Basis of presentation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Recent accounting pronouncements

Leases. In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” which requires that lessees recognize a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use (ROU) asset, representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term, for all leases (except short-term leases) at the commencement date. For finance leases, a lessee is required to recognize interest on the lease liability separately from amortization of the ROU asset in the consolidated statements of income. For operating leases, a lessee is required to recognize a single lease cost, calculated so that the cost of the lease is allocated over the lease term on a generally straight-line basis.

The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02 on January 1, 2019 and used the effective date as the date of initial application. Consequently, financial information for dates and periods before January 1, 2019 will not be updated and the disclosures required under the new standard will not be provided (i.e., the Company will continue to report comparative periods presented in the financial statements in the period of adoption under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 840, including the required disclosures under ASC 840).

The most significant effect of the new standard relates to the recognition of new ROU assets and lease liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet for purchase power agreements and real estate operating leases. On adoption, the Company recognized lease liabilities of approximately $257 million for the Company and approximately $236 million for the Utilities ($215 million related to PPAs), based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments, with corresponding ROU assets, under current leasing standards for existing operating leases.  In determining the lease liability upon transition, the Company used the incremental borrowing rates as of the adoption date based on the remaining lease term and remaining lease payments. See Note 6 for more information.

Credit losses. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which is intended to improve financial reporting by requiring timelier recording of credit losses on loans and other financial instruments held by financial institutions and other organizations. ASU No. 2016-13 requires the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date (based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts) and enhanced disclosures to help financial statement users better understand significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality and underwriting standards of an organization’s portfolio. In addition, ASU No. 2016-13 amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. The other-than-temporary impairment model of accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities will be replaced with an estimate of expected credit losses only when the fair value is below the amortized cost of the asset. The length of time the fair value of an available-for-sale debt security has been below the amortized cost will no longer impact the determination of whether a credit loss exists. The available-for-sale debt security model will also require the use of an allowance to record the estimated losses (and subsequent recoveries). The accounting for the initial recognition of the estimated expected credit losses for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration would be recognized through an allowance for credit losses with an offset to the cost basis of the related financial asset at acquisition (i.e., there is no impact to net income at initial recognition).

The Company plans to adopt ASU No. 2016-13 in the first quarter of 2020. The guidance is to be applied on a modified retrospective basis with the cumulative effect of initially applying the amendments recognized in retained earnings at the date of initial application. The Company has assembled a project team that meets regularly to evaluate the provisions of this ASU, identify additional data requirements necessary and determine an approach for implementation. The team has assigned roles and responsibilities and developed key tasks to complete and a general timeline to be followed. The Company is evaluating the effect that this ASU will have on the consolidated financial statements and disclosures. Economic conditions and the composition of the Company’s loan portfolio at the time of adoption will influence the extent of the adopting accounting adjustment.

Compensation-retirement benefits-defined benefit plans. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, “Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefit Plans-General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans,” which makes minor changes to the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension and/or other postretirement benefit plans. The new guidance eliminates requirements for certain disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial and requires new ones that the FASB considers pertinent. ASU No. 2018-14 is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU No. 2018-14 on its financial statement disclosures, but does not expect it to have a material impact.