Utility companies face a variety of unique accounting and financial reporting challenges. Whether you're a financial professional in the industry, or an analyst following the sector who needs to understand how those challenges impact the utility business, this program will give you a more nuanced perspective. You'll come away with a solid understanding of the impact of financial reporting and regulatory accounting components of an electric or gas utility.
DAY ONE Â
8:30 am
Welcome and Introductions
8:45 am
Ratemaking Process and How Revenue Requirements Are Determined Under Traditional Rate Regulation
Overview of the role of regulatory commissions (state and Federal (FERC)) including which activities are regulated, how they are regulated, discussion of the general requirements associated with a traditional rate case. The session will include an example explaining the interaction of rate base, rate of return and operating expenses in determining revenue requirements. The session is designed to:
10:00 am
REFRESHMENT BREAK
10:15 am
Revenue Sources
Various factors may affect revenues and accounting including concepts of fuel adjustment clauses, other trackers, unbilled revenue, AFUDC and budget billing, including:Â
12:00 pm
LUNCH
1:15 pm
Plant Accounting Concepts
This session will focus on three key areas with regards to plant accounting: 1) utility plant depreciation, 2) capitalization concepts, and 3) accounting for removal costs (cost of removal and asset retirement obligations (AROs), specifically:
2:45 pm
REFRESHMENT BREAK
3:00 pm
Accounting for the Effects of Rate Regulation
The ratemaking process creates a unique link between costs and revenues. ASC 980 addresses the financial accounting and financial statement impact of this process. In this section we will cover the general and specific accounting standards that exist for rate regulated enterprises as well as certain unique financial statement disclosures typically required by rate regulated entities. The following issues will be addressed:
4:00 pm
Income Tax Accounting and Key Industry Issues
Regulated businesses face special income tax and tax accounting issues. During this session several income tax and regulatory issues facing the utility industry will be discussed.  Topics include income tax accounting basics and the concepts of flow-through and normalization. The following topics will be addressed:
5:00 pm
Day One Concludes
DAY TWO -
8:30 am
FERC Uniform System of Accounts (USOA)
Participants will walk through the FERC USOA requirements required to be followed by almost all rate-regulated entities. Focus will include how the USOA is organized, plant instructions, operating expense instructions, accounts and several issues noted as a result of FERC audits.Â
9:15 am
Revenue Requirements Case Study
This session will follow a simplified revenue requirement case study, focusing on the calculations of rate base, rate of return and operating expenses and summing to a revenue requirement. This exercise will provide a recap of concepts discussed previously and allow participants to see how the various rate case components interact.
10:15 am
REFRESHMENT BREAK
10:30 am
New Revenue and Leasing Accounting Standards
The FASB is changing the revenue and leasing accounting models. In this module, participants will learn about the key changes and the potential impacts to the utility industry—both in terms of accounting and disclosure under GAAP and FERC.
12:00 pm
Regulatory Roundup
12:45 pm
Program Concludes
This live group seminar is eligible for 11.0 CPE credits. Be aware that state boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. As of January 1, 2002, sponsored learning activities are measured by program length, with one 50-minute period equal to one CPE credit. One-half CPE credit increments (equal to 25 minutes) are permitted after the first credit has been earned in a given learning activity. You may want to verify that the state board from which your participants will be receiving credit accept one-half credits.
Finance, corporate development/strategy, and investor relations professionals at power and gas companies. Consultants, accountants and lawyers who advise power and gas clients. Current and potential suppliers or professionals looking for an understanding of the unique aspects of accounting in the power sector.
This program presumes familiarity with basic accounting and finance concepts. Participants will need to bring a laptop computer equipped with Microsoft Excel.
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