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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

See TEC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 for a complete discussion of accounting policies. The significant accounting policies for TEC include:

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

TEC is a wholly owned subsidiary of TECO Energy, which is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Emera. TEC is comprised of the electric division, referred to as Tampa Electric, and the natural gas division, referred to as PGS.

Intercompany balances and transactions within the divisions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, the unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements include all adjustments that are of a recurring nature and necessary to state fairly the financial position of TEC as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods ended March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that can be expected for the entire fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.

The use of estimates is inherent in the preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The year-end Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet was derived from audited financial statements; however, this quarterly report on Form 10-Q does not include all year-end disclosures required for an annual report on Form 10-K by U.S. GAAP.

Since December 31, 2019, the outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, specifically identified as COVID-19, has resulted in governments worldwide enacting emergency measures to combat the spread of the virus. While management considered the impact of COVID-19 in TEC’s estimates and results, the financial statements as of and for the period ending March 31, 2020 were not significantly impacted by COVID-19. However, it is not possible to reliably estimate the length and severity of COVID-19 and the impact on the financial results and condition of TEC in future periods. See Note 5 for further information regarding potential future impacts to TEC’s employee postretirement benefits.

Receivables and Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts

Receivables from contracts with customers, which consist of services to residential, commercial, industrial and other customers, were $215 million and $205 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. An allowance for uncollectible accounts is established based on TEC’s collection experience and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectibility of the reported amount. Circumstances that could affect Tampa Electric’s and PGS’s estimates of uncollectible receivables include, but are not limited to, customer credit issues, fuel prices, customer deposits and general economic conditions. Accounts are written off once they are deemed to be uncollectible.

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, unbilled revenues of $72 million and $61 million, respectively, are included in the “Receivables” line item on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.

Accounting for Franchise Fees and Gross Receipts

Tampa Electric and PGS are allowed to recover certain costs from customers on a dollar-for-dollar basis through rates approved by the FPSC. The amounts included in customers’ bills for franchise fees and gross receipt taxes are included as revenues on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income. Franchise fees and gross receipt taxes payable by Tampa Electric and PGS are included as an expense on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income in “Taxes, other than income”. These amounts totaled $27 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.