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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, New Accounting Pronouncements and Use of Estimates (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Principles of consolidationWe consolidate the entities in which we have a controlling financial interest, after the elimination of intercompany transactions. We account for investments in common stock where we have the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, using the equity method of accounting.

Revenue recognition

Revenue recognitionWe recognize revenues when we transfer control of promised goods or services to our customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.

We recognize revenue when we have satisfied our obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer, which generally occurs when the control of promised goods or services transfers to the customer. We measure revenue as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for providing those goods or services. Contracts with customers may include multiple performance obligations. For such contracts, we allocate revenue to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price. We generally determine standalone selling prices based on the prices charged to customers. Certain revenues are not within the scope of ASC 606, such as revenues from leasing, derivatives, other revenues that are not from contracts with customers and other contractual rights or obligations, and we account for such revenues in accordance with the applicable accounting standards. We exclude from revenue amounts collected on behalf of third parties, including any such taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities. We do not have any significant payment terms that are material because we receive payment at or shortly after the point of sale.

The following describes the principal activities, by reportable segment, from which we generate revenue. For more detailed information about our reportable segments, refer to Note 24.

Networks Segment

Networks derives its revenue primarily from tariff-based sales of electricity and natural gas service to customers in New York, Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts with no defined contractual term. For such revenues, we recognize revenues in an

amount derived from the commodities delivered to customers. Other major sources of revenue are electricity transmission and wholesale sales of electricity and natural gas.

Tariff-based sales are subject to the corresponding state regulatory authorities, which determine prices and other terms of service through the ratemaking process. The applicable tariffs are based on the cost of providing service. The utilities’ approved base rates are designed to recover their allowable operating costs, including energy costs, finance costs, and the costs of equity, the last of which reflect our capital ratio and a reasonable return on equity. They traditionally invoice their customers by applying approved base rates to usage. Maine state law prohibits the utility from providing the electricity commodity to customers. In New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, customers have the option to obtain the electricity or natural gas commodity directly from the utility or from another supplier. For customers that receive their commodity from another supplier, the utility acts as an agent and delivers the electricity or natural gas provided by that supplier. Revenue in those cases is only for providing the service of delivery of the commodity. Networks entities calculate revenue earned but not yet billed based on the number of days not billed in the month, the estimated amount of energy delivered during those days and the estimated average price per customer class for that month. Differences between actual and estimated unbilled revenue are immaterial.

Transmission revenue results from others’ use of the utility’s transmission system to transmit electricity and is subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulation, which establishes the prices and other terms of service. Long-term wholesale sales of electricity are based on individual bilateral contracts. Short-term wholesale sales of electricity are generally on a daily basis based on market prices and are administered by the Independent System Operator-New England (ISO-NE) and the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), or PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM), as applicable. Wholesale sales of natural gas are generally short-term based on market prices through contracts with the specific customer.

The performance obligation in all arrangements is satisfied over time because the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits as Networks delivers or sells the electricity or natural gas or provides the delivery or transmission service. We record revenue for all of such sales based upon the regulatory-approved tariff and the volume delivered or transmitted, which corresponds to the amount that we have a right to invoice. There are no material initial incremental costs of obtaining a contract in any of the arrangements. Networks does not adjust the promised consideration for the effects of a significant financing component if it expects, at contract inception, that the time between the delivery of promised goods or service and customer payment will be one year or less. For its New York and Connecticut utilities, Networks assesses its DPAs at each balance sheet date for the existence of significant financing components, but has had no material adjustments as a result.

Certain Networks entities record revenue from Alternative Revenue Programs (ARPs), which is not ASC 606 revenue. Such programs represent contracts between the utilities and their regulators. The Networks ARPs include revenue decoupling mechanisms, other ratemaking mechanisms, annual revenue requirement reconciliations and other demand side management programs. The Networks entities recognize and record only the initial recognition of “originating” ARP revenues (when the regulatory-specified conditions for recognition have been met). When they subsequently include those amounts in the price of utility service billed to customers, they record such amounts as a recovery of the associated regulatory asset or liability. When they owe amounts to customers in connection with ARPs, they evaluate those amounts on a quarterly basis and include them in the price of utility service billed to customers and do not reduce ARP revenues.

Networks also has various other sources of revenue including billing, collection, other administrative charges, sundry billings, rent of utility property and miscellaneous revenue. It classifies such revenues as other ASC 606 revenues to the extent they are not related to revenue generating activities from leasing, derivatives or ARPs.

Renewables Segment

Renewables derives its revenue primarily from the sale of energy, transmission, capacity and other related charges from its renewable wind, solar and thermal energy generating sources. For such revenues, we will recognize revenues in an amount derived from the commodities delivered and from services as they are made available. Renewables has bundled power purchase agreements consisting of electric energy, transmission, capacity and/or renewable energy credits (RECs). The related contracts are generally long-term with no stated contract amount, that is, the customer is entitled to all the unit’s output. Renewables also has unbundled sales of electric energy and capacity, RECs and natural gas, which are generally for periods of less than a year. The performance obligations in substantially all of both bundled and unbundled arrangements for electricity and natural gas are satisfied over time, for which we record revenue based on the amount invoiced to the customer for the actual energy delivered. The performance obligation for stand-alone RECs is satisfied at a point in time, for which we record revenue when the performance obligation is satisfied upon delivery of the REC. There are no material initial incremental costs of obtaining a contract or significant financing elements in any of the arrangements.

Renewables classifies certain contracts for the sale of electricity as derivatives, in accordance with the applicable accounting standards. Renewables also has revenue from its energy trading operations, which it generally classifies as derivative revenue. However, trading contracts not classified as derivatives are within the scope of ASC 606, with the performance obligation of

the delivery of energy (electricity, natural gas) and settlement of the contracts satisfied at a point in time at which time we recognize the revenue. Renewables also has other ASC 606 revenue, which we recognize based on the amount invoiced to the customer.

Certain customers may receive cash credits, which we account for as variable consideration. Renewables estimates those amounts based on the expected amount to be provided to customers and reduces revenues recognized. We believe that there will not be significant changes to our estimates of variable consideration.

Other

Other, which does not represent a segment, derives its revenues primarily from miscellaneous Corporate revenues including intersegment eliminations, and in 2018 also had revenues from providing natural gas storage services to customers, gas trading operations generally classified as derivative revenue in accordance with the applicable accounting standards and gas trading contracts not classified as derivatives.

Contract Costs, Contract Liabilities and Practical Expedient

We recognize an asset for incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer when we expect the benefit of those costs to be longer than one year. We have contract assets for costs from development success fees, which we paid during the solar asset development period in 2018, and will amortize ratably into expense over the 15-year life of the power purchase agreement (PPA), expected to commence in December 2021 upon commercial operation. Contract assets totaled $9 million and $12 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and are presented in "Other non-current assets" on our consolidated balance sheets.

We have contract liabilities for revenue from transmission congestion contract (TCC) auctions, for which we receive payment at the beginning of an auction period and amortize ratably each month into revenue over the applicable auction period. The auction periods range from six months to two years. TCC contract liabilities totaled $9 million and $10 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and are presented in "Other current liabilities" on our consolidated balance sheets. For both the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we recognized $21 million as revenue related to contract liabilities and for the year ended December 31, 2018, we recognized $13 million.

We apply a practical expedient to expense as incurred costs to obtain a contract when the amortization period is one year or less. We record costs incurred to obtain a contract within operating expenses, including amortization of capitalized costs.

Regulatory accounting

We account for our regulated utilities' operations in accordance with the authoritative guidance applicable to entities with regulated operations that meet the following criteria: (i) rates are established or approved by an independent, third-party regulator; (ii) rates are designed to recover the entity’s specific costs of providing the regulated services or products and; (iii) there is a reasonable expectation that rates are set at levels that will recover the entity’s costs and can be collected from customers. Regulatory assets represent incurred costs that have been deferred because of their probable future recovery from customers through regulated rates. Regulatory liabilities represent: (i) the excess recovery of costs or accrued credits that have been deferred because it is probable such amounts will be returned to customers through future regulated rates; or (ii) billings in advance of expenditures for approved regulatory programs.

We amortize regulatory assets and liabilities and recognize the related expense or revenue in our consolidated statements of income consistent with the recovery or refund included in customer rates. We believe it is probable that our currently recorded regulatory assets and liabilities will be recovered or settled in future rates.

Business combinations and assets acquisitions

Business combinations and assets acquisitions (disposals)

We apply the acquisition method of accounting to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred for an acquisition is the fair value of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred, including contingent consideration, and the equity interests issued by the acquirer. We measure identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. We record as goodwill the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. We recognize adjustments to provisional amounts relating to a business combination that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. For business combinations, we expense acquisition-related costs as incurred.

In contrast to a business combination (disposal), we classify a transaction as an asset acquisition (disposal) when substantially all the fair value of the gross assets acquired (disposed) is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets or otherwise does not meet the definition of a business. For asset acquisitions, we capitalize acquisition-related costs as a component of the cost of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Noncontrolling interests

Noncontrolling interestsNoncontrolling interests represent the portion of our net income (loss), comprehensive income (loss) and net assets that is not allocable to us and is calculated based on our ownership percentage. For holdings where the economic allocations are not based pro rata on ownership percentages, we use the balance sheet-oriented hypothetical liquidation at book value (HLBV) method, to reflect the substantive profit sharing arrangement.Under the HLBV method, the amounts we report as "Noncontrolling interests" and "Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests" in our consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of income represent the amounts the noncontrolling interest would hypothetically receive at each balance sheet reporting date under the liquidation provisions of each holding’s ownership agreement assuming we were to liquidate the net assets of the projects at recorded amounts determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP and distribute those amounts to the investors. We determine the noncontrolling interest in our statements of income and comprehensive income as the difference in noncontrolling interests on our consolidated balance sheets at the start, or at inception of the noncontrolling interest if applicable, and end of each reporting period, after taking into account any capital transactions between the holdings and the third party. We report the noncontrolling interest balances in the holdings as a component of equity on our consolidated balance sheets.

Equity method investments

Equity method investmentsWe account for joint ventures that do not meet consolidation criteria using the equity method. We reflect earnings (losses) recognized under the equity method in the consolidated statements of income as "Earnings (losses) from equity method investments." We recognize dividends received from joint ventures as a reduction in the carrying amount of the investment and not as dividend income. We assess and record an impairment of our equity method investments in earnings for a decline in value that we determine to be other than temporary.

Goodwill and other intangible assets

Goodwill represents future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. Goodwill is initially measured at cost, being the excess of the aggregate of the consideration transferred, the fair value of any noncontrolling interest and the acquisition date fair value of any previously held equity interest in the acquiree over the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Goodwill is not amortized, but is subject to an assessment for impairment performed in the fourth quarter or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit to which goodwill is assigned below its carrying amount. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment and is the level at which we test goodwill for impairment. In assessing goodwill for impairment, we have the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether a quantitative assessment is necessary. If we determine, based on qualitative factors, that the fair value of the reporting unit is more likely than not greater than the carrying amount, no further testing is required. If we bypass the qualitative assessment, or perform the qualitative assessment but determine it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount, we perform a quantitative test to compare the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, we record an impairment loss as a reduction to goodwill and a charge to operating expenses, but the loss recognized would not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.

Intangible assets acquired separately are measured on initial recognition at cost. The cost of intangible assets acquired in a business combination is their fair value at the date of acquisition. Following initial recognition, intangible assets are carried at cost less any accumulated amortization and impairment losses. The useful lives of intangible assets are assessed as either finite or indefinite.

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over the useful economic life, which ranges from four to forty years, and assessed for impairment whenever there is an indication that the intangible asset may be impaired. The amortization expense on intangible assets with finite lives is recognized in our consolidated statements of income within the expense category that is consistent with the function of the intangible assets.

Property, plant and equipment

We account for property, plant and equipment at historical cost. In cases where we are required to dismantle installations or to recondition the site on which they are located, we record the estimated cost of removal or reconditioning as an asset retirement obligation (ARO) and add an equal amount to the carrying amount of the asset.

Development and construction of our various facilities are carried out in stages. We expense project costs during early stage development activities. Once we achieve certain development milestones and it is probable that we can obtain future economic benefits from a project, we capitalize salaries and wages for persons directly involved in the project, and engineering, permits, licenses, wind measurement and insurance costs. We periodically review development projects in construction for any indications of impairment.

We transfer assets from “Construction work in progress” to “Property, plant and equipment” when they are available for service.

We capitalize wind turbine and related equipment costs, other project construction costs and interest costs related to the project during the construction period through substantial completion. We record AROs at the date projects achieve commercial operation.

We depreciate the cost of plant and equipment in use on a straight-line basis, less any estimated residual value. The main asset categories are depreciated over the following estimated useful lives:

Major class

Asset Category

Estimated Useful Life (years)

Plant

Combined cycle plants

35-55

Hydroelectric power stations

45-90

Wind power stations

25-40

Solar power stations

Transport facilities

40-75

Distribution facilities

15-80

Equipment

Conventional meters and measuring devices

7-60

Computer software

4-25

Other

Buildings

30-82

Operations offices

5-75

Networks determines depreciation expense using the straight-line method, based on the average service lives of groups of depreciable property, which include estimated cost of removal, in service at each operating company. Consistent with FERC accounting requirements, Networks charges the original cost of utility plant retired or otherwise disposed to accumulated depreciation. Networks' composite rate of depreciation was 2.9% of average depreciable property for both 2020 and 2019.

We charge repairs and minor replacements to operating expenses, and capitalize renewals and betterments, including certain indirect costs.

Allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC), applicable to Networks' entities that apply regulatory accounting, is a noncash item that represents the allowed cost of capital, including a return on equity (ROE), used to finance construction projects. We record the portion of AFUDC attributable to borrowed funds as a reduction of interest expense and record the remainder as other income.

Leases

We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. We classify a lease as a finance lease if it meets any one of specified criteria that in essence transfers ownership of the underlying asset to us by the end of the lease term. If a lease does not meet any of those criteria, we classify it as an operating lease. On our consolidated balance sheets, we include, for operating leases: "Operating lease right-of-use (ROU) assets" and "Operating lease liabilities (current and non-current)"; and for finance leases: finance lease ROU assets in "Other assets" and liabilities in "Other current liabilities" and "Other liabilities."

ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. We recognize lease ROU assets and liabilities at commencement of an arrangement based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, so we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date to determine the present value of future payments. A lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made at or before commencement date, minus any lease incentives received, and includes initial direct costs incurred. We do not record leases with an initial term of 12 months or less on the balance sheet for all classes of underlying assets, and we recognize lease expense for those leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We include variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate in the ROU asset and lease liability measurement based on the index or rate at the commencement date, or upon a modification. We do not include variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or a rate in the ROU asset and lease liability measurement. A lease term includes an option to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. We recognize lease (rent) expense for operating lease payments on a straight-line basis over the lease term, or for our regulated companies we recognize the amount eligible for recovery under their rate plans, such as actual amounts paid. We amortize finance lease ROU assets on a straight-line basis over the lease term and recognize interest expense based on the outstanding lease liability.

We have lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, and account for lease components and associated non-lease components together as a single lease component, for all classes of underlying assets.

Impairment of long-lived assets

Impairment of long-lived assetsWe evaluate property, plant and equipment and other long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment evaluation is based on undiscounted cash flow

analysis at the lowest level to which cash flows of the long-lived assets or asset groups are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. We are required to recognize an impairment loss if the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the undiscounted future net cash flows associated with that asset.

The impairment loss to be recognized is the amount by which the carrying amount of the long-lived asset exceeds the asset’s fair value. Depending on the asset, fair value may be determined by use of a discounted cash flow (DCF) model, with assumptions consistent with a market participant’s view of the exit price of the asset.

Fair value measurement

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. The fair value measurement is based on the presumption that the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability takes place in either the principal market for the asset or liability, or, in the absence of a principal market, in the most advantageous market for the asset or liability.

The fair value of an asset or a liability is measured using the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability, assuming that market participants act in their economic best interest. A fair value measurement of a non-financial asset takes into account a market participant’s ability to generate economic benefits by using the asset according to its highest and best use, or by selling it to another market participant that would use the asset according to its highest and best use.

We use valuation techniques that are appropriate in the circumstances and for which sufficient data is available to measure fair value, maximizing the use of relevant observable inputs and minimizing the use of unobservable inputs. All assets and liabilities for which fair value is measured or disclosed in the consolidated financial statements are categorized within the fair value hierarchy based on the transparency of input to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date.

The three input levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

•Level 1 - inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

•Level 2 - inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the contract.

•Level 3 - one or more inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable or cannot be corroborated with market data.

Categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Certain investments are not categorized within the fair value hierarchy. These investments are measured based on the fair value of the underlying investments but may not be readily redeemable at that fair value.

Equity investments with readily determinable fair values

Equity investments with readily determinable fair valuesWe measure equity investments with readily determinable fair values at fair value, with changes in fair value reported in net income.

Derivatives and hedge accounting

Derivatives are recognized on our consolidated balance sheets at their fair value, except for certain electricity commodity purchases and sales contracts for both capacity and energy (physical contracts) that qualify for, and are elected under, the normal purchases and normal sales exception. To be a derivative under the accounting standards for derivatives and hedging, an agreement would need to have a notional and an underlying, require little or no initial net investment and could be net settled. We recognize changes in the fair value of a derivative contract in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met.

Derivatives that qualify and are designated for hedge accounting are classified as cash flow hedges. We report the gain or loss on the derivative instrument as a component of Other Comprehensive Income (OCI) and later reclassify amounts into earnings when the underlying transaction occurs, which we present in the same income statement line item as the earnings effect of the hedged item. For all designated and qualifying hedges, we maintain formal documentation of the hedge and effectiveness testing in accordance with the accounting standards for derivatives and hedging. If we determine that the derivative is no longer highly effective as a hedge, we will discontinue hedge accounting prospectively. For cash flow hedges of forecasted transactions, we estimate the future cash flows of the forecasted transactions and evaluate the probability of the occurrence and timing of such transactions. If we determine it is probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur, we immediately recognize in earnings hedge gains and losses previously recorded in OCI.

Changes in conditions or the occurrence of unforeseen events could require discontinuance of the hedge accounting or could affect the timing of the reclassification of gains or losses on cash flow hedges from OCI into earnings. For our regulated operations, we record changes in the fair value of electric and natural gas hedge contracts derivative assets or liabilities with an offset to regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities.

We offset fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments and fair value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral or the obligation to return cash collateral arising from derivative instruments executed with the same counterparty under a master netting arrangement.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalentsCash and cash equivalents include cash, bank accounts and other highly-liquid short-term investments. We consider all highly liquid investments with a maturity date of three months or less when acquired to be cash equivalents and include those investments in “Cash and cash equivalents.” Restricted cash represents cash legally set aside for a specified purpose or as part of an agreement with a third party. Restricted cash is included in “Other non-current assets” on our consolidated balance sheets. We classify book overdrafts representing outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit as “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” on our consolidated balance sheets. We report changes in book overdrafts in the operating activities section of our consolidated statements of cash flows.

Trade receivable and unbilled revenue, net of allowance for credit losses

We record trade receivables at amounts billed to customers and we record unbilled revenues based on an estimate of energy delivered or services provided to customers. Certain trade receivables and payables related to our wholesale activities associated with generation and delivery of electric energy and associated environmental attributes, origination and marketing, natural gas storage, hub services and energy management, are subject to master netting agreements with counterparties, whereby we have the legal right to offset the balances and they are settled on a net basis. We present receivables and payables subject to such agreements on a net basis on our consolidated balance sheets.

Trade receivables include amounts due under Deferred Payment Arrangements (DPA). A DPA allows the account balance to be paid in installments over an extended period without interest, which generally exceeds one year, by negotiating mutually acceptable payment terms. The utility companies generally must continue to serve a customer who cannot pay an account balance in full if the customer (i) pays a reasonable portion of the balance; (ii) agrees to pay the balance in installments; and (iii) agrees to pay future bills within 30 days until the DPA is paid in full. Failure to make payments on a DPA results in the full amount of a receivable under a DPA being due. These accounts are part of the regular operating cycle and we classify them as short term. Due to COVID-19, the UIL companies’ regulators require them to offer to customers, through early February 2021, a 24-month repayment plan.

We establish our allowance for credit losses, including for unbilled revenue (also referred to as contract assets), by using both historical average loss percentages to project future losses, and by establishing a specific allowance for known credit issues or for specific items not considered in the historical average calculation. Due to our adoption of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 326 effective January 1, 2020, we now also consider whether we need to adjust historical loss rates to reflect the effects of current conditions and forecasted changes considering various economic indicators (e.g., Gross Domestic Product, Personal Income, Consumer Price Index, Unemployment Rate) over the contractual life of the trade receivables. We write off amounts when we have exhausted reasonable collection efforts.

Variable interest entities

An entity is considered to be a variable interest entity (VIE) when its total equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, or its equity investors, as a group, lack the characteristics of having a controlling financial interest. A reporting company is required to consolidate a VIE as its primary beneficiary when it has both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance, and the obligation to absorb losses of or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. We evaluate whether an entity is a VIE whenever reconsideration events occur as defined by the accounting guidance (See Note 20).

We have undertaken several structured institutional partnership investment transactions that bring in external investors in certain of our wind farms in exchange for cash. Following an analysis of the economic substance of these transactions, we classify the consideration received at the inception of the arrangement as noncontrolling interests on our consolidated balance sheets. Subsequently, we use the HLBV method to allocate earnings to the noncontrolling interest, taking into consideration the cash and tax benefits provided to the tax equity investors.

Debentures, bonds and bank borrowings

Debentures, bonds and bank borrowingsWe record bonds, debentures and bank borrowings as a liability equal to the proceeds of the borrowings. We treat the difference between the proceeds and the face amount of the issued liability as discount or premium and accrete the amounts as interest expense or income over the life of the instrument. We defer incremental costs associated with the issuance of debt instruments and amortize them over the same period as debt discount or premium. We present bonds, debentures and bank borrowings net of unamortized discount, premium and debt issuance costs on our consolidated balance sheets.

Inventory

Inventory comprises fuel and gas in storage and materials and supplies. Through our gas operations, we own natural gas that is stored in third-party owned underground storage facilities, which we record as inventory. We price injections of inventory into storage at the market purchase cost at the time of injection, and price withdrawals of working gas from storage at the weighted-average cost in storage. We continuously monitor the weighted-average cost of gas value to ensure it remains at the lower of cost and net realizable value. We report inventories to support gas operations on our consolidated balance sheets within “Fuel and gas in storage.”

We also have materials and supplies inventories that we use for construction of new facilities and repairs of existing facilities. These inventories are carried and withdrawn at the lower of cost and net realizable value and reported on our consolidated balance sheets within “Materials and supplies.”

In addition, stand-alone renewable energy credits that are generated or purchased and held for sale are recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable value and are reported on our consolidated balance sheets within “Materials and supplies.”

Government grants and Deferred income

Government grants

Our unregulated subsidiaries record government grants related to depreciable assets within deferred income and subsequently amortize them to earnings as an offset to depreciation and amortization expense over the useful life of the related asset. Our regulated subsidiaries record government grants as a reduction to the related utility plant to be recovered through rate base, in accordance with the prescribed FERC accounting.

In accounting for government grants related to operating and maintenance costs, we recognize amounts receivable as an offset to expenses in our consolidated statements of income in the period in which we incur the expenses.

(t) Deferred income

Apart from government grants, we occasionally receive revenues from transactions in advance of the resulting performance obligations arising from the transaction. It is our policy to defer such revenues on our consolidated balance sheets and amortize them into earnings when revenue recognition criteria are met.

Asset retirement obligations

We record the fair value of the liability for an ARO and a conditional ARO in the period in which it is incurred, capitalizing the cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. The ARO is associated with our long-lived assets and primarily consists of obligations related to removal or retirement of asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated equipment, gas pipeline, cast iron gas mains and electricity generation facilities. We adjust the liability periodically to reflect revisions to either the timing or amount of the original estimated undiscounted cash flows over time. The liability is accreted to its present value each period and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement, we will either settle the obligation at its recorded amount or incur a gain or a loss. Our regulated utilities defer any timing differences between rate recovery and depreciation expense and accretion as either a regulatory asset or a regulatory liability.

The term conditional ARO refers to an entity’s legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing or method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the entity’s control. If an entity has sufficient information to reasonably estimate the fair value of the liability for a conditional ARO, it must recognize that liability at the time the liability is incurred.

Our regulated utilities meet the requirements concerning accounting for regulated operations and we recognize a regulatory liability for the difference between removal costs collected in rates and actual costs incurred. We classify these as accrued removal obligations.

Environmental remediation liability

Environmental remediation liabilityIn recording our liabilities for environmental remediation costs the amount of liability for a site is the best estimate, when determinable; otherwise it is based on the minimum liability or the lower end of the range when there is a range of estimated losses. We record our environmental liabilities on an undiscounted basis. We expect to pay our environmental liability accruals through the year 2056.

Post-employment and other employee benefits

We sponsor defined benefit pension plans that cover eligible employees. We also provide health care and life insurance benefits through various postretirement plans for eligible retirees.

We evaluate our actuarial assumptions on an annual basis and consider changes based on market conditions and other factors. All of our qualified defined benefit plans are funded in amounts calculated by independent actuaries, based on actuarial assumptions proposed by management.

We account for defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans, recognizing an asset or liability for the overfunded or underfunded plan status. For a pension plan, the asset or liability is the difference between the fair value of the plan’s assets and the projected benefit obligation. For any other postretirement benefit plan, the asset or liability is the difference between the fair value of the plan’s assets and the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation. Our utility operations generally reflect all unrecognized prior service costs and credits and unrecognized actuarial gains and losses as regulatory assets rather than in other comprehensive income, as management believes it is probable that such items will be recoverable through the ratemaking process. We use a December 31st measurement date for our benefits plans.

We amortize prior service costs for both the pension and other postretirement benefits plans on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of participants expected to receive benefits. Unrecognized actuarial gains and losses related to the pension and other postretirement benefits plans are amortized over the average remaining service period or 10 years, considering any requirement by the regulators for our Networks subsidiaries. Our policy is to calculate the expected return on plan assets using the market related value of assets. That value is determined by recognizing the difference between actual returns and expected returns over a five-year period.

Income taxes

We use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect the expected future tax consequences, based on enacted tax laws, of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts. In accordance with U.S. GAAP for regulated industries, certain of our regulated subsidiaries have established a regulatory asset for the net revenue requirements to be recovered from customers for the related future tax expense associated with certain of these temporary differences. We defer the investment tax credits (ITCs) when earned and amortize them over the estimated lives of the related assets. We also recognize the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory when the transfer occurs.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the expected tax rate for the period in which the asset or liability will be realized or settled, based on legislation enacted as of the balance sheet date. Changes in deferred income tax assets and liabilities that are associated with components of OCI are charged or credited directly to OCI. Significant judgment is required in determining income tax provisions and evaluating tax positions. Our tax positions are evaluated under a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold before they are recognized for financial reporting purposes. We record valuation allowances to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that we will not realize all or a portion of a tax benefit. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are netted and classified as non-current on our consolidated balance sheets.

We record the excess of state franchise tax computed as the higher of a tax based on income or a tax based on capital in “Taxes other than income taxes” and “Taxes accrued” in our consolidated financial statements.

Positions taken or expected to be taken on tax returns, including the decision to exclude certain income or transactions from a return, are recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not the tax position can be sustained based solely on the technical merits of the position. The amount of a tax return position that is not recognized in the financial statements is disclosed as an unrecognized tax benefit. Changes in assumptions on tax benefits may also impact interest expense or interest income and may result in the recognition of tax penalties. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recorded within “Interest expense, net of capitalization” and “Other income and (expense)” in our consolidated statements of income.

Uncertain tax positions have been classified as non-current unless expected to be paid within one year. In 2019, we netted our liability for uncertain tax positions against all same jurisdiction deferred tax assets, net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Our policy is to recognize interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions as a component of interest expense in the consolidated statements of income.

Federal production tax credits applicable to our renewable energy facilities, that are not part of a tax equity financing arrangement, are recognized as a reduction in income tax expense with a corresponding reduction in deferred income tax liabilities.

Our income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits reflect management’s best assessment of estimated current and future taxes to be paid. Significant judgments and estimates are required in determining the consolidated income tax components of the financial statements.

Stock-based compensation

Stock-based compensationStock-based compensation represents costs related to stock-based awards granted to employees. We account for stock-based payment transactions based on the estimated fair value of awards reflecting forfeitures when they occur. The recognition period for these costs begins at either the applicable service inception date or grant date and continues throughout the requisite service period, or until the employee becomes retirement eligible, if earlier.

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements and Accounting Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Adopted

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

(a) Measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, amendments and updates

The FASB issued an accounting standards update in June 2016 that requires more timely recording of credit losses on loans and other financial instruments (ASC 326). The amendments affect entities that hold financial assets and net investment in leases that are not accounted for at fair value through net income (loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance-sheet credit exposures, etc.). They require an entity to present a financial asset (or group of financial assets) that is measured at amortized cost basis at the net amount expected to be collected. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset(s) to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. The income statement reflects the measurement of credit losses for newly recognized financial assets, as well as the expected increases or decreases of expected credit losses that have taken place during the period. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. An entity must use judgment in determining the relevant information and estimation methods appropriate in its circumstances. The FASB subsequently issued various updates to ASC 326 to clarify transition and scope requirements, make narrow-scope codification improvements, including in March 2020, and corrections and provide targeted transition relief. We adopted the amendments effective January 1, 2020, including the narrow-scope improvements issued in March 2020, and recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment of $1 million to retained earnings at the beginning of the period of adoption, with no material effect to our consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows and disclosures.

(b) Simplifying the test for goodwill impairment

In January 2017, the FASB issued amendments to simplify the test for goodwill impairment, which is required for public entities and certain other entities that have goodwill reported in their financial statements. The amendments simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test, which requires the valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed using business combination accounting guidance. Under the new guidance, an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; but the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Also, an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax-deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. Certain requirements are eliminated for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount; therefore, the same impairment assessment applies to all reporting units. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. We adopted the amendments effective January 1, 2020, with no material effect to our consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows and disclosures. As required, we are applying the amendments on a prospective basis.

In August 2018, the FASB issued amendments related to disclosure requirements for both fair value measurement and defined benefit plans.

The amendments concerning fair value measurement remove, modify and add certain disclosure requirements in order to improve the overall usefulness of the disclosures and reduce unnecessary costs to companies to prepare the disclosures. We adopted the amendments effective January 1, 2020, with no material effect to our disclosures. Certain amendments are to be applied prospectively, and all others are to be applied retrospectively.

The amendments concerning disclosure requirements for defined benefit plans are narrow in scope and apply to all employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. The amendments change annual disclosures requirements, including removal of disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial, adding certain new relevant disclosures and clarifying specific requirements of disclosures concerning information for defined benefit pension plans. We adopted the amendments effective January 1, 2020, and they will not materially affect the disclosures for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. As required, we applied the amendments on a retrospective basis.

(d) Targeted improvements to related party guidance for VIEs

In October 2018, the FASB issued amendments that affect reporting entities that are required to determine whether they should consolidate a legal entity under the consolidation guidance applicable to VIEs. The targeted improvements specifically applicable to public business entities clarify that indirect interests held through related parties in common control arrangements should be considered on a proportional basis for determining whether fees paid to decision makers and service providers are variable interests. We adopted the amendments effective January 1, 2020, with no material effect to our consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows and disclosures.

(e) Clarifying guidance for certain collaborative arrangements with respect to revenue recognition

The FASB issued amendments in November 2018 to clarify the interaction between the guidance for certain collaborative arrangements and the guidance applicable to ASC 606. A collaborative arrangement is a contractual arrangement under which two or more parties actively participate in a joint operating activity and are exposed to significant risks and rewards that depend on the activity’s commercial success. The targeted improvements clarify that certain transactions between collaborative arrangement participants are within the scope of ASC 606 and thus subject to all its guidance. We adopted the amendments effective January 1, 2020, with no material effect to our consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows and disclosures. As required, we retrospectively applied the amendments to the date of our initial application of ASC 606.

Accounting Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Adopted

The following are new accounting pronouncements not yet adopted that we have evaluated or are evaluating to determine their effect on our consolidated financial statements.

(a) Simplifying the accounting for income taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued an accounting standards update that is intended to reduce complexity in accounting for income taxes. The amendments remove specific exceptions to the general principles in ASC 740, Income Taxes, eliminating the need for an entity to analyze whether the following apply in a given period: (1) exception to the incremental approach for intra-period tax allocation, (2) exceptions to accounting for basis differences in equity method investments when there are ownership changes in foreign investments and (3) exception in interim period income tax accounting for year-to-date losses that exceed anticipated losses. The amendments also improve financial statement preparers’ application of income-tax related guidance and simplify U. S. GAAP for (1) franchise taxes that are partially based on income, (2) transactions with a government that result in a step up in the tax basis of goodwill, (3) separate financial statements of legal entities that are not subject to tax and (4) enacted changes in tax laws in interim periods. The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period for which financial statements have not been issued, with adoption of all amendments in the same period. Application is on a retrospective and/or modified retrospective basis, or a prospective basis, depending on the amendment aspect. We expect our adoption will not materially affect our consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

(b) Facilitation of the effects of reference rate reform on financial reporting, and subsequent scope clarification

In March 2020, the FASB issued amendments and created ASC 848 to provide temporary optional guidance to entities to ease the potential burden in accounting for, or recognizing the effects of, reference rate reform on financial reporting. The amendments respond to concerns about structural risks of interbank offered rates, and particularly, the risk of cessation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The guidance is elective and applies to all entities, subject to meeting certain criteria, that have contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform, around the end of 2021. The guidance applies to contracts that have modified terms that affect, or have the potential to affect, the amount or timing of contractual cash flows resulting from the discontinuance of the reference rate reform. The amendments are effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020, through December 31, 2022, although the FASB has indicated it will monitor developments in the marketplace and consider whether developments warrant an extension.

In January 2021, the FASB issued amendments to clarify the scope of ASC 848 and respond to questions from stakeholders about whether ASC 848 can be applied to derivative instruments that do not reference a rate that is expected to be discontinued

but that use an interest rate for margining, discounting, or contract price alignment that is modified because of reference rate reform. The modification, commonly referred to as the “discounting transition,” may have accounting implications, raising concerns about the need to reassess previous accounting determinations related to those derivatives and about the possible hedge accounting consequences of the discounting transition. The amendments clarify that certain optional expedients and exceptions in ASC 848 for contract modifications and hedge accounting apply to derivatives that are affected by the discounting transition, capture the incremental consequences of the scope clarification and tailor the existing guidance to derivative instruments affected by the discounting transition. The amendments are effective immediately, and may be elected retrospectively to eligible modifications as of any date from the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020, or prospectively to new modifications made on or after any date within the interim period that includes January 7, 2021.

We expect our adoption of reference rate reform and the subsequent scope clarification will not materially affect our consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

Use of Estimates and Assumptions

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates and assumptions are used for, but not limited to: (1) allowance for credit losses and unbilled revenues; (2) asset impairments, including goodwill; (3) investments in equity instruments; (4) depreciable lives of assets; (5) income tax valuation allowances; (6) uncertain tax positions; (7) reserves for professional, workers’ compensation and comprehensive general insurance liability risks; (8) contingency and litigation reserves; (9) fair value measurements; (10) earnings sharing mechanisms; (11) environmental remediation liabilities; (12) AROs; (13) pension and other postretirement employee benefits and (14) noncontrolling interest balances. Future events and their effects cannot be predicted with certainty; accordingly, our accounting estimates require the exercise of judgment. The accounting estimates we use in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements will change as new events occur, as more experience is acquired, as additional information is obtained and as our operating environment changes. We evaluate and update our assumptions and estimates on an ongoing basis and may employ outside specialists to assist in our evaluations, as necessary. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

We continue to utilize information reasonably available to us; however, the business and economic uncertainty resulting from COVID-19 has made such estimates and assumptions more difficult to assess and calculate. Affected estimates include, but are not limited to, evaluations of certain long-lived assets and goodwill for impairment, expected credit losses and potential regulatory deferral or recovery of certain costs. While we have not yet had material effects of COVID-19 on our financial results, actual results could differ from those estimates, which could result in material effects to our consolidated financial statements in future reporting periods.

Union collective bargaining agreements

We have approximately 48.8% of our employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Agreements expiring in the coming year apply to approximately 16.0% of our employees.