SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]


1.	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Consolidation and Variable Interest Entities

The condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company include, after eliminating intercompany balances and transactions, the accounts of the parent holding company and each of its subsidiaries, including Consolidated SCE&G. Accordingly, discussions regarding the Company's financial results necessarily include the results of Consolidated SCE&G.

SCE&G has determined that it has a controlling financial interest in GENCO and Fuel Company (which are considered to be VIEs) and, accordingly, Consolidated SCE&G's condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SCE&G, GENCO and Fuel Company. The equity interests in GENCO and Fuel Company are held solely by SCANA, SCE&G’s parent. As a result, GENCO’s and Fuel Company’s equity and results of operations are reflected as noncontrolling interest in Consolidated SCE&G’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

GENCO owns a coal-fired electric generating station with a 605 MW net generating capacity (summer rating). GENCO’s electricity is sold, pursuant to a FERC-approved tariff, solely to SCE&G under the terms of a power purchase agreement and related operating agreement. The effects of these transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Substantially all of GENCO’s property (carrying value of approximately $487 million) serves as collateral for its long-term borrowings. Fuel Company acquires, owns and provides financing for SCE&G’s nuclear fuel, certain fossil fuels and emission and other environmental allowances. See also Note 4.

Income Statement Presentation

Revenues and expenses arising from regulated businesses and, in the case of the Company, the retail natural gas marketing business (including those activities of segments described in Note 10) are presented within Operating Income, and all other activities are presented within Other Income (Expense).

Asset Management and Supply Service Agreement

PSNC Energy, a subsidiary of SCANA, utilizes an asset management and supply service agreement with a counterparty for certain natural gas storage facilities. Such counterparty held, through an agency relationship, 29% and 40% of PSNC Energy’s natural gas inventory at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, with a carrying value of $4.2 million and $9.8 million, respectively. Under the terms of this agreement, PSNC Energy receives storage asset management fees of which 75% are credited to rate payers. This agreement expired on March 31, 2017, and was replaced with a similar agreement that expires on March 31, 2019.

Earnings Per Share

The Company computes basic earnings per share by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. When applicable, the Company computes diluted earnings per share using this same formula, after giving effect to securities considered to be dilutive potential common stock utilizing the treasury stock method.

New Accounting Matters

In May 2014, the FASB issued accounting guidance for revenue arising from contracts with customers that supersedes most earlier revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. This new revenue recognition model provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized, and will require revenue recognition to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration a company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The Company and Consolidated SCE&G expect to adopt this guidance when required in the first quarter of 2018. The guidance permits adoption using a retrospective method, with options to elect certain practical expedients, or recognition of a cumulative effect in the year of initial adoption. The Company and Consolidated SCE&G have not determined which method of adoption will be employed or what practical expedients may be elected. The Company and Consolidated SCE&G have not determined the impact this guidance will have on their respective financial statements. However, the analysis of contracts with customers to which the guidance might be applicable, particularly large customer contracts, has begun. In addition, activities of the FASB's Transition Resource Group for Revenue Recognition are being monitored, particularly as they relate to the required treatment under the standard of contributions in aid of construction, alternative revenue programs and the collectibility of revenue of utilities subject to rate regulation.

In July 2015, the FASB issued accounting guidance intended to simplify the measurement of inventory cost by requiring most inventory to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The Company and Consolidated SCE&G adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2017 and the adoption of this guidance did not have any impact on their respective financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued accounting guidance that will change how entities measure certain equity investments and financial liabilities, among other things. The Company and Consolidated SCE&G expect to adopt this guidance when required in the first quarter of 2018 and have determined that adoption of this guidance will not have a significant impact on their respective financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued accounting guidance related to the recognition, measurement and presentation of

leases. The guidance applies a right-of-use model and, for lessees, requires all leases with a duration over 12 months to be

recorded on the balance sheet, with the rights of use treated as assets and the payment obligations treated as liabilities. Further,

and without consideration of any regulatory accounting requirements which may apply, depending primarily on the nature of the assets and the relative consumption of them, lease costs will be recognized either through the separate amortization of the right-of-use asset and the recognition of the interest cost related to the payment obligation, or through the recording of a combined straight-line rental expense. For lessors, the guidance calls for the recognition of income either through the derecognition of assets and subsequent recording of interest income on lease amounts receivable, or through the recognition of rental income on a straight-line basis, also depending on the nature of the assets and relative consumption. The guidance will be effective for years beginning in 2019. The Company and Consolidated SCE&G have not determined what impact this guidance will have on their respective financial statements. However, the initial identification and analysis of leasing and related contracts to which the guidance might be applicable has begun. In addition, the Company and Consolidated SCE&G have begun implementation of a third party software tool that will assist with initial adoption and ongoing compliance.

In June 2016, the FASB issued accounting guidance requiring the use of a current expected credit loss impairment model for certain financial instruments. The new model is applicable to trade receivables and most debt instruments, among other financial instruments, and is intended to result in certain impairment losses being recognized earlier than under current guidance. The Company and Consolidated SCE&G must adopt this guidance beginning in 2020, including interim periods, though the guidance may be adopted in 2019. The Company and Consolidated SCE&G have not determined when this guidance will be adopted or what impact it will have on their respective financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued accounting guidance to reduce diversity in cash flow classification related to certain transactions. The Company and Consolidated SCE&G expect to adopt this guidance when required in the first quarter of 2018 and do not anticipate that its adoption will impact their respective financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued accounting guidance related to the tax effects of intra-entity asset transfers of assets other than inventory. An entity will be required to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. The Company and Consolidated SCE&G adopted this guidance in the first quarter 2017 and it had no impact on their respective financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued accounting guidance related to the presentation of restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for years beginning in 2018, and the Company and Consolidated SCE&G do not anticipate that its adoption will impact their respective financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued accounting guidance to simplify the accounting for goodwill impairment. The guidance removes Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. The guidance is effective for years beginning in 2020, though early adoption after January 1, 2017 is allowed. The Company and Consolidated SCE&G have not determined when this guidance will be adopted but do not anticipate that its adoption will have a material impact on their respective financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued accounting guidance to change the required presentation of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost. Under the new guidance, the net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost are to be separated into their service cost components and other components. The service cost components are to be presented in the same line item (or items) as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by employees during the period. The other components are to be reported in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside operating income. Only the service cost component is eligible for capitalization in assets. This guidance is required to be applied on a retrospective basis for the presentation of the service cost component and the other components of net benefit cost and on a prospective basis for the capitalization of only the service cost component of net benefit cost. The Company and Consolidated SCE&G will adopt the guidance when required in the first quarter of 2018 and have not determined what impact it will have on their respective financial statements.

SCEG

Significant Accounting Policies