New Accounting Pronouncements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

New Accounting Pronouncements

2. New Accounting Pronouncements

Change in Accounting Policy

Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs

In April 2015, the FASB issued guidance regarding the presentation of debt issuance costs on the balance sheet. Under the new guidance, an entity is required to present debt issuance costs as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability rather than as a deferred charge (i.e., as an asset) under current guidance. In August 2015, the FASB amended the guidance to include an SEC staff announcement that it will not object to a company presenting debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements as an asset, regardless of whether a balance is outstanding. This guidance became effective for the company beginning in 2016 and is required to be applied on a retrospective basis for all periods presented. As of June 30, 2016 and Dec. 31, 2015, the company classified $25.2 million and $27.7 million, respectively, of debt issuance costs, which do not include costs for line-of-credit arrangements, as a deduction in the “Long-term debt, less amount due within one year” line item on the company’s Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet (previously classified in the “Deferred charges and other assets” line item). The guidance did not affect the company’s results of operations or cash flows.

Stock Compensation

In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance regarding employee share-based payment accounting. The guidance simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, accounting for forfeitures, classification of awards as either equity or liability, and presentation on the statement of cash flows. This guidance will be required for the company beginning in 2017. As early adoption is permitted, the company adopted the standard as of Jan. 1, 2016. Each aspect has an accounting impact and was implemented as follows:

· Income tax consequences – Under the new guidance, the company will no longer recognize excess tax benefits and certain tax deficiencies in additional paid in capital. Instead, the company will recognize all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies as income tax expense or benefit on the income statement. In addition, the guidance eliminates the requirement that excess tax benefits be realized before the company can recognize them. Accordingly, the company recorded a $2.6 million cumulative adjustment to retained earnings as of Jan. 1, 2016 for excess tax benefits related to prior periods. In accordance with the new guidance, the company will no longer include excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies in the dilutive EPS calculation on a prospective basis.

· Accounting for forfeitures – The company’s policy is to estimate the number of awards expected to be forfeited, which is consistent with prior periods.

· Classification of awards - The company had no share-based payments classified as liability awards as of June 30, 2016 or Dec. 31, 2015.  

· Presentation on the statement of cash flows – Excess tax benefits are required to be presented as an operating activity on the statement of cash flows rather than as a financing activity. The change may be applied retrospectively or prospectively. The company elected to apply it prospectively, and prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted. Additionally, employee taxes paid by an employer to a tax authority when shares are withheld for tax-withholding purposes are required to be presented as a financing activity on a retrospective basis for all periods presented. Therefore, the company reclassified $1.3 million from operating activities to financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2015.

Future Accounting Pronouncements

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance regarding the accounting for revenue from contracts with customers. The standard is principle-based and provides a five-step model to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle is that a company should recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, the guidance will require additional disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue arising from contracts with customers.  This guidance will be effective for the company beginning in 2018, with early adoption permitted in 2017, and will allow for either full retrospective adoption or modified retrospective adoption. The company will adopt this guidance effective Jan. 1, 2018. The company has developed an implementation plan and is continuing to evaluate the available adoption methods and the impact of the adoption of this guidance on its financial statements, but does not expect the impact to be significant.

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

In January 2016, the FASB issued guidance related to accounting for financial instruments, including equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option, valuation allowances for available-for-sale debt securities, and the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. The company does not have equity investments or available-for-sale debt securities and it does not record financial liabilities under the fair value option. However, it is evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance on its financial statement disclosures, including those regarding the fair value of its long-term debt, but it does not expect the impact to be significant. The guidance will be effective for the company beginning in 2018.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance regarding the accounting for leases. The objective is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for leases with a lease term of more than 12 months. Under the existing guidance, operating leases are not recorded as lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. Recognition of expenses for both operating and finance leases will be similar to existing guidance and as a result is expected to limit the impact of the changes on the income statement and statement of cash flows. In addition, the guidance will require additional disclosures regarding key information about leasing arrangements. This guidance will be effective for the company beginning in 2019, with early adoption permitted, and will be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The company is currently evaluating the impacts of the adoption of the guidance on its financial statements.

Derivative Contract Novations

In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance clarifying that a change in the counterparty to a derivative contract, in and of itself, does not require the dedesignation of a hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met. The guidance is effective for the company beginning in 2017, with early adoption permitted, and may be applied on a prospective or modified retrospective basis. The guidance will not affect the company’s current financial statements. However, the company will assess the impact of this guidance on future derivative contract novations, if any.

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance regarding the measurement of credit losses for financial assets and certain other instruments that are not accounted for at fair value through net income, including trade and other receivables, debt securities, net investment in leases, and off-balance sheet credit exposures. The new guidance requires companies to replace the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that measures all expected credit losses for financial assets based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. In addition, the guidance expands the disclosure requirements regarding credit losses, including the credit loss methodology and credit quality indicators. This guidance will be effective for the company beginning in 2020, with early adoption permitted in 2019, and will be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The company is currently evaluating the impacts of the adoption of the guidance on its financial statements.

Tampa Electric Company [Member]

New Accounting Pronouncements

2. New Accounting Pronouncements

Change in Accounting Policy

Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs

In April 2015, the FASB issued guidance regarding the presentation of debt issuance costs on the balance sheet. Under the new guidance, an entity is required to present debt issuance costs as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability rather than as a deferred charge (i.e., as an asset) under current guidance. In August 2015, the FASB amended the guidance to include an SEC staff announcement that it will not object to a company presenting debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements as an asset, regardless of whether a balance is outstanding. This guidance became effective for TEC beginning in 2016 and is required to be applied on a retrospective basis for all periods presented. As of June 30, 2016 and Dec. 31, 2015, TEC classified $17.5 million and $18.1 million, respectively, of debt issuance costs, which do not include costs for line-of-credit arrangements, as a deduction in the “Long-term debt, less amount due within one year” line item on the company’s Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet (previously classified as an asset in the “Unamortized debt expense” line item). The guidance did not affect TEC’s results of operations or cash flows.

Future Accounting Pronouncements

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance regarding the accounting for revenue from contracts with customers. The standard is principle-based and provides a five-step model to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle is that a company should recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, the guidance will require additional disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue arising from contracts with customers. This guidance will be effective for TEC beginning in 2018, with early adoption permitted in 2017, and will allow for either full retrospective adoption or modified retrospective adoption. TEC will adopt this guidance effective Jan. 1, 2018. TEC has developed an implementation plan and is continuing to evaluate the available adoption methods and the impact of the adoption of this guidance on its financial statements, but does not expect the impact to be significant.

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

In January 2016, the FASB issued guidance related to accounting for financial instruments, including equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option, valuation allowances for available-for-sale debt securities, and the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. TEC does not have equity investments or available-for-sale debt securities and it does not record financial liabilities under the fair value option. However, it is evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance on its financial statement disclosures, including those regarding the fair value of its long-term debt, but it does not expect the impact to be significant. The guidance will be effective for TEC beginning in 2018.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance regarding the accounting for leases. The objective is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for leases with a lease term of more than 12 months. Under the existing guidance, operating leases are not recorded as lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. Recognition of expenses for both operating and finance leases will be similar to existing guidance and as a result is expected to limit the impact of the changes on the income statement and statement of cash flows. In addition, the guidance will require additional disclosures regarding key information about leasing arrangements. This guidance will be effective for TEC beginning in 2019, with early adoption permitted, and will be applied using a modified retrospective approach. TEC is currently evaluating the impacts of the adoption of the guidance on its financial statements.

Derivative Contract Novations

In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance clarifying that a change in the counterparty to a derivative contract, in and of itself, does not require the dedesignation of a hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met. The guidance is effective for TEC beginning in 2017, with early adoption permitted, and may be applied on a prospective or modified retrospective basis. The guidance will not affect TEC’s current financial statements. However, TEC will assess the impact of this guidance on future derivative contract novations, if any.

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance regarding the measurement of credit losses for financial assets and certain other instruments that are not accounted for at fair value through net income, including trade and other receivables, debt securities, net investment in leases, and off-balance sheet credit exposures. The new guidance requires companies to replace the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that measures all expected credit losses for financial assets based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. In addition, the guidance expands the disclosure requirements regarding credit losses, including the credit loss methodology and credit quality indicators. This guidance will be effective for TEC beginning in 2020, with early adoption permitted in 2019, and will be applied using a modified retrospective approach. TEC is currently evaluating the impacts of the adoption of the guidance on its financial statements.