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New Accounting Pronouncements (Exelon, Generation, ComEd, PECO and BGE)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
New Accounting Pronouncements And Changes In Accounting Principles [Line Items]  
Schedule Of New Accounting Pronouncements And Changes In Accounting Principles (Exelon, Generation, ComEd, PECO and BGE)

2. New Accounting Pronouncements (Exelon, Generation, ComEd, PECO and BGE)

 

The following recently issued accounting standards were adopted by the Registrants during the period.

 

Presentation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits When Net Operating Loss Carryforwards, Similar Tax Losses or Tax Credit Carryforwards Exist

 

In July 2013, the FASB issued authoritative guidance requiring entities to present unrecognized tax benefits as a reduction to deferred tax assets for losses or other tax carryforwards that would be available to settle the uncertain tax positions at the reporting date. Currently, the Registrants present their unrecognized tax benefits as liabilities on a gross basis unless an unrecognized tax benefit is directly associated with a tax position taken in a tax year that results in the recognition of a net operating loss or other tax carryforward for that year. This guidance is effective for the Registrants for periods beginning after December 15, 2013 and is required to be applied prospectively, with retroactive application permitted. The Registrants are currently assessing the impacts this guidance may have on their financial positions and cash flows. The adoption of this standard will not impact the Registrants' results of operations.

 

Inclusion of the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes

 

In July 2013, the FASB issued authoritative guidance permitting entities to designate the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes. Prior to the issuance of this guidance, only interest rates on direct treasury obligations of the U.S. government and the LIBOR swap rate were considered benchmark interest rates in the U.S. This guidance is effective immediately and can be applied prospectively for qualifying new or redesignated hedging relationships entered into on or after July 17, 2013. Currently, the Registrants do not use the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate as a benchmark interest rate, but may in the future.

 

Presentation of Items Reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

In February 2013, the FASB issued authoritative guidance requiring entities to present either in the notes or parenthetically on the face of the financial statements, reclassifications from each component of accumulated other comprehensive income and the affected income statement line items. Entities only need to disclose the affected income statement line item for components reclassified to net income in their entirety; otherwise, a cross-reference to the related note should be provided. This guidance is effective for the Registrants for periods beginning after December 15, 2012 and was required to be applied prospectively. As this guidance provides only disclosure requirements, the adoption of this standard did not impact the Registrants' results of operations, cash flows or financial positions. See Note 16Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income for the new disclosures.

 

Disclosures About Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

 

In December 2011, the FASB issued (and amended in January 2013), authoritative guidance requiring entities to disclose both gross and net information about recognized derivative instruments, including bifurcated embedded derivatives, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing or lending transactions that are offset on the balance sheet or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, irrespective of whether they are offset on the balance sheet. This guidance is effective for the Registrants for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013 and is required to be applied retrospectively. This guidance is primarily applicable to certain derivative transactions for Exelon and Generation. As this guidance provides only disclosure requirements, the adoption of this standard did not impact the Registrants' results of operations, cash flows or financial positions. See Note 10 Derivative Financial Instruments for the new disclosures.