Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Consolidation

Ameren’s financial statements are prepared on a consolidated basis and therefore include the accounts of its majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois have no subsidiaries, and therefore their financial statements are not prepared on a consolidated basis. All tabular dollar amounts are in millions, unless otherwise indicated.

Our accounting policies conform to GAAP. Our financial statements reflect all adjustments (which include normal, recurring adjustments) that are necessary, in our opinion, for a fair statement of our results. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions. Such estimates and assumptions affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The results of operations of an interim period may not give a true indication of results that may be expected for a full year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Form 10-K.

Excise Taxes

Excise taxes are levied on Ameren Missouri’s electric and natural gas businesses and on Ameren Illinois’ natural gas business and are recorded gross in “Operating Revenues - Electric,” “Operating Revenues - Gas” and “Operating Expenses - Taxes other than income taxes” on the statement of income or the statement of income and comprehensive income. Excise taxes for electric service in Illinois are levied on the customer and are therefore not included in Ameren Illinois’ revenues and expenses.

Earnings Per Share

There were no material differences between Ameren’s basic and diluted earnings per share amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The assumed settlement of dilutive performance share units had an immaterial impact on earnings per share. The calculation of diluted earnings per share reflected the adoption of FASB guidance related to employee share-based payment accounting discussed below.

Accounting and Reporting Developments

Below is a summary of recently issued authoritative accounting standards relevant to the Ameren Companies.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued authoritative accounting guidance that changes the criteria for recognizing revenue from a contract with a customer. The underlying principle of the guidance is that an entity will recognize revenue for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance also requires additional disclosures to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. Entities can apply the guidance retrospectively to each reporting period presented or retrospectively by recording a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings in the period of initial adoption. The Ameren Companies are currently assessing the impacts of this guidance on their results of operations, financial position, and disclosures, including their accounting for contributions in aid of construction and similar arrangements, as well as the transition method that they will use to adopt the guidance. In August 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date of this revenue guidance to the first quarter of 2018, with an option for entities to early adopt in the first quarter of 2017. The Ameren Companies do not expect to early adopt this guidance.

Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis

In February 2015, the FASB issued authoritative accounting guidance that amends the consolidation analysis for variable interest entities and voting interest entities. The new guidance affects (1) limited partnerships, similar legal entities, and certain investment funds, (2) the evaluation of fees paid to a decision maker or service provider as a variable interest, (3) how fee arrangements impact the primary beneficiary determination, and (4) the evaluation of related party relationships on the primary beneficiary determination. The adoption of this guidance in the first quarter of 2016 did not impact the Ameren Companies’ results of operations, financial position, cash flows, or disclosures.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued authoritative accounting guidance that will require an entity to recognize assets and liabilities arising from a lease. Consistent with current GAAP, the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease will depend primarily on its classification as a finance or operating lease. The guidance also requires additional disclosures to enable users of financial statements to understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The guidance will be effective for the Ameren Companies in the first quarter of 2019 with an option for entities to early adopt. Upon adoption, the Ameren Companies will recognize and measure operating leases on their respective balance sheets at the beginning of the earliest period presented. The Ameren Companies are currently assessing the impacts of this guidance on their results of operations, financial position, cash flows, and disclosures.

Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting

In March 2016, the FASB issued authoritative accounting guidance that simplifies the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, the calculation of diluted earnings per share, the classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and the classification on the statement of cash flows. Ameren determines for each performance share unit award whether the difference between the deduction for tax purposes and the compensation cost recognized for financial reporting purposes results in either an excess tax benefit or an excess tax deficit. Previously, excess tax benefits were recognized in "Other paid-in capital" on Ameren’s consolidated balance sheet, and in certain cases, excess tax deficits were recognized in “Income taxes” on Ameren’s consolidated income statement. The new guidance increases income statement volatility by requiring all excess tax benefits and deficits to be recognized in “Income taxes,” and treated as discrete items in the period in which they occur. Ameren adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2016, which resulted in recognition of a $21 million income tax benefit during the period. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, Ameren reclassified, for comparison purposes, $2 million of excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows from financing to operating activity, and $12 million of employee payroll taxes related to share-based payments from operating to financing activity.