Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

TEC maintains its accounts in accordance with recognized policies prescribed or permitted by the FPSC and the FERC. These policies conform with U.S. GAAP in all material respects. The use of estimates is inherent in the preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

TEC is a wholly owned subsidiary of TECO Energy, Inc. and contains electric and natural gas divisions. Intercompany balances and transactions within the divisions have been eliminated in consolidation. TECO Energy is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Emera. Therefore, TEC is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Emera.

In 2020, the outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, specifically identified as COVID-19, has resulted in governments worldwide enacting emergency measures to combat the spread of the virus. While management considered the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in TEC’s estimates and results, the financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 were not materially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is not possible to reliably estimate the length and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on the financial results and condition of TEC in future periods.

Cash Equivalents

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents are highly liquid, high-quality investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less. The carrying amount of cash equivalents approximated fair market value because of the short maturity of these instruments.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment

          Property, plant and equipment is stated at original cost, which includes labor, material, applicable taxes, overhead and AFUDC. Concurrent with a planned major maintenance outage or with new construction, the cost of adding or replacing retirement units-of-property is capitalized in conformity with the regulations of FERC and FPSC. The cost of maintenance, repairs and replacement of minor items of property is expensed as incurred.

As regulated utilities, Tampa Electric and PGS must file depreciation and dismantlement studies periodically and receive approval from the FPSC before implementing new depreciation rates. Included in approved depreciation rates is either an implicit net salvage factor or a cost of removal factor, expressed as a percentage. The net salvage factor is principally comprised of two components—a salvage factor and a cost of removal or dismantlement factor. TEC uses current cost of removal or dismantlement factors as part of the estimation method to approximate the amount of cost of removal in accumulated depreciation. The original cost of utility plant retired or otherwise disposed of and the cost of removal or dismantlement, less salvage value, is charged to accumulated depreciation and the accumulated cost of removal reserve reported as a regulatory liability, respectively.

For other property dispositions, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the balance sheet and a gain or loss is recognized.

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following assets:

(millions)	Estimated Useful Lives	December 31, 2020			December 31, 2019
Electric generation	21-56 years	$	5,694		$	5,370
Electric transmission	28-77 years		1,008			940
Electric distribution	14-56 years		2,859			2,732
Gas transmission and distribution	16-77 years		2,076			1,848
General plant and other	8-43 years		723			675
Total cost			12,360			11,565
Less accumulated depreciation			(3,712	)		(3,472	)
Construction work in progress			1,472			1,038
Total property, plant and equipment, net		$	10,120		$	9,131

Depreciation

Depreciation

The provision for total regulated utility plant in service, expressed as a percentage of the original cost of depreciable property, was 3.2%, 3.4% and 3.5% for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Construction work in progress is not depreciated until the asset is placed in service. Total depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $381 million, $359 million and $345 million, respectively. See Note 3 for information regarding agreements approved by the FPSC that, among other things, allow Tampa Electric to continue to depreciate certain retired assets until the FPSC approves Tampa Electric’s next depreciation and dismantlement study and allowed Tampa Electric to eliminate its $16 million accumulated amortization reserve surplus for intangible software assets through a credit to amortization expense in 2020.

Tampa Electric and PGS compute depreciation and amortization using the following methods:

• the group remaining life method, approved by the FPSC, is applied to the average investment, adjusted for anticipated costs of removal less salvage, in functional classes of depreciable property;

• the amortizable life method, approved by the FPSC, is applied to the net book value to date over the remaining life of those assets not classified as depreciable property above.

Allowance for Funds Used During Construction

Allowance for Funds Used During Construction

AFUDC is a non-cash credit to income with a corresponding charge to utility plant which represents the cost of borrowed funds and a reasonable return on other funds used for construction. Tampa Electric’s FPSC-approved rate used to calculate AFUDC is revised periodically to reflect significant changes in Tampa Electric’s cost of capital. In 2020, 2019 and 2018, Tampa Electric’s rate was 6.46%. In July 2019, the FPSC approved a petition filed by PGS for authority to record AFUDC at an annual rate of 5.97% as part of its plans to develop three expansion projects in 2019 and 2020. Total AFUDC for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $44 million, $16 million and $15 million, respectively. The increase in 2020 is primarily a result of the construction of solar projects and the repowering of Big Bend Unit 1 with natural gas combined-cycle technology.

Inventory

Inventory

TEC values materials, supplies and fossil fuel inventory (natural gas, coal, petcoke and oil) using a weighted-average cost method. These materials, supplies and fuel inventories are carried at the lower of weighted-average cost or net realizable value.

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

Tampa Electric and PGS are subject to accounting guidance for the effects of certain types of regulation (see Note 3).

Deferred Income Taxes

Deferred Income Taxes

TEC uses the asset and liability method in the measurement of deferred income taxes. Under the asset and liability method, the temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities are reported as deferred taxes measured at enacted tax rates. Tampa Electric and PGS are regulated, and their books and records reflect approved regulatory treatment, including certain adjustments to accumulated deferred income taxes and the establishment of a corresponding regulatory tax liability reflecting the amount payable to customers through future rates. See Note 4 for additional details.

Investment Tax Credits

Investment Tax Credits

ITCs have been recorded as deferred credits and are being amortized as reductions to income tax expense over the service lives of the related property.

Stranded Tax Effects in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Stranded Tax Effects in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

TEC utilizes a portfolio approach to determine the timing and extent to which stranded income tax effects from items that were previously recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income are released.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Regulated electric revenue

Electric revenues, including energy charges, demand charges, basic facilities charges and applicable clauses and riders, are recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract are satisfied. This occurs primarily when electricity is delivered to customers over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the electricity. Electric revenues are recognized on an accrual basis and include billed and unbilled revenues. Revenues related to the sale of electricity are recognized at rates approved by the respective regulator and recorded based on metered usage, which occur on a periodic, systematic basis, generally monthly. At the end of each reporting period, the electricity delivered to customers, but not billed, is estimated and the corresponding unbilled revenue is recognized. Tampa Electric’s estimate of unbilled revenue at the end of the reporting period is calculated by estimating the number of MWH delivered to customers at the established rate expected to prevail in the upcoming billing cycle. This estimate includes assumptions as to the pattern of energy demand, timing of meter reads and line losses.

Regulated gas revenue

Gas revenues, including energy charges, demand charges, basic facilities charges and applicable clauses and riders, are recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract are satisfied. This occurs primarily when gas is delivered to customers over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the gas. Gas revenues are recognized on an accrual basis and include billed and unbilled revenues.  Revenues related to the distribution and sale of gas are recognized at rates approved by the regulator and recorded based on metered usage, which occur on a periodic, systematic basis, generally monthly. At the end of each reporting period, the gas delivered to customers, but not billed, is estimated and the corresponding unbilled revenue is recognized. PGS’s estimate of unbilled revenue at the end of the reporting period is calculated by estimating the number of therms delivered to customers at the established rate expected to prevail in the upcoming billing cycle. This estimate includes assumptions as to the pattern of usage, weather, and inter-period changes to customer classes.

Other

See Accounting for Franchise Fees and Gross Receipts below for the accounting for gross receipts taxes. Sales and other taxes TEC collects concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue.   

Revenues and Cost Recovery

Revenues and Cost Recovery

Revenues include amounts resulting from cost-recovery clauses which provide for monthly billing charges to reflect increases or decreases in fuel, purchased power, conservation and environmental costs for Tampa Electric and purchased gas, interstate pipeline capacity, replacement of cast iron/bare steel pipe and conservation costs for PGS. These adjustment factors are based on costs incurred and projected for a specific recovery period. Any over- or under-recovery of costs plus an interest factor are taken into account in the process of setting adjustment factors for subsequent recovery periods. Over-recoveries of costs are recorded as regulatory liabilities, and under-recoveries of costs are recorded as regulatory assets.

Certain other costs incurred by the regulated utilities are allowed to be recovered from customers through prices approved in the regulatory process. These costs are recognized as the associated revenues are recognized.

Receivables and Allowance for Credit Losses

Receivables and Allowance for Credit Losses

Receivables from contracts with customers, which consist of services to residential, commercial, industrial and other customers, were $214 million and $205 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. An allowance for credit losses is established based on TEC’s collection experience and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectibility of the reported amount. Circumstances that impact Tampa Electric’s and PGS’s estimates of credit losses include, but are not limited to, customer credit issues, fuel prices, customer deposits and general economic conditions, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Accounts are reserved in the allowance or written off once they are deemed to be uncollectible.

The regulated utilities accrue base revenues for services rendered but unbilled to provide for matching of revenues and expenses (see Note 3). As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, unbilled revenues of $73 million and $61 million, respectively, are included in the “Receivables” line item on TEC’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Accounting for Franchise Fees and Gross Receipts Taxes

Accounting for Franchise Fees and Gross Receipts Taxes

Tampa Electric and PGS are allowed to recover certain costs incurred on a dollar-for-dollar basis from customers through rates approved by the FPSC. The amounts included in customers’ bills for franchise fees and gross receipt taxes are included as revenues on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Franchise fees and gross receipt taxes payable by Tampa Electric and PGS are included as an expense on the Consolidated Statements of Income in “Taxes, other than income”. These amounts totaled $109 million, $117 million and $120 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

Other deferred credits primarily include accrued pension and other postretirement benefits (see Note 5), MGP environmental remediation liability (see Note 8), asset retirement obligations (see Note 12), lease liabilities (see Note 13) and a reserve for auto, general and workers’ compensation liability claims.

TECO Energy and its subsidiaries, including TEC, have a self-insurance program supplemented by excess insurance coverage for the cost of claims whose ultimate value exceeds the company’s retention amounts. TEC estimates its liabilities for auto, general and workers’ compensation using discount rates mandated by statute or otherwise deemed appropriate for the circumstances. Discount rates used in estimating these other self-insurance liabilities at December 31, 2020 and 2019 ranged from 2.43% to 4.00% and 2.66% to 4.00%, respectively.

Cash Flows Related to Derivatives and Hedging Activities

Cash Flows Related to Derivatives and Hedging Activities

TEC classifies cash inflows and outflows related to derivative and hedging instruments in the appropriate cash flow sections associated with the item being hedged. For natural gas, the cash inflows and outflows are included in the operating section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. For interest rate swaps that settle coincident with the debt issuance, the cash inflows and outflows are treated as premiums or discounts and included in the financing section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. See Note 14 for further information regarding derivatives.