Summary of the Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could ultimately differ from those estimated.

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements of each of PNMR, PNM, and TNMP include their accounts and those of subsidiaries in which that entity owns a majority voting interest. PNM also consolidates Valencia (Note 9) and, through January 15, 2016, the PVNGS Capital Trust. PNM owns undivided interests in several jointly-owned power plants and records its pro-rata share of the assets, liabilities, and expenses for those plants. The agreements for the jointly-owned plants provide that if an owner were to default on its payment obligations, the non-defaulting owners would be responsible for their proportionate share of the obligations of the defaulting owner. In exchange, the non-defaulting owners would be entitled to their proportionate share of the generating capacity of the defaulting owner. There have been no such payment defaults under any of the agreements for the jointly-owned plants.

PNMR shared services’ administrative and general expenses, which represent costs that are primarily driven by corporate level activities, are charged to the business segments. These services are billed at cost. Other significant intercompany transactions between PNMR, PNM, and TNMP include interest and income tax sharing payments, as well as equity transactions. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation

The Company maintains its accounting records in accordance with the uniform system of accounts prescribed by FERC and adopted by the NMPRC and PUCT.

Certain of the Company’s operations are regulated by the NMPRC, PUCT, and FERC and the provisions of GAAP for rate-regulated enterprises are applied to the regulated operations. Regulators may assign costs to accounting periods that differ from accounting methods applied by non-regulated utilities. When it is probable that regulators will permit recovery of costs through future rates, costs are deferred as regulatory assets that otherwise would be expensed. Likewise, regulatory liabilities are recognized when it is probable that regulators will require refunds through future rates or when revenue is collected for expenditures that have not yet been incurred. GAAP also provides for the recognition of revenue and regulatory assets and liabilities associated with “alternative revenue programs” authorized by regulators. Such programs allow the utility to adjust future rates in response to past activities or completed events, if certain criteria are met, even for programs that do not otherwise qualify for recognition of regulatory assets and liabilities. Regulatory assets and liabilities are amortized into earnings over the authorized recovery period. Accordingly, the Company has deferred certain costs and recorded certain liabilities pursuant to the rate actions of the NMPRC, PUCT, and FERC. Information on regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities is contained in Note 4.

In some circumstances, regulators allow a requested increase in rates to be implemented, subject to refund, before the regulatory process has been completed and a decision rendered by the regulator. When this occurs, the Company assesses the possible outcomes of the rate proceeding. The Company records a provision for refund to the extent the amounts being collected, subject to refund, exceed the amount the Company determines is probable of ultimately being allowed by the regulator.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Investments in highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase are considered cash equivalents.

Utility Plant

Utility plant is stated at cost, which includes capitalized payroll-related costs such as taxes, pension, other fringe benefits, administrative costs, and AFUDC where authorized by rate regulation.

Repairs, including major maintenance activities, and minor replacements of property are expensed when incurred, except as required by regulators for ratemaking purposes. Major replacements are charged to utility plant. Gains, losses, and costs to remove resulting from retirements or other dispositions of regulated property in the normal course of business are credited or charged to accumulated depreciation.

PNM and TNMP may receive reimbursements, referred to as contributions in aid of construction (“CIAC”), from customers to pay for all or part of certain construction projects to extent that project does not benefit regulated customers in general. PNM and TNMP account for these reimbursements as offsets to utility plant additions based on the requirements of the NMPRC, FERC, and PUCT. Due to the PUCT’s regulatory treatment of CIAC reimbursements, TNMP also receives a financing component that is recognized as other income on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Under the NMPRC regulatory treatment, PNM does not receive a financing component.

Depreciation and Amortization

PNM’s provision for depreciation and amortization of utility plant, other than nuclear fuel, is based upon composite straight-line rates approved by the NMPRC and FERC. Amortization of nuclear fuel is based on units-of-production. TNMP’s provision for depreciation and amortization of utility plant is based upon straight-line rates approved by the PUCT. Depreciation of non-utility property is computed based on the straight-line method. The provision for depreciation of certain equipment is allocated between operating expenses and construction projects based on the use of the equipment. Average straight-line rates used were as follows:



	Year ended December 31
	2016		2015		2014
PNM
Electric plant	2.33	%	2.27	%	2.26	%
Common, intangible, and general plant	5.40	%	4.66	%	4.64	%
TNMP	3.66	%	3.65	%	3.59	%

Allowance for Funds Used During Construction

As provided by the FERC uniform systems of accounts, AFUDC is charged to regulated utility plant for construction projects. This allowance is a designed to enable a utility to capitalize financing costs during periods of construction of property subject to rate regulation. It represents the cost of borrowed funds (allowance for borrowed funds used during construction or “debt AFUDC”) and a return on other funds (allowance for equity funds used during construction or “equity AFUDC”). The allowance for borrowed funds used during construction is recorded in interest charges and the allowance for equity funds used during construction is recorded in other income on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Capitalized Interest

The Company capitalizes interest on its construction projects and major computer software projects not subject to the computation of AFUDC.

Materials, Supplies, and Fuel Stock

Materials and supplies relate to transmission, distribution, and generating assets. Materials and supplies are charged to inventory when purchased and are expensed or capitalized as appropriate when issued. Materials and supplies are valued using an average costing method. Coal is valued using a rolling weighted average costing method that is updated based on the current period cost per ton. Periodic aerial surveys are performed on the coal piles and adjustments are made. Average cost is equal to net realizable value under the ratemaking process.

Investments

PNM holds investment securities in the NDT for the purpose of funding its share of the decommissioning costs of PVNGS and trusts for PNM’s share of final reclamation costs related to the coal mines serving SJGS and Four Corners (Note 16). All of these investments are classified as available-for-sale. PNM evaluates the securities for impairment on an on-going basis. Since third party investment managers have sole discretion over the purchase and sales of the securities, PNM records a realized loss as an impairment for any security that has a market value that is less than cost at the end of each quarter. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, PNM recorded impairment losses on the available-for-sale securities held in the NDT and coal mine reclamation trusts of $13.9 million, $10.4 million, and $4.8 million. No gains or losses are deferred as regulatory assets or liabilities. Unrealized gains on these investments, net of related tax effects, are included in OCI and AOCI. The available-for-sale securities are primarily comprised of international, United States, state, and municipal government obligations and corporate debt and equity securities. All investments are held in PNM’s name and are in the custody of major financial institutions. The specific identification method is used to determine the cost of securities disposed of, with realized gains and losses reflected in other income and deductions.

Goodwill

Under GAAP, the Company does not amortize goodwill. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment annually, or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the goodwill might be impaired.

Asset Impairment

Tangible long-lived assets are evaluated in relation to the estimated future undiscounted cash flows to assess recoverability when events and circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired.

Revenue Recognition

Electric operating revenues are recorded in the period of energy delivery, which includes estimated amounts for service rendered but unbilled at the end of each accounting period. The determination of the energy sales to individual customers is based on the reading of their meters, which occurs on a systematic basis throughout the month. At the end of each month, amounts of energy delivered to customers since the date of the last meter reading and the corresponding unbilled revenue are estimated. Unbilled electric revenue is estimated based on the daily generation volumes, estimated customer usage by class, weather factors, line losses, and applicable customer rates reflecting historical trends and experience.

PNM’s wholesale electricity sales are recorded as electric operating revenues and the wholesale electricity purchases are recorded as costs of energy sold. In accordance with GAAP, derivative contracts that are subject to unplanned netting are recorded net in earnings. A “book-out” is the planned or unplanned netting of off-setting purchase and sale transactions. A book-out is a transmission mechanism to reduce congestion on the transmission system or administrative burden. For accounting purposes, a book-out is the recording of net revenues upon the settlement of a derivative contract.

Unrealized gains and losses on contracts that do not qualify for the normal purchases or normal sales exception or are not designated for hedge accounting are classified as economic hedges. Economic hedges are defined as derivative instruments, including long-term power and fuel supply agreements, used to hedge generation assets and purchased power costs. Changes in the fair value of economic hedges are reflected in results of operations, with changes related to economic hedges on sales included in operating revenues and changes related to economic hedges on purchases included in cost of energy sold.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts

Accounts receivable consists primarily of trade receivables from customers. In the normal course of business, credit is extended to customers on a short-term basis. The Company calculates the allowance for uncollectible accounts based on historical experience and estimated default rates. The accounts receivable balances are reviewed monthly and adjustments to the allowance for uncollectible accounts and bad debt expense are made as necessary. Amounts that are deemed uncollectible are written off.

Amortization of Debt Acquisition Costs

Discount, premium, and expense related to the issuance of long-term debt are amortized over the lives of the respective issues. Gains and losses incurred upon the early retirement of long-term debt are recognized in other income or other deductions, except for amounts recoverable through NMPRC, FERC, or PUCT regulation, which are recorded as regulatory assets or liabilities and amortized over the lives of the respective issues. Unamortized debt premium, discount, and expense are reflected as part of the debt liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Derivatives and Accounting for Derivatives

Derivatives

The Company records derivative instruments, including energy contracts, other than those designated as normal purchases or normal sales, in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at their fair value. GAAP requires that changes in the derivatives’ fair value be recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting or normal purchase or normal sale criteria are met. Normal purchases and normal sales are not marked to market and are reflected in results of operations when the underlying transactions settle. For qualifying hedges, an entity must formally document, designate, and assess the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting. GAAP provides that the effective portion of the gain or loss on a derivative instrument designated and qualifying as a cash flow hedging instrument be reported as a component of AOCI and be reclassified into earnings in the period during which the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. The results of hedge ineffectiveness and the portion of the change in fair value of a derivative that an entity has chosen to exclude from hedge effectiveness are required to be presented in current earnings. See Note 6 and Note 8.

The Company treats all forward commodity purchases and sales contracts subject to unplanned netting or book-out by the transmission provider as derivative instruments subject to mark-to-market accounting, unless the contract qualifies for the normal exception by meeting the definition of a capacity contract. Under this definition, the contract cannot permit net settlement, the seller must have the resources to serve the contract, and the buyer must be a load serving entity. GAAP provides guidance on whether realized gains and losses on derivative contracts not held for trading purposes should be reported on a net or gross basis and concludes such classification is a matter of judgment that depends on the relevant facts and circumstances.

Accounting for Derivatives

Under derivative accounting and related rules for energy contracts, the Company accounts for its various derivative instruments for the purchase and sale of energy based on the Company’s intent. During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, the Company was not hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows from commodity derivatives through designated cash flows hedges. The contracts recorded at fair value that do not qualify or are not designated for cash flow hedge accounting are classified as economic hedges. Economic hedges are defined as derivative instruments, including long-term power agreements, used to economically hedge generation assets, purchased power and fuel costs, and customer load requirements. Changes in the fair value of economic hedges are reflected in results of operations and are classified between operating revenues and cost of energy according to the intent of the hedge. The Company has no trading transactions.

Decommissioning and Reclamation Costs

PNM owns and leases nuclear and fossil-fuel generating facilities. In accordance with GAAP, PNM is only required to recognize and measure decommissioning liabilities for tangible long-lived assets for which a legal obligation exists. Nuclear decommissioning costs and related accruals are based on periodic site-specific estimates of the costs for removing all radioactive and other structures at PVNGS and are dependent upon numerous assumptions, including estimates of future decommissioning costs at current price levels, inflation rates, and discount rates. PNM’s accruals for PVNGS Units 1, 2, and 3, including portions held under leases, have been made based on such estimates, the guidelines of the NRC, and the extended PVNGS license periods. PVNGS Units 1 and 2 are included in PNM’s retail rates while PVNGS Unit 3 is currently excluded. See Note 15 and Note 16. See Note 17 for information concerning the treatment of nuclear decommissioning in the NMPRC’s order in PNM’s NM 2015 Rate Case and PNM’s appeal of that order.

In connection with both the SJGS and Four Corners coal supply agreements, the owners are required to reimburse the mining companies for the cost of contemporaneous reclamation, as well as the costs for final reclamation of the coal mines. The reclamation costs are based on periodic site-specific studies that estimate the costs to be incurred in the future and are dependent upon numerous assumptions, including estimates of future reclamation costs at current price levels, inflation rates, and discount rates. PNM considers the contemporaneous reclamation costs part of the cost of its delivered coal costs. See Note 16 for a discussion of the final reclamation costs.

Environmental Costs

The normal operations of the Company involve activities and substances that expose the Company to potential liabilities under laws and regulations protecting the environment. Liabilities under these laws and regulations can be material and in some instances may be imposed without regard to fault, or may be imposed for past acts, even though the past acts may have been lawful at the time they occurred.

The Company records its environmental liabilities when site assessments or remedial actions are probable and a range of reasonably likely cleanup costs can be estimated. The Company reviews its sites and measures the liability by assessing a range of reasonably likely costs for each identified site using currently available information and the probable level of involvement and financial condition of other potentially responsible parties. These estimates are based on assumptions regarding the costs for site investigations, remediation, operations and maintenance, monitoring, and site closure. The ultimate cost to clean up the Company’s identified sites may vary from its recorded liability due to numerous uncertainties inherent in the estimation process.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are recognized using the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying value of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. In accordance with GAAP, all deferred taxes are reflected as non-current on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Current NMPRC, FERC, and PUCT approved rates include the tax effects of the majority of these differences. GAAP requires that rate-regulated enterprises record deferred income taxes for temporary differences accorded flow-through treatment at the direction of a regulatory commission. The resulting deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on the expected cash flow to be reflected in future rates. Because the NMPRC, FERC, and the PUCT have consistently permitted the recovery of tax effects previously flowed-through earnings, the Company has established regulatory liabilities and assets offsetting such deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Company recognizes only the impact of tax positions that, based on their merits, are more likely than not to be sustained upon an IRS audit. The Company defers investment tax credits related to rate regulated assets and amortizes them over the estimated useful lives of those assets. See Note 11.

The Company makes an estimate of its anticipated effective tax rate for the year as of the end of each quarterly period within its fiscal year. In interim periods, income tax expense is calculated by applying the anticipated annual effective tax rate to year-to-date earnings before taxes, which includes the earnings attributable to the Valencia non-controlling interest. GAAP also provides that certain unusual or infrequently occurring items, as well as adjustments due to enactment of new tax laws, be excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate calculation.

Excise Taxes

The Company pays certain fees or taxes which are either considered to be an excise tax or similar to an excise tax. Substantially all of these taxes are recorded on a net basis in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Information concerning recently issued accounting pronouncements that have not been adopted by the Company is presented below.

Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. When it becomes effective, the new standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP. In August 2015, the FASB issued a one-year deferral in the effective date. Since the issuance of ASU No. 2014-09, the FASB also has issued additional ASUs that clarify implementation guidance regarding principal versus agent considerations, licensing, and identifying performance obligations, as well as adding certain additional practical expedients. The new standard can be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or on a modified retrospective basis with a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings on the date of adoption. The Company has not made a final decision on the transition method, but currently anticipates using the modified retrospective method. The Company will adopt the standard on January 1, 2018, its required effective date.

The Company has completed its initial assessment of its revenues for potential changes to the amounts and timing of revenue recognition under the new guidance and does not anticipate significant changes in revenue recognition associated with retail electric service rates. The Company, along with others in the utility industry, is continuing to evaluate the impacts of the new guidance on its accounting for CIAC and the presentation of revenues associated with “alternative revenue programs,” which primarily result from its approved rate rider programs. The Company is continuing to analyze the impacts this new standard and has not yet completely determined the effect of the standard on its financial reporting.

Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 – Financial Instruments (Subtopic 825-10) – Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, which makes targeted improvements to GAAP regarding financial instruments. The new standard eliminates the requirement to classify investments in equity securities with readily determinable fair values into trading or available-for-sale categories and will require those equity securities to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income rather than in OCI. Also, the new standard will revise certain presentation and disclosure requirements. Under the new standard, accounting for investments in debt securities remains essentially unchanged. PNM currently classifies the investments held in the NDT and coal mine reclamation trusts as available for sale securities. Unrealized losses on these securities are recorded immediately through earnings and unrealized gains are recorded in AOCI until the securities are sold. The Company will adopt the new standard on January 1, 2018, its required effective date. At that time any unrealized gains, net of income taxes, recorded in AOCI related to equity securities will be reclassified to retained earnings as a cumulative effect adjustment and, thereafter, changes in the value of equity securities will be recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The amount of the cumulative adjustment upon adoption will depend on the amounts recorded in AOCI at that time, but PNM had unrealized gains, net of income taxes, recorded in AOCI of $3.8 million at December 31, 2016.

Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 – Leases (Topic 842)

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, which will change how lessees account for leases. The ASU will require that a liability be recorded on the balance sheet for all leases based on the present value of future lease obligations. A corresponding right-of-use asset will also be recorded. Amortization of the lease obligation and the right-of-use asset for certain leases, primarily those classified as operating leases, will be on a straight-line basis, which is not expected to have a significant impact on the statements of earnings or cash flows, whereas other leases will be required to be accounted for as financing arrangements similar to the accounting treatment for capital leases under current GAAP. Also, the new standard will revise certain disclosure requirements. Although early adoption of the standard is permitted, the Company does not currently plan to adopt this standard prior to January 1, 2019, its required effective date. At adoption of the ASU, leases will be recognized and measured as of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is in the process of analyzing the impacts of this new standard.

Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 – Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718)

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09. The ASU simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. Currently, tax benefits resulting from deductions in excess of compensation cost on vested restricted stock and performance awards and on exercised stock options (“excess tax benefits”) are recorded to equity provided these benefits reduce taxes payable. Tax deficiencies resulting from deductions related to awards, which are below realized compensation cost upon vesting and on canceled stock options are recorded to equity. PNMR has not recorded excess tax benefits to equity since 2009 because it is in a net operating loss position for income tax purposes. PNMR will adopt this standard on January 1, 2017, its required effective date, and will record a cumulative effect adjustment to recognize excess tax benefits that have not been recorded due to the PNMR’s net operating loss. The impact of the cumulative effect adjustment will be to increase PNMR’s retained earnings and reduce accumulated deferred income tax liabilities by $8.4 million. PNMR has historically recognized cash flows from employee share withholdings as a financing activity. As a result, implementation of this standard will not result in any retrospective adjustments to the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Subsequent to implementation, all excess tax benefits and deficiencies will be recorded to tax expense on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings and classified as cash flows from operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 – Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326) Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13. The ASU changes the way entities recognize impairment of many financial assets, including accounts receivable and investments in debt securities, by requiring immediate recognition of estimated credit losses expected to occur over their remaining lives. The new standard is effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted beginning on January 1, 2019. The Company is in the process of analyzing the impacts of this new standard.

Accounting Standards Update 2016-15 – Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15. The ASU eliminates diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. Although early adoption is permitted, the Company does not currently plan to adopt this standard prior to January 1, 2018, its required effective date. The Company is in the process of analyzing the impacts of this new standard, but does not anticipate it will have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Accounting Standards Update 2016-18 – Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18. The ASU requires that the statements of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents during the period. Under the new standard, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the Statements of Cash Flows. Although early adoption is permitted, the Company does not currently plan to adopt this standard prior to January 1, 2018, its required effective date. The new standard requires the use of a retrospective transition method for each period presented after adoption. The Company is in the process of analyzing the impacts of this new standard.

Segment Information

The following segment presentation is based on the methodology that management uses for making operating decisions and assessing performance of its various business activities. A reconciliation of the segment presentation to the GAAP financial statements is provided.

Fair Value of Derivatives

The Company determines the fair values of its derivative and other financial instruments based on the hierarchy established in GAAP, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. GAAP describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Level 3 inputs used in determining fair values for the Company consist of internal valuation models. The Company records any transfers between fair value hierarchy levels as of the end of each calendar quarter. There were no transfers between levels during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

For available-for-sale securities, Level 2 fair values are provided by the trustee utilizing a pricing service. The pricing provider predominantly uses the market approach using bid side market value based upon a hierarchy of information for specific securities or securities with similar characteristics. For commodity derivatives, Level 2 fair values are determined based on market observable inputs, which are validated using multiple broker quotes, including forward price, volatility, and interest rate curves to establish expectations of future prices. Credit valuation adjustments are made for estimated credit losses based on the overall exposure to each counterparty. For the Company’s long-term debt, Level 2 fair values are provided by an external pricing service. The pricing service primarily utilizes quoted prices for similar debt in active markets when determining fair value. For investments categorized as Level 3, including the Westmoreland Loan, PVNGS lessor notes, and certain items in other investments, fair values were determined by discounted cash flow models that take into consideration discount rates that are observable for similar types of assets and liabilities. Management of the Company independently verifies the information provided by pricing services.

Variable Interest Entities

GAAP determines how an enterprise evaluates and accounts for its involvement with variable interest entities, focusing primarily on whether the enterprise has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of a variable interest entity (“VIE”). GAAP also requires continual reassessment of the primary beneficiary of a VIE.

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

GAAP requires a plan sponsor to (a) recognize in its statement of financial position an asset for a plan’s overfunded status or a liability for a plan’s underfunded status; (b) measure a plan’s assets and its obligations that determine its funded status as of the end of the employer’s fiscal year; and (c) recognize changes in the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan in the year in which the changes occur.

GAAP requires unrecognized prior service costs and unrecognized gains or losses to be recorded in AOCI and subsequently amortized. The amortization of these incurred costs is included as pension and postretirement benefit periodic cost or income in subsequent years. To the extent the amortization of these items will ultimately be recovered or returned through future rates, PNM and TNMP record the costs as a regulatory asset or regulatory liability.

The expected long-term rate of return on pension and postretirement plan assets is calculated on the market-related value of assets. GAAP requires that actual gains and losses on pension and postretirement plan assets be recognized in the market-related value of assets equally over a period of not more than five years, which reduces year-to-year volatility.

Commitments and Contingencies

There are various claims and lawsuits pending against the Company. The Company also is subject to federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations and periodically participates in the investigation and remediation of various sites. In addition, the Company periodically enters into financial commitments in connection with its business operations. Also, the Company is involved in various legal and regulatory (Note 17) proceedings in the normal course of its business. It is not possible at this time for the Company to determine fully the effect of all litigation and other legal and regulatory proceedings on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

With respect to some of the items listed below, the Company has determined that a loss is not probable or that, to the extent probable, cannot be reasonably estimated. In some cases, the Company is not able to predict with any degree of certainty the range of possible loss that could be incurred. Nevertheless, the Company assesses legal and regulatory matters based on current information and makes judgments concerning their potential outcome, giving due consideration to the nature of the claim, the amount and nature of any damages sought, and the probability of success. Such judgments are made with the understanding that the outcome of any litigation, investigation, or other legal proceeding is inherently uncertain. In accordance with GAAP, the Company records liabilities for matters where it is probable a loss has been incurred and the amount of loss is reasonably estimable. The actual outcomes of the items listed below could ultimately differ from the judgments made and the differences could be material. The Company cannot make any assurances that the amount of reserves or potential insurance coverage will be sufficient to cover the cash obligations that might be incurred as a result of litigation or regulatory proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed, the Company does not expect that any known lawsuits, environmental costs, and commitments will have a material effect on its financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.