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SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NOTE 2                         SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The accompanying financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and amounts are stated in U.S. dollars. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full fiscal year. The accompanying financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. That report contains a more comprehensive summary of the Partnership’s major accounting policies. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements contain all of the appropriate adjustments, all of which are normally recurring adjustments unless otherwise noted, considered necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Partnership, the results of operation and cash flows for the respective periods. Our significant accounting policies are consistent with those disclosed in Note 2 of the financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. Certain items from that Note are repeated or updated below as necessary to assist in understanding the accompanying financial statements.

 

(a) Basis of Presentation

The Partnership uses the equity method of accounting for its investments in Great Lakes and Northern Border, over which it is able to exercise significant influence. The Partnership consolidates its investments in GTN, Bison, North Baja and Tuscarora.

 

On July 1, 2013, the Partnership acquired additional 45 percent membership interests in each of GTN and Bison (the 2013 Acquisition) from subsidiaries of TransCanada. The 2013 Acquisition was accounted for as a transaction between entities under common control, similar to a pooling of interests, whereby the assets and liabilities of GTN and Bison were recorded at TransCanada’s carrying value and the Partnership’s historical financial information was recast to consolidate GTN and Bison for all periods presented. Refer to Note 4 for additional disclosure regarding the 2013 Acquisition.

 

(b) Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Although management believes these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from these estimates.