NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999, 1998 AND 1997 1- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES-CONSOLIDATION
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all of Duke Energy Corporation’s majority-owned subsidiaries after the elimination of significant intercompany transactions and balances. Investments in other entities that are not controlled by Duke Energy Corporation, but where it has significant influence over operations, are accounted for using the equity method.The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Although these estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current and expected future events, actual results could differ from those estimates.
"Duke Energy" is used in these Notes as a collective reference to Duke Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries.
-CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
All liquid investments with maturities at date of purchase of three months or less are considered cash equivalents.-INVENTORY
Inventory consists primarily of materials and supplies, gas held for transmission, processing and sales commitments, and coal held for electric generation. Inventory is recorded at the lower of cost or market, primarily using the average cost method.-ACCOUNTING FOR RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
Duke Energy, primarily through its subsidiaries, manages its exposure to risk from existing contractual commitments and provides risk management services to its customers and suppliers through commodity derivatives, including forward contracts, futures, over-the-counter swap agreements and options.Commodity derivatives utilized for trading purposes are accounted for using the mark-to-market method. Under this methodology, these instruments are adjusted to market value, and the unrealized gains and losses are recognized in current period income and are included in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income as Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Purchased or Net Interchange and Purchased Power, and in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Unrealized Gains or Losses on Mark-to-Market Transactions.
Commodity derivatives such as futures, forwards, over-the-counter swap agreements and options are also utilized for non-trading purposes to hedge the impact of market fluctuations in the price of natural gas, electricity and other energy-related products. To qualify as a hedge, the price movements in the commodity derivatives must be highly correlated with the underlying hedged commodity. Under the deferral method of accounting, gains and losses related to commodity derivatives which qualify as hedges are recognized in income when the underlying hedged physical transaction closes and are included in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income as Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Purchased, or Net Interchange and Purchased Power. If the commodity derivative is no longer sufficiently correlated to the underlying commodity, or if the underlying commodity transaction closes earlier than anticipated, the deferred gains or losses are recognized in income.
Duke Energy periodically uses interest rate swaps, accounted for under the accrual method, to manage the interest rate characteristics associated with outstanding debt. Interest rate differentials to be paid or received as interest rates change are accrued and recognized as an adjustment to interest expense. The amount accrued as either a payable to or receivable from counterparties is included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Regulatory Assets and Deferred Debits.
Duke Energy also periodically utilizes interest rate lock agreements to hedge interest rate risk associated with new debt issuances. Under the deferral method of accounting, gains or losses on such agreements, when settled, are deferred in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Long-term Debt and are amortized in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income as an adjustment to interest expense.
Duke Energy is exposed to foreign currency risk from investments in international affiliates and businesses owned and operated in foreign countries. To mitigate risks associated with foreign currency fluctuations, when possible, contracts are denominated in or indexed to the U.S. dollar or may be hedged through debt denominated in the foreign currency. Duke Energy also uses foreign currency derivatives, where possible, to hedge its risk related to foreign currency fluctuations. To qualify as a hedge, there must be a high degree of correlation between price movements in the derivative and the item designated as being hedged. These derivatives are accounted for under the deferral method previously described under commodity derivatives used for nontrading purposes.
Duke Energy also enters into foreign currency swap agreements to manage foreign currency risks associated with energy contracts denominated in foreign currencies. These agreements are accounted for under the mark-to-market method previously described.
-GOODWILL
Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition costs over the fair value of the net assets of an acquired business. The goodwill created by Duke Energy's acquisitions is amortized on a straight-line basis over the useful lives of the assets, ranging from 10 to 40 years. The amount of goodwill reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively, was $844 million and $495 million, net of accumulated amortization of $218 million and $166 million. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information on significant goodwill additions.-PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment are stated at original cost. Duke Energy capitalizes all construction-related direct labor and material costs, as well as indirect construction costs. Indirect costs include general engineering, taxes and the cost of money. The cost of renewals and betterments that extend the useful life of property, plant and equipment is also capitalized. The cost of repairs and replacements is charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation is generally computed using the straight-line method. The composite weighted-average depreciation rates, excluding nuclear fuel, were 3.73%, 3.82% and 3.67% for 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.When property, plant and equipment maintained by Duke Energy's regulated operations are retired, the original cost plus the cost of retirement, less salvage, is charged to accumulated depreciation and amortization. When entire regulated operating units are sold or non-regulated properties are retired or sold, the property and related accumulated depreciation and amortization accounts are reduced, and any gain or loss is recorded in income, unless otherwise required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
-IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS
The recoverability of long-lived assets and intangible assets are reviewed whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. Such evaluation is based on various analyses, including undiscounted cash flow projections.-UNAMORTIZED DEBT PREMIUM, DISCOUNT AND EXPENSE
Premiums, discounts and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of presently outstanding long-term debt are amortized over the terms of the respective issues. Any call premiums or unamortized expenses associated with refinancing higher-cost debt obligations used to finance regulated assets and operations are amortized consistent with regulatory treatment of those items.-ENVIRONMENTAL EXPENDITURES
Environmental expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations and do not contribute to current or future revenue generation are expensed. Environmental expenditures relating to current or future revenues are expensed or capitalized as appropriate. Liabilities are recorded when environmental assessments and/or clean-ups are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Certain of these environmental assessments and clean-up costs are expected to be recovered from Natural Gas Transmission customers and have, therefore, been deferred and are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Environmental Clean-up Costs.
-COST-BASED REGULATION
Duke Energy's regulated operations are subject to the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation." Accordingly, certain assets and liabilities that result from the regulated ratemaking process are recorded that would not be recorded under generally accepted accounting principles for non-regulated entities. These regulatory assets and liabilities are classified in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Regulatory Assets and Deferred Debits, and Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities, respectively. The applicability of SFAS No. 71 is routinely evaluated, and factors such as regulatory changes and the impact of competition are considered. Discontinuing cost-based regulation or increasing competition might require companies to reduce their asset balances to reflect a market basis less than cost and to write off their associated regulatory assets. Management cannot predict the potential impact, if any, of discontinuing cost-based regulation or increasing competition on future financial position or consolidated results of operations. However, Duke Energy continues to position itself to effectively meet these challenges by maintaining competitive prices.-COMMON STOCK OPTIONS
Duke Energy accounts for stock-based compensation using the intrinsic method of accounting. Under this method, compensation cost, if any, is measured as the excess of the quoted market price of Duke Energy's stock at the date of the grant over the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock. Restricted stock is recorded as compensation cost over the requisite vesting period based on the market value on the date of the grant. Pro forma disclosures utilizing the fair value accounting method are included in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.-REVENUES
Revenues on sales of electricity and transportation and storage of natural gas are recognized as service is provided. Revenues on sales of natural gas and petroleum products, as well as electricity, gas and other energy products marketed, are recognized in the period of delivery. Receivables on the Consolidated Balance Sheets included $207 million and $193 million as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively, for electric service that has been provided but not yet billed to customers. When rate cases are pending final approval, a portion of the revenues is subject to possible refund. Reserves are established where required for such cases.-NUCLEAR FUEL
Amortization of nuclear fuel is included in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income as Fuel Used in Electric Generation. The amortization is recorded using the units-of-production method.-DEFERRED RETURNS AND ALLOWANCE FOR FUNDS USED DURING CONSTRUCTION (AFUDC)
Deferred returns represent the estimated financing costs associated with funding certain regulatory assets. These regulatory assets primarily arose from the funding of purchased capacity costs above levels collected in rates. Deferred returns are non-cash items and are primarily recognized as an addition to Purchased Capacity Costs with an offsetting credit to Other Income and Expenses.AFUDC represents the estimated debt and equity costs of capital funds necessary to finance the construction of new regulated facilities. AFUDC is a non-cash item and is recognized as a cost of Property, Plant and Equipment, with offsetting credits to Other Income and Expenses, and to Interest Expense. After construction is completed, Duke Energy is permitted to recover these costs, including a fair return, through their inclusion in rate base and in the provision for depreciation.
Rates used for capitalization of deferred returns and AFUDC by Duke Energy's regulated operations are calculated in compliance with FERC rules.
-FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION
Assets and liabilities of Duke Energy's international operations, where the local currency is the functional currency, have been translated at year-end exchange rates, and revenues and expenses have been translated using average exchange rates prevailing during the year. Adjustments resulting from translation are included in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income as Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments. The financial statements of international operations, where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, reflect certain transactions denominated in the local currency that have been remeasured in U.S. dollars. The remeasurement of local currencies into U.S. dollars creates gains and losses from foreign currency transactions that are included in consolidated net income.-INCOME TAXES
Duke Energy and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. Deferred income taxes have been provided for temporary differences. Temporary differences occur when events and transactions recognized for financial reporting result in taxable or tax-deductible amounts in different periods. Investment tax credits have been deferred and are being amortized over the estimated useful lives of the related properties.-EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
Basic earnings per share is based on a simple weighted average of common shares outstanding. Dilutive earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other agreements to issue common stock, such as stock options, were exercised or converted into common stock. The numerator for the calculation of basic and dilutive earnings per share is earnings available for common stockholders.
-EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS
In 1999, Duke Energy realized an extraordinary gain of $660 million, or $1.82 per share, relating to the sale of certain pipeline companies. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the extraordinary item.In January 1998, TEPPCO Partners, L.P. (TEPPCO), in which a subsidiary of Duke Energy has a 2% general partner interest and a 19.1% limited partner interest, redeemed certain First Mortgage Notes. A non-cash extraordinary loss of $8 million, net of income tax of $5 million, was recorded related to costs of the early retirement of debt. Earnings per common share for 1998 were reduced by $0.02 as a result of this charge.
-NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARD
In September 1998, SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," was issued. Duke Energy is required to adopt this standard by January 1, 2001. SFAS No. 133 requires that all derivatives be recognized as either assets or liabilities and measured at fair value, and it defines the accounting for changes in the fair value of the derivatives depending on the intended use of the derivative. Duke Energy is currently reviewing the expected impact of SFAS No. 133 on consolidated results of operations and financial position.-RECLASSIFICATIONS
Certain amounts have been reclassified in the Consolidated Financial Statements to conform to the current presentation.
