OPERATING LEASES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

The Company leases certain office, production, and transmission facilities under terms of leases expiring at various dates through 2035. The leases generally provide for escalating rentals over the term of the lease plus certain real estate taxes and other costs or credits. Costs associated with such operating leases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the initial lease term. The difference between rent expense and rent paid is recorded as deferred rent. In addition, the Company rents space on utility poles for its operations. The Company's pole rental agreements are for varying terms, and management anticipates renewals as they expire. Rent expense, including pole rentals, for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 amounted to $82,704, $77,769 and $75,553, respectively.

The minimum future annual payments for all operating leases (with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year) during the next five years and thereafter, including pole rentals from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2020, at rates now in force are as follows:



2016	$	65,847
2017	68,820
2018	57,560
2019	45,184
2020	41,520
Thereafter	161,929

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of a lessee's leasing arrangements including: (1) the basis on which contingent rental payments are determined, (2) the existence and terms of renewal or purchase options and escalation clauses, (3) restrictions imposed by lease arrangements, such as those concerning dividends, additional debt, and further leasing, (4) rent holidays, rent concessions, or leasehold improvement incentives and unusual provisions or conditions. Disclosure may also include the specific period used to amortize material leasehold improvements made at the inception of the lease or during the lease term. Additionally, for operating leases having initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year: (a) future minimum rental payments required as of the date of the latest balance sheet presented, in the aggregate and for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) the total of minimum rentals to be received in the future under noncancelable subleases as of the date of the latest balance sheet presented, and (c) for all operating leases, rental expense for each period for which an income statement is presented, with separate amounts for minimum rentals, contingent rentals, and sublease rentals. Rental payments under leases with terms of a month or less that were not renewed need not be included.

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