to begin on October 1, 2018 to credit its steam customers, with the net benefits of the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) as measured based on amounts reflected in its rate plans prior to the enactment of the TCJA in December 2017. The net benefits include the revenue requirement impact of the reduction in the corporate federal income tax rate to 21 percent, the elimination for utilities of bonus depreciation and the amortization of excess deferred federal income taxes. CECONY estimates that its credit of net benefits of the TCJA to its electric, gas and steam customers in 2019 will amount to $259 million, $113 million and $25 million, respectively. CECONY’s net benefits prior to January 1, 2019 allocable to the company’s electric customers ($311 million) are to be deferred and addressed in its pending electric rate proceeding. CECONY’s net benefits prior to January 1, 2019 allocable to the company’s gas customers ($90 million) and net benefits prior to October 1, 2018 allocable to the company’s steam customers ($15 million) are to be amortized over a three-year period. CECONY’s net regulatory liability for future income taxes, including both the protected and unprotected portions, allocable to the company’s electric customers ($2,489 million) is to continue to be deferred and addressed in its pending electric rate proceeding and the amounts allocable to its gas and steam customers ($804 million and $185 million, respectively) are to be amortized over the remaining lives of the related assets (with the amortization period for the unprotected portion subject to review in its pending gas rate proceeding and next steam rate proceeding).
In January 2019, the Companies adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” including the amendments thereto, using a modified retrospective transition method of adoption that required no prior period adjustments or charges to retained earnings for cumulative impact. The standard supersedes the lease requirements within ASC Topic 840, “Leases.”
The Companies lease electric transmission facilities, gas distribution facilities, land, office buildings and equipment. Upon adoption of Topic 842, the Companies recognized lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on their consolidated balance sheets for virtually all of their leases (other than leases that meet the definition of a short-term lease, the expense for which was immaterial). A lease right-of-use asset represents a right to use an identifiable underlying asset and obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of that asset for the lease term. A lease liability represents an obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Leases are classified as either operating leases or finance leases. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use asset and operating lease liabilities on the Companies’ consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in other noncurrent assets, other current liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities. The Utilities, as regulated entities, are permitted to continue to recognize expense for operating leases using the timing that conforms to the regulatory rate treatment (with the amortization of the lease asset based on the rental payments recovered from our customers) and to account the same way for finance leases. Lessor accounting is similar to the previous model, but updated to align with ASC Topic 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers."
The Companies, upon adoption of Topic 842 recognized, and for new operating leases at commencement date recognize, operating lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term. As most of the Companies’ leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Companies used their collateralized incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date to determine the present value of future payments. Most of the Companies’ leases have remaining lease terms of one year to 35 years, and may include options to renew or extend the leases for up to five years at the fair rental value. The Companies' lease terms may include options to renew, extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Companies will exercise that option. There were no leases with material variable lease payments or residual value guarantees.
In June 2016, the FASB issued amendments to the guidance for recognition of credit losses for financial instruments through ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” The amendment replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology which involved delayed recognition of credit losses. As the updated guidance now requires credit losses to be recognized when expected rather than when incurred, a broader range of reasonable and supportable information must be considered in developing the credit loss estimates. This includes financial instruments that are valued at amortized cost and available for sale. For public entities, the amendments are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Companies are in the process of evaluating the potential impact of the new guidance on the Companies’ financial position, results of operations and liquidity.
In April 2019, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) selected a transmission project that was jointly proposed by National Grid and NY Transco ($600 million estimated cost, excluding certain interconnection costs that are not yet determined) that would increase transmission capacity by 1,850 MW between upstate and downstate when combined with the selected project to be developed by another developer for the other segment. The siting, construction and operation of the projects will require approvals and permits from appropriate governmental agencies and authorities, including the NYSPSC. The NYISO indicated it will work with the developers to enter into agreements for the development and operation of the projects, including a schedule for entry into service by December 2023.