Acts and Regulations

99-62 - Gas Distribution Uniform Accounting

Full text
NEW BRUNSWICK
REGULATION 99-62
under the
Gas Distribution Act, 1999
Filed November 12, 1999
Under section 96 of the Gas Distribution Act, 1999, the Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities makes the following Regulation:
Citation
1This Regulation may be cited as the Gas Distribution Uniform Accounting Regulation - Gas Distribution Act, 1999.
Duties of Gas Distributors in keeping accounts
2Every gas distributor shall
(a) keep separate accounting records in New Brunswick in a manner consistent with generally accepted accounting principles,
(b) keep its accounts in the manner set out in the Appendix to this regulation entitled Uniform System of Accounts for Gas Distributors, and
(c) keep a system of accounts as prescribed in the Appendix to this Regulation.
Prescribed form of accounts
3(1)A gas distributor’s accounting records shall provide sufficient particulars to show fully the facts pertaining to all entries made in the accounts.
3(2)A gas distributor shall maintain the applicable accounts listed in the Appendix to this Regulation and may, in addition, keep subsidiary accounts for the gas distributor’s own purposes.
3(3)The account numbers listed in the Appendix to this Regulation shall be set out in the descriptive headings of the applicable ledger accounts, computer printouts or other accounting records.
3(4)All transactions applicable to a month shall be recorded in the accounts for that month.
3(5)A gas distributor shall close the gas distributor’s accounts at the end of each fiscal year.
3(6)Final accounting entries for each month shall be made not later than forty-five days after the last day of the month, except that the final entries for the last month of each fiscal year may be made within a period not exceeding ninety days from the end of that last month.
3(7)The gas distributor’s accounts and records referred to in this Regulation include not only accounting records in a limited technical sense but all records such as minute books, share registers, reports, correspondence, memoranda, computer printouts, e-mail, faxes and data on computer disks that may be useful in determining the history of or facts pertaining to any transaction.
3(8)The gas distributor’s accounts and records shall be readily accessible for examination by representatives of the Board.
3(9)The accounts required to be maintained under subsection (2) shall be retained until the expiration of one year after a franchise agreement has expired; but if a franchise agreement has been extended or renewed, then the accounts shall be retained until one year after the term for which the franchise agreement has been extended or renewed or until such other time as the Board shall direct.
APPENDIX
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF
PUBLIC UTILITIES
UNIFORM SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS FOR
GAS DISTRIBUTORS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PART I – GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS4 - 8
PART II – INDEX OF ACCOUNTS9
   GENERAL ACCOUNTS9 - 13
   DETAIL ACCOUNTS13 - 20
PART III –DESCRIPTION OF ACCOUNTS21
   GENERAL ACCOUNTS21 - 46
   DETAIL ACCOUNTS46 - 131
PART IV –
PLANT ACCOUNTING
INSTRUCTIONS131 - 144
PART I – GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.
Introduction
2.
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
3.
Records
4.
Account Grouping
A.    General
B.    Account Structure
5.
Account Descriptions
6.
Submission of Questions
7.
Plant Accounting Instructions
1.
INTRODUCTION
This Uniform System of Accounts (“USOA”) includes up-to-date accounting and regulatory practices and terminology. In addition, this USOA accommodates the deregulated natural gas environment and both the regulated and the non-regulated activities of a gas distributor.
Inclusion of any item or account in this prescribed USOA does not necessarily imply the Board’s acceptance of any expenditure, revenue or procedure that might be suggested by the use of such an account.
2.
GENERALLY ACCEPTED
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES
The Board recognizes that generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) are the accepted medium for the communication of financial information to the public.
The Board therefore acknowledges that gas distributors in New Brunswick are expected to maintain accounting records in accordance with GAAP, the principal source of which in Canada is the Handbook of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (“CICA”).
The Board recognizes that the regulatory process introduces certain specific cause-and-effect relationships in the matching of a gas distributor’s revenues and expenses, which may require special applications of GAAP.
Accordingly, gas distributors are required to use this USOA in conjunction with the CICA Handbook in the determination of appropriate accounting policies and practices, but with due regard for the need to reflect Board decisions or orders arising from the regulatory process in the application of GAAP. In the event of a conflict between the CICA Handbook and this USOA, the USOA governs.
3.
RECORDS
The records shall be kept in such form as to permit determination of the correctness of the accounting, and with sufficient detail to show fully the facts pertaining to all entries made in the accounts.
Where full information is not recorded in the accounts, the entries therein shall be supported by other records in which full details shall be shown. The general accounting records shall contain sufficient reference to the detailed records to permit ready identification, and the detailed records shall be filed in such a manner as to be readily accessible for examination by representatives of the Board.
Unless otherwise provided for in the accounts prescribed in this USOA, gas distributors shall subdivide any and all applicable accounts to record non-gas-distribution-related transactions or items which are not includible in gas-distributor assets, liabilities, revenues or expenses for purposes of the Board’s setting or fixing just and reasonable rates under subsection 52(3) of the Gas Distribution Act, 1999 (“the Act”), as amended from time to time.
For new gas-distribution related activities and for new non-gas distribution-related activities, the gas distributor shall record all transactions in sufficient detail to segregate such activities. In conjunction with the accounts prescribed in this USOA and depending upon their system design, the gas distributors shall create special prefix or suffix codes to identify transactions within each of the activities.
However, to the extent that sufficient or adequate information may not be available on a timely basis for monthly accounting or financial reporting purposes, gas distributors shall be granted an extension of time sufficient to meet the filing dates of monitoring forms or returns as required by the Board.
Gas distributors may, without the consent of the Board, continue to subdivide further any and all accounts prescribed in this USOA.
Gas distributors may, with the consent of the Board, condense or combine any of the accounts in this USOA.
A gas distributor may use a different system of account numbers, provided the account numbers prescribed in this USOA appear as cross-references.
4.
ACCOUNT GROUPING
A.
General
The accounts of this USOA are grouped so as to show the results of the group of which they form a part: e.g. the plant accounts are classified according to the various types of plant used in gas operations; and the operating and maintenance accounts are classified according to the function to which the expense is related, such as Gas Supply, Transmission, Distribution, General and Administration.
Group
Account Numbers
 
(a)
Balance Sheet
Assets
100-199
Liabilities and Shareholders’
Equity
200-299
Group
Account Numbers
 
(b)
Income Statement
Revenues and Expenses
300-399
B.
Account Structure
The accounts in this USOA are divided into two major groups, namely, the general accounts and the detail accounts.
Essentially, general accounts are the primary accounts that form the contents of the general ledger.
The detail accounts are the subdivisions of certain general accounts, which are designed to provide additional details of those asset, liability, revenue and expense items. The detail accounts form the contents of the subsidiary ledger.
These general accounts and their corresponding detail accounts are:
GENERAL ACCOUNTS
Balance Sheet – Assets
100-119
Property, Plant and Equipment
120-129
Long-Term Investments
130-169
Current Assets
170-179
Deferred Charges
180-199
Other Assets
Balance Sheet - Liabilities
and Shareholders’ Equity
200-219
Shareholders’ Equity
220-249
Long-Term Debt
250-269
Current Liabilities
270-299
Deferred Credits
Income Statement
300-399
Revenues and Expenses
DETAIL ACCOUNTS
400-499
Property, Plant and Equipment
500-599
Operating Revenue
600-799
Operating Expense
800-899
Maintenance Expense
900-999
Clearing Accounts
The specific accounts and the account description within these two major account groups are presented in PART II – INDEX OF ACCOUNTS of this Appendix.
5.
ACCOUNT DESCRIPTIONS
Descriptions of account inclusions for both general accounts and detail accounts are presented in PART III – ACCOUNTS’ DESCRIPTION. Lists of “Examples of Components” appearing in the text of the accounts or elsewhere in this classification are only for the purpose of more clearly indicating the application of the prescribed accounting.
The lists are intended to be representative but not exhaustive.
The appearance of an item in a list warrants the inclusion of the item only when the text also indicates inclusion. The proper entry in each instance must be determined by the texts of the accounts.
6.
SUBMISSION OF QUESTIONS
Since securing uniformity of accounting by gas distributors in New Brunswick is a basic purpose of this USOA, any person may submit a question about interpretation of the accounting rules to the Board for determination.
7.
PLANT ACCOUNTING
INSTRUCTIONS
A section on Plant Accounting Instructions is included in PART IV of this Appendix. It provides the detailed instructions for accounting treatment of items such as plant acquired or constructed, additions, retirements, maintenance and depreciation.
PART II – INDEX OF ACCOUNTS –
GENERAL ACCOUNTS
BALANCE SHEET – ASSETS
Property, Plant and Equipment
100
Gas Distributor Plant in Service
101
Gas Distributor Plant Leased to Others
 
102
Gas Distributor Plant Held for Future Use
 
103
Retirement Work in Progress
104
Gas Distributor Plant Acquisition Adjustments
 
105
Accumulated Depreciation – Gas Distributor Plant
106
Accumulated Amortization – Gas Distributor Plant
108
Accumulated Amortization – Gas Distributor Plant – Acquisition Adjustments
 
110
Other Gas Distributor Plant
111
Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization – Other Gas Distributor Plant
115
Construction Work in Progress – Gas Distributor Plant
116
Other Gas Distributor Plant Under Construction
 
Long-Term Investments
120
Investment in Associates and Affiliates
121
Portfolio Investments
123
Miscellaneous Special Funds
Current Assets
130
Cash
131
Special Deposits
132
Short Term Investments
140
Accounts Receivable – Customers
141
Accounts Receivable – Associates and Affiliates
142
Accounts Receivable – Other
145
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
147
Interest and Dividends Receivable
150
Materials and Supplies
151
Materials and Supplies – Other
152
Gas in Storage – Available for Sale
153
Line Pack Gas
160
Prepayments
162
Other Current Assets
163
Current Future Income Tax Assets
Deferred Charges
170
Unamortized Debt Discount and Expense
171
Extraordinary Plant Losses
172
Preliminary Survey and Investigation Charges
177
Share Capital Expense
179
Other Deferred Charges
Other Assets
180
Intangible Assets
181
Unamortized Deferred Gains and Losses from Translation of Foreign Currency
182
Deferred Development Costs
183
Future Income Tax Assets
BALANCE SHEET - LIABILITIES AND
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Shareholders’ Equity
200
Preference Shares
205
Common Shares
210
Contributed Surplus
212
Retained Earnings
215
Appropriations of Retained Earnings
216
Appraisal Increase Credits
Long-Term Debt
220
Long-Term Debt
225
Long-Term Lease Obligations
248
Long-Term Advances from Associates and Affiliates
249
Other Long-Term Debt
Current Liabilities
250
Loans and Notes Payable
251
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
252
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities – Associates and Affiliates
253
Dividends Payable
254
Customers’ Security Deposits
255
Customers’ Advances for Construction
 
256
Taxes Payable – Current
257
Interest Payable and Accrued
258
Current Portion of Long Term Debt
 
259
Other Current and Accrued Liabilities
260
Current Future Income Tax Liabilities
262
Current Portion of Long-Term Lease Obligations
 
263
Deferred Revenues
Deferred Credits
270
Unamortized Debt Premium
271
Unearned Finance Charges on Customers’ Accounts Receivable
276
Future Income Tax Liabilities
278
Contributions and Grants
279
Other Long-Term Liabilities and Deferred Credits
280
Deferred Pension Costs
290
Insurance Provisions
INCOME STATEMENT
Revenues and Expenses
300
Operating Revenues
301
Operating Expenses
302
Maintenance Expenses
303
Depreciation
304
Amortization
305
Municipal and Other Taxes
306
Income Taxes
307
Revenue from Gas Distributor Plant Leased to Others
308
Rent for Gas Distributor Plant Leased From Others
310
Revenue from Other Plant
311
Expense of Other Plant
312
Non-Gas Operating Revenue
313
Non-Gas Operating Expense
314
Income from Investments
315
Income from Investment in Associates and Affiliates
316
Income from Sinking and Other Funds
319
Other Income
320
Interest on Long Term Debt
321
Amortization of Debt Discount, Premium and Expense
322
Interest on Amounts Due to Associates and Affiliates
323
Other Interest Expense
324
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction – Credit
325
Gains or Losses on Foreign Exchange, including Amortization
326
Amortization of Other Deferred Charges
327
Interest Expense on Capital Lease Obligations
328
Amortization of Other Intangible Assets
329
Government Assistance Directly Credited to Income
330
Research and Development Costs
331
Amortization of Deferred Development Costs
333
Other Income Deductions
338
Extraordinary Items
339
Extraordinary Items – Tax Effect
PART II – INDEX OF ACCOUNTS –
DETAIL ACCOUNTS
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Intangible Plant
401
Franchises and Consents
402
Other Intangible Plant
Natural Gas Production Plant
403
Gas Lands
404
Gas Leaseholds
405
Gas Rights
406
Gas Wells – Well Drilling
407
Gas Wells – Well Equipment
408
Gas Wells – Well Structures
409
Other Natural Gas Production Equipment
Natural Gas Gathering Plant
410
Land
411
Land Rights
412
Compressor Structures and Improvements
413
Measuring and Regulating Structures and Improvements
414
Other Structures and Improvements
415
Gathering Lines
416
Compressor Equipment
417
Measuring and Regulating Equipment
418
Purification Equipment
419
Other Natural Gas Gathering Equipment
Local Storage Plant
440
Land
441
Land Rights
442
Structures and Improvements
443
Gas Holders – Storage
444
Other Local Storage Equipment
Underground Storage Plant
450
Land
451
Land Rights
452
Structures and Improvements
453
Wells
454
Well Equipment
455
Field Lines
456
Compressor Equipment
457
Measuring and Regulating Equipment
458
Base Pressure Gas
459
Other Underground Storage Equipment
Transmission Plant
460
Land
461
Land Rights
462
Compressor Structures and Improvements
463
Measuring and Regulating Structures and Improvements
464
Other Structures and Improvements
465
Mains
466
Compressor Equipment
467
Measuring and Regulating Equipment
468
Communication Structures and Equipment
469
Other Transmission Equipment
Distribution Plant
470
Land
471
Land Rights
472
Structures and Improvements
473
Services
474
Regulators and Meter Installations
475
Mains
476
Compressor Equipment
477
Measuring and Regulating Equipment
478
Meters
479
Other Distribution Equipment
General Plant
480
Land
481
Land Rights
482
Structures and Improvements
483
Office Furniture and Equipment
484
Transportation Equipment
485
Heavy Work Equipment
486
Tools and Work Equipment
487
Equipment on Customers’ Premises
488
Communication Structures and Equipment
489
Other General Equipment
490
Computer Hardware
491
Computer Application Software
Unclassified Plant
496
Unclassified Plant
499
Contributions and Grants
OPERATING REVENUE ACCOUNTS
 
Gas Sales
500
Out-of-Franchise Sales
520
Residential Sales
521
Commercial Sales
522
Industrial Sales
524
Sales to Associates and Affiliates
529
Other Sales
Other Operating Revenue
560
Late Payment Penalties
561
Revenue from Service Work
570
Transportation Revenue
571
Storage Revenue
575
Rent from Gas Plant
576
Rent from Gas Distributor Equipment on Customers’ Premises
579
Miscellaneous Operating Revenue
OPERATING EXPENSE ACCOUNTS
Exploration and Development – Operation
600
Supervision
602
Delay Rentals
603
Non-productive Well Drilling
604
Abandoned Leases
609
Other Exploration and Development Operation
Gas Production and Gathering – Operation
610
Supervision
611
Royalties
612
Gathering of Gas by Others
614
Gas Wells
615
Pipelines
616
Compressor
617
Measuring and Regulating
618
Purification
619
Other Gas Production and Gathering
Gas Supply – Operation
623
Cost of Gas
624
Gas Supply – Operation
626
Exchange Gas
627
Gas Withdrawn From Storage
628
Gas Delivered to Storage – Credit
629
Gas Used – Credit
Local Storage – Operation
640
Supervision
644
Gas Holders – Storage
649
Other Local Storage
Underground Storage – Operation
650
Supervision
651
Non-Feasible Underground Storage Project Costs
652
Lease Costs
653
Wells
654
Gas Losses
655
Field Lines
656
Compressor
657
Measuring and Regulating
658
Purification
659
Other Underground Storage
Transmission – Operation
660
Supervision
663
Transportation of Gas by Others
664
Communication
665
Pipelines
666
Compressor
667
Measuring and Regulating
669
Other Transmission
Distribution – Operation
670
Supervision
671
Load Dispatching
673
Meter and Regulator Work
674
Service Work
675
Mains and Services
676
Compressor
677
Measuring and Regulating
679
Other Distribution
General – Operation
684
Communication
685
System Operation and Engineering
688
Other General Gas Distributor Operations
689
General Gas Distributor Operations Transferred – Credit
Sales and Marketing – Operation
700
Supervision
701
Advertising - Natural Gas Promotion
702
Demonstration and Selling Expenses
703
Revenue From Merchandising, Jobbing and Contract Work
704
Expense of Merchandising, Jobbing and Contract Work
705
Advertising – Other
709
Other Sales Promotion
Customer Accounting – Operation
710
Supervision
711
Customers’ Contracts and Orders
712
Meter Reading
713
Customers’ Billing and Accounting
714
Credit and Collection
718
Uncollectable Accounts
719
Other Customer Accounting
Administrative and General – Operation
721
Administrative Expenses
722
Special Services
723
Insurance
724
Injuries and Damages
725
Employee Benefits
728
Other Administrative and General Expenses
729
Administrative and General Expenses Transferred – Credit
MAINTENANCE EXPENSE ACCOUNTS
Natural Gas Production and Gathering – Maintenance
810
Supervision
814
Gas Production
815
Pipelines
816
Compressor
817
Measuring and Regulating
818
Purification
819
Other Natural Gas Production and Gathering
Local Storage – Maintenance
840
Supervision
842
Structures and Improvements
844
Gas Holders - Storage
849
Other Local Storage
Underground Storage – Maintenance
850
Supervision
853
Wells
855
Field Lines
856
Compressor
857
Measuring and Regulating
858
Purification
859
Other Underground Storage
Transmission – Maintenance
860
Supervision
864
Communication
865
Pipelines
866
Compressor
867
Measuring and Regulating
869
Other Transmission
Distribution – Maintenance
870
Supervision
872
Structures and Improvements
873
Maintenance of Equipment on Customers’ Premises
875
Mains and Services
876
Compressor
877
Measuring and Regulating
878
Meters
879
Other Distribution
General – Maintenance
884
Communication
885
System Maintenance and Engineering
888
Other General Maintenance
889
General Maintenance Transferred – Credit
CLEARING ACCOUNTS
900
Warehouse Expenses
901
Transportation Equipment Expenses
902
Heavy Work Equipment Expenses
903
Aircraft Expenses
904
Printing and Reproduction Expenses
905
Information Service Expenses
906
Communication System Expenses
PART III –DESCRIPTION OF ACCOUNTS –
GENERAL ACCOUNTS
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
100.
GAS DISTRIBUTOR PLANT IN SERVICE
This account is the control account of the gas distributor’s total gas distributor property, plant and equipment. Accordingly, the balance of this account represents the total of the detail plant accounts designated as Distribution Plant in the series of 400 accounts.
101.
GAS DISTRIBUTOR PLANT LEASED TO OTHERS
This account shall include the cost of gas distributor property, plant and equipment owned by the gas distributor, but leased to others as operating units or systems, where the lessee has exclusive possession.
The plant included in this account shall be classified according to the detailed accounts prescribed for gas distributor plant in service. This account shall be maintained in similar detail to that for plant used by the gas distributor in its operations.
102.
GAS DISTRIBUTOR PLANT HELD FOR FUTURE USE
This account shall include the cost of property, plant and equipment owned and held for future use. It shall include plant acquired and never used by the gas distributor in gas distributor service but held for such service in the future. It shall also include plant previously used by the gas distributor in gas distributor service but transferred to this account from control Account No. 100, “Gas Distributor Plant in Service”, and held pending its reuse in the future in gas distributor service. This includes, for example, inactive services transferred from Account No. 473, “Services”, as well as land and land rights held to ensure a future supply of natural gas.
The plant included in this account shall be classified according to the detailed accounts prescribed for gas distributor plant in service. The account shall be maintained in similar detail to that for plant in service. Separate sub-accounts shall be maintained for each department for which plant is held for future use.
For all accounting transfers of the book value of inactive assets from Account No. 100, “Gas Distributor Plant in Service”, to Account No. 102, “Gas Distributor Plant Held for Future Use”, concurrent and corresponding transfers of applicable accumulated depreciation and/or accumulated amortization shall be made between the appropriate sub-accounts of Account No. 105, “Accumulated Depreciation – Gas Distributor Plant”, and Account No. 106, “Accumulated Amortization - Gas Distributor Plant”.
103.
RETIREMENT WORK IN PROGRESS
This account shall include, on a temporary basis, amounts concurrently credited to Account No. 100, “Gas Distributor Plant in Service”, Account No. 101, “Gas Distributor Plant Leased to Others”, and Account No. 102, “Gas Distributor Plant Held for Future Use”, in respect of gas distributor plant retired from service.
It shall also include all costs incurred on removal, demolition and dismantling of gas distributor plant during the course of its retirement. Amounts recovered for salvage and insurance on gas distributor plant retired shall be credited to this account.
When final costs of each retirement are established, the book value and the cost of removals amounts recovered shall be transferred to Account No. 105, “Accumulated Depreciation - Gas Distributor Plant” or Account No. 106, “Accumulated Amortization - Gas Distributor Plant”, if applicable.
104.
GAS DISTRIBUTOR PLANT ACQUISITION ADJUSTMENTS
This account shall include the difference between the cost to the gas distributor of gas distributor plant acquired by purchase, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise, and the net amount approved by the Board as properly includible in plant and accumulated depreciation accounts.
This account shall be subdivided to show the amounts applicable to plant Account No. 100, “Gas Distributor Plant in Service”, Account No. 101, “Gas Distributor Plant Leased to Others”, and Account No. 102, “Gas Distributor Plant Held for Future Use”.
The amounts recorded in this account, with respect to each acquisition, shall be amortized or otherwise disposed of as approved by the Board.
Note: See PART IV – PLANT ACCOUNTING INSTRUCTIONS, Section 1, “Plant Acquired or Constructed”.
105.
ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION – GAS DISTRIBUTOR PLANT
This account shall be credited with current depreciation expense of the gas distributor’s gas distributor plant, which is concurrently debited to Account No. 303, “Depreciation”, and with any salvage and insurance proceeds from the disposal of depreciable gas distributor plant.
At the time of retirement of depreciable gas distributor plant, this account shall be debited with the book value of the plant and the cost of removal, and credited with amounts recovered for salvage and insurance.
Note: See Plant Accounting Instructions, Appendix A, Section 3, “Retirements”.
This account shall be subdivided into:
(1)Accumulated depreciation - gas distributor plant in service
(2)Accumulated depreciation - gas distributor plant leased to others
(3)Accumulated depreciation - gas distributor plant held for future use
(4)Accumulated depreciation - capital leases
For purposes of analysis, the gas distributor shall maintain subsidiary records in which the accumulated depreciation is subdivided into component parts.
Note: See Plant Accounting Instructions, Appendix A, Section 5, “Depreciation”.
106.
ACCUMULATED AMORTIZATION – GAS DISTRIBUTOR PLANT
This account shall be credited with amounts concurrently charged to Account No. 304, “Amortization”, when the gas distributor must write off amounts in Account No. 100, “Gas Distributor Plant in Service”; Account No. 101, “Gas Distributor Plant Leased to Others”; or Account No. 102, “Gas Distributor Plant Held for Future Use”, relating to probable abandonment of all or a significant part of gas distributor plant or severe permanent curtailment in operations. When there is a change from depreciation accounting to amortization accounting, the applicable balance in Account No. 105, “Accumulated Depreciation Gas – Distributor Plant”, shall be transferred to this account.
This account shall be charged at the time of retirement with the book value of the gas distributor plant retired and the cost of removal less amount recovered for salvage and insurance, and the difference between the accumulated amortization and the aforementioned amount in respect of such gas distributor plant retired shall be credited or charged, as the case may be, to Account No. 319, “Other Income”, or Account No. 333, “Other Income Deductions”, as applicable. When the retirement results in an extraordinary loss, this amount shall be charged to Account No. 338, “Extraordinary Items”, or Account No. 171, “Extraordinary Plant Losses”. Where the retirement results in an extraordinary profit, this amount shall be credited to Account No. 338, “Extraordinary Items”.
This account shall be subdivided into:
(1)Accumulated amortization – gas distributor plant in service
(2)Accumulated amortization – gas distributor plant leased to others
(3)Accumulated amortization – gas distributor plant held for future use
(4)Accumulated amortization – capital leases
108.
ACCUMULATED AMORTIZATION – GAS DISTRIBUTOR PLANT – ACQUISITION ADJUSTMENTS
This account shall be credited or debited with amounts that are includible in Account No. 304, “Amortization”, or such another account as the Board may determine, for the purpose of writing off of amounts charged or credited in Account No. 104, “Gas Distributor Plant Acquisition Adjustments”.
110.
OTHER GAS DISTRIBUTOR PLANT
This account shall include the cost of land, structures, equipment and other tangible and intangible plant assets owned by the gas distributor, but not used in its gas distributor operations and not properly includible in Accounts Nos. 101, “Gas Distributor Plant Leased to Others”, 102, “Gas Distributor Plant Held for Future Use”, and 115, “Construction Work in Progress - Gas Distributor Plant”.
Non-gas distributor assets shall not be included in this account.
111.
ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION – OTHER GAS DISTRIBUTOR PLANT
This account shall be credited with current depreciation expense of the gas distributors’ other gas distributor plant, which is concurrently debited to Account No. 303, “Depreciation”.
The procedures on salvage, insurance proceeds, plant retirement and expenses as described in Account No. 105, “Accumulated Depreciation – Gas Distributor Plant”, shall be adopted for this account.
115.
CONSTRUCTION WORK IN PROGRESS – GAS DISTRIBUTOR PLANT
This account is the control account of the gas distributor’s total gas distributor construction work in progress (“CWIP”) accounts. Accordingly, the balance of this account represents the total of a separate series of subsidiary accounts that have been assigned for gas distributor CWIP jobs.
116.
OTHER GAS DISTRIBUTOR PLANT UNDER CONSTRUCTION
This account shall include the cost of construction of the other gas distributor plant includible in Account No. 110, “Other Gas Distributor Plant”, not completed or ready for service at the date of the balance sheet.
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
120.
INVESTMENT IN ASSOCIATES AND AFFILIATES
This account shall include the carrying value (i.e. cost, market value, equity-method value, or net realizable value) of investments in securities issued by (including advances to) subsidiary and affiliated companies, as well as other associates and affiliates.
This account shall be maintained so that the initial cost of acquisition and advances or loans to each associate and affiliate are shown separately for each investment.
This account shall be maintained in such a manner as to show the investments in each associate and affiliate that are accounted for under the various accounting methods specified. If the investment is accounted for by the equity method, the cumulative undistributed net earnings or net losses since acquisition shall be shown.
The full particulars regarding any such investments that are pledged shall be shown.
The current portion of investment in securities of associates and affiliates shall be shown separately in Account No. 141, “Accounts Receivable – Associates and Affiliates”.
121.
PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS
This account shall include the cost of the gas distributor’s portfolio investments in securities issued by non-associates and affiliates, and any investments not accounted for elsewhere. This account shall be maintained in the same detail as in Account No. 120, “Investment in Associates and Affiliates”.
123.
MISCELLANEOUS SPECIAL FUNDS
This account shall include cash and the cost of investments and other assets, held by trustees or by the gas distributor, which have been segregated in funds for specific purposes.
A separate sub-account shall be kept for each fund.
CURRENT ASSETS
130.
CASH
This account shall include cash and bank accounts not subject to restrictions on their use.
131.
SPECIAL DEPOSITS
This account shall include special deposits with financial institutions or others for the payment of interest and dividends and other special purposes.
Such special deposits shall include cash deposited with federal, provincial or municipal authorities as a guarantee for the fulfilment of obligations; cash deposited with trustees to be held until mortgaged property is replaced; and cash realized from the sale of securities and deposited with trustees to be held for a specific use, etc.
Entries in this account shall specify the purpose for which the deposit is made.
132.
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
This account shall include the cost of marketable securities and other similar investments acquired as short-term portfolio investments. This account shall be maintained so as to show each investment separately. Records shall also be kept of any such investments that are pledged.
140.
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE – CUSTOMERS
This account shall include amounts due from customers for gas sales, for gas distributor services, and for merchandising, jobbing and contract work.
Note A: This account shall not include amounts due from subsidiary and affiliated companies or other associates and affiliates.
Note B: This account shall be maintained so as to permit ready segregation of the amounts due from merchandising, jobbing and contract work.
141.
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE – ASSOCIATES AND AFFILIATES
This account shall include all amounts – including trade accounts, interest and other debt – due from subsidiary and affiliated companies or other associates and affiliates.
142.
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE - OTHER
This account shall include amounts due from all sources other than those includible in Account No. 140, “Accounts Receivable – Customers” and in Account No. 141, “Accounts Receivable Associates and Affiliates”.
This account shall be maintained so as to show separately amounts due from officers and employees.
145.
ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS
This account shall be credited with amounts provided for losses on accounts receivable, either Account No. 140 or 142, that may become uncollectable. Concurrent charges shall be debited to Account No. 718, “Uncollectable Accounts”, or amounts applicable to customer accounting operations, or to the appropriate account based on the nature of the uncollectable item.
147.
INTEREST AND DIVIDENDS RECEIVABLE
This account shall include the amount of interest accrued on bonds, mortgages, notes, commercial paper, loans, open accounts, deposits, etc., the payment of which is reasonably assured, and the amount of dividends declared or guaranteed on shares owned.
Interest and dividends receivable from associates and affiliates shall be included in Account No. 141, “Accounts Receivable – Associates and Affiliates”, or Account No. 120, “Investment in Associates and Affiliates”, as applicable.
150.
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES
This account shall include the total cost of materials and supplies purchased for use in the gas distributor’s operations and maintenance. Supplies for merchandising and jobbing should be kept separate.
Materials and supplies purchased shall be charged to this account at actual cost, including any transportation charges, all applicable taxes, etc.
The book value of reusable material consisting of large individual items recovered from plant in connection with maintenance or replacement or demolition work shall be included in this account. Reusable materials consisting of relatively small items shall be included in this account at current prices for such new items.
Scrap material recovered in connection with maintenance work or the replacement or demolition of plant shall be charged to this account at the net realizable amount.
When the excess or deficiency of the proceeds compared with scrap value is material, such amount shall be credited or charged to Account No. 105, “Accumulated Depreciation – Gas Distributor Plant”.
151.
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES - OTHER
This account shall include the cost of materials and supplies purchased by the gas distributor but not used in its gas operations and not properly includible in Account No. 150, “Materials and Supplies”. This account shall also include materials and supplies purchased by the gas distributor for other plant.
152.
GAS IN STORAGE - AVAILABLE FOR SALE
This account shall include the cost of gas purchased or produced, which is stored and held for use in meeting gas consumption requirements of customers or the gas distributor’s own use.
Gas included in this account shall be valued at cost on a consistent basis as approved by the Board.
Gas injection into or withdrawals from storage facilities shall be credited or debited to Account No. 628, “Gas Delivered to Storage – Credit”, and Account No. 627, “Gas Withdrawn from Storage”.
153.
LINE PACK GAS
This account shall include the cost of gas owned by the gas distributor and used to maintain such line pressure as is required for the transmission or distribution of gas. Gas owned by the gas distributor in non-owned pipelines, which forms part of line pack gas, shall also be included in this account.
160.
PREPAYMENTS
This account shall include amounts representing prepaid gas purchases and prepayments such as rents, taxes, insurance, interest, and other similar items that will be charged to the appropriate accounts within one year. This account shall be maintained so as to disclose the amount of each class of prepayment.
162.
OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
This account shall include the cost of all other current assets, appropriately designated and supported so as to show the nature of each asset.
163.
CURRENT FUTURE INCOME TAX ASSETS
This account shall include future income tax assets which will be recovered within one year of the balance sheet.
DEFERRED CHARGES
170.
UNAMORTIZED DEBT DISCOUNT AND EXPENSE
This account shall include expenses related to the issuance of debt securities. Amounts recorded in this account shall be amortized over the life of each respective issue to distribute the amount equitably over the life of the security. The amortization shall be charged on a monthly basis to Account No. 321, “Amortization of Debt Discount, Premium and Expense”.
Note: With the Board’s approval, the gas distributor may accelerate the amortization of this account by booking the gain realized on redemption of long-term debt against the specific unamortized debt costs related to each issue. When the deferred costs related to each issue are eliminated, any remaining gains are credited to Account No. 319, “Other Income”.
171.
EXTRAORDINARY PLANT LOSSES
This account shall include losses on property abandoned or otherwise retired from service that have not been provided for by the accumulated provisions for depreciation or amortization. Extraordinary losses are losses that could not be foreseen and provided for, such as damages to property that could not have been anticipated and are therefore not covered by insurance or other provisions.
Note: With the Board’s consent, amounts charged to this account may be written off to operations by charges to Account No. 304, “Amortization”. Otherwise, amounts charged to this account shall be written off to an appropriate expense account. Application to the Board for consent shall be supported by a detailed explanation of the circumstances leading up to the losses that are to be written off.
172.
PRELIMINARY SURVEY AND INVESTIGATION CHARGES
This account shall include all expenditures for preliminary surveys, plans, investigations, etc. made for the purpose of determining the feasibility of projects for the provision of the gas distributor’s services. If, as a result of the surveys, plant is acquired or constructed, this account shall be credited and the appropriate plant account charge. If the work is abandoned, the charge shall be to Account No. 333, “Other Income Deductions”.
The records supporting the entries to this account shall be so kept that the gas distributor can furnish complete information as to the nature and purpose of the survey, plans or investigations, and the nature and respective amounts of the charges.
177.
SHARE CAPITAL EXPENSE
This account shall include items such as the cost of preparing and distributing prospectuses, the cost of acquiring subscriptions for shares, cash fees and the actual cash value or commission paid to agents for their services, and the cost of preparing and issuing certificates of shares and other similar items.
179.
OTHER DEFERRED CHARGES
This account shall include expenditures that cannot be disposed of until further information is received, and expenditures of a deferred nature not provided for elsewhere that are to be amortized over future periods.
This account shall be subdivided to accommodate the various types of deferred charges.
OTHER ASSETS
180.
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
This account shall include items of intangible assets that are not includible elsewhere.
181.
UNAMORTIZED DEFERRED GAINS AND LOSSES FROM TRANSLATION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY
This account shall include the unamortized balance of exchange gains and losses relating to the translation of long-term monetary items denominated in foreign currency with a fixed or ascertainable life extending beyond the end of the following fiscal year. See Account No. 325, “Gains or Losses on Foreign Exchange, including Amortization”.
182.
DEFERRED DEVELOPMENT COSTS
When a development project meets the criteria for deferment, the development costs shall be deferred to the extent that their recovery can reasonably be regarded as assured. See Account No. 331, “Amortization of Deferred Development Costs”.
183.
FUTURE INCOME TAX ASSETS
This account shall include future income tax assets which will be recovered more than one year from the date of the balance sheet.
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
200.
PREFERENCE SHARES
This account shall include the stated or assigned value of preference share issues in accordance with the statute under which the gas distributor has been incorporated. The account shall differentiate between preferred shares considered a financial liability and preferred shares considered equity.
205.
COMMON SHARES
This account shall include the stated or assigned value of common share issues in accordance with the statute under which the gas distributor has been incorporated.
210.
CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS
This account shall include any surplus arising from the gas distributor’s share issue transactions. Gains realized on the redemption of shares, contributions from shareholders, and capital donations from other sources shall also be credited to this account.
212.
RETAINED EARNINGS
This account shall include any accumulated balance of net income less losses arising from the gas distributor’s operations, after taking into account dividends and other amounts that may properly be debited or credited to this account.
215.
APPROPRIATIONS OF RETAINED EARNINGS
This account shall include the amount of retained earnings that has been appropriated, or set aside, for specific purposes.
Separate sub-accounts shall be maintained under each of the titles to designate the purpose for which each appropriation was made.
216.
APPRAISAL INCREASE CREDITS
This account shall include the credit on the redetermination of plant value.
The credit may remain indefinitely as a separate item in the shareholders’ equity section, or it may be transferred to retained earnings in amounts not exceeding the realization of appreciation through sale or annual depreciation provisions.
LONG-TERM DEBT
220.
LONG-TERM DEBT
This account shall include the amount of outstanding debt maturing more than one year from the date of the balance sheet.
The amount of each issue of long-term debt shall be maintained in separate sub-accounts according to differences in mortgage, security, rate of interest, interest dates or dates of maturity.
225.
LONG-TERM LEASE OBLIGATIONS
This account shall include obligations related to leased assets, including interest rates and expiry dates.
248.
LONG-TERM ADVANCES FROM ASSOCIATES AND AFFILIATES
This account shall include the amount of long-term loans and notes payable to subsidiary and affiliated companies, as well as other associates and affiliates, and the amount of long-term advances from these associates and affiliates.
249.
OTHER LONG-TERM DEBT
This account shall include amounts payable more than one year from the date of the balance sheet where such amounts have not been provided for elsewhere.
Such loans may include interim bank loans, commercial paper and banker acceptances that are of a long-term nature, or which the Board has recognized as interim financing prior to the placement of a long-term debt issue.
CURRENT LIABILITIES
250.
LOANS AND NOTES PAYABLE
This account shall include the balances of outstanding loans and notes payable, or other similar borrowings payable on demand and due within one year from the date of the balance sheet.
251.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES
This account shall include all amounts payable by the gas distributor within one year from the date of the balance sheet, except for amounts accounted for in Accounts Nos. 252 and 253. This account shall also include estimated accrued liabilities with respect to amounts payable.
This account shall be subdivided to provide the necessary details.
252.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES – ASSOCIATES AND AFFILIATES
This account shall include the amounts owing to subsidiary and affiliated companies, as well as other associates and affiliates, on inter-gas distributor accounts, loans and notes payable (or other similar borrowings) payable within one year from the date of the balance sheet. This account shall also include interest payable and accrued on liabilities to associates and affiliates. For long-term liabilities to associates and affiliates, see Account No. 248, “Long-Term Advances from Associates and Affiliates”.
253.
DIVIDENDS PAYABLE
This account shall include the amount of dividends declared on the gas distributor’s preferred and common shares that remains unpaid at the date of the balance sheet.
254.
CUSTOMERS’ SECURITY DEPOSITS
This account shall include all amounts deposited with the gas distributor by customers as security, including interest accruing thereon.
255.
CUSTOMERS’ ADVANCES FOR CONSTRUCTION
This account shall include advances by customers for construction projects that may be refundable later either in whole or in part.
When a customer receives a refund under the agreement, the non-refundable balance, if any, shall be credited to the appropriate plant account.
If an advance is subsequently determined to be non-refundable, it shall be credited, at that time, to the appropriate plant account.
256.
TAXES PAYABLE – CURRENT
This account shall include the current liability for all taxes that are payable to federal, provincial or other governmental authorities.
257.
INTEREST PAYABLE AND ACCRUED
This account shall include the amount of interest payable or accrued on all liabilities, except on liabilities to associates and affiliates, which shall be included in Account No. 252, “Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities – Associates and Affiliates”.
258.
CURRENT PORTION OF LONG-TERM DEBT
This account shall include the amounts of long-term debt obligations maturing within one year.
259.
OTHER CURRENT AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES
This account shall include the amount of all other current and accrued liabilities not recorded elsewhere.
260.
CURRENT FUTURE INCOME TAX LIABILITIES
This account shall include future income-tax liabilities that will be payable within one year of the balance sheet date.
262.
CURRENT PORTION OF LONG-TERM LEASE OBLIGATIONS
This account shall include any portion of long-term lease obligations payable within a year out of current funds.
263.
DEFERRED REVENUES
This account shall include amounts received or due from customers with respect to gas to be delivered or services to be performed in the future.
DEFERRED CREDITS
270.
UNAMORTIZED DEBT PREMIUM
This account shall include the net credit balance of the premium, commission and expense of each long-term debt issue. This account shall be debited with the amount amortized monthly over the life of each issue.
271.
UNEARNED FINANCE CHARGES ON CUSTOMERS’ ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
This account shall include the unearned portion of finance charges on contracts arising from merchandise sales by the gas distributor or representative dealers and financed by the gas distributor.
276.
FUTURE INCOME TAX LIABILITIES
This account shall include future income-tax liabilities payable beyond one year from the balance sheet date.
278.
CONTRIBUTIONS AND GRANTS
This account shall include government assistance relating to expenses of future accounting periods. The appropriate amount shall be deferred and amortized to income as related expenses are incurred.
279.
OTHER LONG TERM LIABILITIES AND DEFERRED CREDITS
This account shall include the amount of all other long-term liabilities and deferred credits not provided for elsewhere.
280.
DEFERRED PENSION COSTS
This account shall include the difference in the cumulative amounts expensed and the funding contributions. Any excess of funding over expense shall be reflected in the balance sheet as an asset-deferred charge, while an excess of expense over funding shall be reflected in the balance sheet as a liability-accrual.
290.
INSURANCE PROVISIONS
(1)This account shall include the credit balances representing insurance provisions concurrently debited to expenses to cover self-carried risks on fire, fidelity, vehicle, boiler, casualty, burglary, or other insurance, and re-insurance recoveries from insurance companies.
(2)To the extent that a loss or damage sustained is covered by this account, the amount of the loss or damage shall be debited to this account.
(3)Separate sub-accounts shall be kept for each kind of insurance reserve created.
REVENUES AND EXPENSES
300.
OPERATING REVENUES
This account shall include the total revenues derived from gas distributor operations as shown in the detail accounts of operating revenues. (see Account Nos. 500 to 599)
301.
OPERATING EXPENSES
This account shall include the total expenses of gas distributor operations as shown in the detail accounts of operating expenses. (see Account Nos. 600 to 799)
302.
MAINTENANCE EXPENSES
This account shall include the total expenses of gas distributor maintenance as shown in the detail accounts of maintenance expenses. (see Account Nos. 800 to 899)
303.
DEPRECIATION
This account shall include the amount of depreciation expense for the depreciable gas distributor plant. The gas distributors’ records shall be kept so that the charges for depreciation are shown separately for each depreciable gas distributor plant account, or for each group of plant accounts that performs similar functions.
Note A: Where a gas distributor allocates depreciation expense to a clearing account, such allocated amounts shall be readily identifiable.
Note B: Depreciation expense applicable to transportation equipment, shop equipment, tools, work equipment, power-operated equipment and other general equipment may be charged to clearing accounts in order to obtain a proper distribution of expenses between construction and operation.
Note C: See PART IV – PLANT ACCOUNTING INSTRUCTIONS, Section 5, “Depreciation”.
304.
AMORTIZATION
This account shall include the charges arising from the write-off of an expenditure (primarily of a capital nature) over a fixed period, or over the period during which it is anticipated that the benefit will be realized, in a rational or systematic manner.
The gas distributor’s records shall be kept so that charges for amortization are shown separately for each account subject to be amortized.
Note: See PART IV – PLANT ACCOUNTING INSTRUCTIONS, Section 5, “Depreciation”.
305.
MUNICIPAL AND OTHER TAXES
This account shall include taxes levied by municipalities relating to gas distributor plant operations and maintenance and all other taxes except income taxes.
Note A: When the gas distributor pays a lump sum amount for municipal tax, the portion relating to future periods shall be charged to Account No. 160, “Prepayments”.
Note B: Taxes on gas distributor plant under construction or on facilities that are not ready for service shall be charged to the appropriate gas distributor plant accounts.
Note C: All applicable taxes on material and installation shall be included as part of the cost of the material.
306.
INCOME TAXES
A gas distributor shall account for income taxes on the tax-allocation basis if the Board approves the gas distributor’s rates on a similar basis. If the Board approves the gas distributor’s rates on the taxes-payable basis, then to the extent that the gas distributor expects to include future income taxes in the approved rate charged to customers in the future and recover them from future customers, it shall account for income taxes on the taxes-payable basis.
This account shall include provision for federal and provincial income taxes, based on the gas distributor’s operations for the fiscal period.
This account shall be subdivided into
(a)current income taxes,
(b)future income taxes, and
(c)income taxes relating to extraordinary items.
307.
REVENUE FROM GAS DISTRIBUTOR PLANT LEASED TO OTHERS
This account shall include revenues from gas distributor plant, constituting a distinct operating unit or system, leased by the gas distributor to others, the investment in which is included in Account No. 101, “Gas Distributor Plant Leased to Others”.
Note: Depreciation, taxes, operating and maintenance costs and all other expenses borne by the lessor will be recorded in the regular accounts maintained by the lessor for such costs.
308.
RENT FOR GAS DISTRIBUTOR PLANT LEASED FROM OTHERS
This account shall include rent for gas distributor plant constituting a distinct operating unit or system leased by the gas distributor from others.
310.
REVENUE FROM OTHER PLANT
This account shall include the total revenues derived from operation of plant, the cost of which is included in Account No. 110, “Other Gas Distributor Plant”.
311.
EXPENSE OF OTHER PLANT
This account shall include maintenance and other expenses incurred from operation of plant, the cost of which is included in Account No. 110, “Other Gas Distributor Plant”.
312.
NON-GAS OPERATING REVENUE
This account shall include revenues from commercial activities carried on by the gas distributor and not includible in either Account No. 300, “Operating Revenues”, or Account No. 703, “Revenue From Merchandising, Jobbing and Contract Work”.
313.
NON-GAS OPERATING EXPENSE
This account shall include expenses from commercial activities carried on by the gas distributor and not includible in either Account No. 301, “Operating Expenses”, or Account No. 302, “Maintenance Expenses”.
314.
INCOME FROM INVESTMENTS
This account shall include income from all investments other than income from the investments shown in Account No. 315, “Income from Investment in Associates and Affiliates”, and Account No. 316, “Income from Sinking and Other Funds”.
The gas distributor’s records shall be kept so that each source of investment income is shown separately.
This account should also include gains and losses on sale of investments, or amounts required to provide allowances for the decrease in market value of short-term and portfolio investments.
315.
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT IN ASSOCIATES AND AFFILIATES
This account shall include income from the investment in subsidiary and affiliated companies, as well as other related organizations, in shares, securities, and other types of indebtedness that are issued by these associates and affiliates.
The amounts included in this account shall be subdivided to show separately the different types of income; i.e., dividends, interest, and other income. This account shall include the equity in earnings (or losses) of investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting.
316.
INCOME FROM SINKING AND OTHER FUNDS
(1)This account shall include
(a)the income accrued on cash, securities and other assets, not including debt securities issued or assumed by the gas distributor, recorded in Account No. 123, “Miscellaneous Special Funds”; and
(b)immaterial gains realized and losses sustained in the sales of securities recorded in Account No. 123, “Miscellaneous Special Funds”.
(2)At the option of the gas distributor, this account may include the applicable portion of the discount or premium on any securities recorded in Account No. 123, “Miscellaneous Special Funds”.
319.
OTHER INCOME
This account shall include all other income items not recorded elsewhere.
320.
INTEREST ON LONG-TERM DEBT
This account shall include the amount of interest expense on all classes of long-term debt, the principal of which is included in Account No. 220, “Long-Term Debt”, and Account No. 249, “Other Long-Term Debt”.
321.
AMORTIZATION OF DEBT DISCOUNT, PREMIUM AND EXPENSE
This account shall be charged and credited during each fiscal period with the proportion of the discount, premium and expense on long-term debt obligations applicable to that period. This proportion shall be determined by amortization of the debt discount, premium and expense over the life of each respective issue, which will distribute the amount equitably over its life.
322.
INTEREST ON AMOUNTS DUE TO ASSOCIATES AND AFFILIATES
This account shall include the amount of interest expense on all classes of debt whose principal is included in Account No. 248, “Long-Term Advances from Associates and Affiliates”, or Account No. 252, “Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities – Associates and Affiliates”.
323.
OTHER INTEREST EXPENSE
This account shall include all other interest expense except that chargeable to Account No. 320, “Interest on Long-Term Debt”, or Account No. 322, “Interest on Amounts Due to Associates and Affiliates”. Discount, premium and other expenses on short-term notes issued by the gas distributor maturing one year or less from the date of the balance sheet shall also be included in this account.
324.
ALLOWANCE FOR FUNDS USED DURING CONSTRUCTION – CREDIT
This account shall be credited with the allowance for funds used during construction (“AFUDC”) that has been capitalized during the fiscal year.
The concurrent debit shall be to Account No. 115, “Construction Work in Progress - Gas Distributor Plant”, or Account No. 116, “Other Gas Distributor Plant Under Construction”, or to the specific subsidiary CWIP account for the project.
The AFUDC rate shall be based on a reasonable allowance for the use of funds expended during the construction period, whether or not such funds have been borrowed, and shall require approval by the Board.
325.
GAINS OR LOSSES ON FOREIGN EXCHANGE, INCLUDING AMORTIZATION
This account shall include the amortization of any exchange gains or losses related to a monetary item denominated in foreign currency with a fixed or ascertainable life extending beyond the end of the following fiscal year. Such amortization shall be calculated on a systematic and rational basis over the remaining life of the monetary item.
This account shall also include the net amount of realized or unrealized gains or losses on exchange of foreign currency, not otherwise allocated.
326.
AMORTIZATION OF OTHER DEFERRED CHARGES
This account shall include the amount of the amortization charges relating to Account No. 179, “Other Deferred Charges”, and applicable to the current fiscal period.
327.
INTEREST EXPENSE ON CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS
 

  
This account shall include the interest expense portion of the capital lease payments.
The interest expense shall be calculated using the discount rate for computing the present value of the minimum lease payments applied to the remaining balance of the obligation under capital lease.
328.
AMORTIZATION OF OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
This account shall include the amount of the amortization charges relating to Account No. 180, “Intangible Assets”, and applicable to the current fiscal period.
329.
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE DIRECTLY CREDITED TO INCOME
This account shall include government assistance towards current expenses or revenues. It shall also include government assistance that has been deferred and is subsequently amortized to income as related expenses are incurred.
330.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS
This account shall include the research costs incurred during the fiscal period. It shall also include the development costs incurred during the period other than any development costs that have been deferred to a future period.
331.
AMORTIZATION OF DEFERRED DEVELOPMENT COSTS
This account shall include the amount of the amortization charges relating to Account No. 182, “Deferred Development Costs”, and applicable to the current fiscal period.
333.
OTHER INCOME DEDUCTIONS
This account shall include charges not provided for elsewhere, such as overcharge claims, court awards, charges transferred from Account No. 172, “Preliminary Survey and Investigation Charges”, and other income deductions.
338.
EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS
This account shall include all extraordinary gains or losses that the gas distributor has incurred in its operations during the fiscal period.
This account shall be subdivided if there is more than one extraordinary item reported during the year.
339.
EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS – TAX EFFECT
This account shall include the tax effects on the extraordinary gains and losses included in Account No. 338, “Extraordinary Items”.
PART III –DESCRIPTION OF ACCOUNTS – DETAIL ACCOUNTS
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
INTANGIBLE PLANT
401.
FRANCHISES AND CONSENTS
This account shall include amounts paid to federal, provincial or other governmental authorities in consideration for franchises, consents or certificates running in perpetuity or for a specified term of more than one year. It shall also include expenses incidental to acquiring such franchises, consents or certificates of permission and approval.
If a franchise, consent or certificate is acquired by assignment, the amount paid to the assignor shall be charged to this account.
When any franchise has expired, the cost shall be credited to this account. If the franchise was depreciable, the amount removed from this account shall be charged to Account No. 105, “Accumulated Depreciation – Gas Distributor Plant”, or Account No. 106, “Accumulated Amortization Gas Distributor Plant”, as applicable.
If the franchise was not depreciable, the amount removed from this account, if immaterial shall be charged to Account No. 319, “Other Income”, or Account No. 333, “Other Income Deductions”, or if material, to Account No. 338, “Extraordinary Items”
Assessments in respect of franchises shall not be included in this account but in the appropriate operating expense account.
402.
OTHER INTANGIBLE PLANT
This account shall include the cost of patent rights, licences, privileges and other intangible plant necessary or valuable in the operation of the gas distributor’s operations and not specifically chargeable to any other account.
When any item included in this account is retired or expires, the cost shall be credited to this account. If the item was depreciable, the amount so removed from this account shall be charged to Account No. 105, “Accumulated Depreciation – Gas Distributor Plant” or Account No. 106, “Accumulated Amortization – Gas Distributor Plant”, as applicable.
NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION PLANT
403.
GAS LANDS
This account shall include the cost of lands held in fee simple on which producing natural gas wells are located, and lands held in fee simple that are being depleted of natural gas through the operation of wells on other land.
404.
GAS LEASEHOLDS
This account shall include the cost of acquiring leaseholds on which the gas distributor pays royalties for natural gas acquired.
Note: Rents paid periodically for rights obtained under leases and the costs of leaseholds that terminate in one year or less after they become effective shall be excluded from this account.
405.
GAS RIGHTS
This account shall include the cost of natural gas rights when the gas distributor obtains ownership in natural gas beneath land that it does not own or lease.
406.
GAS WELLS - WELL DRILLING
This account shall include the cost of drilling or deepening gas wells.
Examples of Components
Cleaning site for drilling
Cost of hauling, erecting, dismantling and removing boilers, portable engines, derricks, rigs and other equipment and tools used in drilling
Cost of making and/or maintaining road to well site
Damages
Drilling contractor’s charges
Fuel or power used in drilling labour
Rent of drilling equipment
Shooting, fracturing or acidizing, if done when the well is drilled
Water used in drilling obtained either by driving wells, by piping from springs and streams, or by purchase
407.
GAS WELLS – WELL EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the cost of equipment used in producing gas wells, up to and including well gates and flanges, including the cost of casing, tubing, packing and shutting in wells.
Examples of Components
Bailing equipment
Boiler and drives permanently connected
Casing
Fence, when solely on enclosure for equipment
Fittings, including shut-in valves, separators and drips
Packing
Tank, oil or water, etc.
Tubing
408.
GAS WELLS – WELL STRUCTURES
This account shall include the cost of well structures and improvements used to house permanent bailer and other equipment necessary to keep the wells in operation.
409.
OTHER NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the cost of implements and equipment used for drilling and cleaning natural gas wells.
Examples of Components
Boilers
Derricks
Drilling cables
Drilling machines
Engines and motors
Fishing tools
Pulling machines
Rigs
Rod pulling tractors
NATURAL GAS GATHERING PLANT
 
410.
LAND
This account shall include the cost of land held in fee simple and used for the construction and operation of natural gas gathering plant, the cost of land for storage, station, office, shop, and other grounds; the cost of land ingress to or egress from such grounds; the cost of land for storage of material adjoining the right-of-way; the cost of removing from the land and locating elsewhere the property of others; and the cost of necessary land for relocation of the property, when such costs are assumed by the gas distributor.
When land, together with buildings thereon, is acquired, the cost shall be fairly apportioned between land and buildings and accounted for accordingly. If the acquisition plan contemplates the removal of the buildings, the total cost of the land and buildings shall be accounted for as the cost of the land and salvage value of the buildings, when disposed of, shall be deducted from the costs of the land as determined.
Proceeds from the sale of timber or of improvements purchased with land, less any cost of removal, shall be credited to this account.
Proceeds from the sale of minerals known to be in the land when purchased and considered in the purchase price thereof shall be credited to this account.
Examples of Components
Abstracts
Appraisals
Arbitrators in expropriation cases; legal and notarial fees; commissions paid to others
Compensation and expenses of outside land agents when specifically assigned to acquisition of land, but not arbitrary apportionments for incidental services
Cost of cleaning, filling and levelling submerged or low land
Damage to property of others
Ditches for waterways, when part of consideration
Engineering and survey expense in connection with purchase of land in fee simple
Expropriation expenses, including court costs and special counsel fees
Judgments and decreed costs to clear or defend titles
Legal and paralegal fees
Payments for release and discharge of encumbrances and charges against the land
Payments for release from restrictive provisions of original title documents and for other rights
Plats
Premiums on expropriation bonds
Fees for registering, filing and depositing title documents and plans
Removal and relocation of buildings and other structures not purchased
Rent of land, when part of consideration for purchase
Taxes accrued and assumed at time of purchase
Note A: When the acquisition of land for gas pipeline service involves also the purchase of land not to be used for such purposes, the charges to this account shall be based upon the estimated cost at date of acquisition of only that portion that is used for gas pipeline service. The estimated value of the portion not so used also will be included in Account No. 110, “Other Gas Distributor Plant”. When such land is practically worthless, it shall be included in the account at a nominal value for record purposes.
Note B: Payments for options and of interest on options and on contracts to purchase land for use in contemplated construction projects shall be carried in Account No. 179, “Other Deferred Charges”, pending determination of whether to proceed with the project. If it should be decided to proceed with the project, the balance in Account No. 179, “Other Deferred Charges”, shall be transferred to Account No. 115, “Construction Work in Progress - Gas Distributor Plant”; if not, the amount lost, including interest, if any, shall be charged to Account No. 319, “Other Income” or Account No. 333, “Other Income Deductions”.
Note C: The net proceeds from the sale of minerals and timber in excess of the amount considered therefor in the purchase price of the land shall be credited to Account No. 338, “Extraordinary Items”, or Account No. 319, “Other Income”, as applicable.
Note D: When land has been purchased for a proposed pipeline operation project and the project has been indefinitely postponed before construction work is begun, the cost of the property shall be transferred to Account No. 102, “Gas Distributor Plant Held for Future Use”, with sufficient details to permit the classification of the various items of cost in case the project is later pursued. The cost of the work done shall be included in Account No. 179, “Other Deferred Charges”, until a decision has been reached on execution or abandonment of the project. If the gas distributor decides to continue the work, the cost of the land and the work done shall be transferred to Account No. 115, “Construction Work in Progress - Gas Distributor Plant”. If the project is abandoned, the cost of the work done shall be charged to Account No. 338, “Extraordinary Items”, or Account No. 333, “Other Income Deductions”, as applicable.
Note E: When land is acquired with no definite plan for its use in pipeline operations, the cost shall be charged to Account No. 110, “Other Gas Distributor Plant”.
Note F: When land is purchased under a definite plan for use in a construction project, its cost shall be included in Account No. 115, “Construction Work in Progress - Gas Distributor Plant”, until the pipeline is placed in service.
Note G: The cost of clearing, levelling or grading land, both before and after the construction of facilities, shall be capitalized.
411.
LAND RIGHTS
This account shall include the cost of land rights or easements used for the construction, operation and maintenance of gathering plant; the cost of land rights for storage of material adjoining the right-of-way; and the cost of work room adjoining the right-of-way during construction.
Examples of Components
Abstract expenses
Engineering and survey expenses in connection with expropriation expenses
Expropriation expenses
Fees and costs of registering, filing and depositing title documents and plans
Judgments and decreed costs of clearing or defending titles
Legal and notarial fees
Compensation for outside land rights agents
Payments for release and discharge of encumbrances and charges against the lands affected by the land rights
Payments for tenants’ consents, options and easements
Plats
Premiums on expropriation bonds
Note A: The cost of clearing, levelling or grading land on which the gas distributor has acquired land rights, both before and after the construction of facilities, shall be capitalized.
Note B: Proceeds from the sale of timber or of improvements purchased with land rights less any cost of removal shall be credited to this account.
Note C: When a land right or easement is directly associated with and useful only in relation to a depreciable plant unit, the land right or easement may be charged to the related detail plant account.
412.
COMPRESSOR STRUCTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS
This account shall include the cost of structures and related facilities used for the compression function of natural gas gathering operations. It shall also include the cost of improvements to such structures and related facilities and the cost of clearing, levelling or grading land, both before and after construction, when such improvements are directly related to the above functions and structures.
Examples of Components
Boiler
Building
Drainage system
Fencing
Hoisting equipment attached to building
Lightning arrestor
Loading dock
Parking bumper
Pipe rack
Protection box
Reservoir
Roads
Sewage system
Sidewalks
Sprinkler system
Ventilating system
Water line
Water well
Note: The cost of foundations special to engines, pumps, compressors and other similar apparatus shall be included in the cost of such apparatus.
413.
MEASURING AND REGULATING STRUCTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS
This account shall include the cost of structures and related facilities used for the measuring and regulating function of natural gas gathering operations. It shall also include the cost of improvements to such structures and related facilities, and the cost of clearing, levelling or grading land, both before and after construction, when such improvements are directly related to the above functions and structures.
Note A: The cost of foundations special to engines, pumps, compressors, and other similar apparatus shall be included in the cost of such apparatus.
Note B: For examples of components for this account see Account No. 412, “Compressor Structures and Improvements”.
414.
OTHER STRUCTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS
This account shall include the cost of structures and related facilities used for gas gathering operations not recorded elsewhere.
Note A: The cost of foundations special to engines, pumps, compressors and other similar apparatus shall be included in the cost of such apparatus.
Note B: For examples of components for this account see Account No. 412, “Compressor Structures and Improvements”.
415.
GATHERING LINES
This account shall include the installed cost of gas gathering line pipe, from the wells to the meters recording delivery to the transmission, holding facilities, or other system.
Examples of Components
Anchor block
Blowdown tank
Cathodic protection equipment
Clearing and grading
Concrete supports
Damages to property of others
Drip assemblies
Equipment foundation
Lightning arrestor
Manifold fittings
Pipe casing
Pipeline
Protective coating
River crossing header
River weights
Saddles
Structural equipment and support
Surveying
Valve
Vents
416.
COMPRESSOR EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the installed cost of compressors and associated equipment used for natural gas gathering operations.
Examples of Components
Air cleaner
Air compressor
Atmospheric type jacket water cooler
Auxiliary engine generator
Base volume index
Blower
Cathodic ground bed
Cathodic protection device
Circuit breakers and switches
Compressor
Conductor
Conduit
Controller
Control panel
Dehydrator
Drip
Duct
Electrical fittings
Equipment foundation
Filter
Fire-fighting equipment
Garage equipment
Gauge
Gauge board equipment
Heat exchanger
Laboratory equipment
Line casing
Line pole
Line wire
Manhole
Manometer
Meter body
Meter recorder
Meter station header
Meter tube
NGV compressor station
Oil reclaimer
Pipe fittings
Piping
Portable meter station
Protective coating and wrap
Pulsation dampener
Pump
Rectifier
Regulator
Relay cabinet
Residence equipment
Scrubber
Shop equipment
Signal
Silencer
Station positive gas meter
Storage battery
Stores equipment
Support
Switchboard
Tank
Telemetering equipment
Transformer
Trap
Valve
Valve box
Water-treating equipment
Note: The cost of foundations other than those special to particular engines, pumps, compressors and other similar apparatus shall be included in the appropriate structures and improvements account.
417.
MEASURING AND REGULATING EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the installed cost of meters, gauges, regulators and associated equipment used for measuring and regulating natural gas before entry into the transmission or other system.
Examples of Components
Battery
Blower
Calorimeter
Cathodic protection device
Chemical
Circuit breaker
Conductor
Conduit
Controller
Control panel
Dehydrator
Duct
Equipment foundation
Fire-fighting equipment
Gauges
Governor
Header
Heat exchanger
Laboratory equipment
Manhole
Manometer
Meter recorder
Meter tube and fitting
Odorizing equipment
Panel
Piping
Positive meter
Pulsation dampener
Pump
Regulator
Remote control
Scrubber
Stores equipment
Switch
Switchboard
Tank
Telemetering equipment
Thermometer
Tubing
Valve
Valve box
Valve operator
Water treating equipment
Note: The cost of foundations other than those special to particular engines, pumps, compressors, and other similar apparatus shall be included in the appropriate structures and improvements account.
418.
PURIFICATION EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the installed cost of condensers, dehydrators, pumps and other apparatus used for the removal of impurities from gas.
Examples of Components
Condensers and washer coolers
Dehydrators
Foundations and settings, specially constructed for and not intended to outlast the equipment for which they are provided
Other accessory equipment, such as coolers, spray ponds, pumps, platforms, railings, stairs
Piping, from inlet valve of first piece of apparatus to outlet valve of final piece of apparatus (or, in building, from entrance to building to exit from building)
Scrubber
Sulphur removal apparatus
Water supply system
Note: The cost of foundations other than those special to particular engines, pumps, compressors, and other similar apparatus shall be included in the appropriate structures and improvements account.
419.
OTHER NATURAL GAS GATHERING EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the cost of equipment used for gas gathering operations and not recorded elsewhere.
LOCAL STORAGE PLANT
440.
LAND
This account shall include the cost of land held in fee simple and used for local storage operations.
Note: For additional text, notes and examples of components for this account see Account No. 410, “Land”.
441.
LAND RIGHTS
This account shall include the cost of land rights or easements used for local storage operations.
Note: For additional text, notes and examples of components for this account see Account No. 411, “Land Rights”.
442.
STRUCTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS
This account shall include the cost of structures and related facilities used for local storage operations. It shall also include the cost of improvements to such structures and related facilities, and the cost of clearing, levelling or grading land, both before and after construction, when such improvements are directly related to the above functions and structures.
Note: For examples of components and note for this account see Account No. 412, “Compressor Structures and Improvements”.
443.
GAS HOLDERS – STORAGE
This account shall include the installed cost of holders and associated equipment used in the storage of natural gas prior to sale.
Examples of Components
Alarm systems
Buried piping, tanks or other underground construction for gas storage equipment
Flood and fire control
Foundations
Holder pistons
Holders
Hortonspheres and high pressure tanks
Lighting
Pumps
Regulators
Valve
Ventilating equipment
Walkways
Note: The cost of foundations other than those special to particular engines, pumps, compressors, and other similar apparatus shall be included in the appropriate structures and improvements account.
444.
OTHER LOCAL STORAGE EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the installed cost of equipment used in the local storage operation when not recorded elsewhere.
UNDERGROUND STORAGE PLANT
450.
LAND
This account shall include the cost of land held in fee simple and used for underground storage operations.
Note: For additional text, notes and examples of components for this account see Account No. 410, “Land”.
451.
LAND RIGHTS
This account shall include the cost of land rights or easements used for underground storage operations.
Note: For additional text, notes and examples of components for this account see Account No. 411, “Land Rights”.
452.
STRUCTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS
This account shall include the cost of structures and related facilities used for underground storage operations. It shall also include the cost of improvements to such structures and related facilities, and the cost of clearing, levelling or grading land, both before and after construction, when such improvements are directly related to the above functions and structures.
Note: For examples of components and note for this account see Account No. 412, “Compressor Structures and Improvements”.
453.
WELLS
This account shall include the cost of wells used for injection and withdrawal of gas from underground storage, including wells kept open and used for observation.
Examples of Components
Clearing well site
Drilling
Fuel or power
Hauling, erecting, dismantling and removing boilers, portable engines, derricks, rigs, and other equipment and tools used in drilling
Labour
Rent of drilling equipment
Water used in drilling, obtained either by driving wells, piping from springs or streams, or by purchase
454.
WELL EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the cost of equipment in or at wells used for injection and withdrawal of gas from underground storage.
Examples of Components
Bailing equipment
Battery equipment
Boilers and drives permanently connected
Casing
Dehydrators
Derrick
Fence, when solely an enclosure for equipment
Fittings, including shut-in valves, separators, drips, braden heads and casing heads
Packing
Tank (oil or water)
Tubing
455.
FIELD LINES
This account shall include the cost of pipelines used for conveying gas from point of connection with the transmission or other system to underground storage wells and from underground storage wells to the point where the gas enters the transmission or other system.
Note: For examples of components and note for this account see Account No. 415, “Gathering Lines”.
456.
COMPRESSOR EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the cost of compressors and associated equipment used to deliver gas to underground storage or to withdraw gas from underground storage for delivery to the transmission or other system.
Note: For examples of components and note for this account see Account No. 416, “Compressor Equipment”.
457.
MEASURING AND REGULATING EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the cost of meters, gauges and other equipment used in measuring or regulating deliveries of gas to underground storage and withdrawals of gas from underground storage.
Note: For examples of components and note for this account see Account No. 417, “Measuring and Regulating Equipment”.
458.
BASE PRESSURE GAS
This account shall include the cost of gas in underground storage that is required as a base pressure for the operation of underground storage.
Note: Gas deliveries to or withdrawals from underground storage for customer consumption shall be charged or credited to Account No. 152, “Gas in Storage - Available for Sale”.
459.
OTHER UNDERGROUND STORAGE EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the cost of equipment used for underground storage of gas when not recorded elsewhere.
TRANSMISSION PLANT
460.
LAND
This account shall include the cost of land held in fee simple and used for transmission operations.
Note: For additional text, notes and examples of components for this account see Account No. 410, “Land”.
461.
LAND RIGHTS
This account shall include the cost of land rights or easements used for transmission operations.
Note: For additional text, notes and examples of components for this account see Account No. 411, “Land Rights”.
462.
COMPRESSOR STRUCTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS
This account shall include the cost of structures and related facilities used for the compressor function of transmission operations.
Note: For examples of components and note for this account see Account No. 412, “Compressor Structures and Improvements”.
463.
MEASURING AND REGULATING STRUCTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS
This account shall include the cost of structures and related facilities used for the measuring and regulating function of transmission operations.
Note: For examples of components and note for this account see Account No. 413, “Measuring and Regulating Structures and Improvements”.
464.
OTHER STRUCTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS
This account shall include the cost of structures and related facilities used for transmission operations not recorded elsewhere.
Note: For examples of components and note for this account see Account No. 414, “Other Structures and Improvements”.
465.
MAINS
This account shall include the installed cost of gas transmission mains, between station discharge valve and next station’s suction valve, including pipe from receiving meters to delivery meters.
Note: For examples of components for this account see Account No. 415, “Gathering Lines”.
466.
COMPRESSOR EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the cost of compressors and associated equipment used for gas transmission operations.
Note: For examples of components and note for this account see Account No. 416, “Compressor Equipment”.
467.
MEASURING AND REGULATING EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the cost of meters, gauges, regulators and associated equipment used for measuring or regulating gas for transmission operations.
Note: For examples of components and note for this account see Account No. 417, “Measuring and Regulating Equipment”.
468.
COMMUNICATION STRUCTURES AND EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the cost of communication, telegraph, radio and other communication structures and equipment used wholly or predominantly for the operation of the gas transmission system.
Examples of Components
Telegraph and Communication Structures and Equipment
Aerial attachment
Battery
Brace
Bracket
Building
Cable and wire
Cable box and appurtenance
Conduit and appurtenance
Connecting wire
Current controlling instrument
Cross arm and cross arm bolt
Electric generator and motor
Electric meter
Engine, stationary
Fuse and mechanical protector
Guy, stub and anchor
Guy, rod and wire
Insulator and pin
Rectifier
Rheostat
Pole
Sending and receiving instrument
Submarine cable and connection
Switchboard
Telecopier (fax)
Telephone pole
Testing outfit
Tower
Transformer
Underground cable and connection
Radio and Radar Equipment
Aerial or antenna and attachment
Control unit
Mobile radio equipment
Power generating, converting or supply equipment
Radio tower
Radar console and associated equipment
Specialized testing and repair equipment
Transmitter and receiver including mobile unit
Note: The cost of telegraph, communication, radio and other communication structures and equipment for general use in connection with the gas distributor’s gas operations shall be included in Account No. 488, “Communication Structures and Equipment”.
469.
OTHER TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the cost of equipment used for gas transmission operations not recorded elsewhere.
DISTRIBUTION PLANT
470.
LAND
This account shall include the cost of land held in fee simple and used for distribution operations.
Note: For additional text, notes and examples of components for this account see Account No. 410, “Land”.
471.
LAND RIGHTS
This account shall include the cost of land rights or easements used for distribution operations.
Note: For additional text, notes and examples of components for this account see Account No. 411, “Land Rights”.
472.
STRUCTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS
This account shall include the cost of structures and related facilities used for distribution operations.
Note: For examples of components and note for this account see Account No. 412, “Compressor Structures and Improvements”.
473.
SERVICES
This account shall include the installed cost of service pipes, from the point at which the main is tapped to and including the meter shut-off stop, whether inside or outside of the customers’ premises. This includes also service pipes paid for by the customer but for which the gas distributor has assumed full responsibility for maintenance and replacement.
Services that have been used, but have become inactive, shall be cleared from plant in service immediately if there is no prospect for reuse, and in any event shall be transferred from this account and Control Account No. 100, “Gas Distributor Plant in Service”, to Account No. 102, “Gas Distributor Plant Held For Future Use”, by the end of the second year following that during which the service became inactive unless they are reused in the interim.
The gas distributor shall maintain records to show separately the number and average length of services of each diameter and material whose book cost is included in this account; those through which gas is being delivered; those that have been used but that are inactive; and those to which no meters are attached.
Examples of Components
Curb valves and curb boxes
Drips
Excavation, including shoring, bracing, bridging, pumping, backfill, and disposal of excess excavated material
Fittings, including saddle, tee, or other fittings on street main
Municipal inspection
Pavement disturbed, including cutting and replacing pavement, pavement base and sidewalks
Permits
Pipe
Pipe coatings
Protection of street openings
Note: This account shall also include the cost of stub services run in anticipation of future use, even if those services have never been used.
474.
REGULATORS AND METER INSTALLATIONS
This account shall include the cost of regulators, whether actually installed or held in reserve. It shall further include the cost of labour and materials used and expenses incurred in the original installation of regulators and meters. For accounting convenience, the cost of the regulator and meter and the installation costs may be transferred annually to Account No. 473, “Services”.
Examples of Components
Cocks
Locks
Labour
Meter bars
Pipe
Fittings
Regulators
Regulator vents
Seals
Shelves
475.
MAINS
This account shall include the installed cost of distribution system mains from the transmission line to customer service lines.
Examples of Components
Cathodic protection equipment
Clearing and grading
Damages to property of others
Drips
Excavation, including shoring, bracing, bridging, pumping, backfill, and disposal of excess excavated material
Municipal inspection
Pavement disturbed, including cutting and replacing pavement, pavement base and sidewalks
Permits
Pipe
Pipe coating
Pipe fittings
Pipe laying
Pipe supports
Protection of street openings
Surveying
Valves (including manholes or pits) not associated with pumping or regulating equipment
476.
COMPRESSOR EQUIPMENT
This account shall record the cost of compressors and associated equipment, including NGV compressor equipment and associated refuelling equipment, used for distribution operations.
Note: For examples of components and note for this account see Account No. 416, “Compressor Equipment”.
477.
MEASURING AND REGULATING EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the cost of meters, gauges, regulators and associated equipment used for measuring or regulating gas for distribution operations.
Note A: The cost of meters for measuring gas delivered to customers shall be included in Account No. 478, “Meters”.
Note B: For examples of components and note for this account see Account No. 417, “Measuring and Regulating Equipment”.
478.
METERS
This account shall include the cost of meters or devices for use in measuring the quantity of gas delivered to customers, whether actually in service or held in reserve.
The records covering meters shall be maintained so that the gas distributor can furnish information as to the number of meters of various capacities in service and in reserve as well as the location of each meter owned.
Examples of Components
Government seals
Meter unit, including badging and initial testing
479.
OTHER DISTRIBUTION EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the installed cost of all other distribution system equipment not recorded in the foregoing accounts.
Examples of Components
Carbon monoxide tester and indicator
Explosimeters
Fire extinguishers
Gas masks
Lamps
Lockers
Portable pumps
Recording gauges
GENERAL PLANT
480.
LAND
This account shall include the cost of land held in fee simple and used for general operations.
Note: For additional text, notes and examples of components for this account see Account No. 410, “Land”.
481.
LAND RIGHTS
This account shall include the cost of land rights or easements used for general gas distributor operations and not recorded elsewhere.
Note: For additional text, notes and examples of components for this account see Account No. 411, “Land Rights”.
482.
STRUCTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS
This account shall include the cost of structures and related facilities used for general gas distributor operations and not recorded elsewhere.
Note: For additional text and components for this account see Account No. 412, “Compressor Structures and Improvements”.
483.
OFFICE FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the cost of office equipment, furniture and fixtures, when not built in or permanently attached to buildings.
Examples of Components
Bookshelves
Cabinets
Calculators
Chairs
Clocks
Credenzas
Desks
Dictating equipment
Drafting equipment
Fax machines
Filing equipment
Fire extinguishers
Humidifiers
Lamps
Photocopiers
Photographic equipment
Plants
Postage machines
Projection equipment
Rugs
Screens
Tables
Water coolers
Word processors and typewriters
Work stations
484.
TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT
This account shall record the cost of transportation equipment used in gas operations, including NGV cylinders installed on gas distributor vehicles.
Examples of Components
Aircraft
Automobile
Barge
Electric vehicle
Helicopter
Motorboat
Motorcycle
NGV cylinders
Snowmobiles
Tractor
Truck
Truck trailer
Van
485.
HEAVY WORK EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the cost of major items of movable equipment used for construction or maintenance in gas operations.
Examples of Components
Air compressor
Backhoe
Bulldozer
Concrete mixer and distributor
Crane
Derrick
Ditching machine
Drag line
Forge
Generator
Heating kettle
Hoist
Motor
Pipe threading and cutting machine
Power shovel
Pump
Tamping and backfilling
Trenching machine
Welding machine
Note: Small tools and equipment and large non-movable equipment shall be included in Account No. 486, “Tools and Work Equipment”.
486.
TOOLS AND WORK EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the cost of tools and other equipment used for gas operations and not includible in Account No. 485, “Heavy Work Equipment”. It shall also include the cost of garage equipment and large non-movable equipment.
Examples of Components
Air drill
Alcohol injector
Anvil
Barometer
Battery charger
Bevelling machine
Blasting machine
Boring machine
Calorimeter
Crane
Cutter
Detector
Dewpoint tester
Dog house
Drilling machine
Engine
Fire extinguisher
Forge
Gascope
Generator
Grinder
Greasing tools and equipment
Hand truck
Hoist
Lathe
Lawn mower
Lifting magnet
Manometer
Milling machine
Motor
Pipe cleaning machine
Pipe coating tester
Corrosion prevention equipment
Pipe cutting and threading machine
Pipe locator
Pipe pusher
Pipe straightening machine
Pipe threader
Planer
Pneumatic tool
Pump
Saw
Surveying and levelling equipment
Tool cabinet
Tool kit
Took rack
Vise
Wheelbarrow
Winch
Work bench
487.
EQUIPMENT ON CUSTOMERS’ PREMISES
This account shall record the cost, including delivery, installation and inspection, of rental equipment owned by the gas distributor installed on customers’ premises that is not includible in other accounts.
Examples of components
Boilers
Compressor equipment
Conversion burners
Cylinders
Furnace rental equipment
488.
COMMUNICATION STRUCTURES AND EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the cost of telegraph, communication, radio and other communication structures and equipment used wholly or predominantly for the gas distributor’s general operations.
Note: For text and examples of components for this account see Account No. 468, “Communication Structures and Equipment”.
489.
OTHER GENERAL EQUIPMENT
This account shall include the cost of equipment used for gas operations and not recorded elsewhere.
490.
COMPUTER HARDWARE
This account shall include the cost of computer hardware, peripherals and operating system software.
Examples of Components
Computer communications equipment (e.g. modems, LAN/WAN equipment, hubs, routers, bridges, wiring components, etc.)
Computer peripherals (e.g. terminals, printers, plotters, scanners, etc.)
Computer processing equipment (e.g. mainframe, PCs, midranges, servers, etc.)
Computer storage equipment (e.g. disks, tapes, devices, etc.)
Operating system software (e.g. VMS, DOS, Windows, network operating systems, etc. or gas distributor software e.g. backup/archival software, security or monitoring packages such as PC/DACS or ACF2, etc.)
491.
COMPUTER APPLICATION SOFTWARE
This account shall include the capitalized cost of developed or purchased computer application software or SCADA equipment.
Examples of Components
Accounting packages, including:
- general ledger
- accounts payable/receivable
- inventory management
- payroll
- records management
- customer billing/history
- customer service tracking
- plant records/network tracking
Spreadsheet-related packages (e.g. Lotus, Excel, Quattro Pro, etc.)
Word processing packages (e.g. WordPerfect, Word, AmiPro, etc.)
Graphics packages (e.g. Corel, Power Point, Freehand, Freelance, etc.)
Groupware packages (e.g. e-mail, scheduling and conferencing programs, etc., including related gateways)
Database management system packages (e.g. Access, Paradox, dBase, Oracle, DB2, etc., and related accessories such as report writers, program generators, etc.)
Software development tools
Primary development tools (e.g. PowerBuilder)
Customer Information System (CIS)
UNCLASSIFIED PLANT
496.
UNCLASSIFIED PLANT
This account shall include the cost of gas plant in service pending analysis and distribution to other appropriate plant accounts.
499.
CONTRIBUTIONS AND GRANTS
Contributions and grants relating to fixed assets are to be accounted for in accordance with Part IV– Plant Accounting Instructions provided in Appendix A, Section 1.B, Plant Acquired or Constructed – Contributions and Grants. If this account is kept, it shall include contributions or grants in cash, services or property from governments or government agencies, corporations, individuals and others for contributions in aid of construction or for acquisition of fixed assets.
This account shall be maintained so that the gas distributor can supply information as to the purpose of each contribution or grant; the conditions, if any, on which it was made; the amount of contributions or grants from governments or government agencies, corporations, individuals and others; and the amount applicable to each account.
OPERATING REVENUE ACCOUNTS
GAS SALES
500.
OUT-OF-FRANCHISE SALES
This account shall include revenue from gas sales to gas distributors and other out-of-franchise companies. Revenues should be shown separately for gas sales to Canadian gas distributors and other Canadian companies and gas sales to United States gas distributors and other United States companies.
520.
RESIDENTIAL SALES
This account shall include revenue from gas sales to residential customers.
521.
COMMERCIAL SALES
This account shall include revenue from gas sales to commercial customers.
522.
INDUSTRIAL SALES
This account shall include revenue from gas sales to industrial customers.
524.
SALES TO ASSOCIATES AND AFFILIATES
This account shall include revenue from gas sales to subsidiary and affiliated companies, as well as other associates and affiliates.
529.
OTHER SALES
This account shall include revenue from gas sales not recorded elsewhere.
OTHER OPERATING REVENUE
560.
LATE PAYMENT PENALTIES
This account shall include revenue from additional charges imposed because of the customers’ failure to pay their gas bills on or before a specified date designated in the monthly bill.
561.
REVENUE FROM SERVICE WORK
This account shall include revenue from service work billed to customers.
Examples of Components
Boiler and chimney maintenance programs
 Heat efficiency studies
Net credit or debit, (i.e., the cost less net salvage and less payment from customers), on closing work orders in respect of plant installed for temporary service of less than one year
Profit on maintenance of appliances, piping, gas firing and other utilization facilities, or other installations on customers’ premises
Recovery of expenses in connection with gas diversion cases. Billing for the gas consumed shall be included in the appropriate gas revenue account
Revenue from changing, connecting, or disconnecting facilities on the customers’ premises
Services performed for other gas distributors for testing and adjusting meters, changing charts, etc.
570.
TRANSPORTATION REVENUE
This account shall include revenue from transporting customer-owned gas through the gas distributor’s system.
571.
STORAGE REVENUE
This account shall include revenue from storing customer-owned gas in the gas distributor’s storage facilities.
575.
RENT FROM GAS PLANT
This account shall include rental revenues for the use by others of land, buildings, and other gas distributor plant.
The maintenance and operation expenses of such plant, if assumed by the gas distributor, shall be charged to the applicable operating expense accounts.
Note A: The rent from plant, the cost of which is included in Account No. 110, “Other Gas Distributor Plant”, shall be credited to Account No. 310, “Revenue from Other Plant”.
Note B: The rent from plant, the cost of which is included in Account No. 101, “Gas Distributor Plant Leased to Others”, shall be included in Account No. 307, “Revenue from Gas Distributor Plant Leased to Others”.
Note C: The rent revenue from the sub-rental of gas plant shall be credited to the account originally charged with the rent expense.
576.
RENT FROM GAS DISTRIBUTOR EQUIPMENT ON CUSTOMERS’ PREMISES
This account shall include revenue from the rental of gas distributor-owned equipment on customers’ premises, such as automatic water heaters, conversion burners and NGV equipment.
579.
MISCELLANEOUS OPERATING REVENUE
This account shall include miscellaneous operating revenue not recorded elsewhere.
OPERATING EXPENSE ACCOUNTS
EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT
OPERATION
600.
SUPERVISION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the supervision and direction of the operation of exploration and development activities.
Examples of Components
Office supplies and expenses, such as stationery, postage, maps, communication, light, heat and water
Rents, janitor services and supplies, upkeep of office buildings and equipment, salaries and wages of superintendents, supervisors, engineers, clerks and other field office employees
Travelling, subsistence, automotive and incidental expenses of employees
Note: Direct supervision of specific activities shall be charged to the appropriate account.
602.
DELAY RENTALS
This account shall be charged with the amount of rents paid periodically on gas lands in order to hold gas land and land rights for the purpose of obtaining gas supplies in the future.
This account shall also include the cost of obtaining gas leases for a period of one year or less.
603.
NON-PRODUCTIVE WELL DRILLING
This account shall include the net cost of drilling non-productive wells.
Note: If the gas distributor follows the full cost method of accounting for its gas exploration and development operations, the cost of drilling non-producing wells shall be included in Account No. 406, “Gas Wells - Well Drilling”.
604.
ABANDONED LEASES
This account shall include the cost of all leases abandoned when well drilling proved non-productive.
Note: If the gas distributor follows the full cost method of accounting for its gas exploration and development operations, the cost of all leases abandoned shall be included in Account No. 406, “Gas Wells - Well Drilling”.
609.
OTHER EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT OPERATION
This account shall include the costs of exploration and development not recorded elsewhere.
GAS PRODUCTION AND GATHERING –
OPERATION
610.
SUPERVISION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred at a division, district or similar field office in the general supervision of production operations and gathering systems facilities.
611.
ROYALTIES
This account shall include the cost of royalties paid for gas produced by the gas distributor from wells on land owned by others.
612.
GATHERING OF GAS BY OTHERS
This account shall include the cost of gathering charges paid to others where such charges are separate and not included as part of the delivered price of gas.
Note: The cost of transportation of gas by others shall be charged to Account No. 663, “Transportation of Gas by Others”.
614.
GAS WELLS
This account shall include other cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in operating producing gas wells.
Examples of Components
Cleaning off old well locations
Direct supervision
Minor upkeep of well roads and fences, etc.
Painting signs, etc.
Pumping wells
Testing, bailing, swabbing, blowing and gauging producing gas wells
Turning wells off and on
615.
PIPELINES
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of gas production facilities and gas gathering pipeline system and facilities.
Examples of Components
Blowing and cleaning lines, drips, traps, injectors, etc., thawing freeze-ups
Cleaning buildings and other structures
Cutting grass and weeds, clearing brush, fallen trees and other debris, removing snow on rights-of-way and access roads
Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, aircraft and heavy work equipment, transportation of supplies, light, heat, water, communication, telegraph, rents, employee travelling and subsistence, employee housing
Gas used or lost in pipeline operations
Injection of kontol, methanol, glycol and other chemicals
Inspecting and lubricating valves, injectors, etc.
Patrolling lines
Reading and reporting line pressures, changing charts
Standby time of crews, time spent fire fighting and for other local services
Supplies such as lubricants, wiping rags, charts, chemicals, light bulbs, hand tools and general equipment
616.
COMPRESSOR
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of gas production facilities, gas gathering system facilities and compressor stations and facilities.
Examples of Components
Cleaning buildings and other structures
Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, aircraft and heavy work equipment, transportation of supplies, light, heat, water, communication, telegraph, rents, employee travelling and subsistence, employee housing
Gas used or lost in compressor operations
Operating, cleaning, lubricating engines, generators and other equipment
Packing valves, changing gauge glasses, changing oil and air filter elements
Preparing logs and other clerical work
Reading metering instruments, changing charts
Supplies such as lubricants, wiping rags, charts, chemicals, light bulbs, cleaning and washroom supplies, first-aid supplies, landscaping supplies, hand tools and equipment
Taking water samples, dewpoint readings, testing and recording
Tending station grounds, removing snow
617.
MEASURING AND REGULATING
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of gas production facilities, gas gathering system facilities, measuring and regulating stations and facilities.
Examples of Components
Changing meters, orifice plates, clocks, etc.
Cleaning buildings and other structures
Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, aircraft and heavy work equipment, transportation of supplies, light, heat, water, communication, telegraph, rents, employee travelling and subsistence, employee housing
Inspecting, cleaning and blowing drips, pits, sumps, etc.
Operating, inspecting, testing, adjusting, cleaning and calibrating equipment
Preparing reports and other clerical work
Recording pressures, reading meters, changing charts
Supplies such as lubricants, wiping rags, charts, chemicals, pens, ink, mercury, light bulbs, cleaning and washroom supplies, first-aid supplies, landscape supplies, hand tools and general equipment
Taking gas samples, water samples, dewpoint readings, testing and recording
Tending station grounds, removing snow
618.
PURIFICATION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the gas production operation and gathering system purification facilities.
Examples of Components
Changing charts on fuel meters
Cutting grass and weeds, and minor grading around equipment and station
Direct supervision
Emptying, cleaning and refilling purifier boxes
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, aircraft and heavy work equipment, transportation of supplies, light, heat, water, communication, telegraph, rents, employee travelling and subsistence, employee housing
Gas used or lost in purification operations
Hauling operating employees, materials, supplies and tools, etc.
Inspecting and testing equipment, not specifically to determine necessity for repairs or replacement of parts
Lubricating equipment, valves, etc.
Oiling dip sheets of purifier covers
Operating and checking equipment, valves, instruments, etc.
Removing spent oxide to refuse piles
Revivifying oxide
Supplies such as liquid purifying supplies, wiping rags, charts, chemicals, lightbulbs, cleaning and washroom supplies, first-aid supplies, hand tools and equipment
Taking readings of inlet and outlet pressures and temperature
Unloading and storing glycol
Watching station and equipment
619.
OTHER GAS PRODUCTION AND GATHERING
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in producing and gathering gas not includible elsewhere.
GAS SUPPLY – OPERATION
623.
COST OF GAS
This account shall include the cost of all gas purchased by the gas distributor from its suppliers. It shall also include gas purchased from customers under such arrangements as the “buy and sell” and from the gas distributor’s own production facilities, as well as applicable taxes on all gas purchases.
Details of each source of supply shall be maintained, in subsidiary records, showing volumes and costs.
Note: Gathering of gas by others and transportation of gas by others, where such charges are separate and not part of the delivered price of gas shall be included in Account No. 612, “Gathering of Gas by Others”, or Account No. 663, “Transportation of Gas by Others”, as applicable.
624.
GAS SUPPLY – OPERATION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the supervision and operation of the gas supply activities.
626.
EXCHANGE GAS
This account shall include debits or credits for the cost of gas in unbalanced exchange transactions whereby gas is received from another party and receipt and delivery of the gas is not completed during the accounting period. This accounting is not required for minor transactions.
If revenue is earned in consideration of the performance of exchange services, it shall be recorded in Account No. 579, “Miscellaneous Operating Revenue”.
627.
GAS WITHDRAWN FROM STORAGE
This account shall include the cost of gas withdrawn from storage during the year. These amounts shall be concurrently credited to Account No. 152, “Gas in Storage Available for Sale”.
628.
GAS DELIVERED TO STORAGE – CREDIT
This account shall be credited with the cost of gas delivered to underground storage during the year. These amounts shall be concurrently charged to Account 152, “Gas in Storage - Available for Sale”.
629.
GAS USED – CREDIT
This account shall be credited with amounts that are concurrently charged to operating expense or other accounts in respect of gas used by the gas distributor for other than storage purposes.
Note: This account shall be subdivided to separate gas used in construction and gas used for operations and other purposes.
LOCAL STORAGE – OPERATION
640.
SUPERVISION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the general supervision and direction of the operation of local storage facilities.
Note: For examples of components and a note applying to this account, see Account No. 600, “Supervision”.
644.
GAS HOLDERS – STORAGE
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of gas holders for local storage.
649.
OTHER LOCAL STORAGE
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of local storage facilities not includible elsewhere.
UNDERGROUND STORAGE – OPERATION
650.
SUPERVISION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the general supervision of operating underground storage facilities.
Note: For examples of components and a note applying to this account, see Account No. 600, “Supervision”.
651.
NON-FEASIBLE UNDERGROUND STORAGE PROJECT COSTS
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the investigation, exploration and development of underground storage projects that do not prove feasible.
Note A: The net cost of drilling non-operative wells for the purpose of outlining a storage area shall be charged to Account No. 451, “Land Rights”.
Note B: The cost of wells that may be drilled within a storage project for purposes of pressure observation shall be included in Account No. 453, “Wells”.
652.
LEASE COSTS
This account shall include the cost of storage leases and surface leases of underground storage facilities.
653.
WELLS
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of underground storage system wells and facilities.
Examples of Components
Direct supervision
Gas, gasoline, and oil used in pumping, bailing, heating and swabbing
Minor upkeep of well roads, fences, etc.
Moving cleaning out tools between locations
Painting signs, etc.
Testing, bailing, swabbing, blowing and gauging storage wells
Turning storage wells on and off
654.
GAS LOSSES
This account shall include the amounts of inventory adjustments representing the cost of gas lost or unaccounted for in underground storage operations due to cumulative inaccuracies of gas measurement or other causes.
655.
FIELD LINES
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of underground storage field lines and facilities.
Note: For examples of components for this account see Account No. 615, “Pipelines”.
656.
COMPRESSOR
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of underground storage system compressor stations and facilities.
Note: For examples of components and notes for this account see Account No. 616, “Compressor”.
657.
MEASURING AND REGULATING
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of underground storage system measuring and regulating facilities.
Note: For examples of components in this account see Account No. 617, “Measuring and Regulating”.
658.
PURIFICATION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in operating equipment used for purifying, dehydrating and conditioning natural gas in underground storage operations.
Note: For examples of components in this account see Account No. 618, “Purification”
659.
OTHER UNDERGROUND STORAGE
This account shal1 include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of underground storage facilities not recorded elsewhere.
TRANSMISSION – OPERATION
660.
SUPERVISION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred at an area, division, district or similar field office or a central warehouse in the general supervision and direction of the operation of the transmission facilities.
Note: For examples of components and notes for this account see Account No. 600, “Supervision”.
663.
TRANSPORTATION OF GAS BY OTHERS
This account shall include the cost of transportation charges paid to others where those charges are separate and not included as part of the delivered price of gas.
Note: The cost of gathering of gas by others shall be charged to Account No. 612, “Gathering of Gas by Others”.
664.
COMMUNICATION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of facilities used wholly or predominantly in connection with the transmission communication system.
Note: Operating costs applicable to the operating of the facilities used wholly or predominantly in the general gas distributor communications system shall be included in Account No. 684, “Communication”.
Examples of Components
Cleaning and lubricating equipment
 Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, travelling and employee subsistence
 Microwave equipment, power generators
 Rental of mobile and other radio and telecommunications equipment
 Securing authorization for changing frequencies
665.
PIPELINES
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of high pressure pipelines and facilities.
Note: For examples of components for this account see Account No. 615, “Pipelines”.
666.
COMPRESSOR
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of transmission system compressor stations and facilities.
Note: For examples of components for this account see Account No. 616, “Compressor”.
667.
MEASURING AND REGULATING
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of transmission system measuring and regulating stations and facilities.
Note: For examples of components for this account see Account No. 617, “Measuring and Regulating”.
669.
OTHER TRANSMISSION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of transmission system facilities not includible elsewhere.
DISTRIBUTION – OPERATION
670.
SUPERVISION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the general supervision of operating the distribution facilities.
Note: For examples of components and note for this account see Account No. 600, “Supervision”.
671.
LOAD DISPATCHING
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in dispatching and controlling the supply and flow of gas through the distribution system.
Examples of components
Controlling gas and inputs to distribution system
Controlling mixture of various gases to maintain proper heat content
Direct supervision
673.
METER AND REGULATOR WORK
This account shall record the cost of labour, including contractor labour, if applicable, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in connection with removing, resetting, changing, testing, and servicing meters and regulators.
Examples of Components
Changing or exchanging meters and house regulators because of complaints or removal for inspection
Changing position of meters or house regulator on the same premises
Consolidating meter installations, without change of size, due to elimination of separate meters for different service classifications
Direct supervision
Initiating or terminating service, including incidental meter reading
Investigating and stopping gas leaks on customers’ premises caused by defective meter, customer-owned piping, or customer appliances
Meter locks and seals
Periodic replacement of meters and house regulators because of age
Resetting meters on existing connections
Turning off meters, including time to take safety precautions
Turning on meters, including necessary time to ensure that gas lines are proper to use and that appliances are in usable condition
Unproductive service calls
674.
SERVICE WORK
This account shall record the cost of labour, including contractor labour, if applicable, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in work on customer premises other than expenses includible in Account No. 673, “Meter and Regulator Work”. This account also shall include the cost of servicing customer-owned appliances when the cost of such work is borne by the gas distributor.
Damage to customer equipment by gas distributor employees during a job, whether incidental to the work or the result of negligence, shall be charged to that job.
Examples of Components
Appliance inspection
Adjusting and repairing burner pilots because of impurities in the gas or failure of the distribution system
Direct supervision
Inspecting, cleaning, repairing and adjusting customer-owned appliances for domestic, industrial, or commercial use, including house heating furnaces and other space heating appliances, hotel and restaurant appliances
Inspecting new installations to determine that the customers’ equipment and piping are properly installed and connected
Investigating and adjusting complaints of service on customers’ premises
Investigating and correcting pressure difficulties or stoppages in customer-owned piping
Replacing defective parts in customer-owned appliances and salvaging reusable appliance parts
Unproductive service calls
675.
MAINS AND SERVICES
This account shall record the cost of labour, including contractor labour, if applicable, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of distribution system mains and services.
Examples of Components
Annual easement rentals
Attending valves, lubricating valves and other equipment, blowing and cleaning lines and drips, draining water from lines, thawing freezes
Cleaning and repairing tools used in mains operations, etc.
Direct supervision
Inspecting and testing equipment not specifically to determine necessity for repairs
Locating and inspecting valve boxes or drip riser boxes, service lines, mains, etc,
Making routine leak survey
Protecting gas distributor property during work by others
Walking or patrolling mains
676.
COMPRESSOR
This account shall record the cost of labour, including contractor labour, if applicable, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of distribution system compressor stations and equipment.
Examples of Components
Cleaning structures housing equipment, cutting grass and weeds, and doing minor grading around stations
Direct supervision
Gas used or lost in compressor operation
Inspecting and testing equipment instruments, when not done specifically to determine necessity for repairs or replacement of parts
Operating and checking engines, equipment valves, machinery, gauges and other instruments, including cleaning, wiping, polishing and lubricating
Operating boilers and boiler accessory equipment, including fuel handling and storage, recording fuel used, and unloading and storing coal and oil
Repacking valves and replacing gauge glasses, etc.
677.
MEASURING AND REGULATING
This account shall record the cost of labour, including contractor labour, if applicable, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of the distribution system measuring and regulating stations.
Examples of Components
Adjusting and calibrating measuring equipment, changing meters, orifice plates, gauges, clocks, etc.
Cleaning and lubricating equipment
Direct supervision
Inspecting and testing equipment and instruments, when not done specifically to determine necessity for repairs, including pulsation tests
Recording pressures and changing charts, reading meters and charts etc.
Taking and testing gas samples; inspecting and testing valves, regulators, gas sample tanks and other meter engineers’ equipment; determining specific gravity and heat content of gas
679.
OTHER DISTRIBUTION
This account shall record the cost of labour, including contractor labour, if applicable, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of other distribution facilities not includible elsewhere.
GENERAL – OPERATION
684.
COMMUNICATION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the operation of the facilities used wholly or predominantly in connection with the general communication system.
Examples of Components
Cutting grass and weeds, clearing brush, fallen trees and other debris, removing snow from access roads, station sites and structures
Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, aircraft and heavy work equipment, transportation of supplies, first aid supplies and landscaping supplies, light, heat, water, communication, telegraph, rents, employee travelling and subsistence, employee housing
Inspecting and cleaning buildings and other structures
Inspecting, cleaning and lubricating equipment
Patrolling lines
Refuelling fuel tanks at station sites
Supplies such as lubricants, wiping rags, charts, chemicals, hand tools, testing and other general equipment
Transferring mobile radios between vehicles
685.
SYSTEM OPERATION AND ENGINEERING
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred at the gas distributor’s general offices in the operation and engineering of the gas system.
Examples of Components
Office supplies and expenses such as stationery, printing, postage, maps, drawings, communication, telegraph, light, heat and water
Rents, janitor services and supplies, upkeep of office space and maintenance of office equipment
Salaries and wages of superintendents, supervisors, engineers, clerks, stenographers and other employees of the general operating and engineering departments
Travelling, subsistence, automotive and incidental expenses of employees
Note A: Amounts of indirect operations chargeable to other accounts shall not be credited to this account. Those charges transferred shall be credited to Account No. 689, “General Gas Distributor Operations Transferred - Credit”.
Note B: Field supervision shall be charged to the appropriate functional accounts.
688.
OTHER GENERAL GAS DISTRIBUTOR OPERATIONS
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in general gas distributor operations and not includible elsewhere.
689.
GENERAL GAS DISTRIBUTOR OPERATIONS TRANSFERRED – CREDIT
This account shall be credited with general gas distributor operations costs transferred to other accounts, such as costs transferred to overhead during construction.
SALES AND MARKETING – OPERATION
700.
SUPERVISION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the general direction and supervision of sales activities, except merchandising, jobbing or contract work.
Note: For examples of components and a note applying to this account, see Account No. 600, “Supervision”.
701.
ADVERTISING – NATURAL GAS PROMOTION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in advertising designed to promote or retain the sale of gas. Costs of advertising for the sale of merchandise by the gas distributor shall not be included in this account.
Examples of Components
Direct supervision
Fees and expenses of advertising agencies and commercial artists
Investigating advertising agencies and media and conducting negotiations in connection with the placement and subject matter of sales advertising
Postage on direct mail advertising
Preparing advertising material for newspapers, periodicals, billboards etc., and preparing and conducting motion pictures, radio and television programmes
Preparing booklets, bulletins, etc., used in direct mail advertising
Preparing window and other displays
Note A: The cost of publication of shareholders’ reports, dividend notices, bond redemption notices, financial statements, and other notices of a general corporate nature shall be charged to Account No. 728, “Other Administrative and General Expenses”.
Note B: The cost of advertising for personnel shall be charged to the appropriate account.
702.
DEMONSTRATION AND SELLING EXPENSES
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in demonstrating and promoting the use of natural gas.
Examples of Components
Booth and temporary space rental
Conducting cooking schools, preparing recipes, and related home service activities
Demonstrating uses of natural gas
Direct supervision
Exhibitions, displays, lectures and other programmes designed to promote the use of natural gas
703.
REVENUE FROM MERCHANDISING, JOBBING AND CONTRACT WORK
This account shall include all revenue from the sale of merchandise, jobbing and contract work.
Examples of Components
Cost of labour charged to customers for the installation of NGV fuel system equipment
Sale of merchandise
Sale of NGV cylinders, conversion kits and components
Sale of parts and labour from jobbing contracts
704.
EXPENSE OF MERCHANDISING, JOBBING AND CONTRACT WORK
This account shall include the cost of merchandise sold. In addition, it shall record the cost of labour, including contractor labour, if applicable, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the selling of merchandise and of jobbing and contract work.
Examples of Components
Advertising in newspapers, periodicals, radio and television, when applicable to merchandising, jobbing and contract work
Cost of labour paid to dealers for the installation of NGV fuel system equipment
Cost of merchandise sold
Cost of NGV cylinders sold
Demonstrating and selling activities in sales rooms
Direct supervision
Installing appliances on customer premises where such work is done only for purchasers of appliances from the gas distributor
Maintaining display counters and other equipment used in merchandising
Preparing advertising materials for appliance sales purposes
Receiving and handling customer orders for merchandise or for jobbing services
Reconditioning repossessed appliances
705.
ADVERTISING – OTHER
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in advertising and promoting gas distributor services, other than advertising included in Account No. 701, “Advertising - Natural Gas Promotion”.
709.
OTHER SALES PROMOTION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in connection with sales and marketing activities that are not includible elsewhere.
CUSTOMER ACCOUNTING – OPERATION
710.
SUPERVISION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the supervision and direction of the customer accounting and collection activities.
Note A: Direct supervision of specific activities, such as customer contracts, credit collection, customer accounting, cashiers and meter reading shall be charged to the appropriate account.
Note B: For examples and an additional note applying to this account, see Account No. 600, “Supervision”.
711.
CUSTOMERS’ CONTRACTS AND ORDERS
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in work on customer applications and contracts.
Examples of Components
Address plates and supplies
Direct supervision
Postage
Receiving, preparing, recording and handling routine orders for service, disconnections, transfers or meter tests initiated by the customer
Receiving, recording and handling inquiries, complaints and requests for investigations from customers, including preparation of necessary orders
712.
METER READING
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in reading customers’ meters.
Examples of Components
Addressing forms for obtaining meter readings by mail
Badges, lamps and uniforms
Changing and collecting meter charts used for billing purposes
Collecting from prepayment meters when incidental to meter reading
Demand charts, meter books and binders and forms for recording readings, but not the cost of preparation
Direct supervision
Maintaining record of customers’ keys
Meter reading for small consumption, and obtaining load information for billing purposes
Postage and supplies used in obtaining meter readings by mail
713.
CUSTOMERS’ BILLING AND ACCOUNTING
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the gas distributor’s customer accounting, customer billing and bill delivery functions.
Examples of Components
Balancing customer accounts and controls
Checking consumption shown by meter readers’ reports where this is incidental to preparation of billing data
Determining consumption and computing estimated or average consumption
Direct supervision
Postage
Preparing and addressing bills and delinquency notices
Preparing billing data
Stationery and supplies
714.
CREDIT AND COLLECTION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in collecting overdue accounts, and investigating customer credit ratings and customer accounts.
Examples of Components
Balancing collections, preparing collections for deposit and preparing cash reports
Cash overages and shortages
Checking customers’ credit rating
Collecting revenues, including collection from prepayment meters unless this is incidental to meter reading operations
Commissions or fees to others for collecting
Direct supervision
Receiving, refunding or applying customer deposits and maintaining customer deposit line extension, and other miscellaneous records
718.
UNCOLLECTABLE ACCOUNTS
This account shall be debited with the provision for bad debts that are potential losses on uncollectable accounts receivable. A corresponding credit shall be made to Account No. 145, “Allowance For Doubtful Accounts”, or Account Nos. 140, “Accounts Receivable Customers”, 141, “Accounts Receivable – Associates and Affiliates”, and 142, “Accounts Receivable – Other”, where applicable.
Note: This account shall be subdivided to separate the provision for bad debts related to uncollectable Accounts Receivable from customers, associates and affiliates and others.
719.
OTHER CUSTOMER ACCOUNTING
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in customer accounting not includible elsewhere.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND GENERAL –
OPERATION
721.
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
This account shall include the cost of salaries, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the general administration of the gas distribution function of the gas distributor, where these expenses are assignable to specific executive, administrative and general departments and are not chargeable to a specific operating function.
Examples of Components
Expenses of officers, executives and other employees, such as travelling, subsistence, automotive, club and professional dues and expenses, and other incidental expenses
Office supplies and expenses, such as stationery, printing, postage, maps, drawings, communication, telegraph, telex, fax, light, heat and water
Rents, janitor services and supplies, upkeep of office building and office equipment
Salaries and wages of officers, executives and other employees
722.
SPECIAL SERVICES
This account shall include the fees and expenses of professional consultants and others for general services not applicable to a specific operating function.
Examples of Components
Fees and expenses of auditors, accountants, appraisers, engineering consultants, management consultants, lawyers, public relations and labour consultants, etc.
Fees and expenses paid under contracts for general management services
Pay and expenses of persons engaged for a special administrative or general purpose where the person so engaged is not considered an employee of the gas distributor
Note: The cost of special services directly related to construction work in progress shall be charged to the appropriate construction account.
723.
INSURANCE
This account shall include the cost of insurance against any loss which may be sustained by the gas distributor.
Examples of Components
Fire, storm, burglary, boiler explosion, lightning, riot, fidelity, etc.
Public liability, casualty, property damage, environmental - contaminated site, employee liability, etc.
Business interruption
Note A: Cost of insurance applicable to construction work shall be charged to construction, either directly or by transfer from this account.
Note B: Cost of insurance applicable to transportation equipment and other general equipment may be charged to the appropriate clearing account.
Note C: Premiums for group, life, medical, hospital, accident and sickness insurance shall not be included in this account but shall be charged to Account No. 725, “Employee Benefits”.
Note D: Recoveries from insurance shall be credited to the account charged with the damage or loss. If damaged property has been retired, the credit shall be included in the appropriate accumulated depreciation account.
Note E: Where the gas distributor provides self-insurance, the provision shall be debited to this account and concurrently credited to Account No. 290, “Insurance Provisions”.
724.
INJURIES AND DAMAGES
This account shall include all expenses, except legal expenses, incurred in the settlement of injury and damage claims, including losses not covered by insurance.
Examples of Components
Fees and expenses of claims of outside investigators and adjusters
Losses not covered by insurance through injuries to employees or others and damages to property of others
Medical and hospital service and other expenses of claimants
Payment to claimants for court costs and legal services
Note: After a reasonable length of time, salaries or wages paid to employees disabled by injury and remaining off duty shall be charged to Account No. 725, “Employee Benefits”.
725.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
This account shall include amounts paid or contributed by the gas distributor towards all employee benefits. This account shall also include expenses to provide pension benefits in respect of employees’ past or current services.
Examples of Components
Canada Pension Plan
Employment Insurance
Expenses in connection with educational, recreational and social activities for the benefit of employees
Group and life insurance premiums
Medical, hospital, and other accident and sickness expenses, whether paid directly or to insurance companies or others
Payments to employees disabled by accident or sickness, when they remain off duty after a reasonable length of time
Payments to or on behalf of employees or pensioners, and to pension funds or to insurance companies for pension purposes
Savings plan contributions
728.
OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE AND GENERAL EXPENSES
This account shall include all expenses incurred in connection with the general management of the New Brunswick gas distribution function of the gas distributor not recorded elsewhere.
Examples of Components
Contributions for conventions and meetings of the industry
Dividend and other financial notices
Donations
Industry association dues for gas distributor memberships
Printing and mailing dividend cheques
Publishing and printing annual reports
Regulatory commission expenses
Stockholders’ meeting expenses
Trustee, registrar, and transfer agents’ fees and expenses
729.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND GENERAL EXPENSES TRANSFERRED – CREDIT
This account shall be credited with the amounts of administrative and general expenses that are allocated to other accounts or to overhead charged to construction. The method and basis of allocation shall be maintained in subsidiary records.
MAINTENANCE EXPENSE ACCOUNTS
NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION AND
GATHERING - MAINTENANCE
810.
SUPERVISION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the general supervision and direction of maintenance of gas production and gathering facilities.
Note A: The expenses to be included in this account may be initially charged to Account No. 610, “Supervision”, and apportioned between operating and maintenance Supervision on an equitable basis. The method and basis of allocation shall be described in subsidiary records.
Note B: For examples of components and additional note for this account see Account No. 600, “Supervision”.
814.
GAS PRODUCTION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of gas wells and equipment includible in Account No. 406, “Gas Wells - Well Drilling”, Account No. 407, “Gas Wells - Well Equipment”, and Account No. 408, “Gas Wells Well Structures”.
815.
PIPELINES
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of gas production facilities and gathering pipeline system and facilities.
Examples of Components
Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, aircraft and heavy work equipment, transportation of material, employee travelling and subsistence
Inspecting and testing after repairs have been made
Material and supplies used in repair work
Repainting
Repairs to and protection of right-of-way
Repairs to access roads
Repairs to buildings and other structures
Repairs to fences, aerial markers and signs
Repairs to pipe and fittings, renewing and replacing in kind less than a unit of line pipe
Repairs to river crossings, including bridges
Repairs to tools, testing equipment and other general equipment
Repairs to valves, boxes, drips, scraper traps, chemical injectors, dehydrators and cathodic protection equipment
Note: Payment of claims for damages to property of others resulting from maintenance work shall be charged to Account No. 724, “Injuries and Damages”. Incidental damages settled during the course of maintenance work shall also be charged to that account.
816.
COMPRESSOR
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of gas production facilities, gas gathering system facilities and compressor stations and facilities.
Examples of Components
Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, aircraft and heavy work equipment, transportation of material, employee travelling and subsistence
Inspecting and testing after repairs have been made
Material and supplies used in repair work
Repainting
Repairs to access roads
Repairs to compressor engines, generators and other equipment
Repairs to fences and signs
Repairs to station grounds, buildings and other structures
Repairs to tools, testing equipment and other general equipment
817.
MEASURING AND REGULATING
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of gas production and gathering system measuring and regulating facilities.
Examples of Components
Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, aircraft and heavy work equipment transportation of material, employee travelling and subsistence
Inspecting and testing after repairs have been made
Material and supplies used in repair work
Repainting
Repairs to access roads
Repairs to fences and signs
Repairs to measuring and regulating and other equipment
Repairs to station grounds, buildings and other structures
Repairs to tools, testing equipment and other general equipment
818.
PURIFICATION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of gas production operation and gathering system purification facilities.
Examples of Components
Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, aircraft and heavy work equipment, transportation of material, employee travelling and subsistence
Materials and supplies used in repair work
Repairs to purification equipment
Repairs to tools, testing equipment and other equipment
819.
OTHER NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION AND GATHERING
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of other gas production and gathering facilities not includible elsewhere.
LOCAL STORAGE – MAINTENANCE
840.
SUPERVISION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the general supervision and direction of maintenance of local storage facilities.
Note A: The expenses to be included in this account may be initially charged to Account No. 640, “Supervision”, and apportioned between operation and maintenance supervision on an equitable basis. The method and basis of allocation shall be described in subsidiary records.
Note B: For examples of components and additional note for this account see Account No. 600, “Supervision”.
842.
STRUCTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of structures and improvements for local storage facilities.
Examples of Components
Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, aircraft and heavy work equipment, transportation of material, employee travelling and subsistence
Materials and supplies used in repair work
Repairs to buildings
Repairs to fences and signs
844.
GAS HOLDERS – STORAGE
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of gas holders used in local storage facilities.
Examples of Components
Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, aircraft and heavy work equipment, transportation of material, employee travelling and subsistence
Material and supplies used in repair work
Painting holders
Repairs to holder machinery
Repairs to holders
Repairs to other holder equipment
849.
OTHER LOCAL STORAGE
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of other local storage facilities not includible elsewhere.
UNDERGROUND STORAGE – MAINTENANCE
850.
SUPERVISION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the general supervision and direction of the maintenance of underground storage facilities.
Note A: The expenses to be included in this account may be initially charged to Account No. 650, “Supervision”, and apportioned between operation and maintenance supervision on an equitable basis. The method and basis of allocation shall be described in subsidiary records.
Note B: Direct supervision of specific activities such as exploration and development, maintenance of wells, field lines, compressor stations, measuring and regulating stations, purification equipment and other underground storage shall be charged to the appropriate account.
Note C: For examples of components and additional notes for this account see Account No. 810, “Supervision”.
853.
WELLS
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of wells and facilities used for underground storage.
Examples of Components
Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, aircraft and heavy work equipment, transportation of material, employee travelling and subsistence
Material and supplies used in repair work
Repairs to access roads, fences and signs
Repairs to well head equipment, tools and testing equipment
855.
FIELD LINES
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of underground storage system field lines and facilities.
Note: For examples of components and note for this account see Account No. 815, “Pipelines”.
856.
COMPRESSOR
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of underground storage system compressor stations and facilities.
Note: For examples of components for this account see Account No. 816, “Compressor”.
857.
MEASURING AND REGULATING
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of underground storage system measuring and regulating facilities.
Note: For examples of components for this account see Account No. 817, “Measuring and Regulating”.
858.
PURIFICATION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of underground storage system purification facilities.
Note: For examples of components for this account see Account No. 818, “Purification”.
859.
OTHER UNDERGROUND STORAGE
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of other underground storage facilities not includible elsewhere.
TRANSMISSION – MAINTENANCE
860.
SUPERVISION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred at an area, division, district or similar field office or central warehouse in the general supervision and direction of the maintenance of the transmission system facilities.
Note A: The expenses to be included in this account may be initially charged to Account No. 660, “Supervision”, and apportioned between operations and maintenance supervision on an equitable basis. The method and basis of allocation shall be maintained in subsidiary records.
Note B: Direct supervision of specific activities such as maintenance of communication, pipelines, compressor stations and measuring and regulating stations shall be charged to the appropriate account.
Note C: For examples of components and additional notes applying to this account, see Account No. 810, “Supervision”.
864.
COMMUNICATION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of facilities used wholly or predominantly in connection with the transmission communication system.
Examples of Components
Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, aircraft and heavy work equipment, transportation of supplies, employee travelling and subsistence
Inspecting and testing after repairs have been made
Material and supplies used in repair work
Repainting
Repairs to access roads, station grounds, buildings and other structures
Repairs to fences and signs
Repairs to radio and communication equipment and to power lines
Repairs to tools, testing equipment and other general equipment
Note: Maintenance costs applicable to the facilities used wholly or predominantly in the general communications system shall be included in Account No. 884, “Communication”.
865.
PIPELINES
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of high pressure pipelines and facilities.
866.
COMPRESSOR
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of transmission system compressor stations and facilities.
Note: For examples of components for this account, see Account No. 816, “Compressor”.
867.
MEASURING AND REGULATING
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of transmission system measuring and regulating stations and facilities.
Note: For examples of components for this account, see Account No. 817, “Measuring and Regulating”.
869.
OTHER TRANSMISSION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of other transmission facilities not includible elsewhere.
DISTRIBUTION – MAINTENANCE
870.
SUPERVISION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the general supervision and direction of maintenance of the distribution system facilities.
Note A: The expenses to be included in this account may be initially charged to Account No. 600, “Supervision”, and apportioned between operation and maintenance supervision on an equitable basis. The method and basis of allocation shall be described in subsidiary records.
Note B: Direct supervision of specific activities such as maintenance of equipment on customers’ premises, mains and services, compressor stations, measuring and regulating stations, and meters shall be charged to the appropriate account.
Note C: For examples of components for this account see Account No. 600, “Supervision”.
872.
STRUCTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of structures and improvements for the distribution system.
Note: For examples of components for this account see Account No. 842, “Structures and Improvements”.
873.
MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT ON CUSTOMERS’ PREMISES
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of equipment owned by the gas distributor on customers’ premises, such as automatic water heaters, conversion burners and NGV equipment. See Account No. 576, “Rent from Gas Distributor Equipment on Customers’ Premises”.
Examples of Components
Cylinder inspection
Direct labour, contract labour and materials
Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, transportation of material, employee travelling, meals and incidental expenses
Material and supplies used in repair work
Planned maintenance of vehicle refuelling appliances
875.
MAINS AND SERVICES
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of mains and services for the distribution system.
Examples of Components
Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, aircraft and heavy work equipment, transportation of material, employee travelling and subsistence
Locating leaks
Material and supplies used in repair work
Repacking valves
Repair for damage by others to the gas distributor’s mains and services
Repairing broken mains or services
Repairing leaking joints
Restoration of pavement and/or lawn
Trenching, backfilling, etc.
Valve inspection and repairs
Note: Payment of claims for damages to property of others resulting from maintenance work shall be charged to Account No. 724, “Injuries and Damages”. Incidental damages settled during the course of maintenance work shall also be charged to Account No. 724, “Injuries and Damages”.
876.
COMPRESSOR
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of compressors for the distribution system.
Examples of Components
Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, aircraft and heavy work equipment, transportation of material, employee travelling and subsistence
Material and supplies used in repair work
Repainting
Repairs to buildings and other structures
Repairs to compressor equipment
Repairs to fences and signs
877.
MEASURING AND REGULATING
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of measuring and regulating facilities for the distribution system.
Examples of Components
Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, aircraft and heavy work, equipment transportation of material, employee travelling and subsistence
Material and supplies used in repair work
Repainting
Repairs to access roads
Repairs to buildings and structures
Repairs to equipment
Repairs to fences and signs
878.
METERS
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of meters for the distribution system.
Examples of Components
Cleaning, repairing, and painting meters, and accessories and equipment
Direct supervision
Expenses such as use of automotive, trucking, aircraft and heavy work equipment, transportation of material, employee travelling and subsistence
Inspecting and testing meters on customers’ premises or in shops in connection with repairs
Material and supplies used in repair
Repairing testing equipment
Rebuilding and overhauling meters without changing their rated capacities
Replacing diaphragms, springs and other defective or worn parts
879.
OTHER DISTRIBUTION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of other distribution system facilities not includible elsewhere.
GENERAL – MAINTENANCE
884.
COMMUNICATION
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the maintenance of facilities used wholly or predominantly in connection with the general communication system.
Note A: Maintenance costs applicable to the facilities used wholly or predominantly in the transmission communication system shall be included in Account No. 864, “Communication”.
Note B: For examples of components and an additional note applying to this account, see Account No. 864, “Communication”.
885.
SYSTEM MAINTENANCE AND ENGINEERING
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred at the general offices of the gas distributor for the maintenance of the gas system.
Note A: The expenses to be included in this account may be initially charged to Account No. 685, “System Operation and Engineering”, and apportioned between operation and maintenance on an equitable basis. The method and basis of allocation shall be described in subsidiary records.
Note B: Field supervision shall be charged to the appropriate functional accounts.
888.
OTHER GENERAL MAINTENANCE
This account shall include the cost of labour, materials and supplies, and expenses incurred in the general maintenance of the gas system and facilities not recorded elsewhere.
889.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE TRANSFERRED - CREDIT
This account shall be credited with general maintenance costs transferred to other accounts, such as costs charged to overhead during construction.
CLEARING ACCOUNTS
INTRODUCTION
Where expenditures cannot be recorded directly to a particular expense account or plant account or to customers’ accounts, a gas distributor may maintain clearing accounts to record them.
Amounts charged to these accounts shall be accumulated and then charged out on an equitable basis. The charge-out or allocation process shall generally be based on usage, but other reasonable allocation methods are acceptable. There should be regular reviews at fixed intervals of the allocation basis for each clearing account, to ensure that fair allocation is maintained.
The balances in these clearing accounts shall be substantially cleared at every month end. The uncleared balances shall be classified as a current asset.
The clearing accounts in this USOA may not contain the specific account that a gas distributor needs for its particular purpose. Accordingly the gas distributor may, with leave of the Board, create its own clearing accounts in addition to those contained in this USOA.
900.
WAREHOUSE EXPENSES
This account shall include expenses directly incurred in connection with handling and storing material, as well as distributing it from the gas distributor’s warehouses. Such expenses shall include the pay of employees in the field store department and their travelling, office, and other expenses.
Note A: The pay and expenses of personnel employed in inspecting a single class of material shall not be included in this account. These expenses shall be added as storage expenses for that particular material. The total amount of warehouse expenses charged to this account shall be distributed among the accounts to which material has been charged so that, for each account, the distributed amounts will be in proportion to the value of the material consumed. The gas distributor may make a monthly apportionment on the basis of percentage rates, provided that the warehouse expense account is adjusted and closed out at the end of each fiscal year.
901.
TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT EXPENSES
This account shall include the expenses of maintaining and operating all transportation equipment, except as provided in Account No. 903, “Aircraft Expense”, including the expenses of operating garages.
This account shall be cleared by adding to the cost of the work performed through the use of the equipment such amounts as will distribute expenses equitably.
Examples of Components
Depreciation
Licence fees
Overages and shortages in material and supplies for transportation equipment
Repairs to transportation equipment
Supplies such as fuel, gasoline, oil, tires, tubes, tire chains, soap, waste, sponges, measures, funnels, electric power, etc., used in operating transportation equipment and garages
Supervisors and their office and field forces, including the pay and expenses of inspectors, testers, garage men, and other employees
Note A: When depreciation is included, the amounts shall be readily identifiable.
Note B: See notes to Account No. 303, “Depreciation”.
902.
HEAVY WORK EQUIPMENT EXPENSES
This account shall include the expenses of maintaining and operating heavy work equipment.
This account shall be cleared by adding to the cost of work performed through the use of the equipment such amounts as will distribute expenses equitably.
Examples of Components
Depreciation
Licence fees
Overages and shortages in material and supplies for heavy work equipment
Repairs to heavy work equipment
Supervisors and their office and field forces, including the pay and expenses of inspectors, testers, garage men and other employees
Supplies such as fuel, gasoline, oil, tires, tubes, tire chains, soap, waste, sponges, measures, funnels, electric power, etc. used in operating heavy work equipment.
Note A: When depreciation is included, the amounts shall be readily identifiable.
Note B: See notes to Account No. 303, “Depreciation”.
903.
AIRCRAFT EXPENSES
This account shall include the expenses of maintaining and operating any aircraft, including the expenses of operating hangers and maintenance shops in connection with the aircraft.
This account shall be cleared by adding to the cost of the work performed through the use of the aircraft such amounts as will distribute expenses equitably.
Examples of Components
Depreciation
Licence fees
Overages and shortages in material and supplies for aircraft equipment
Repairs to aircraft equipment
Supervisors and their office and field forces, including the pay and expenses of inspectors, testers, garage men, and other employees
Supplies such as fuel, gasoline, oil, tiles, tubes, tire chains, soap, waste, sponges, measures, funnels, electric power, etc., used in operating transportation equipment and garages
Note A: When depreciation is included, the amounts shall be readily identifiable.
Note B: See notes to Account No. 303, “Depreciation”.
904.
PRINTING AND REPRODUCTION EXPENSES
This account shall include expenses incurred in the printing and reproduction of any documents where the work is performed by the gas distributor but cannot be allocated to a specific account.
This account shall be cleared by adding to the cost of the work performed such amounts as will distribute expenses equitably.
905.
INFORMATION SERVICE EXPENSES
This account shall include expenses of maintaining and operating the gas distributor’s computer equipment and related facilities.
906.
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM EXPENSES
This account shall include expenses of maintaining and operating the gas distributor’s communication system, switchboard and mobile radios.
PART IV – PLANT ACCOUNTING INSTRUCTIONS
1.
PLANT ACQUIRED OR CONSTRUCTED
The detail plant accounts shall record the cost to acquire or construct gas distributor plant, except as otherwise provided in these instructions. If the consideration given for such plant is something other than cash, the cash equivalent shall be charged to the applicable accounts and sufficient details of the actual consideration shall be retained.
When the gas distributor purchases all or part of the existing facilities of a non-affiliated gas distributor, the cost to acquire gas plant shall be distributed to the accounts, unless the Board determines that a portion of the acquisition cost is not properly includible as gas distributor plant. Such amounts shall then be included in Account No. 104, “Gas Distributor Plant Acquisition Adjustments”. If the facilities are purchased from an affiliated gas distributor, both the cost to the affiliated gas distributor and the accumulated depreciation to the date of acquisition shall be recorded in the gas distributor’s accounts.
If the plant is constructed by or for the gas distributor, the cost to be recorded shall include the cost of labour, material and supplies, special machine and heavy work equipment expense, transportation, contract work, insurance, injuries and damages, privileges and permits, overhead charged to construction and allowance for funds used during construction. These items are defined as:
A.
Components of Construction Costs
(a)Labour: This includes the amount paid for labour (including fringe benefits) to the gas distributor’s own employees. When employees are specifically assigned to construction work, their pay, while they are thus engaged, shall be included in the cost of the work. No charge shall be made to detail plant accounts for the pay of employees whose services in connection with construction are merely incidental, except as provided for in the cost of overhead charged to construction.
The employees’ travelling and other incidental expenses shall be distributed in accordance with the distribution of their pay.
(b)Material and supplies: This includes the net purchase price of material and supplies, including the cost of small tools, taxes, inspection, transportation and loading; also, where appropriate, a suitable proportion of stores expenses.
In charging the detail plant accounts with material and supplies used, proper allowance shall be made for the value of unused portions and other salvage, the material recovered from temporary pipe scaffolding and other temporary structures used in construction, and small tools recovered and usable for other purposes.
(c)Special machine and heavy work equipment Expense: This includes the cost of labour, material and supplies, depreciation and other expenses incurred in maintaining and operating power shovels, scrapers, pile drivers, dredges, ditchers, material loaders and other labour-saving machines; also amounts paid to others for rent and maintenance of such machines. It does not include the cost of small tools and other individual items of small value or short life that are included in the cost of material and supplies.
When a construction project requires the purchase of equipment to be used exclusively on the project until the work is completed, the cost of such equipment shall be included in the accounts representing the cost of the work. No charge shall be made to expenses for depreciation on such equipment while the cost remains so charged. The amount realized from any subsequent sale, or the appraised value of the equipment retained after the completion of the work for which it was purchased, shall be credited to the accounts charged with its cost. The appraised value of the equipment retained shall be debited to the appropriate plant account, and thereafter, for accounting purposes, that appraised value shall be considered as the cost of the equipment.
(d)Transportation: This includes the cost of transporting employees, materials and supplies, special machine outfits and appliances and tools for construction purposes. The cost of transporting construction material to the point where the gas distributor receives it shall be included, so far as practicable, as part of the material’s cost.
(e)Contract work: This includes amounts paid for work performed under contract by other companies or individuals.
(f)Insurance, injuries and damages: This includes the share of premiums incurred for insuring plant and personnel during construction; also the charges for protection against fire and wilful destruction and the cost of injuries to persons, damage to property of others and damages to plant incident to construction. Insurance recovered shall be credited to the accounts chargeable with the expenditures necessary to restore the damaged plant. Injuries and damages incident to removing the old structures in whole or in part shall be charged to the account recording retirement costs. Incidental damages settled during the course of construction shall be expensed and charged to Account No. 724, “Injuries and Damages”.
(g)Privileges and permits: This includes compensation for temporary privileges such as the use of public property or streets and the cost of hearings, permits and rights in connection with construction work.
(h)Overhead charged to construction: This includes engineering, supervision, administrative salaries and expenses, construction engineering and supervision, legal expenses, taxes and other similar items. Overhead costs shall be assigned to particular jobs or units on the basis of a reasonable allocation of actual costs. The records supporting the entries for overhead charged to construction costs shall be maintained so as to show the total amount for each element of overhead for the year and the basis of allocation.
(i)Allowance for funds used during construction: This includes the cost to the gas distributor of funds used for construction purposes, whether long-term debt has been incurred or not. The basis of calculation of the cost shall be as outlined in Account No. 324, “Allowance for Funds Used During Construction – Credit”.
B.
Contributions and Grants
Contributions or grants in cash, services or property from governments or government agencies, corporations, individuals, and others for contributions in aid of construction shall be applied as a reduction of the detail plant accounts to which they refer, if not recorded separately in Account No. 499, “Contributions and Grants”.
C.
Date Placed in Service
On the date when an asset is placed in service, the gas distributor should cease to record an allowance for funds used during its construction. From that date the gas distributor shall compute and charge to expenses or other appropriate accounts an amount representing depreciation as determined under Section 5, “Depreciation”, of these instructions. Operating revenues received and operating expenses incurred after the date when the asset is placed in service shall be included in the appropriate operating revenue and expense accounts.
D.
Work Order and Property Record System
Every gas distributor shall record all construction and retirements of gas distributor plant by means of work orders or job orders. Separate work orders may be opened for additions and retirements. Retirements may be included with the construction work order, provided that all items relating to the retirements are kept separate from those relating to construction and also that any maintenance costs involved in the work are likewise segregated.
Every gas distributor shall keep its work order system so as to show the nature of additions to or retirements of gas distributor plant, the total cost, the source or sources of the costs, and the gas distributor plant account or accounts to which the work is charged or credited. Work orders covering jobs of short duration may be cleared monthly.
Every gas distributor shall maintain records in which, for each plant account, the amounts of the annual additions and retirements are classified so as to show the number and cost of the various retirement units or other appropriate record units.
2.
ADDITIONS
Additions are increases in gas distributor plant through the purchase or construction of additional plant and/or replacement of existing plant. The cost of adding to or replacing plant shall be charged to the appropriate plant account.
A description of typical elements of construction is referred to in Section 1.A, “Components of Construction Costs”. All expenditures relevant to new construction shall be capitalized. After initial construction is completed, only the costs directly connected to additions or replacements of plant shall be capitalized.
To avoid undue refinement in accounting for additions and replacements of gas distributor plant, all property charged within the plant accounts shall be considered as consisting of Plant Units and Minor Items of Plant.
A.
Plant Units
Every gas distributor shall use its own list of plant units. Such lists shall be filed with the Board and subject to its approval. A plant unit is not necessarily a complete structure but may be part of a structure where that part is physically distinct and the amount of money involved is material. The Board expects that the list of plant units will be revised and amended from time to time as experience and conditions warrant, subject to its approval.
Plant units shall be accounted for as follows:
Additions: The cost of a plant unit shall be charged to the appropriate plant account.
Retirements: The book value of the plant unit shall be credited to the appropriate plant account.
Replacements: The book value of the original plant unit shall be credited to the appropriate plant account, and the cost of the replacement shall be charged to the appropriate plant account.
B.
Minor Items of Plant
These are the associated parts or items making up a plant unit, and shall be accounted for as follows:
Additions: The cost of a minor item of plant that did not previously exist shall be charged to the appropriate plant account unless excluded by the minimum rule, as set out in Section 2.C.
Retirements: The book value of a minor item of plant shall be credited to the appropriate plant accounting. If, however, the book value of the minor item retired and not replaced will be accounted for upon the retirement of the plant unit with which it is associated, then no adjustment shall be made to the plant accounts when such a minor item is retired.
Replacements: The cost of a minor item of plant shall be charged to the appropriate expense account.
C.
The Minimum Rule
This is intended for accounting convenience, to provide a dollar limit on the charging of costs of Minor Items of Plant to plant accounts. When the costs of such items are less than a selected minimum dollar value, such costs shall be charged to the expense accounts. No change is to be made in the selected minimum dollar amount except by approval of the Board.
D.
Repairs Made During Plant Changes
For particulars see Section 4, “Maintenance”.
E.
Relocation of Pipeline
For particulars see Section 3, “Retirements”.
F.
Second-hand Plant
When second-hand plant is acquired in such a physical condition that extensive repairs are needed to bring it to the standard required by the gas distributor, the cost of those repairs shall be included in the appropriate plant account.
G.
Major Renewals and Repairs
A plant unit is considered as rebuilt when the cost of renewals to parts of such unit, excluding the expense of dismantling and/or repairing old parts reused, exceeds 50% of the replacement cost of a similar new unit.
The rebuilt plant unit shall be accounted for as an addition and the old plant unit accounted for as retired from service. The term “cost of renewals” means the cost of material, other than second-hand parts remaining in the rebuilt plant unit, plus the cost of labour used in the rebuilding, net of the expense of dismantling and repairing old parts reused.
The charge to the appropriate plant account for the rebuilt plant unit shall be the sum of:
(a)the value of second-hand parts remaining in the rebuilt plant, appropriately valued; and
(b)the cost of labour and additional material applied,
both net of the expense of dismantling and repairing second-hand parts reused.
3.
RETIREMENTS
A.
Depreciable Plant
When a plant unit is retired from gas operations, the book value shall be eliminated by crediting the appropriate plant accounts. When plant comprising less than a plant unit is removed from service, no adjustment shall be made to the plant accounts if the book value of the retired plant will be removed upon the retirement of the plant unit with which it is associated. When a plant unit is retired, the book value less the net salvage value and/or insurance recovered, if any, shall be charged to accumulated depreciation.
Book Value: This is the amount at which the plant is carried in the gas distributor’s accounts before deducting accumulated depreciation. Book value is normally the cost of the plant. If the book value of any portion of plant is not shown separately, the book value of that portion shall be its proportionate share of the book value of the entire group in which the particular plant is included.
Salvage Value: This represents the value of material recovered from plant retired. If the material is sold, this value will be the proceeds realized from the sale. If the gas distributor retains the material, it shall be valued at book value and charged to Account No. 150, “Materials and Supplies”, or other accounts of this USOA. “Net salvage value” means the salvage value less removal costs. Where removal costs exceed salvage value, the net salvage value will be negative.
Ordinary Retirements: These result from causes that the owner can reasonably be assumed to have contemplated in prior depreciation provisions, and normally may be expected to occur when plant reaches the end of its expected service life. In the case of such a retirement, accumulated depreciation shall be charged with the book value of the asset and the cost of removal and credited with any amounts realized for salvage and insurance. There is no charge or credit to income for an ordinary retirement. For particulars see Section 5, “Depreciation”.
Extraordinary Retirements: These result from causes that the owner cannot reasonably be assumed to have anticipated or contemplated in prior depreciation or amortization provisions. Such causes include unusual casualties due to fire, storm, flood, etc., sudden and complete obsolescence, or unexpected and permanent shutdown of an operating assembly or plant. An extraordinary retirement results is a loss (or gain) to the extent that the net charges (or credits) would unduly deflate (or inflate) the accumulated depreciation or amortization accounts.
A loss (or gain) consists of the difference between the book value of the plant plus cost of removal less salvage and insurance recoveries and the related depreciation or amortization determined in an equitable manner.
Losses as a result of an extraordinary retirement shall be charged to Account No. 171, “Extraordinary Plant Losses”. Gains, if any, as a result of an extraordinary retirement shall be credited to income as an extraordinary item.
B.
Non-depreciable Plant
When a gas distributor retains non-depreciable plant that it no longer requires for gas distribution purposes, its book value shall be transferred to Account No. 110, “Other Gas Distributor Plant”. When non-depreciable plant is sold, the book value of the plant shall be credited to the applicable plant account. Any profit or loss, if material, shall be recorded in the income statement as an extraordinary item, or in Account No. 171, “Extraordinary Plant Losses”, as applicable.
If the profit or loss on disposal of non-depreciable plant is immaterial, such profit or loss shall be recorded in Account No. 319, “Other Income”, or in an appropriate income account.
C.
Pipe Relocations
When a pipeline is relocated, the part of the line changed shall be considered plant retired and its book value credited to the appropriate plant account. The new line shall be considered an addition and its cost charged to the appropriate plant account. The cost of pipeline changes involving less than a plant unit of line pipe or an equivalent length shall be charged to expense.
When a gas distributor’s pipeline or any part of it is located in accordance with an agreement whose terms may require the gas distributor to relocate the pipeline in whole or in part, and the gas distributor has no reasonable alternative to relocating a plant unit or more of line pipe, and the relocation would be a replacement as defined in Section 2, “Additions”, then unless otherwise provided, the gas distributor shall, with the approval of the Board, charge the cost of relocation to the expenses of the period in which the work was done.
When such relocation results from action by a governmental authority, it shall be accounted for in a similar manner.
D.
Pipe Replacements
When the retired line pipe is replaced with other pipe in the same location, the cost of opening and backfilling the trench, together with the cost of hauling, laying and connecting the pipe, and other costs of pipeline construction, including the cost of material and supplies, shall be charged to the appropriate plant account. The cost of removing the retired pipe from the trench shall be accounted for as negative salvage. The cost of reconditioning the line pipe not removed shall be accounted for as maintenance and not as retirements and replacements.
If the retired line pipe is not replaced in the same location, the cost of opening and backfilling the trench from which the pipe is removed, together with the cost of removing the pipe, shall be accounted for as the cost of recovering the salvage.
4.
MAINTENANCE
The cost of repairs to be included in the maintenance accounts shall include the cost of inspection to determine what repairs are necessary; the cost of adjusting, repairing, or replacing parts; and the cost of inspection, testing and running of parts to determine that the repairs were properly made and that the repaired items are ready for service.
When repairs are made to existing plant concurrent with a plant addition or replacement, the cost of new repair material, plus the labour cost actually incurred, shall be charged to the appropriate plant account. If such repairs do not include a plant addition or replacement, the cost shall be charged to the expense account appropriate for repairs to the plant being repaired.
The cost of repairs shall include any incidental costs such as the construction and removal of faulty work in connection with maintenance; the cost of relocating pipeline when retirement accounting for units of plant is not involved; and the cost of repairing fences, sidewalks, driveways and streets within or adjacent to such grounds.
The elements of maintenance shall include labour, materials and supplies; special machine and heavy work equipment service, transportation, contract work, privileges and permits; and protection from casualties, injuries and damages, as outlined in Section 1, “Plant Acquired or Constructed”, for similar elements of cost of plant acquired or constructed. Royalties paid for patent rights on mechanical appliances used in repairs shall be included in the cost of repairs.
5.
DEPRECIATION
A.There shall be charged monthly to Account No. 303, “Depreciation”, or other appropriate accounts, with concurrent credits to the account for accumulated depreciation, amounts that will allocate the service value of the plant over its estimated service life in a systematic and rational manner.
The service value of the plant for depreciation purposes shall be its cost less its estimated net salvage value.
The service life is the period of time between the date on which the plant is placed in service and its retirement for accounting purposes.
B.The charges for depreciation shall be computed in conformity with the group system under the straight-line method or other methods approved by the Board. The group system contemplates that some part of the investment in a group of assets probably will be recovered through salvage realizations, and that probably there will be variations in the service lives of the assets constituting the group, even among assets of the same class. The depreciation provision determined for the group is a weighted average of the various provisions for the respective assets in the group.
For purposes of reporting to the Board, summaries shall be maintained so that the accumulated depreciation can be subdivided to show separately the amount applicable to each detail account or to each group of detail accounts comprising plant that performs similar functions.
When the retirement or disposal of any individual asset in a group occurs under circumstances reasonably provided for through accumulated depreciation, it may be assumed that such provision has been made. Thus, whether the period of service life is shorter or longer than the average service life, accumulated depreciation attributable to an asset at the time of retirement under such circumstances is equal to the cost, except for that portion reasonably assumed to be recoverable through salvage realization. Assets remaining in use after reaching the average life expectancy are not regarded as fully depreciated until actual retirement. For particulars, see Section 3, “Retirements”.
When a primary account is fully depreciated (i.e., when the plant balance is equal to the corresponding accumulated depreciation plus or minus the estimated net salvage) further accumulation of depreciation on that plant account should cease.
C.All detail plant accounts except for “Land” accounts and Account No. 458, “Base Pressure Gas”, are classified as accounts covering depreciable assets. Account No. 401, “Franchises and Consents”, Account No. 402, “Other Intangible Plant”, and “Land Rights” accounts are also classified as depreciable assets so far as they are subject to the same “cost allocation over the useful life” as depreciable assets.
D.Monthly depreciation charges under the straight-line method shall be computed by applying the annual percentage rate to the cost of plant as of the first of each month and dividing the result by twelve. The gas distributor may, with the approval of the Board and when the amount is material, compute depreciation charges commencing on the date when the plant was actually placed in service rather than the first of the month following. If this method is followed, depreciation should cease at the date of retirement rather than at month end.
E.In computing depreciation charges a separate rate shall be used for each group of detail accounts or sub-accounts. The established rate may be a composite rate due to the different classes and types of assets in the detailed account. The rate shall be approved by the Board, except that when no rate for each group of detail accounts or each detail account has been approved previously, the gas distributor may use an interim estimated rate until a rate is approved by the Board.
F.Depreciation rates shall be based on the estimated service values and estimated service lives of the plant, developed by a study of the gas distributor’s history and experience and such engineering and other information as may be available with respect to future conditions. Non-depreciable plant should not be included in calculating the rates or applying them.
The rates, when filed, shall be accompanied by a statement showing the bases for the rates and the methods employed in their computation, and shall be developed by the gas distributor by the method deemed most appropriate in the light of its retirement experience.
G.Records shall be maintained so that when plant is retired, details will be available to show the service life, the cost of removal, and the proceeds from salvage of each class of depreciable plant.
The gas distributor shall be prepared at any time, upon direction of the Board, to compute and submit for its approval revised rates in cases where existing rates are deemed inapplicable.
H.All new depreciation rates and modifications to existing rates are subject to approval by the Board.
N.B. This Regulation is consolidated to December 31, 1999.