SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates in measuring assets and liabilities and related revenues and expenses. These estimates involve judgments with respect to, among other things, various future economic factors that are difficult to predict and are beyond our control; therefore, actual results could differ from these estimates. As additional information becomes available, or actual amounts are determined, recorded estimates are revised. Consequently, operating results can be affected by revisions to prior accounting estimates.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at original cost less accumulated depreciation or fair value, if impaired. Costs include direct labor, materials and third-party construction contractor costs, AFUDC, and certain indirect costs related to equipment and employees engaged in construction. The costs of repairs and minor replacements are charged to expense as incurred, and the costs of major renewals and betterments are capitalized. Upon retirement or disposition of property within the regulated businesses, the gain or loss, net of salvage value, is charged to accumulated depreciation. Upon retirement or disposition of property owned by the unregulated businesses, the gain or loss, net of salvage value, is charged to income. A summary of property, plant and equipment by classification as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 is provided in the following table:



	As of December 31,
(in thousands)	2017			2016
Property, plant and equipment
Regulated Energy
Natural gas distribution – Delmarva Peninsula	$	234,654		$	220,083
Natural gas distribution – Florida	354,495			331,281
Natural gas transmission – Delmarva	357,264			285,746
Natural gas transmission – Florida	27,096			27,018
Electric distribution – Florida	100,227			93,553
Unregulated Energy
Propane distribution – Delmarva Peninsula	79,139			73,686
Propane distribution – Florida	29,038			26,359
Other unregulated natural gas services – Ohio	66,037			61,383
CHP - Florida	35,239			35,237
Other unregulated energy	1,229			135
Other	27,699			21,114
Total property, plant and equipment	1,312,117			1,175,595
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(270,599		)	(245,207		)
Plus: Construction work in progress	84,509			56,276
Net property, plant and equipment	$	1,126,027		$	986,664

Contributions or Advances in Aid of Construction

Customer contributions or advances in aid of construction reduce property, plant and equipment, unless the amounts are refundable to customers. Contributions or advances may be refundable to customers after a number of years based on the amount of revenues generated from the customers or the duration of the service provided to the customers. Refundable contributions or advances are recorded initially as liabilities. The amounts that are determined to be non-refundable reduce property, plant and equipment at the time of such determination. During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, there were $2.1 million, $1.0 million and $1.7 million, respectively, of non-refundable contributions or advances that reduced property, plant and equipment.

Allowance for Funds Used During Construction

Some of the additions to our regulated property, plant and equipment include AFUDC, which represents the estimated cost of funds, from both debt and equity sources, used to finance the construction of major projects. AFUDC is capitalized in the applicable rate base for rate making purposes when the completed projects are placed in service. During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, AFUDC, which was reflected as a reduction of interest charges, was not material.

Assets Used in Leases

Property, plant and equipment for the Florida natural gas transmission operation included $1.4 million of assets, at December 31, 2017 and 2016, consisting primarily of mains, measuring equipment and regulation station equipment used by Peninsula Pipeline to provide natural gas transmission service pursuant to a contract with a third party. This contract is accounted for as an operating lease due to the exclusive use of the assets by the customer. The service under this contract commenced in January 2009 and generates $264,000 in annual revenue for a 20-year term. Accumulated depreciation for these assets totaled $652,000 and $580,000 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Capital Lease Asset

Property, plant and equipment for our Delmarva Peninsula natural gas distribution operation included a capital lease asset of $2.0 million and $3.4 million, net of accumulated amortization, at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, related to Sandpiper's capacity, supply and operating agreement. The original fair value of this asset was $7.1 million. See Note 20, Other Commitments and Contingencies, for additional information. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, accumulated amortization for this capital lease asset was $5.1 million and $3.7 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, we recorded $1.4 million, $1.4 million and $1.3 million, respectively, in amortization of this capital lease asset, which was included in our fuel cost recovery mechanisms.

Jointly-owned Pipeline

Property, plant and equipment for our Florida natural gas transmission operation also included $6.7 million of assets, at December 31, 2017 and 2016, which consists of the 16-mile pipeline from the Duval/Nassau County line to Amelia Island in Nassau County, Florida, jointly owned by Peninsula Pipeline and Peoples Gas. The amount included in property, plant and equipment represents Peninsula Pipeline’s 45-percent ownership of this pipeline. Each party was responsible for financing its portion of the jointly-owned pipeline. This 16-mile pipeline was placed in service in December 2012. Accumulated depreciation for this pipeline totaled $1.3 million and $1.0 million, at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Asset Impairment Evaluations

We periodically evaluate whether events or circumstances have occurred, which indicate that other long-lived assets may not be fully recoverable. The determination of whether an impairment has occurred is based on an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows attributable to the asset, compared to the carrying value of the asset. When such events or circumstances are present, we record an impairment loss equal to the excess of the asset's carrying value over its fair value, if any.

In May 2015, we entered into a settlement agreement with a vendor related to the implementation of a customer billing system. Pursuant to the agreement, we received $1.5 million in cash, which is reflected as "Gain from a settlement" in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. In May 2016, we received an additional $650,000 in cash; however, retention of this amount is contingent upon engaging this vendor to provide agreed-upon services through May 2020.

Depreciation and Accretion Included in Operations Expenses

We compute depreciation expense for our regulated operations by applying composite, annual rates, as approved by the respective regulatory bodies. The following table shows the average depreciation rates used for regulated operations during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015:



	2017	2016	2015
Natural gas distribution – Delmarva Peninsula	2.5%	2.5%	2.4%
Natural gas distribution – Florida	2.9%	2.9%	2.9%
Natural gas transmission – Delmarva Peninsula	2.8%	2.7%	2.7%
Natural gas transmission – Florida	3.5%	3.9%	4.0%
Electric distribution – Florida	3.4%	3.5%	3.5%

For our unregulated operations, we compute depreciation expense on a straight-line basis over the following estimated useful lives of the assets:



Asset Description	Useful Life
Propane distribution mains	10-37 years
Propane bulk plants and tanks	10-40 years
Propane equipment	5-33 years
Meters and meter installations	5-33 years
Measuring and regulating station equipment	5-37 years
Natural gas pipelines	45 years
Natural gas right of ways	Perpetual
CHP plant	30 years
Natural gas processing equipment	20-25 years
Office furniture and equipment	3-10 years
Transportation equipment	4-20 years
Structures and improvements	5-45 years
Other	Various

We report certain depreciation and accretion in operations expense, rather than as a depreciation and amortization expense, in the accompanying consolidated statements of income in accordance with industry practice and regulatory requirements. Depreciation and accretion included in operations expense consists of the accretion of the costs of removal for future retirements of utility assets, vehicle depreciation, computer software and hardware depreciation, and other minor amounts of depreciation expense. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, we reported $8.1 million, $7.3 million and $7.0 million, respectively, of depreciation and accretion in operations expenses.

Regulated Operations

We account for our regulated operations in accordance with ASC Topic 980, Regulated Operations, which includes accounting principles for companies whose rates are determined by independent third-party regulators. When setting rates, regulators often make decisions, the economics of which require companies to defer costs or revenues in different periods than may be appropriate for unregulated enterprises. When this situation occurs, a regulated company defers the associated costs as regulatory assets on the balance sheet and records them as expense on the income statement as it collects revenues. Further, regulators can also impose liabilities upon a regulated company, for amounts previously collected from customers and for recovery of costs that are expected to be incurred in the future, as regulatory liabilities. If we were required to terminate the application of these regulatory provisions to our regulated operations, all such deferred amounts would be recognized in the statement of income at that time, which could have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

We monitor our regulatory and competitive environments to determine whether the recovery of our regulatory assets continues to be probable. If we were to determine that recovery of these assets is no longer probable, we would write off the assets against earnings. We believe that the provisions of ASC Topic 980, Regulated Operations, continue to apply to our regulated operations and that the recovery of our regulatory assets is probable.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues for our natural gas and electric distribution operations are based on rates approved by the PSC in each state in which they operate. Eastern Shore’s revenues are based on rates approved by the FERC. Customers’ base rates may not be changed without formal approval by these commissions. The PSCs, however, have authorized our regulated operations to negotiate rates, based on approved methodologies, with customers that have competitive alternatives. The FERC has also authorized Eastern Shore to negotiate rates above or below the FERC-approved maximum rates, which customers can elect as an alternative to negotiated rates.

For regulated deliveries of natural gas and electricity, we read meters and bill customers on monthly cycles that do not coincide with the accounting periods used for financial reporting purposes. We accrue unbilled revenues for natural gas and electricity that have been delivered, but not yet billed, at the end of an accounting period to the extent that they do not coincide. We estimate the amount of the unbilled revenue by jurisdiction and customer class. A similar computation is made to accrue unbilled revenues for propane customers with meters and natural gas marketing customers, whose billing cycles do not coincide with our accounting periods.

Our Ohio natural gas supply operation recognizes revenues based on actual volumes of natural gas shipped using contractual rates, which are based upon index prices that are published monthly.

Our natural gas marketing operation recognizes revenue based on the volume of natural gas delivered to its customers.

The propane wholesale marketing operation records trading activity for open contracts on a net mark-to-market basis in our consolidated statements of income. For propane bulk delivery customers without meters, we record revenue in the period the products are delivered and/or services are rendered.

Eight Flags records revenues based on the amount of electricity and steam generated and sold to its customers.

All of our natural gas and electric distribution operations, except for two utilities that do not sell natural gas to end-use customers as a result of deregulation, have fuel cost recovery mechanisms. These mechanisms provide a method of adjusting the billing rates to reflect changes in the cost of purchased fuel. The difference between the current cost of fuel purchased and the cost of fuel recovered in billed rates is deferred and accounted for as either unrecovered fuel cost or amounts payable to customers. Generally, these deferred amounts are recovered or refunded within one year. Chesapeake Utilities' Florida Division and FPU's Indiantown division provide unbundled delivery service to their customers, whereby the customers are permitted to purchase their gas requirements directly from competitive natural gas marketers.

We charge flexible rates to our natural gas distribution industrial interruptible customers to compete with prices of alternative fuels which these customers are able to use. Neither we nor our interruptible customers are contractually obligated to deliver or receive natural gas on a firm service basis.

We report revenue taxes, such as gross receipts taxes, franchise taxes, and sales taxes, on a net basis.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales includes the direct costs attributable to the products sold or services provided to our customers. These costs include primarily the variable cost of natural gas, electricity and propane commodities, pipeline capacity costs needed to transport and store natural gas, transmission costs for electricity, gathering and processing gas costs, transportation costs to transport propane purchases to our storage facilities, and steam and electricity generation costs. Depreciation expense is not included in our cost of sales.

Operations and Maintenance Expenses

Operations and maintenance expenses include operations and maintenance salaries and benefits, materials and supplies, usage of vehicles, tools and equipment, payments to contractors, utility plant maintenance, customer service, professional fees and other outside services, insurance expense, minor amounts of depreciation, accretion of cost of removal for future retirements of utility assets and other administrative expenses.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Our policy is to invest cash in excess of operating requirements in overnight income-producing accounts. Such amounts are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. Investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased are considered cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts receivable consist primarily of amounts due for distribution sales of natural gas, electricity and propane and transportation services to customers. An allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded against amounts due to reduce the receivables balance to the amount we reasonably expect to collect based upon our collections experiences and our assessment of customers’ inability or reluctance to pay. If circumstances change, our estimates of recoverable accounts receivable may also change. Circumstances which could affect such estimates include, but are not limited to, customer credit issues, the level of natural gas, electricity and propane prices and general economic conditions. Accounts are written off when they are deemed to be uncollectible.

Inventories

We use the average cost method to value propane, materials and supplies, and other merchandise inventory. If market prices drop below cost, inventory balances that are subject to price risk are adjusted to their net realizable value. There was no lower-of-cost-or-net realizable value adjustment during 2017, 2016 or 2015.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment at least annually. Goodwill of a reporting unit is tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. We use a present value technique based on discounted cash flows to estimate the fair value of our reporting units. An impairment charge is recognized if the carrying value of a reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. The testing of goodwill for 2017, 2016 and 2015 indicated no goodwill impairment.

Other intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated economic useful lives.

Other Deferred Charges

Other deferred charges primarily include issuance costs associated with short-term borrowings. These charges are amortized over the life of the related short-term debt borrowings.

Asset Removal Cost

As authorized by the appropriate PSC, we accrue future asset removal costs associated with utility property, plant and equipment even if a legal obligation does not exist. Such accruals are provided for through depreciation expense and are recorded with corresponding credits to regulatory liabilities or assets. When we retire depreciable utility plant and equipment, we charge the associated original costs to accumulated depreciation and amortization, and any related removal costs incurred are charged to regulatory liabilities or assets. The difference between removal costs recognized in depreciation rates and the accretion expense and depreciation expense recognized for financial reporting purposes is a timing difference between recovery of these costs in rates and their recognition for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, these differences are deferred as regulatory liabilities or assets. In the rate setting process, the regulatory liability or asset is excluded from the rate base upon which those utilities have the opportunity to earn their allowed rates of return. The costs associated with our asset retirement obligations are either currently being recovered in rates or are probable of recovery in future rates.

Pension and Other Postretirement Plans

Pension and other postretirement plan costs and liabilities are determined on an actuarial basis and are affected by numerous assumptions and estimates, including the fair value of plan assets, estimates of the expected returns on plan assets, assumed discount rates, the level of contributions made to the plans, and current demographic and actuarial mortality data. We review annually the estimates and assumptions underlying our pension and other postretirement plan costs and liabilities with the assistance of third-party actuarial firms. The assumed discount rates, expected returns on plan assets and the mortality assumption are the factors that generally have the most significant impact on our pension costs and liabilities. The assumed discount rates, health care cost trend rates and rates of retirement generally have the most significant impact on our postretirement plan costs and liabilities.

The discount rates are utilized principally in calculating the actuarial present value of our pension and postretirement obligations and net pension and postretirement costs. When estimating our discount rates, we consider high quality corporate bond rates, such as the Prudential curve index and the Citigroup yield curve, changes in those rates from the prior year and other pertinent factors, including the expected life of each of our plans and their respective payment options.

The expected long-term rates of return on assets are utilized in calculating the expected returns on the plan assets component of our annual pension plan costs. We estimate the expected returns on plan assets of each of our plans by evaluating expected bond returns, asset allocations, the effects of active plan management, the impact of periodic plan asset rebalancing and historical performance. We also consider the guidance from our investment advisors in making a final determination of our expected rates of return on assets.

We estimate the health care cost trend rates used in determining our postretirement net expense based upon actual health care cost experience, the effects of recently enacted legislation and general economic conditions. Our assumed rate of retirement is estimated based upon our annual reviews of participant census information as of the measurement date.

The mortality assumption used for our pension and postretirement plans is based on the actuarial table that is most reflective of the expected mortality of the plan participants and reviewed periodically.

Actual changes in the fair value of plan assets and the differences between the actual and expected return on plan assets could have a material effect on the amount of pension and postretirement benefit costs that we ultimately recognize. A 0.25 percent decrease in the discount rate could increase our annual pension and postretirement costs by approximately $7,000, and a 0.25 percent increase could decrease our annual pension and postretirement costs by approximately $9,000. A 0.25 percent change in the rate of return could change our annual pension cost by approximately $143,000 and would not have an impact on the postretirement and supplemental executive retirement plans because these plans are not funded.

Income Taxes, Investment Tax Credit Adjustments and Tax-Related Contingency

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for the income tax effect of temporary differences between the financial statement basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted income tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are recorded net of any valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that such income tax benefits will be realized. Investment tax credits on utility property have been deferred and are allocated to income ratably over the lives of the subject property.

We account for uncertainty in income taxes in our consolidated financial statements only if it is more likely than not that an uncertain tax position is sustainable based on technical merits. Recognizable tax positions are then measured to determine the amount of benefit recognized in the consolidated financial statements. We recognize penalties and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of other income.

We account for contingencies associated with taxes other than income when the likelihood of a loss is both probable and estimable. In assessing the likelihood of a loss, we do not consider the existence of current inquiries, or the likelihood of future inquiries, by tax authorities as a factor. Our assessment is based solely on our application of the appropriate statutes and the likelihood of a loss assuming the proper inquiries are made by tax authorities.

Financial Instruments

Prior to its wind down in the second quarter of 2017, Xeron engaged in trading activities using forward and futures contracts, which were accounted for using the MTM method of accounting. Under MTM accounting, our trading contracts were recorded at fair value as derivative assets and liabilities. The changes in fair value of the contracts were recognized as gains or losses in revenues in the consolidated statements of income in the period of change.

Our natural gas, electric and propane distribution operations and natural gas marketing operations enter into agreements with suppliers to purchase natural gas, electricity, and propane for resale to our respective customers. Purchases under these contracts, as well as distribution and marketing operations sales agreements with counterparties or customers, either do not meet the definition of a derivative, or qualify for “normal purchases and sales” treatment under ASC Topic 815 Derivatives and Hedging, and are accounted for on an accrual basis.

Our propane distribution operations enter into derivative transactions, such as swaps, put options and call options in order to mitigate the impact of wholesale price fluctuations on inventory valuation and future purchase commitments.

Our natural gas marketing operation enters into natural gas futures and swap contracts to mitigate any price risk associated with the purchase and/or sale of natural gas to specific customers.

These transactions may be designated as fair value hedges or cash flow hedges, if they meet all of the accounting requirements pursuant to ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and we elect to designate the instruments as hedges. If designated as a fair value hedge, the value of the hedging instrument, such as a swap, future, or put option, is recorded at fair value, with the effective portion of the gain or loss of the hedging instrument effectively reducing or increasing the value of the hedged item. If designated as a cash flow hedge, the value of the hedging instrument, such as a swap, call option or natural gas futures contract, is recorded at fair value with the effective portion of the gain or loss of the hedging instrument being recorded in comprehensive income. The ineffective portion of the gain or loss of a hedge is recorded in earnings. If the instrument is not designated as a fair value or cash flow hedge, or it does not meet the accounting requirements of a hedge under ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, it is recorded at fair value with all gains or losses being recorded directly in earnings. In 2018, we will be adopting ASU 2017-12, Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, the updated hedge accounting standard, which we expect will reduce the MTM volatility in PESCO’s results due to better alignment of risk management activities and financial reporting, risk component hedging and certain other simplifications of hedge accounting guidance.

FASB Statements

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Inventory (ASC 330) - In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. Under this guidance, inventories are required to be measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value represents the estimated selling price less costs associated with completion, disposal and transportation. We adopted ASU 2015-11 on January 1, 2017, on a prospective basis. Adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Recent Accounting Standards Yet to be Adopted

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606) - In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This standard provides a single comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers to improve comparability within industries, as well as across industries and capital markets. The standard contains principles that entities will apply to determine the measurement of revenue and when it is recognized. The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance also requires a number of disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and the related cash flows. In March 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-08, Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), to clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. For public entities, this standard is effective for interim and annual financial statements issued beginning January 1, 2018.

We have completed our evaluation of our revenue sources and the impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. In tandem, we have developed and documented accounting policies and position papers, which are intended to meet the requirements of this new revenue recognition standard. We have also completed our plan to update our internal controls. Since the third quarter of 2017, we have provided additional training to our employees and have implemented system and process changes that are associated with the adoption of the standard. We will adopt the updated accounting guidance in the first quarter of 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method, which will result in a cumulative adjustment that will decrease retained earnings and receivables and other deferred charges by $1.5 million, related to one long-term firm transmission contract with an industrial customer for which the timing and recognition of revenue will be shifted to later years. Based on our assessment, we believe that the implementation of this new standard will not have a material impact on the amount and timing of revenue recognition, other than the one long-term contract for which we will delay the recognition of approximately $407,000 in revenue from 2018 to future years.

Leases (ASC 842) - In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which provides updated guidance regarding accounting for leases. This update requires a lessee to recognize a lease liability and a lease asset for all leases, including operating leases, with a term greater than 12 months on its balance sheet. The update also expands the required quantitative and qualitative disclosures surrounding leases. ASU 2016-02 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginning January 1, 2019, although early adoption is permitted.

The FASB allows companies to elect several practical expedients, in order to simplify the transition to the new standard. The following three expedients must all be elected together:


•	An entity need not reassess whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases.


•	An entity need not reassess the lease classification for any expired or existing leases (that is, all existing leases that were classified as operating leases in accordance with Topic 840 will continue to be classified as operating leases, and all existing leases that were classified as capital leases in accordance with Topic 840 will continue to be classified as capital leases).

•An entity need not reassess initial direct costs for any existing leases.

Other practical expedients that can be elected individually are:


•	An entity may elect to use hindsight in determining the lease term and in assessing impairment of the entity’s right-of-use assets.


•	An entity may elect to apply the provisions of the new lease guidance at the effective date, without adjusting the comparative periods presented.

We expect to use the practical expedients to assist in implementation of this standard. We have assessed all of our leases and have concluded that we may have some operating leases that qualify for the short-term lease exception. Upon adoption, we will record the right-of-use assets and the lease liabilities related to our operating leases with a lease term in excess of one year. We do not believe that this will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In January 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842, which provides a practical expedient to not evaluate, under Topic 842, existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases. We plan to utilize the provided practical expedient for existing and expired land easements and will assess all new or modified land easements and right-of-way agreements, under the guidance of ASU 2016-02, following its adoption.

Statement of Cash Flows (ASC 230) - In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which clarifies how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginning January 1, 2018, although early adoption is permitted. We believe that the implementation of this new standard will not have a material impact on our consolidated statement of cash flows.

Intangibles-Goodwill (ASC 350) - In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. ASU 2017-04 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginning January 1, 2020, although early adoption is permitted. The amendments included in this ASU are to be applied prospectively. We believe that the implementation of this new standard will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Compensation-Retirement Benefits (ASC 715) - In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Post Retirement Benefit Cost. Under this guidance, employers are required to report the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit costs are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations. The update allows for capitalization of the service cost component when applicable. ASU 2017-07 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginning January 1, 2018, although early adoption is permitted. The presentation of the service cost and other components in this update are to be applied retrospectively, and the capitalization of the service cost is to be applied prospectively on or after the effective date. Aside from changes in presentation, we believe that the implementation of this new standard will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Compensation - Stock Compensation (ASC 718) - In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Scope of Modification Accounting, to clarify when to account for a change in the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification. Under this guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, the vesting conditions or the award classification (equity or liability) changes as a result of a change in the terms or conditions of the award. The guidance is effective for our annual financial statements beginning January 1, 2018, although early adoption is permitted. The amendments included in this standard are to be applied prospectively. We believe that the implementation of this new standard will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815) - In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, to better align an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. Among other changes to hedge designation, ASU 2017-12 expands the risks that can be designated as hedged risks in cash flow hedges to include cash flow variability from contractually specified components of forecasted purchases or sales of non-financial assets. ASU 2017-12 requires the entire change in fair value of a hedging instrument included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness to be presented in the same income statement line that is used to present the earnings effects of the hedged item for fair value hedges and in other comprehensive income for cash flow hedges. For disclosures, ASU 2017-12 requires a tabular presentation of the income statement effect of fair value and cash flow hedges, and it eliminates the requirement to disclose the ineffective portion of the change in fair value of hedging instruments. ASU 2017-12 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginning January 1, 2019, although early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the effect of this standard on our future financial position and results of operations. In 2018, we will be adopting the updated hedge accounting standard, which we expect will reduce the MTM volatility in PESCO’s results due to better alignment of risk management activities and financial reporting, risk component hedging and certain other simplifications of hedge accounting guidance.

Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (ASC 220) - In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the TCJA. ASU 2018-02 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginning January 1, 2019, although early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the effect of this standard on our future financial position and results of operations.