Recent Accounting Pronoucements (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

Recent New Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements 

Topic 842

On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases” followed by a series of related accounting standard updates (collectively referred to as “Topic 842”). Topic 842 establishes a new lease accounting model for leases. The most significant changes include the clarification of the definition of a lease, the requirement for lessees to recognize for all leases a right-of-use asset and a lease liability in the consolidated balance sheet, and additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures that are designed to give financial statement users information on the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. Expenses are recognized in the consolidated statement of income in a manner similar to current accounting guidance. Lessor accounting under the new standard is substantially unchanged. The new standard will become effective for us beginning with the first quarter 2019. We will adopt the accounting standard using a prospective transition approach, which applies the provisions of the new guidance at the effective date without adjusting the comparative periods presented. We have elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which among other things, allows us to carry forward the historical accounting relating to lease identification and as well as no reassessment of lease identification and classification for existing leases upon adoption. We have also elected the optional practical expedient permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard related to land easements that allows us to carry forward our historical accounting treatment for land easements on existing agreements upon adoption. We have made an accounting policy election to keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off of the consolidated balance sheet. We are finalizing our evaluation of the impacts that the adoption of this accounting guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements, and estimate approximately $300 million of additional right-of-use assets and liabilities will be recognized in our consolidated balance sheet upon adoption.

ASU No. 2016-13

On June 16, 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” This ASU modifies the impairment model to utilize an expected loss

methodology in place of the currently used incurred loss methodology, which will result in the more timely recognition of losses. ASU No. 2016-13 will be effective for us as of January 1, 2020, and earlier adoption is permitted. We are currently reviewing the effect of this ASU to our financial statements.

ASU No. 2018-14

On August 28, 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, “Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans.” This ASU amends existing annual disclosure requirements applicable to all employers that sponsor defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans by adding, removing, and clarifying certain disclosures. ASU No. 2018-14 will be effective for us for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020, and earlier adoption is permitted. We are currently reviewing the effect of this ASU to our financial statements.