1.0.0.3 false Accounting Standards Issued, Accounting Standards Adopted false 1 $ false false shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 usd Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 usdPerShare Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 2 NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 0 ceg_NotesToFinancialStatementsAbstract ceg false na duration string Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract] false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract] false 3 Accounting Standards Issued, Accounting Standards Adopted 1 us-gaap_ScheduleOfNewAccountingPronouncementsAndChangesInAccountingPrinciplesTextBlock us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 <table style="font-size:10pt; font-family:'Times New Roman',times,serif;"> <tr> <td> Accounting Standards Issued Accounting for Variable Interest Entities In June 2009, the FASB amended the accounting for variable interest entities, effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after November 15, 2009. The standard includes the following significant provisions: <ul> <li style="list-style: none"> <dl compact="compact"> <dt style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: -11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times"> </dt> <dd style="FONT-FAMILY: times">requires an entity to qualitatively assess if it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE based on whether the entity (1) has the power to direct matters that most significantly impact the activities of the VIE, and (2) has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE,</dd> <dt style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: -11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times"> </dt> <dd style="FONT-FAMILY: times">requires ongoing reconsideration of the primary beneficiary instead of only upon certain triggering events,</dd> <dt style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: -11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times"> </dt> <dd style="FONT-FAMILY: times">amends the events that trigger a reassessment of whether an entity is a VIE, and</dd> <dt style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: -11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times"> </dt> <dd style="FONT-FAMILY: times">requires the primary beneficiary of a VIE to disclose separately (1) the assets of the consolidated VIE, if they can be used to only settle specific obligations of the consolidated VIE, and (2) the liabilities of a consolidated VIE for which creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of the primary beneficiary.</dd></dl></li></ul>         We are currently evaluating the impacts of this standard on our, and BGE's, financial results, which could be material. Accounting Standards Adopted Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements In December 2007, the FASB issued amended guidance related to the accounting and reporting of noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements. A noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements. This presentation is based upon the view of the consolidated business as a single economic entity and considers minority ownership interests in consolidated subsidiaries as equity in the consolidated entity.         Under the amended guidance, companies are required to: <ul> <li style="list-style: none"> <dl compact="compact"> <dt style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: -11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times"> </dt> <dd style="FONT-FAMILY: times">present noncontrolling interests (formerly described as "minority interests") in the consolidated balance sheet as a separate line item within equity,</dd> <dt style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: -11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times"> </dt> <dd style="FONT-FAMILY: times">separately present on the face of the income statement the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest,</dd> <dt style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: -11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times"> </dt> <dd style="FONT-FAMILY: times">account for changes in ownership interests that do not result in a change in control as equity transactions, and</dd> <dt style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: -11pt; FONT-FAMILY: times"> </dt> <dd style="FONT-FAMILY: times">upon deconsolidation of a subsidiary due to a change in control, measure any retained interest at fair value and record a gain or loss for both the portion sold and the portion retained.</dd></dl></li></ul>         Effective January 1, 2009, we presented and disclosed noncontrolling interests in our Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with the amended guidance.         The total increase in Constellation Energy's noncontrolling interest amount of $52.4 million from December 31, 2008 to September 30, 2009 is primarily due to income earned at one entity in which there is a noncontrolling interest.         The total increase in BGE's noncontrolling interest amount of $8.4 million from December 31, 2008 to September 30, 2009 is primarily due to a contribution by its noncontrolling interest owner. Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities In March 2008, the FASB issued amended guidance requiring expanded disclosure about derivative instruments and hedging activities, but did not change the accounting for derivatives. We adopted the new disclosure requirements on January 1, 2009 and provide these additional disclosures beginning on page 31. Subsequent Events In May 2009, the FASB issued a new accounting standard addressing the accounting for and disclosure of events that occur subsequent to the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. Because this standard does not change the fundamental requirements for accounting for subsequent events, it does not have a significant impact on our, or BGE's financial results. However, this standard does require the disclosure of the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated as well as whether that date is the date the financial statements were issued. We adopted this standard as of June 30, 2009 and have provided the additional required disclosures on page 11. Accounting Standards Codification and Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles In June 2009, the FASB issued the Accounting Standards Codification (Codification), which became effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The Codification became the sole source of authoritative generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP) and superseded all existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards. All of the Codification content carries the same level of authority, and any accounting guidance not contained within the Codification is considered non-authoritative. Because the Codification was not intended to change GAAP, the adoption of this standard did not have an impact on our, or BGE's, financial results. However, our disclosures and references to accounting standards have changed to reflect the new Codification structure beginning with this Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009. Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments In April 2009, the FASB issued accounting guidance for the recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments. This guidance amended the other-than-temporary guidance for debt securities and expanded the disclosure requirements for debt and equity securities. The available-for-sale investments in our nuclear decommissioning trust funds are managed by third parties who have independent discretion over the purchases and sales of securities. As such, the amended guidance for other-than-temporary impairments does not affect our policy of recognizing impairments for any of these investments for which fair value declines below its book value. This guidance also requires disclosures regarding available-for-sale securities in interim financial statements as well as in annual financial statements. We adopted this guidance as of April 1, 2009 and provide the additional disclosures regarding available for sale securities beginning on page 18. Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments In April 2009, the FASB issued accounting guidance for interim disclosures about fair value of financial instruments. This guidance requires disclosures about fair value of financial instruments in interim financial statements as well as in annual financial statements. We adopted this guidance as of April 1, 2009 with no effect on our, or BGE's financial results. We provide the disclosures regarding fair value of financial instruments on page 41. Delay of Effective Date for Certain Fair Value Measurements In February 2008, the FASB issued accounting guidance that delayed the effective date of adopting the accounting standard for fair value measurements for many nonfinancial assets and liabilities, including asset retirement obligations, long-lived assets, and goodwill, to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. Prospectively, we will disclose subsequent measurements of nonfinancial assets and liabilities at fair value as part of our Fair Value Measurements footnote. We adopted this guidance on January 1, 2009 with no effect on our, or BGE's, financial results. See page 37 for our disclosures about fair value measurements. Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly In April 2009, the FASB issued accounting guidance for determining fair value when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased and for identifying transactions that are not orderly. The guidance provides for estimating fair value when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have decreased and assists in identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly. Finally, the guidance expands the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements to include further disaggregation in the tabular disclosures. We adopted this guidance as of April 1, 2009 with no effect on our, or BGE's, financial results. See page 37 for our disclosures about fair value measurements. Third Party Credit Enhancements In September 2008, the FASB issued guidance on third party credit enhancements and clarified that an entity shall not include the effects of a third party credit enhancement in the fair value measurement of a liability. We adopted this guidance on January 1, 2009 and recorded a reduction in our derivative liability of approximately $4 million.</td></tr></table> Accounting Standards Issued Accounting for Variable Interest Entities In June 2009, the FASB amended the accounting for variable interest entities, false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true