Recent accounting pronouncements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

Recent accounting pronouncements

Recent accounting pronouncements

Obligations resulting from joint and several liability.  In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2013-04, “Liabilities (Topic 405): Obligations Resulting from Joint and Several Liability Arrangements for Which the Total Amount of the Obligation Is Fixed at the Reporting Date,” which provides guidance for the recognition, measurement and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation is fixed at the reporting date. The guidance requires entities to measure these obligations as the sum of the amount the entity has agreed with co-obligors to pay and any additional amount it expects to pay on behalf of its co-obligors. The guidance also requires an entity to disclose the nature and amount of the obligation as well as other information.

The Company and the Utilities retrospectively adopted ASU No. 2013-04 in the first quarter of 2014 and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s or the Utilities' results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.

Unrecognized tax benefits (UTBs).  In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists,” which requires the netting of UTBs against a deferred tax asset for a loss or other carryforward that would apply in settlement of the uncertain tax positions. UTBs should be netted against all available same-jurisdiction loss or other tax carryforwards that would be utilized, rather than only against carryforwards that are created by the UTBs.

The Company and the Utilities prospectively adopted ASU No. 2013-11 in the first quarter of 2014 and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s or the Utilities' results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.

Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects. In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-01, Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects,” which permits entities to make an accounting policy election to account for their investments in qualified affordable housing projects using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met. The amendments also require additional disclosures.

The Company has not determined whether it will retrospectively adopt ASU No. 2014-01 in 2014 or the first quarter of 2015, as early adoption is permitted. The Company has not determined the impact of adoption on its results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.

Reclassification of loans upon foreclosure. In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-04, "Receivables-Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure,” which clarifies when an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, and a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer loan. A creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer loan upon either: (1) the creditor obtaining legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure; or (2) the borrower conveying all interest in the residential real estate property to the creditor to satisfy that loan through a deed in lieu of foreclosure or through a similar legal agreement. The amendment also requires additional disclosures.

The Company plans to prospectively adopt ASU No. 2014-04 in the first quarter of 2015 and does not believe that such adoption will have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.