Recent Accounting Pronouncements - (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Pronouncements Implemented During the First Half of 2020

On January 1, 2020, we adopted ASC Topic 326, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses,” which replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to estimate credit losses. The new guidance requires financial assets measured at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. We adopted ASC 326 using the modified retrospective method, and accordingly, the new guidance was applied to financial assets measured at amortized cost (primarily accounts receivable and contract assets) that existed as of January 1, 2020 (the date of initial application). As a result, we recorded additional reserves for credit losses of $2 million and a cumulative effect adjustment to decrease retained earnings by $2 million as of January 1, 2020. The adoption of ASC 326 did not have a material impact on our results of operations or any impact on our cash flows. We utilize a combination of methods for estimating expected credit losses including loss rates, aging schedules and probability-of-default. In evaluating our historical loss rates, accounts receivable and contract assets are pooled into the following categories based on similar risk characteristics: (1) EPC management; (2) government; (3) operations and maintenance; and (4) equipment leasing. Historical loss experience is adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts, when applicable. Significantly aged receivables are evaluated individually by credit rating. Our reserve for credit losses amounted to $37 million and $35 million as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

In the first quarter of 2020, we adopted ASU 2019-12, “Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes,” which eliminates certain exceptions related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. The adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In the first quarter of 2020, we adopted ASU 2018-18, “Clarifying the Interaction between Topic 808 and Topic 606,” which clarifies that certain transactions between participants in a collaborative arrangement should be accounted for under ASC 606 when the counterparty is a customer. The adoption did not have any impact on our financial statements.

In the first quarter of 2020, we adopted ASU 2018-17, “Targeted Improvements to Related Party Guidance for Variable Interest Entities,” which amends the guidance for determining whether a decision-making fee is a variable interest. The adoption did not have any impact on our financial statements.

In the first quarter of 2020, we adopted ASU 2018-15, “Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract,” which requires customers in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract to capitalize certain implementation costs as if the arrangement was an internal-use software project. The adoption did not have any impact on our financial statements.

In the first quarter of 2020, we adopted ASU 2018-13, “Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement,” which amends certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. For example, public companies will now be required to disclose the range and weighted average used to develop significant unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements. The adoption did not have any impact on our financial statements, but we have made additional disclosures related to the range and weighted average rates used to develop significant inputs for nonrecurring Level 3 measurements.

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Implemented

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, “Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans,” which amends certain disclosure requirements related to defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. ASU 2018-14 becomes effective for us on January 1, 2021, but we do not expect its adoption to have any impact on our financial statements.