New Accounting Pronouncements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Financial Instruments Credit Losses

Effective January 1, 2020, we adopted FASB ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments," using the modified retrospective transition method. This ASU amends the impairment model to utilize an expected loss methodology in place of the incurred loss methodology for financial instruments. The amendment requires entities to consider a broader range of information to estimate expected credit losses, which may result in earlier recognition of loss. Our exposure to credit losses is related to our accounts receivable and unbilled revenue balances, which are primarily generated from the sale of electricity and natural gas by our regulated utility operations.

Because our exposure to credit losses for many of our regulated utility customers is mitigated by regulatory mechanisms we have in place, the noncash cumulative effect adjustment we recorded to retained earnings on January 1, 2020, as a result of our adoption of this standard, was not significant. The most significant impact of implementing this ASU will be in the form of additional disclosures that will be required in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. These disclosures are intended to provide information that will help users of our financial statements analyze our exposure to credit risk and understand how we estimate our allowance for credit losses.

Cloud Computing

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. The standard allows entities who are customers in hosting arrangements that are service contracts to apply the existing internal-use software guidance to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as an asset related to the service contract and which costs to expense. The guidance specifies classification for capitalizing implementation costs and related amortization expense within the financial statements and requires additional disclosures. The adoption of ASU 2018-15, effective January 1, 2020, did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.

Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Disclosure Framework: Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans. The pronouncement modifies the disclosure requirements for defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans. The guidance removes disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial, clarifies the specific requirements of disclosures and adds disclosure requirements identified as relevant. The modifications affect annual period disclosures and must be applied on a retrospective basis to all periods presented. The guidance will be effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the effects of this pronouncement on the notes to our financial statements.