SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Accounting Standards Adopted During 2017 Derivative Contract Novations In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an accounting standard that clarifies that a change in the counterparty (novation) to a derivative instrument that has been designated as a hedging instrument does not, in and of itself, require de-designation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met. We adopted the standard on its required effective date of January 1, 2017. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments In March 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that clarifies the requirements for assessing whether contingent call (put) options that can accelerate the payment of principal on debt instruments are clearly and closely related to their debt hosts. The standard requires an evaluation of embedded call (put) options solely on a four-step decision sequence that requires an entity to consider whether (1) the amount paid upon settlement is adjusted based on changes in an index, (2) the amount paid upon settlement is indexed to an underlying other than interest rates or credit risk, (3) the debt involves a substantial premium or discount and (4) the put or call option is contingently exercisable. We adopted the standard on its required effective date of January 1, 2017. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting In March 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that eliminates the requirement that when an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence, an investor must adjust the investment, results of operations, and retained earnings retroactively on a step-by-step basis as if the equity method had been in effect during all previous periods during which the investment had been held. We adopted the standard on its required effective date of January 1, 2017. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Interest Held through Related Parties that are under Common Control In October 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that amends the consolidation analysis for a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a variable interest entity (VIE). The new guidance will require the decision maker’s evaluation of its interests held through related parties that are under common control on a proportionate basis (rather than in their entirety) when determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of that VIE. The amendment does not change the characteristics of a primary beneficiary. We adopted the standard on its required effective date of January 1, 2017. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Future Application of Accounting Standards Revenue Recognition In May 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standard that supersedes most existing revenue recognition guidance. The standard excludes from its scope the accounting for insurance contracts, leases, financial instruments, and certain other agreements that are governed under other GAAP guidance, but could affect the revenue recognition for certain of our other activities. We have developed an implementation plan to adopt this standard using the modified retrospective approach on its required effective date of January 1, 2018. Our analysis of revenues indicates that substantially all of our revenues are from sources excluded from the scope of the standard. For those revenue sources within the scope of the standard, we do not expect material changes in the timing or measurement of revenues based upon our current interpretation of the guidance. We continue to refine our assessment of the impacts this standard is expected to have on our applicable revenue sources, financial statements and related disclosures. However, as substantially all of our revenue sources are excluded from the scope of the standard, we do not expect the adoption of the standard to have a material effect on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or required disclosures. Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities In January 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that will require equity investments that do not follow the equity method of accounting or are not subject to consolidation to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings, while financial liabilities for which fair value option accounting has been elected, changes in fair value due to instrument-specific credit risk will be presented separately in other comprehensive income. The standard allows the election to record equity investments without readily determinable fair values at cost, less impairment, adjusted for subsequent observable price changes with changes in the carrying value of the equity investments recorded in earnings. The standard also updates certain fair value disclosure requirements for financial instruments carried at amortized cost. We will adopt this standard on its effective date of January 1, 2018. Based on our initial review, substantially all of our assets and liabilities are not within the scope of the standard. We do not expect the adoption of the standard to have a material effect on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or required disclosures. Leases In February 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that will require lessees with lease terms of more than 12 months to recognize a right of use asset and a corresponding lease liability on their balance sheets. For income statement purposes, the FASB retained a dual model, requiring leases to be classified as either operating leases or finance leases. We plan to adopt the standard on its effective date of January 1, 2019 using a modified retrospective approach upon adoption. We are currently quantifying the expected recognition on our balance sheet for a right to use asset and a lease liability as required by the standard. We do not expect the impact of the standard to have a material effect on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or required disclosures. Financial Instruments - Credit Losses In June 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that will change how entities account for credit losses for most financial assets, trade receivables and reinsurance receivables. The standard will replace the existing incurred loss impairment model with a new “current expected credit loss model” that generally will result in earlier recognition of credit losses. The standard will apply to financial assets subject to credit losses, including loans measured at amortized cost, reinsurance receivables and certain off-balance sheet credit exposures. Additionally, the impairment of available-for-sale debt securities, including purchased credit deteriorated securities, are subject to the new guidance and will be measured in a similar manner, except that losses will be recognized as allowances rather than reductions in the amortized cost of the securities. The standard will also require additional information to be disclosed in the footnotes. The standard is effective on January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted on January 1, 2019. We are continuing to develop our implementation plan to adopt the standard and are assessing the impact of the standard on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and required disclosures. While we expect an increase in our allowances for credit losses for the financial instruments within scope of the standard, given the objective of the new standard, the amount of any change will be dependent on our portfolios’ composition and quality at the adoption date as well as economic conditions and forecasts at that time. Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments In August 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that addresses diversity in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The amendments provide clarity on the treatment of eight specifically defined types of cash inflows and outflows. The standard is effective on January 1, 2018 using a retrospective transition method to each period presented or prospectively if adoption of an issue is impracticable. We continue to refine our analysis of certain cash flow types and intend to adopt this standard on its required effective date of January 1, 2018. The standard addresses presentation in the statement of cash flows only and will have no effect on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations or required disclosures. Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory In October 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that will require an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs, rather than when the asset is sold to a third party. We plan to adopt the standard on its effective date of January 1, 2018 using a modified retrospective approach upon adoption. We are assessing the impact of the standard on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and required disclosures. Restricted Cash In November 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that provides guidance on the presentation of restricted cash in the Statement of Cash Flows. Entities will be required to explain the changes during a reporting period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. We plan to adopt the standard retrospectively on its effective date of January 1, 2018. The standard addresses presentation of restricted cash in the Statement of Cash Flows only and will have no effect on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations or required disclosures. Clarifying the Definition of a Business In January 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard that changes the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. The new standard will require an entity to evaluate if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired (or disposed of) is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar assets; if so, the set of transferred assets and activities is not a business. At a minimum, a set must include an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create output. The standard is effective on January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the timing of adoption and are assessing the impact of the standard on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Because the standard requires prospective adoption, the impact is dependent on future acquisitions, dispositions and those entities that we consolidate due to obtaining a controlling financial interest. Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment In January 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard that eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill, through a hypothetical purchase price allocation, to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. An entity should also consider income tax effects from tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. The standard is effective on January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted on testing dates after January 1, 2017. We are evaluating the timing of our adoption. The impact of the standard will be dependent on the market conditions of the reporting units at the time of adoption. Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets In February 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard that clarifies the scope and application of Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets, to the sale or transfer of nonfinancial assets and in substance nonfinancial assets to noncustomers, including partial sales. The standard clarifies that a parent transferring its ownership interest in a consolidated subsidiary is within the scope of the accounting standard if substantially all of the fair value of the assets within that subsidiary are nonfinancial assets. The standard also clarifies that the derecognition of all businesses and nonprofit activities should be accounted for in accordance with the derecognition and deconsolidation guidance. The standard also eliminates the exception in the financial asset guidance for transfers of investments (including equity method investments) in real estate entities. An entity is required to apply the amendments in this update at the same time that it applies the amendments in revenues from contracts with customers. The standard is effective on January 1, 2018 and may be applied retrospectively to each period presented or through a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings at the date of adoption (modified retrospective approach). We are evaluating the timing of adoption and are assessing the impact of the standard on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and required disclosures. Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension and Postretirement Benefit Cost In March 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard that requires entities to report the service cost component of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs in the same line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net periodic benefit costs are required to be separately presented in the income statement. The amendments also allow only the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization when applicable. We will adopt this standard on its effective date of January 1, 2018 by retrospectively presenting the service cost and other components, and prospectively capitalizing the service cost component. The standard addresses presentation of net periodic benefit costs in the income statement and will have no effect on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or required disclosures. Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities In March 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard that shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium by requiring the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. The standard does not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount, which continue to be amortized to maturity. We plan to adopt the standard retrospectively on its effective date, January 1, 2019. We do not expect the standard to have a material impact on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or required disclosures. Modification of Share-Based Payment Awards In May 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard that provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. We will prospectively adopt this standard on its effective date of January 1, 2018 and do not expect the standard to have a material effect on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or required disclosures. Derivatives and Hedging In August 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard that improves and expands hedge accounting for both financial and commodity risks. The provisions of the amendment are intended to better align the accounting with an entity’s risk management activities, enhance the transparency on how the economic results are presented in the financial statements and the footnote, and simplify the application of hedge accounting treatment. The standard is effective on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the timing of adoption and are assessing the impact of the standard on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and required disclosures.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Accounting Standards Adopted During 2017

Derivative Contract Novations

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an accounting standard that clarifies that a change in the counterparty (novation) to a derivative instrument that has been designated as a hedging instrument does not, in and of itself, require de-designation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met.

We adopted the standard on its required effective date of January 1, 2017. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments

In March 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that clarifies the requirements for assessing whether contingent call (put) options that can accelerate the payment of principal on debt instruments are clearly and closely related to their debt hosts. The standard requires an evaluation of embedded call (put) options solely on a four-step decision sequence that requires an entity to consider whether (1) the amount paid upon settlement is adjusted based on changes in an index, (2) the amount paid upon settlement is indexed to an underlying other than interest rates or credit risk, (3) the debt involves a substantial premium or discount and (4) the put or call option is contingently exercisable.

Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting

In March 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that eliminates the requirement that when an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence, an investor must adjust the investment, results of operations, and retained earnings retroactively on a step-by-step basis as if the equity method had been in effect during all previous periods during which the investment had been held.

Interest Held through Related Parties that are under Common Control

In October 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that amends the consolidation analysis for a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a variable interest entity (VIE). The new guidance will require the decision maker’s evaluation of its interests held through related parties that are under common control on a proportionate basis (rather than in their entirety) when determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of that VIE. The amendment does not change the characteristics of a primary beneficiary.

Future Application of Accounting Standards

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standard that supersedes most existing revenue recognition guidance. The standard excludes from its scope the accounting for insurance contracts, leases, financial instruments, and certain other agreements that are governed under other GAAP guidance, but could affect the revenue recognition for certain of our other activities.

We have developed an implementation plan to adopt this standard using the modified retrospective approach on its required effective date of January 1, 2018. Our analysis of revenues indicates that substantially all of our revenues are from sources excluded from the scope of the standard. For those revenue sources within the scope of the standard, we do not expect material changes in the timing or measurement of revenues based upon our current interpretation of the guidance. We continue to refine our assessment of the impacts this standard is expected to have on our applicable revenue sources, financial statements and related disclosures. However, as substantially all of our revenue sources are excluded from the scope of the standard, we do not expect the adoption of the standard to have a material effect on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or required disclosures.

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

In January 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that will require equity investments that do not follow the equity method of accounting or are not subject to consolidation to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings, while financial liabilities for which fair value option accounting has been elected, changes in fair value due to instrument-specific credit risk will be presented separately in other comprehensive income. The standard allows the election to record equity investments without readily determinable fair values at cost, less impairment, adjusted for subsequent observable price changes with changes in the carrying value of the equity investments recorded in earnings. The standard also updates certain fair value disclosure requirements for financial instruments carried at amortized cost.

We will adopt this standard on its effective date of January 1, 2018. Based on our initial review, substantially all of our assets and liabilities are not within the scope of the standard. We do not expect the adoption of the standard to have a material effect on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or required disclosures.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that will require lessees with lease terms of more than 12 months to recognize a right of use asset and a corresponding lease liability on their balance sheets. For income statement purposes, the FASB retained a dual model, requiring leases to be classified as either operating leases or finance leases.

We plan to adopt the standard on its effective date of January 1, 2019 using a modified retrospective approach upon adoption. We are currently quantifying the expected recognition on our balance sheet for a right to use asset and a lease liability as required by the standard. We do not expect the impact of the standard to have a material effect on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or required disclosures.

Financial Instruments - Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that will change how entities account for credit losses for most financial assets, trade receivables and reinsurance receivables. The standard will replace the existing incurred loss impairment model with a new “current expected credit loss model” that generally will result in earlier recognition of credit losses. The standard will apply to financial assets subject to credit losses, including loans measured at amortized cost, reinsurance receivables and certain off-balance sheet credit exposures. Additionally, the impairment of available-for-sale debt securities, including purchased credit deteriorated securities, are subject to the new guidance and will be measured in a similar manner, except that losses will be recognized as allowances rather than reductions in the amortized cost of the securities. The standard will also require additional information to be disclosed in the footnotes.

The standard is effective on January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted on January 1, 2019. We are continuing to develop our implementation plan to adopt the standard and are assessing the impact of the standard on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and required disclosures. While we expect an increase in our allowances for credit losses for the financial instruments within scope of the standard, given the objective of the new standard, the amount of any change will be dependent on our portfolios’ composition and quality at the adoption date as well as economic conditions and forecasts at that time.

Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments

In August 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that addresses diversity in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The amendments provide clarity on the treatment of eight specifically defined types of cash inflows and outflows. The standard is effective on January 1, 2018 using a retrospective transition method to each period presented or prospectively if adoption of an issue is impracticable.

We continue to refine our analysis of certain cash flow types and intend to adopt this standard on its required effective date of January 1, 2018. The standard addresses presentation in the statement of cash flows only and will have no effect on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations or required disclosures.

Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory

In October 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that will require an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs, rather than when the asset is sold to a third party.

We plan to adopt the standard on its effective date of January 1, 2018 using a modified retrospective approach upon adoption. We are assessing the impact of the standard on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and required disclosures.

Restricted Cash

In November 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard that provides guidance on the presentation of restricted cash in the Statement of Cash Flows. Entities will be required to explain the changes during a reporting period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows.

We plan to adopt the standard retrospectively on its effective date of January 1, 2018. The standard addresses presentation of restricted cash in the Statement of Cash Flows only and will have no effect on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations or required disclosures.

Clarifying the Definition of a Business

In January 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard that changes the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. The new standard will require an entity to evaluate if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired (or disposed of) is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar assets; if so, the set of transferred assets and activities is not a business. At a minimum, a set must include an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create output.

The standard is effective on January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the timing of adoption and are assessing the impact of the standard on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Because the standard requires prospective adoption, the impact is dependent on future acquisitions, dispositions and those entities that we consolidate due to obtaining a controlling financial interest.

Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment

In January 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard that eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill, through a hypothetical purchase price allocation, to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. An entity should also consider income tax effects from tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable.

The standard is effective on January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted on testing dates after January 1, 2017. We are evaluating the timing of our adoption. The impact of the standard will be dependent on the market conditions of the reporting units at the time of adoption.

Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets

In February 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard that clarifies the scope and application of Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets, to the sale or transfer of nonfinancial assets and in substance nonfinancial assets to noncustomers, including partial sales. The standard clarifies that a parent transferring its ownership interest in a consolidated subsidiary is within the scope of the accounting standard if substantially all of the fair value of the assets within that subsidiary are nonfinancial assets. The standard also clarifies that the derecognition of all businesses and nonprofit activities should be accounted for in accordance with the derecognition and deconsolidation guidance. The standard also eliminates the exception in the financial asset guidance for transfers of investments (including equity method investments) in real estate entities. An entity is required to apply the amendments in this update at the same time that it applies the amendments in revenues from contracts with customers.

The standard is effective on January 1, 2018 and may be applied retrospectively to each period presented or through a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings at the date of adoption (modified retrospective approach). We are evaluating the timing of adoption and are assessing the impact of the standard on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and required disclosures.

Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension and Postretirement Benefit Cost

In March 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard that requires entities to report the service cost component of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs in the same line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net periodic benefit costs are required to be separately presented in the income statement. The amendments also allow only the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization when applicable.

We will adopt this standard on its effective date of January 1, 2018 by retrospectively presenting the service cost and other components, and prospectively capitalizing the service cost component. The standard addresses presentation of net periodic benefit costs in the income statement and will have no effect on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or required disclosures.

Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities

In March 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard that shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium by requiring the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. The standard does not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount, which continue to be amortized to maturity.

We plan to adopt the standard retrospectively on its effective date, January 1, 2019. We do not expect the standard to have a material impact on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or required disclosures.

Modification of Share-Based Payment Awards

In May 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard that provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting.

We will prospectively adopt this standard on its effective date of January 1, 2018 and do not expect the standard to have a material effect on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or required disclosures.

Derivatives and Hedging

In August 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard that improves and expands hedge accounting for both financial and commodity risks. The provisions of the amendment are intended to better align the accounting with an entity’s risk management activities, enhance the transparency on how the economic results are presented in the financial statements and the footnote, and simplify the application of hedge accounting treatment.

The standard is effective on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the timing of adoption and are assessing the impact of the standard on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and required disclosures.