Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Management Estimates

a. Management Estimates

In preparing the financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, the management of Chugach is required to make estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and revenues and expenses for the reporting period. Estimates include allowance for doubtful accounts, workers’ compensation liability, deferred charges and liabilities, unbilled revenue, estimated useful life of utility plant, cost of removal and asset retirement obligation (ARO), and remaining proved Beluga River Unit (BRU) reserves. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Regulation

b. Regulation

The accounting records of Chugach conform to the Uniform System of Accounts as prescribed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Chugach meets the criteria, and accordingly, follows the accounting and reporting requirements of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) ASC 980, “Topic 980 - Regulated Operations.” FASB ASC 980 provides for the recognition of regulatory assets and liabilities as allowed by regulators for costs or credits that are reflected in current rates or are considered probable of being included in future rates. Chugach’s regulated rates are established to recover all of the specific costs of providing electric service. In each rate filing, rates are set at levels to recover all of the specific allowable costs and those rates are then collected from retail and wholesale customers. The regulatory assets or liabilities are then reduced as the cost or credit is reflected in earnings and our rates.

Income Taxes

c. Income Taxes

Chugach is exempt from federal income taxes under the provisions of Section 501(c)(12) of the Internal Revenue Code and for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2017, and 2016 was in compliance with that provision.

Chugach applies a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold for all tax uncertainties. FASB ASC 740, “Topic 740 – Income Taxes,” only allows the recognition of those tax benefits that have a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities. Chugach’s management reviewed Chugach’s tax positions and determined there were no outstanding or retroactive tax positions that were not highly certain of being sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities.

Restricted Cash Equivalents

d. Restricted Cash Equivalents

Restricted cash equivalents, including both current and long-term amounts, consist of funds on deposit for future workers’ compensation claims.  Total restricted cash equivalents amounted to $1.7 millionat September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016.

Marketable Securities

e. Marketable Securities

Chugach’s marketable securities consist of bond mutual funds classified as trading securities, reported at fair value with gains and losses in earnings. Net gains on marketable securities are included in nonoperating margins – capital credits, patronage dividends and other, and are summarized as follows:

	Nine months ended September 30, 2017
Net gains and losses recognized during the period on trading securities	$	103,443
Less: Net gains and losses recognized during the period on trading securities sold during the period		0
Unrealized gains and losses recognized during the reporting period on trading securities still held at the reporting date	$	103,443

Investments - Other

f. Investments – Other

Investments – other, including both current and long-term amounts, consists of certificates of deposit and corporate bond investments.  Total investments – other were $3.3 million and $3.1 million as of September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively. 

Accounts Receivable

g. Accounts Receivable

Included in accounts receivable are amounts invoiced to ML&P for their proportionate share of current Southcentral Power Project (SPP) costs, which amounted to $1.3million and $1.4 million at September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively. At September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, accounts receivable also included $0.5million and $0.7 million, respectively, from BRU operations primarily associated with gas sales to ENSTAR Natural Gas Company (ENSTAR).

Fuel Stock

h. Fuel Stock

Fuel Stock is the weighted average cost of fuel injected into the Cook Inlet Natural Gas Storage Alaska (CINGSA). Chugach’s fuel balance in storage amounted to $10.8 million and $6.3 million at September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively.