XML 76 R21.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

DPL is a diversified regional energy company organized in 1985 under the laws of Ohio. DPL’s two reportable segments are the Utility segment, comprised of its DP&L subsidiary, and the Competitive Retail segment, comprised of its DPLER operations, which include the operations of DPLER’s wholly owned subsidiary MC Squared. Refer to Note 11 for more information relating to these reportable segments. The terms “we,” “us,” “our” and “ours” are used to refer to DPL and its subsidiaries.

On November 28, 2011, DPL was acquired by AES in the Merger and DPL became a wholly-owned subsidiary of AES. Following the Merger, DPL became an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of AES.

DP&L is a public utility incorporated in 1911 under the laws of Ohio. Beginning in 2001, Ohio law gave Ohio consumers the right to choose the electric generation supplier from whom they purchase retail generation service, however distribution and transmission retail services are still regulated. DP&L has the exclusive right to provide such services to its more than 516,000 customers located in West Central Ohio. Additionally, DP&L offers retail SSO electric service to residential, commercial, industrial and governmental customers in a 6,000 square mile area of West Central Ohio and generates electricity at seven coal-fired electric generating facilities and numerous transmission facilities which are included in the financial statements at amortized cost. During 2014, DP&L is required to source 10% of the generation for its SSO customers through a competitive bid process. Principal industries located in DP&L’s service territory include automotive, food processing, paper, plastic, manufacturing and defense. DP&L's sales reflect the general economic conditions, seasonal weather patterns and the market price of electricity. DP&L sells any excess energy and capacity into the wholesale market. DP&L also sells electricity to DPLER, an affiliate, to satisfy the electric requirements of DPLER’s retail customers.

On March 19, 2014, the PUCO issued a second entry on rehearing which shortened the time by which DP&L must divest its generation assets to no later than January 1, 2016, terminated the potential extension of the SSR on April 30, 2017 instead of May 31, 2017, and accelerated DP&L’s phase-in of the competitive bidding structure to 10% in 2014, 60% in 2015 and 100% in 2016. Parties, including DP&L, have filed applications for rehearing on this Commission Order which are currently pending.

DPLER sells competitive retail electric service, under contract, to residential, commercial, industrial and governmental customers. DPLER’s operations include those of its wholly owned subsidiary MC Squared. DPLER has approximately 322,000 customers currently located throughout Ohio and Illinois. DPLER does not own any transmission or generation assets, and all of DPLER’s electric energy was purchased from DP&L to meet its sales obligations. DPLER’s sales reflect the general economic conditions and seasonal weather patterns of the areas it serves.

DPL’s other significant subsidiaries include DPLE, which owns and operates peaking generating facilities from which it makes wholesale sales of electricity, and MVIC, our captive insurance company that provides insurance services to us and our subsidiaries. All of DPL’s subsidiaries are wholly owned.

DPL also has a wholly owned business trust, DPL Capital Trust II, formed for the purpose of issuing trust capital securities to investors.

DP&L’s electric transmission and distribution businesses are subject to rate regulation by federal and state regulators while its generation business is deemed competitive under Ohio law. Accordingly, DP&L applies the accounting standards for regulated operations to its electric transmission and distribution businesses and records regulatory assets when incurred costs are expected to be recovered in future customer rates, and regulatory liabilities when current cost recoveries in customer rates relate to expected future costs.

DPL and its subsidiaries employed 1,233 people as of March 31, 2014, of which 1,189 were employed by DP&L. Approximately 61% of all DPL employees are under a collective bargaining agreement that expires on October 31, 2014.

Financial Statement Presentation

DPL’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of DPL and its wholly owned subsidiaries except for DPL Capital Trust II which is not consolidated, consistent with the provisions of GAAP. DP&L has undivided ownership interests in seven coal-fired generating facilities and numerous transmission facilities are included in the financial statements at amortized cost, which was adjusted to fair value at the Merger date for DPL. Operating revenues and expenses of these facilities are included on a pro rata basis in the corresponding lines in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Results of Operations. See Note 4 for more information.

All material intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial statements, the instructions of Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted from this interim report. Therefore, our interim financial statements in this report should be read along with the annual financial statements included in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

In the opinion of our management, the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements presented in this report contain all adjustments necessary to fairly state our financial position as of March 31, 2014; our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 and our cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. Unless otherwise noted, all adjustments are normal and recurring in nature. Due to various factors, including, but not limited to, seasonal weather variations, the timing of outages of EGUs, changes in economic conditions involving commodity prices and competition, and other factors, interim results for the three months ended March 31, 2014 may not be indicative of our results that will be realized for the full year ending December 31, 2014.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the revenues and expenses of the periods reported. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and judgments include: the carrying value of property, plant and equipment; unbilled revenues; the valuation of derivative instruments; the valuation of insurance and claims liabilities; the valuation of allowances for receivables and deferred income taxes; regulatory assets and liabilities; liabilities recorded for income tax exposures; litigation; contingencies; the valuation of AROs; assets and liabilities related to employee benefits; goodwill; and intangibles.

As a result of push down accounting, DPL’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations subsequent to the Merger include amortization expense relating to purchase accounting adjustments and depreciation of fixed assets based upon their fair value.

Goodwill Impairment

In connection with the Merger, DPL re-measured the carrying amount of all of its assets and liabilities to fair value, which resulted in the recognition of goodwill assigned to DPL’s two reporting units, DPLER and the DP&L Reporting Unit, which includes DP&L and other entities. FASC 350 “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other” requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level at least annually or more frequently if impairment indicators are present. DPL’s annual testing date for goodwill is October 1 of each year. In evaluating the potential impairment of goodwill, we make estimates and assumptions about revenue, operating cash flows, capital expenditures, growth rates and discount rates based on our budgets and long term forecasts, macroeconomic projections, and current market expectations of returns on similar assets. There are inherent uncertainties related to these factors and management’s judgment in applying these factors. Generally, the fair value of a reporting unit is determined using a discounted cash flow valuation model. We could be required to evaluate the potential impairment of goodwill outside of the required annual assessment process if we experience certain events, including but not limited to: deterioration in general economic conditions; changes to our operating or regulatory environment; increased competitive environment; increase in fuel costs, particularly when we are unable to pass its effect to customers; negative or declining cash flows; loss of a key contract or customer, particularly when we are unable to replace it on equally favorable terms; or adverse actions or assessments by a regulator. These types of events and the resulting analyses could result in goodwill impairment expense, which could substantially affect our results of operations for those periods.

Receivables

Sale of Receivables

DPLER sells receivables from its customers in Duke Energy’s territory to Duke Energy. These sales are at face value for cash at the amounts billed for DPLER customers’ use of energy. Receivables sold to Duke Energy during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were $9.4 million and $4.5 million, respectively. Similarly, MC Squared sells receivables from its customers in ComEd territory to ComEd. These sales are at face value for cash at the amounts billed for DPLER customers’ use of energy. Total receivables sold to ComEd during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were $22.8 million and $16.9 million, respectively. There is no recourse or any other continuing involvement associated with the sold receivables

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant & Equipment

We record our ownership share of our undivided interest in jointly-held plants as an asset in property, plant and equipment. Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost except for adjustments of generating plants to fair market value recorded in connection with the Merger, subsequent impairments and the adjustment of certain intangible assets to fair market value in connection with the 2011 acquisition of MC Squared by DPLER. For regulated transmission and distribution property, cost includes direct labor and material, allocable overhead expenses and an allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC). AFUDC represents the cost of borrowed funds and equity used to finance regulated construction projects. For non-regulated property including unregulated generation property, cost is similarly defined except financing costs are reflected as capitalized interest without an equity component. Capitalization of AFUDC and interest ceases at either project completion or at the date specified by regulators.

For substantially all depreciable property, when a unit of property is retired, the original cost of that property less any salvage value is charged to Accumulated depreciation and amortization.

Property is evaluated for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable.

Regulatory Accounting

As a regulated utility, DP&L applies the provisions of FASC 980 “Regulated Operations,” which gives recognition to the ratemaking and accounting practices of the PUCO and the FERC. Regulatory assets generally represent incurred costs that have been deferred because such costs are probable of future recovery in customer rates. Regulatory assets can also represent performance incentives permitted by the regulator, such as with our CCEM energy efficiency program. Regulatory assets have been included as allowable costs for ratemaking purposes, as authorized by the PUCO or established regulatory practices. Regulatory liabilities generally represent obligations to make refunds or future rate reductions to customers for previous over collections or the deferral of revenues collected for costs that DPL expects to incur in the future.

The deferral of costs (as regulatory assets) is appropriate only when the future recovery of such costs is probable. In assessing probability, we consider such factors as specific orders from the PUCO or FERC, regulatory precedent and the current regulatory environment. To the extent recovery of costs is no longer deemed probable, related regulatory assets would be required to be expensed in current period earnings. Our regulatory assets and liabilities have been created pursuant to a specific order of the PUCO or FERC or established regulatory practices, such as other utilities under the jurisdiction of the PUCO or FERC being granted recovery of similar costs. It is probable, but not certain, that these regulatory assets will be recoverable, subject to PUCO or FERC approval. Regulatory assets and liabilities are classified as current or non-current based on the term in which recovery is expected. See Note 3 for more information about Regulatory Assets.

Intangibles

Intangibles include emission allowances, renewable energy credits, customer relationships and customer contracts. Emission allowances are carried on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis for purchased emission allowances. In addition, we recorded emission allowances at their fair value as of the Merger date. Net gains or losses on the sale of excess emission allowances, representing the difference between the sales proceeds and the carrying value of emission allowances, are recorded as a component of our fuel costs and are reflected in Operating income when realized. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, gains from the sale of emission allowances were immaterial.

Customer relationships recognized as part of the purchase accounting associated with the Merger are amortized over ten to seventeen years and customer contracts are amortized over the average length of the contracts. Emission allowances are amortized as they are used in our operations on a FIFO basis. Renewable energy credits are amortized as they are used or retired.

Accounting for Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities

DPL collects certain excise taxes levied by state or local governments from its customers. These taxes are accounted for on a net basis and recorded as a reduction in revenues. The amounts of such taxes collected for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were $14.4 million and $13.4 million, respectively.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Discontinued Operations

The FASB recently issued ASU 2014-08 “Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity” effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2014. ASU 2014-08 updates the definition of discontinued operations by limiting discontinued operations reporting to disposals of components of an entity that represent strategic shifts that have (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. In addition, an entity is required to expand disclosures for discontinued operations by providing more information about the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of discontinued operations both on the face of the financial statements and in the Notes. For the disposal of an individually significant component of an entity that does not qualify for discontinued operations reporting, an entity is required to disclose the pretax profit or loss of the component in the Notes. This new rule is not expected to have a material effect on our overall results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

Related Party Transactions

In December 2013, an agreement was signed, effective January 1, 2014, whereby the Service Company is to provide services including accounting, legal, human resources, information technology and other corporate services on behalf of companies that are part of the US SBU, including, among other companies, DPL and DP&L. The Service Company allocates the costs for these services based on cost drivers designed to result in fair and equitable allocations. This includes ensuring that the regulatory utilities served, including DP&L, are not subsidizing costs incurred for the benefit of non-regulated businesses.

In the normal course of business, DPL enters into transactions with other subsidiaries of AES. The following table provides a summary of these transactions:



	Three months ended
	March 31,
$ in millions	2014		2013
Transactions with the Service Company
Charges for services provided	$	13.2	$	-

	At March 31,
Transactions with the Service Company	2014		2013
Advances and Prepaids to the Service Company (a)	$	5.4	$	-
Payables to the Service Company (b)	$	13.2	$	-

(a)DP&L has advanced funds to the Service Company which will be applied against future charges for services

(b)As the Service Company charges for services, amounts not offset against advances are recorded as liabilities

DP&L [Member]

Description of Business

DP&L is a public utility incorporated in 1911 under the laws of Ohio. DP&L is engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity to residential, commercial, industrial and governmental customers in a 6,000 square mile area of West Central Ohio. Electricity for DP&L's SSO customers is primarily generated at seven coal-fired power plants and DP&L distributes electricity to more than 516,000 retail customers. During 2014, DP&L is required to source 10% of the generation for its standard service offer customers through a competitive bid process. Principal industries located in DP&L’s service area include food processing, paper, plastic manufacturing and defense. DP&L is a wholly owned subsidiary of DPL.

DP&L's retail generation sales reflect the general economic conditions, seasonal weather patterns of the area and retail competition in the area. DP&L sells any excess energy and capacity into the wholesale market.

DP&L employed 1,189 people as of March 31, 2014. Approximately 63% of all employees are under a collective bargaining agreement which expires on October 31, 2014.

Financial Statement Presentation

DP&L does not have any subsidiaries. DP&L has undivided ownership interests in seven coal-fired electric generating facilities and numerous transmission facilities which are included in the financial statements at amortized cost. Operating revenues and expenses of these facilities are included on a pro rata basis in the corresponding lines in the Condensed Statements of Results of Operations. See Note 4 for more information.

In the opinion of our management, the Condensed Financial Statements presented in this report contain all adjustments necessary to fairly state our financial position as of March 31, 2014; our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 and our cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. Unless otherwise noted, all adjustments are normal and recurring in nature. Due to various factors, including, but not limited to, seasonal weather variations, the timing of outages of EGUs, changes in economic conditions involving commodity prices and competition, and other factors, interim results for the three months ended March 31, 2014 may not be indicative of our results that will be realized for the full year ending December 31, 2014.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the revenues and expenses of the periods reported. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and judgments include: the carrying value of property, plant and equipment; unbilled revenues; the valuation of derivative instruments; the valuation of insurance and claims liabilities; the valuation of allowances for receivables and deferred income taxes; regulatory assets and liabilities; liabilities recorded for income tax exposures; litigation; contingencies; the valuation of AROs; and assets and liabilities related to employee benefits.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant & Equipment

We record our ownership share of our undivided interest in jointly-held plants as an asset in property, plant and equipment. Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost except for the impact of asset impairments recorded for certain generating plants. For regulated transmission and distribution property, cost includes direct labor and material, allocable overhead expenses and an allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC). AFUDC represents the cost of borrowed funds and equity used to finance regulated construction projects. For non-regulated property including unregulated generation property, cost is similarly defined except financing costs are reflected as capitalized interest without an equity component. Capitalization of AFUDC and interest ceases at either project completion or at the date specified by regulators.

For substantially all depreciable property, when a unit of property is retired, the original cost of that property less any salvage value is charged to Accumulated depreciation and amortization.

Property is evaluated for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable

Regulatory Accounting

As a regulated utility, we apply the provisions of FASC 980 “Regulated Operations,” which gives recognition to the ratemaking and accounting practices of the PUCO and the FERC. Regulatory assets generally represent incurred costs that have been deferred because such costs are probable of future recovery in customer rates. Regulatory assets can also represent performance incentives permitted by the regulator, such as with our CCEM energy efficiency program. Regulatory assets have been included as allowable costs for ratemaking purposes, as authorized by the PUCO or established regulatory practices. Regulatory liabilities generally represent obligations to make refunds or future rate reductions to customers for previous over collections or the deferral of revenues collected for costs that DP&L expects to incur in the future.

Intangibles

Intangibles consist of emission allowances and renewable energy credits. Emission allowances are carried on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis for purchased emission allowances. Net gains or losses on the sale of excess emission allowances, representing the difference between the sales proceeds and the carrying value of emission allowances, are recorded as a component of our fuel costs and are reflected in Operating income when realized. Emission allowances are amortized as they are used in our operations. Renewable energy credits are amortized as they are used or retired. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, gains from the sale of emission allowances were immaterial.

Accounting for Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities

DP&L collects certain excise taxes levied by state or local governments from its customers. These taxes are accounted for on a net basis and are recorded as a reduction in revenues. The amounts of such taxes collected for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were $14.4 million and $13.4 million, respectively.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Discontinued Operations

Related Party Transactions

In December 2013, an agreement was signed, effective January 1, 2014, whereby the Service Company is to provide services including accounting, legal, human resources, information technology and other corporate services on behalf of companies that are part of the US SBU, including, among other companies, DP&L. The Service Company allocates the costs for these services based on cost drivers designed to result in fair and equitable allocations. This includes ensuring that the regulatory utilities served, including DP&L, are not subsidizing costs incurred for the benefit of non-regulated businesses.

In the normal course of business, DP&L enters into transactions with other subsidiaries of DPL and AES. The following table provides a summary of these transactions:



	Three months ended
	March 31,
$ in millions	2014		2013
DP&L Revenues:
Sales to DPLER (a)	$	107.8	$	78.7
Sales to MC Squared (b)	$	31.0	$	25.6

DP&L Operations and Maintenance Expenses:
Premiums paid for insurance services provided by MVIC (c)	$	(0.8)	$	(0.7)
Expense recoveries for services provided to DPLER (d)	$	-	$	1.1

Transactions with the Service Company
Charges for services provided	$	11.4	$	-

	At March 31,
DP&L Customer security deposits:	2014		2013
Deposits received from DPLER (e)	$	19.2	$	19.2

Transactions with the Service Company
Advances and Prepaids to the Service Company (f)	$	5.4	$	-
Payables to the Service Company (g)	$	11.4	$	-

(a)DP&L sells power to DPLER to satisfy the electric requirements of DPLER’s retail customers. The revenue dollars associated with sales to DPLER are recorded as wholesale revenues in DP&L’s Financial Statements. The increase in DP&L’s sales to DPLER during the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2013, is primarily due to increase in customers.

(b)DP&L also sells power to MC Squared to satisfy the electric requirements of MC Squared’s retail customers. The revenue dollars associated with sales to MC Squared are recorded as wholesale revenues in DP&L’s Financial Statements. The increase in DP&L’s sales to MC Squared during the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2013, is primarily due to the increase of customers.

(c)MVIC, a wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary of DPL, provides insurance coverage to DP&L and other DPL subsidiaries for workers’ compensation, general liability, property damages and directors’ and officers’ liability. These amounts represent insurance premiums paid by DP&L to MVIC.

(d)In the normal course of business DP&L incurs and records expenses on behalf of DPLER. Such expenses include, but are not limited to, employee-related expenses, accounting, information technology, payroll, legal and other administrative expenses. DP&L subsequently charges these expenses to DPLER at DP&L’s cost and credits the expense in which they were initially recorded.

(e)DP&L requires credit assurance from the CRES providers serving customers in its service territory because DP&L is the default energy provider should the CRES provider fail to fulfill its obligations to provide electricity. Due to DPL’s credit downgrade, DP&L required cash collateral from DPLER.

(f)DP&L has advanced funds to the Service Company which will be applied against future charges for services

(g)As the Service Company charges for services, amounts not offset against advances are recorded as liabilities