Accounting and Ratemaking Treatment of Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes and Treatment Following the Sale or Retirement of an Asset, 59295-59303 [2018-25372]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 226 (Friday, November 23, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59295-59303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25372]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

18 CFR Parts 35, 101, 154, 201, and 352

[Docket No. PL19-2-000]


Accounting and Ratemaking Treatment of Accumulated Deferred 
Income Taxes and Treatment Following the Sale or Retirement of an Asset

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Policy statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In this Policy Statement, the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (Commission) states its policy regarding the treatment of 
Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes for both accounting and ratemaking 
purposes as to Commission-jurisdictional public utilities, natural gas 
pipelines and oil pipelines, in light of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 
2017. In addition, the Commission addresses the accounting and 
ratemaking treatment of Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes following the 
sale or retirement of an asset.

DATES: This Policy Statement will become applicable November 23, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sharli Silva (Legal Information), Office of the General Counsel, 888 
First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-8719, 
[email protected].
Bryan Wheeler (Technical Information), Office of Energy Markets 
Regulation, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-8497, [email protected].
Monil Patel (Technical Information), Office of Energy Markets 
Regulation, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-8296, [email protected].
Kimberly Horner (Technical Information), Office of Enforcement, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 
20426, (202) 502-8623, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. In this Policy Statement, the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (Commission) states its policy regarding the treatment of 
Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes (ADIT) for both accounting and 
ratemaking purposes as to Commission-jurisdictional public utilities, 
natural gas pipelines, and oil pipelines, in light of the Tax Cuts and 
Jobs Act of 2017.\1\ The Commission also addresses the accounting and 
ratemaking treatment of ADIT following the sale or retirement of an 
asset.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II 
and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 
2018, Public Law 115-97, 131 Stat. 2054 (2017) (Tax Cuts and Jobs 
Act).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Background

A. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

    2. On December 22, 2017, the President signed into law the Tax Cuts 
and Jobs Act. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, among other things, reduced 
the federal corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, 
effective January 1, 2018.\2\ This means that, beginning January 1, 
2018, companies subject to the Commission's jurisdiction will compute 
income taxes owed to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) based on a 21 
percent tax rate. The tax rate reduction will result in less corporate 
income tax expense going forward.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Id. Sec. 13001, 131 Stat. at 2096.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Importantly, the tax rate reduction will also result in a 
reduction in ADIT liabilities and ADIT assets on the books of rate-
regulated companies. ADIT balances are accumulated on the regulated 
books and records of such regulated companies based on the requirements 
of the Uniform System of Accounts (USofA).\3\ ADIT arises from timing 
differences between the method of computing taxable income for 
reporting to the IRS and the method of computing income for regulatory 
accounting and ratemaking purposes.\4\ As a result of the Tax Cuts and 
Jobs Act reducing the federal corporate income tax rate from 35 percent 
to 21 percent, a portion of an ADIT liability that was collected from 
customers will no longer be due from public utilities, natural gas 
pipelines and oil pipelines to the IRS and is considered excess ADIT.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ See Definition of Accounts 182.3 and Account 254, 18 CFR 
part 101, Uniform System of Accounts Prescribed for Public Utilities 
and Licensees Subject to the Provisions of the Federal Power Act; 
see Definition of Accounts 182.3 and Account 254, 18 CFR part 201, 
Uniform System of Accounts Prescribed for Natural Gas Companies 
Subject to the Provisions of the Natural Gas Act; see General 
Instructions 1-12, Accounting for Income Taxes, 18 CFR part 352, 
Uniform Systems of Accounts Prescribed for Oil Pipeline Companies 
Subject to the Provisions of the Interstate Commerce Act.
    \4\ See 18 CFR 35.24(d)(2) (2018).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Order No. 144

    4. The purpose of tax normalization is to match the tax effects of 
costs and revenues with the recovery in rates of those same costs and 
revenues.\5\ As

[[Page 59296]]

noted above, timing differences may exist between the method of 
computing taxable income for reporting to the IRS and the method of 
computing income for regulatory accounting and ratemaking purposes. The 
tax effects of these differences are placed in a deferred tax account 
to be used in later periods when the differences reverse.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Tax Normalization for Certain Items Reflecting Timing 
Differences in the Recognition of Expenses or Revenues for 
Ratemaking and Income Tax Purposes, Order No. 144, FERC Stats. & 
Regs. ] 30,254 at 31,522, 31,530 (1981), order on reh'g, Order No. 
144-A, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 30,340 (1982).
    \6\ Order No. 144, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 30,254 at 31,554.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    5. The Commission established this policy of tax normalization in 
Order No. 144 where it required use of ``the provision for deferred 
taxes [(i.e., ADIT)] as a mechanism for setting the tax allowance at 
the level of current tax cost.'' \7\ In keeping with this normalization 
policy, and as relevant to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act's reduction of the 
federal corporate income tax rate, the Commission in Order No. 144 also 
required adjustments in the ADIT of public utilities' cost of service 
when excessive or deficient ADIT has been created as a result of 
changes in tax rates.\8\ Furthermore, the Commission required ``a rate 
applicant to compute the income tax component in its cost of service by 
making provision for any excess or deficiency in its deferred tax 
reserves resulting . . . from tax rate changes.'' \9\ The Commission 
required that such provision be consistent with a Commission-approved 
ratemaking method made specifically applicable to the rate 
applicant.\10\ Where no ratemaking method has been made specifically 
applicable, the Commission required the rate applicant to advance some 
method in its next rate case.\11\ The Commission stated that it would 
determine the appropriateness of any proposed method on a case-by-case 
basis, but as the issue is resolved in a number of cases, a method with 
wide applicability may be adopted.\12\ The Commission codified the 
requirements of Order No. 144 in its regulations in 18 CFR 35.24.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Id. at 31,530.
    \8\ Id. at 31,519.
    \9\ Order No. 144, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 30,254 at 31,560. See 
also 18 CFR 35.24(c)(1)(ii); 18 CFR 35.24(c)(2).
    \10\ Order No. 144, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 30,254 at 31,560. See 
also 18 CFR 35.24(c)(3).
    \11\ Order No. 144, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 30,254 at 31,560.
    \12\ Id. See also 18 CFR 35.24(c)(3).
    \13\ Originally promulgated as part of Order No. 144, the 
regulatory text was redesignated as 18 CFR 35.25 in Order No. 144-A. 
See Order No. 144-A, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 30,340 at 30,140. In 
Order No. 545, the Commission again redesignated the regulatory text 
to its present designation as 18 CFR 35.24. See Streamlining 
Electric Power Regulation, Order No. 545, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 
30,955, at 30,713 (1992) (cross-referenced at 61 FERC ]61,207).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Public Utilities--18 CFR 35.24
    6. Originally promulgated in Order No. 144, the Commission's 
regulations in 18 CFR 35.24 provide requirements for the proper 
ratemaking treatment of the tax effects of all transactions for which 
there are timing differences.\14\ Under this section, a public utility 
must account for excess or deficient ADIT when computing the income tax 
component of its cost of service.\15\ Additionally, in accounting for 
this excess or deficient ADIT, a public utility is required to apply 
the ratemaking method that has been specifically approved by the 
Commission for that public utility.\16\ Where no such ratemaking method 
exists, a public utility may choose which ratemaking method to apply 
and the reasonableness of that ratemaking method will be determined on 
a case-by-case basis by the Commission.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ See id.
    \15\ See 18 CFR 35.24(c)(1)(ii), (c)(2).
    \16\ See 18 CFR 35.24(c)(3).
    \17\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Natural Gas Pipelines--18 CFR 154.305
    7. Order No. 144 also promulgated the Commission's regulations 
regarding tax normalization for natural gas pipelines which were 
originally located in part 2 of the regulations as section 2.202.\18\ 
Order No. 144-A redesignated the tax normalization regulations for 
natural gas pipelines by removing them from part 2 of the Commission's 
regulations and placing them in part 154.\19\ Subsequently, Order No. 
582 redesignated the regulatory text in that part with respect to 
natural gas pipelines to its current designation in section 154.305, 
and made various revisions in that section.\20\ The section requires a 
natural gas pipeline making a rate filing under the Natural Gas Act to 
compute the income tax component of its cost of service by using tax 
normalization for all transactions.\21\ More specifically, the section 
requires natural gas pipelines to reduce rate base by the balances that 
are properly recordable in USofA Account 281 (Accumulated deferred 
income taxes--accelerated amortization property), Account 282 
(Accumulated deferred income taxes--other property), and Account 283 
(Accumulated deferred income taxes--other).\22\ Conversely, rate base 
must be increased by balances that are properly recordable in Account 
190 (Accumulated deferred income taxes).\23\ The section also requires 
natural gas pipelines to compute the income tax component in its cost 
of service by including a provision for amortizing excess or deficiency 
in deferred taxes. This is done by applying a Commission-approved 
ratemaking method made specifically applicable to the natural gas 
pipeline for determining the cost-of-service provision: (1) If the 
natural gas pipeline has not provided deferred taxes in the same amount 
that would have accrued had tax normalization always been applied or 
(2) if, as a result of changes in tax rates, the accumulated provision 
for deferred taxes becomes deficient in, or in excess of, amounts 
necessary to meet future tax liabilities.\24\ Similar to the tax 
normalization regulations for public utilities, if the Commission has 
not approved a specific ratemaking method specifically applicable to 
the natural gas pipeline, then the natural gas pipeline must use a 
previously approved ratemaking method.\25\ The Commission will 
determine whether such method is appropriate on a case-by-case 
basis.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ Order No. 144, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 30,254.
    \19\ Order No. 144-A, FERC Stats. & Regs.] 30,340 at 30,140. The 
Commission deemed part 154 a more appropriate location because tax 
normalization is required to be used by natural gas pipelines in 
filing their rate applications and the regulations that govern the 
filing of such rate applications are located in part 154. Id.
    \20\ 18 CFR 154.305 (2018). See Order No. 582, Filing and 
Reporting Requirements for Interstate Natural Gas Company Rate 
Schedules and Tariffs, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,025 (1995), order on 
reh'g, Order No. 582-A, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,043 (1996), order 
on clarification, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,037 (1996). The tax 
normalization regulations were moved from 18 CFR 154.63a to 154.305.
    \21\ 18 CFR 154.305.
    \22\ 18 CFR 154.305(c)(1).
    \23\ Id.
    \24\ 18 CFR 154.305(d). Such amounts must be included as an 
addition or reduction to rate base until the deficiency or excess is 
fully amortized using the Commission approved ratemaking method. Id.
    \25\ 18 CFR 154.305(d)(3).
    \26\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Oil Pipelines
    8. Unlike the Commission's regulations applicable to public 
utilities and natural gas pipelines, there is no tax normalization 
section under the Commission's regulations for oil pipelines. Instead, 
the Commission's regulations for oil pipelines under the USofA General 
Instructions, 1-12 Accounting for Income Taxes, require that when 
income tax rates are changed, oil pipelines reduce or increase their 
ADIT balances immediately by the full amount of the excess or deficient 
tax reserve.\27\ Specifically, section (b) requires oil pipelines to 
apply the

[[Page 59297]]

enacted tax rate in determining the amount of deferred taxes and adjust 
their deferred tax liabilities and assets for the effect of the change 
in tax law or rates in the period that the change is enacted.\28\ The 
section further requires the adjustment to be recorded in the 
appropriate deferred tax balance sheet accounts based on the nature of 
the temporary difference and the related classification requirements of 
the account.\29\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ 18 CFR part 352, General Instructions 1-12, Accounting for 
Income Taxes.
    \28\ Id.
    \29\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Prior Accounting Guidance for Public Utilities and Natural Gas 
Pipelines
    9. In Docket No. AI93-5-000, the Chief Accountant issued accounting 
guidance on the proper accounting for income taxes.\30\ Among other 
matters, the accounting guidance directed public utilities and natural 
gas companies to adjust their deferred tax liabilities and assets for 
the effect of the change in tax law or rates in the period that the 
change is enacted.\31\ The guidance stated that adjustments should be 
recorded in the appropriate deferred tax balance sheet accounts 
(Accounts 190, 281, 282 and 283) based on the nature of the temporary 
difference and the related classification requirements of the 
accounts.\32\ Further, if as a result of action by a regulator, it is 
probable that the future increase or decrease in taxes payable due to 
the change in tax law or rates will be recovered from or returned to 
customers through future rates, an asset or liability should be 
recognized in Account 182.3 (Other Regulatory Assets), or Account 254 
(Other Regulatory Liabilities), as appropriate, for that probable 
future revenue or reduction in future revenue.\33\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ See Accounting for Income Taxes, Docket No. AI93-5-000, at 
Item 8 (Apr. 23, 1993).
    \31\ Id.
    \32\ Id.
    \33\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Notice of Inquiry

    10. Following the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the 
Commission issued a Notice of Inquiry seeking comments on, among other 
things, whether, and if so, how, the Commission should address the 
effects on ADIT of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.\34\ The Commission noted 
that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act's reduction to the federal corporate 
income tax rate would potentially create excess or deficient ADIT on 
the books of public utilities.\35\ As relevant to the guidance provided 
in this Policy Statement, the Commission sought comments on the 
treatment of ADIT for assets sold or retired after December 31, 2017, 
and the amortization of excess and deficient ADIT.\36\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ Inquiry Regarding the Effect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 
on Commission-Jurisdictional Rates, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 35,582 
(2018) (NOI). In this Policy Statement, we refer to the comments 
filed in response to the NOI. A list of commenters in that 
proceeding and the abbreviated names used in this Policy Statement 
appears in Appendix A.
    \35\ NOI, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 35,582 at P 13.
    \36\ Id. PP 20-22.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Discussion

    11. This Policy Statement states our requirements regarding the 
treatment of ADIT in light of the tax rate reduction implemented in the 
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Specifically, we provide guidance regarding: (1) 
The accounts in which public utilities, natural gas pipelines, and oil 
companies should record the amortization of excess and/or deficient 
ADIT for accounting purposes and ratemaking purposes and (2) whether, 
and if so how, such entities should address excess and/or deficient 
ADIT that is recorded on the books of public utilities, natural gas 
pipelines, and oil companies after December 31, 2017, as a result of 
assets being sold or retired for both accounting and ratemaking 
purposes.
    12. First, we clarify that for both accounting purposes and 
ratemaking purposes, public utilities and natural gas companies should 
record the amortization of the excess and/or deficient ADIT recorded in 
Account 254 (Other Regulatory Liabilities) and/or Account 182.3 (Other 
Regulatory Assets) by recording the offsetting entries to Account 410.1 
(Provision for Deferred Income Taxes, Utility Operating Income) or 
Account 411.1 (Provision for Deferred Income Taxes--Credit, Utility 
Operating Income), as required by the USofA. We further clarify that 
for accounting purposes oil pipelines should adjust their ADIT balances 
to reflect the change in federal income tax rates with offsetting 
entries to the appropriate income statement account, as required by the 
USofA. Accordingly, oil pipeline companies will not record excess or 
deficient ADIT for accounting purposes. As detailed below, we also 
clarify that oil pipelines should provide additional disclosures in the 
Notes that accompany their FERC Form No. 6, Annual Report of Oil 
Pipeline Companies (Form No. 6).
    13. Second, for accounting purposes, we reiterate that public 
utilities and natural gas pipelines must continue to follow the 
accounting guidance issued by the Chief Accountant in Docket No. AI93-
5-000 with respect to changes in tax law or rates. To ensure 
transparency in the accounting adjustments to the deferred tax 
accounts, we clarify that entities should provide additional 
disclosures in their 2018 FERC annual financial filing within the Notes 
to the Financial Statements as detailed below.
    14. With respect to ratemaking, for a public utility or natural gas 
pipeline that continues to have an income tax allowance, any excess or 
deficient ADIT associated with an asset must continue to be amortized 
in rates even after the sale or retirement of that asset. This excess 
or deficient ADIT will continue to be refunded to or recovered from 
ratepayers based on the schedule that was initially established. 
Similarly, for ratemaking purposes oil pipelines should keep records of 
excess and deficient ADIT.

A. In Which Accounts Should Companies Record Amortization of Excess and 
Deficient ADIT

    15. In the NOI, the Commission sought comment on whether a public 
utility or natural gas pipeline should record the amortization by 
recording a reduction to the regulatory asset or regulatory liability 
account and recording an offsetting entry to Account 407.3 (Regulatory 
Debits) or Account 407.4 (Regulatory Credits).\37\ For oil pipelines, 
the Commission sought comment on whether this information should be 
recorded in Account 665 (Unusual or Infrequent Items (Debit)) or 
Account 645 (Unusual or Infrequent Items (Credit)).\38\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ NOI, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 35,582 at P 22.
    \38\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Comment Summary
    16. Ameren takes issue with the premise of the Commission's 
question that a separate regulatory liability or asset account is 
necessary to record excess or deficient ADIT, respectively, arguing 
that the excess or deficient ADIT should remain in the accounts where 
they were originally recorded.\39\ APPA and AMP, along with Indicated 
Customers, argue that it would be both appropriate and transparent to 
record the excess ADIT in the same ADIT accounts (e.g., Accounts 190, 
282 and 283) where the original entries for the ADIT assets and ADIT 
liabilities were established, but believe separate regulatory liability 
and/or asset accounts would also be appropriate.\40\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ Ameren, Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 16 
(filed May 21, 2018) (Ameren NOI Comments).
    \40\ APPA and AMP, Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 
16 (filed May 22, 2018) (APPA and AMP NOI Comments); Indicated 
Customers, Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 14 (filed May 
21, 2018) (Indicated Customers NOI Comments).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 59298]]

    17. When separate regulatory liability or assets are used, 
commenters' viewpoints diverge on the appropriate account to record the 
offsetting entry. Certain commenters agree with the Commission's 
initial suggestion.\41\ PSEG states that Accounts 407.3 and 407.4 
correspond to the appropriate balance sheet account where the excess 
deferred taxes reside.\42\ Regarding natural gas pipelines, Berkshire 
asserts that recording the amounts in Account 407.3 or 407.4 will be 
easier for FERC Form No. 2 users to understand because it will result 
in similar treatment to other IRS schedule M items and above the line 
accounting while avoiding the requirement to spread the total year's 
amortization over each month using the FASB Interpretation No. 18 
method.\43\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ Berkshire, Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 5-6 
(filed May 22, 2018) (Berkshire NOI Comments); Consumer Advocates, 
Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 8-10 (filed May 21, 
2018) (Consumer Advocates NOI Comments); DEMEC, Comments to NOI, 
Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 16 (filed May 21, 2018) (DEMEC NOI 
Comments); PSEG, Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 10-11 
(filed May 22, 2018) (PSEG NOI Comments); TransCanada, Comments to 
NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 25 (filed May 21, 2018) (TransCanada 
NOI Comments).
    \42\ PSEG NOI Comments at 10-11.
    \43\ Berkshire NOI Comments at 5-6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    18. Other commenters believe that either Accounts 407.3 and 407.4 
or 410.1 (Provision for deferred income taxes, utility operating 
income) and 411.1 (Provision for deferred income taxes) are 
appropriate. Avangrid asserts that Account 407 is consistent with the 
fact that the excess deferred tax obligation ceased upon tax reform 
enactment and that the utilities will prospectively amortize a 
regulatory deferral, rather than a deferred tax liability; however, use 
of Account 411 is consistent with USofA requirements.\44\ EEI and INGAA 
state that their members' opinions are split between the two accounting 
options and request that the Commission recognize that both approaches 
may be appropriate.\45\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ Avangrid, Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 12-13 
(May 22, 2018) (Avangrid NOI Comments).
    \45\ EEI, Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 19-20 
(filed May 22, 2018) (EEI NOI Comments); INGAA, Comments to NOI, 
Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 12 (filed June 5, 2018) (INGAA NOI 
Comments).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    19. Many other commenters believe that only Accounts 410.1 and 
411.1 are appropriate.\46\ New York Transco notes that those accounts 
were originally used when the regulatory asset or regulatory liability 
was established.\47\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \46\ Ameren NOI Comments at 16; APPA and AMP NOI Comments at 16; 
Dominion Energy Gas Pipelines, Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-
000, at 14-15 (filed May 21, 2018) (Dominion Energy Gas Pipelines 
NOI Comments); Enable Interstate Pipelines, Comments to NOI, Docket 
No. RM18-12-000, at 39-40 (filed May 21, 2018) (Enable Interstate 
Pipelines NOI Comments); Indicated Customers, Comments to NOI, 
Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 10 (filed May 21, 2018) (Indicated 
Customers NOI Comments); Indicated Local Distribution Companies, 
Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 11 (filed May 22, 2018) 
(Indicated Local Distribution Companies NOI Comments); New York 
Transco, Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 10 (filed May 
22, 2018) (New York Transco NOI Comments).
    \47\ New York Transco NOI Comments at 10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    20. Regarding oil pipelines, AOPL states with respect to regulatory 
accounting under the USofA, any excess ADIT is eliminated when tax 
rates change consistent with generally accepted accounting principles, 
rather than being reduced over time through amortization. AOPL states 
there is no reason to change either the Commission's accounting rules 
or current oil pipeline accounting practices; the Commission's 
ratemaking precedent controls rather than accounting rules for purposes 
of setting cost-of-service rates.\48\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \48\ AOPL, Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 16 (filed 
May 22, 2018) (AOPL NOI Comments).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Determination
a. Accounting Guidance
    21. We clarify that public utilities and natural gas pipelines 
should record the amortization of the excess and/or deficient ADIT 
recorded in Account 254 (Other Regulatory Assets) and/or Account 182.3 
(Other Regulatory Assets) by recording the offsetting entries to 
Account 410.1 (Provision for Deferred Income Taxes, Utility Operating 
Income) or Account 411.1 (Provision for Deferred Income Taxes--Credit, 
Utility Operating Income), as appropriate. As explained below, 
recording the amortization in Account 410.1 and Account 411.1 is 
consistent with the instructions for those accounts as detailed in the 
Commission's regulations and provides more transparency as compared 
with recording the amounts in Account 407.3 and Account 407.4 because 
the specific source of the regulatory asset or regulatory liability 
will be known.
    22. The Commission's instructions for Account 182.3 provide in part 
``[w]hen specific identification of the particular source of a 
regulatory asset cannot be made . . . account 407.4, regulatory 
credits, shall be credited.'' \49\ Similarly, the Commission's 
instructions for Account 254 state in part ``[w]hen specific 
identification of the particular source of the regulatory liability 
cannot be made . . . account 407.3, regulatory debits, shall be 
debited.'' \50\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \49\ See Definition of Account 182.3, 18 CFR part 101, Uniform 
System of Accounts Prescribed for Public Utilities and Licensees 
Subject to the Provisions of the Federal Power Act; Definition of 
Account 182.3, 18 CFR part 201, Uniform System of Accounts 
Prescribed for Natural Gas Companies Subject to the Provisions of 
the Natural Gas Act.
    \50\ See Definition of Account 254, 18 CFR part 101, Uniform 
System of Accounts Prescribed for Public Utilities and Licensees 
Subject to the Provisions of the Federal Power Act; Definition of 
Account 254, 18 CFR part 201, Uniform System of Accounts Prescribed 
for Natural Gas Companies Subject to the Provisions of the Natural 
Gas Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    23. In contrast, Account 410.1 and Account 411.1 are specifically 
designated for the recordation of ADIT.\51\ In this situation where, as 
a result of a change in tax law or rates, excess and/or deficient ADIT 
have been reclassified to Account 254 and/or Account 182.3, in 
accordance with the Commission's prior guidance,\52\ specific 
identification of the source of the regulatory liability and/or 
regulatory asset can be made. Accordingly, the Commission's existing 
regulations support amortizing the excess and/or deficient ADIT 
recorded in Account 254 and/or Account 182.3 to Account 410.1 or 
Account 411.1, as appropriate and consistent with the manner such 
amounts are reflected in rates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \51\ See Definition of Account 410.1 and 411.1, 18 CFR part 101, 
Uniform System of Accounts Prescribed for Public Utilities and 
Licensees Subject to the Provisions of the Federal Power Act; 
Definition of Account 410.1 and 411.1, 18 CFR part 201, Uniform 
System of Accounts Prescribed for Natural Gas Companies Subject to 
the Provisions of the Natural Gas Act.
    \52\ See Accounting for Income Taxes, Docket No. AI93-5-000, at 
Item 8 (Apr. 23, 1993).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    24. With respect to oil pipelines, deferred tax balances should be 
adjusted for the effect of changes in tax law or rates in the period 
the change is enacted in accordance with the USofA for oil 
pipelines.\53\ Specifically, upon the enactment of the Tax Cuts and 
Jobs Act, oil pipelines should have reduced their ADIT balances to 
reflect the 21 percent federal income tax rate with offsetting entries 
to the appropriate income statement account.\54\ We believe the current 
guidance set forth in the USofA is appropriate and will not require oil 
pipelines to account for excess or deficient ADIT or record the 
amortization of such amounts. However, to ensure transparency with 
respect to these ADIT adjustments, oil pipelines should disclose in the 
Notes to their Form No. 6 financial statements, the amounts of their 
ADIT adjustments resulting from the change in the federal corporate 
income tax rate, supported by

[[Page 59299]]

a schedule that illustrates the calculation of the revised balances. 
Because the accounting for the excess and/or deficient ADIT may create 
differences between oil pipelines' accounting and ratemaking, such 
differences should also be disclosed in the Notes to their Form No. 6 
financial statements, Form No. 6 Page 230, Analysis of Federal Income 
and Other Taxes Deferred, and Page 700, Annual Cost of Service Based 
Analysis Schedule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \53\ See 18 CFR part 352, General Instructions 1-12(b), 
Accounting for Income Taxes. See also, 18 CFR part 352, Instructions 
for Balance Sheet Accounts, 19-5 Current Deferred Income Tax Assets, 
45 Accumulated Deferred Income Tax Assets, 59 Deferred Income Tax 
Liabilities, and 64 Accumulated Deferred Income Tax Liabilities.
    \54\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Ratemaking Guidance
    25. With respect to public utilities, the appropriate ratemaking 
treatment will be addressed in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) 
we are issuing concurrent with this Policy Statement. In the NOPR, we 
are proposing to require all public utility transmission providers with 
transmission rates under an Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT), a 
transmission owner tariff, or a rate schedule to revise those rates to 
account for changes caused by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Natural gas 
pipelines should continue to file for changes in rates consistent with 
sections 154.305, 154.312, and 154.313 of the Commission's 
regulations.\55\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \55\ 18 CFR 154.305, 154.312, 154.313 (2018). Section 154.313 
should be used if the filing requests a minor rate change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    26. For oil pipelines, the current regulatory treatment of excess 
and/or deficient ADIT amounts is to maintain such amounts separately 
for rate making purposes only and to amortize them by removing the 
annual amortization amount from the cost of service in the process of 
determining an income tax allowance. We will continue the practice of 
amortizing and removing the excess and or deficiency by reducing the 
allowed return before it is grossed up for income taxes.

B. Whether, and If So How, To Address Excess ADIT That Is Removed From 
the Books of Public Utilities, Natural Gas Pipelines, and Oil Pipelines 
After December 31, 2017, as a Result of Assets Being Sold or Retired

    27. In the NOI, the Commission sought comment on whether, and if so 
how, it should address excess ADIT that is removed from the books of 
public utilities, natural gas pipelines, and oil pipelines after 
December 31, 2017, as a result of assets being sold or retired.\56\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \56\ NOI, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 35,582 at P 20.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Comment Summary
    28. Both public utility and natural gas pipeline commenters note 
that, to date and in response to the last time Congress changed the 
federal corporate income tax rate, the IRS only has issued guidance on 
the disposition of excess ADIT in the context of extraordinary 
retirements.\57\ They suggest that the Commission defer addressing 
excess ADIT that is removed from the books as a result of assets being 
sold or retired unless and until the IRS has had an opportunity to 
weigh in on this issue.\58\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \57\ See Treas. Reg. 26 CFR 1.168(i)-3, Treatment of Excess 
Deferred Income Tax Reserve Upon Disposition of Deregulated Public 
Utility Property.
    \58\ Avangrid NOI Comments at 11; EEI NOI Comments at 19; Ameren 
NOI Comments at 15; EQT Midstream, Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-
12-000, at 14 (filed May 21, 2018) (EQT Midstream NOI Comments); 
Indicated Transmission Owners, Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-
000, at 10 (filed May 22, 2018); Dominion Energy Gas Pipelines NOI 
Comments at 13.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    29. Certain public utilities argue that, for companies that 
properly reflect Average Rate Assumption or the Reverse South Georgia 
Method and have formula rates that reflect ADIT balances and 
adjustments thereto, there is no need for the Commission to address 
excess ADIT that is removed from the books after December 2017 as a 
result of assets being sold or retired.\59\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \59\ Ameren NOI Comments at 14, MISO Transmission Owners, 
Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 14 (filed May 21, 2018).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    30. Similarly, several natural gas pipelines contend that 
Commission precedent is clear that when assets are sold or transferred 
as part of a taxable event, the ADIT balance associated with those 
assets is extinguished; similarly, deferred liabilities resulting from 
excess ADIT are also extinguished following the retirement of an asset. 
These pipelines believe that the Commission has provided no basis for 
departing from these clear rules.\60\ These pipelines note that the 
Commission has stated that ``ADIT balances consist of deferred taxes 
that are intended to be paid at a future time--when the taxes become 
due. When a taxable event occurs such as the sale of assets . . . taxes 
are due and the ADIT balances are reduced to zero;'' thus, the ``ADIT 
balances that existed prior to the sale no longer exist and are no 
longer an offset against rate base.'' \61\ These pipelines state the 
NOI explained that any ADIT associated with assets that are sold are 
removed from the regulated entity's ``books because any previously 
deferred tax effects related to the assets are now triggered as part of 
the computation of gains or losses associated with the sale (i.e., the 
deferred taxes are now payable to the IRS).'' \62\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \60\ EQT Midstream NOI Comments at 14; INGAA NOI Comments at 11-
12; Tallgrass, Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 12-13 
(filed May 21, 2018); AOPL NOI Comments at 14-15; Enable Interstate 
Pipelines, Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 40 (filed on 
May 21, 2018).
    \61\ Id. (citing Enbridge Pipeline (KPC), 102 FERC ] 61,310, at 
PP 5, 68 (2003)).
    \62\ Id. (citing NOI, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 35,582 at P 20).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    31. Eversource and Exelon submit that treatment of ADIT balances is 
best addressed on a company-specific basis and that companies should be 
able to either remove the ADIT associated with assets removed from 
their books or continue to amortize those balances over the remaining 
amortization period.\63\ Indicated Local Distribution Companies suggest 
that any future sale or retirement event should be decided as part of a 
pipeline's general rate proceeding.\64\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \63\ Eversource, Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-000, at 10 
(filed May 22, 2018); Exelon, Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-
000, at 14 (filed May 22, 2018).
    \64\ Indicated Local Distribution Companies NOI Comments at 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    32. Other commenters urge the Commission to require regulated 
entities to return any excess ADIT associated with any sold or retired 
assets. They argue that the Commission should be guided by the 
principle that all excess ADIT balances were provided by customers and 
thus customers should be credited with such balances through the 
combination of a credit to amortization expense and the continued 
offset to rate base. In support, they assert that when a public utility 
sells a jurisdictional asset, it will remove from its books the entire 
ADIT associated with a sold asset, which does not transfer with the 
asset to the new owner, and retain the entire ADIT for investors. Thus, 
customers are never credited with the excess or any other part of the 
ADIT that they have been paying during the useful life of the asset 
prior to its sale.\65\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \65\ Consumer Advocates NOI Comments at 8; Indicated Customers 
NOI Comments at 10-11; DEMEC NOI Comments, Kumar Test. at P 14.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    33. Indicated Customers note that with regard to the sale of public 
utility assets for which there is an excess ADIT balance remaining on 
the books, the 2006 IRS Private Letter Ruling No. PLR-168537-02 
prohibits the return to ratepayers of that ADIT and excess ADIT related 
to the asset that is being sold, because any ADIT and excess ADIT 
amounts that are on the books for that asset cease to exist as of the 
date of sale.\66\ Notwithstanding, Indicated

[[Page 59300]]

Customers, and APPA and AMP argue that the impact of not returning both 
the ADIT and excess ADIT, prior to the sale, and the consequent 
appropriation of customer-provided capital, should be given 
consideration in the Commission's evaluation of the application seeking 
approval of the asset transfer. If the ADIT and excess ADIT are not 
considered in the transfer transaction, they contend that the selling 
entity would receive a windfall to the detriment of ratepayers. 
Further, the acquiring utility could have no offsetting ADIT in its 
rate base related to the purchased assets, thereby causing an increase 
in rates to customers, in addition to the customers' loss of capital 
advanced to the selling utility.\67\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \66\ I.R.S. P.L.R., 168537-02 at 9 (May 25, 2006) (``Because 
[t]axpayer has sold the assets that generated the [accumulated 
deferred investment tax credit] ADITC, the asset for which regulated 
depreciation expense is computed is no longer available. 
Consequently, no portion of the related unamortized ADITC remaining 
at the date of sale may be returned to ratepayers by amortizing 
those ADITC amounts over the period [t]axpayer recovers stranded 
costs from its ratepayers or by decreasing the net loss from the 
sale of the nuclear generating assets by those ADITC amounts. 
Additionally, the unamortized [accumulated deferred investment tax 
credit] and [excess deferred federal income taxes] associated with 
the sold generating assets ceases to exist at the date of sale.''). 
APPA and AMP argue that this Private Letter Ruling can be read to 
have no bearing on the flowback of unprotected ADIT balances. APPA 
and AMP NOI Comments at n. 8.
    \67\ Indicated Customers NOI Comments at 10-11; APPA and AMP NOI 
Comments at 13-14.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    34. Commenters that believe that the Commission should require ADIT 
balances be returned to the customers offer several suggestions. APPA 
and AMP suggest that in the case of a sale or early retirement of 
public utility assets, the flowback should occur immediately in the 
formula rate update after the event; otherwise, the flowback should be 
in the form of a lump-sum payment or credit.\68\ Indicated Customers 
suggest that the Commission should consider deploying remedies it has 
used in proceedings under FPA section 203, such as establishing an open 
season for customers to terminate their contracts, a commitment by 
applicants to protect customers from any adverse rate impacts, rate 
moratorium or rate reduction.\69\ Natural Gas Indicated Shippers 
suggest that the excess ADIT associated with sold or retired assets 
should be amortized and returned to the customers in the same manner a 
pipeline proposes to return excess ADIT due to tax cost changes.\70\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \68\ APPA and AMP NOI Comments at 13-14.
    \69\ Indicated Customers NOI Comments at 11-12 (citing Inquiry 
Concerning the Commission's Merger Policy Under the Federal Power 
Act: Policy Statement, Order No. 592, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,044 
(1996), order on reconsideration, 79 FERC ] 61,321 (1997)).
    \70\ Tallgrass Pipelines, Comments to NOI, Docket No. RM18-12-
000, at 18 (filed May 22, 2018).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Determination
a. Accounting Guidance
    35. As discussed above, in 1993, the Chief Accountant issued 
guidance on how entities must account for the effect of a change in tax 
law or rates by adjusting its deferred tax liabilities and assets.\71\ 
This guidance remains unchanged, and requires an entity to adjust its 
deferred tax liabilities and assets for the effect of the change in tax 
law or rates in the period that the change is enacted.\72\ If as a 
result of action by a regulator, it is probable that the future 
increase or decrease in taxes payable due to a change in tax law or 
rates will be recovered from or returned to customers through future 
rates, an asset or liability shall be recognized in Account 182.3 
(Other Regulatory Assets) for deficient ADIT, or Account 254 (Other 
Regulatory Liabilities) for excess ADIT, as appropriate.\73\ Because 
these deficient ADIT and excess ADIT balances can no longer be 
characterized as deferred tax amounts to be settled with the IRS, the 
sale or retirement of any assets as of January 1, 2018 would not 
automatically reverse these balances as tax timing differences.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \71\ See Accounting for Income Taxes, Docket No. AI93-5-000, at 
Item 8 (Apr. 23, 1993).
    \72\ Id.
    \73\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    36. Accordingly, for public utilities and natural gas pipelines, 
the excess and/or deficient ADIT recorded in Account 254 and/or Account 
182.3 should continue to be recorded in those accounts and amortized to 
Accounts 410.1 and/or Account 411.1, if those balances are still deemed 
to be either refundable to or recoverable from ratepayers. If the rate 
treatment of those balances is instead disallowed, then those amounts 
shall be written off to Account 421 (Miscellaneous Non-Operating 
Income) or Account 426.5 (Other Deductions), as appropriate, in the 
year of the disallowance.\74\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \74\ See Definitions of Account 182.3 and Account 254, 18 CFR 
part 101, Uniform System of Accounts Prescribed for Public Utilities 
and Licensees Subject to the Provisions of the Federal Power Act; 
Definitions of Account 182.3 and Account 254, 18 CFR part 201, 
Uniform System of Accounts Prescribed for Natural Gas Companies 
Subject to the Provisions of the Natural Gas Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    37. We clarify that, for public utilities and natural gas 
pipelines, the balances of excess and deficient ADIT recorded in 
Account 254 and Account 182.3, respectively, continue to exist as 
regulatory liabilities and assets after an asset sale, in cases for 
which the excess and deficient ADIT do not transfer to the purchaser of 
the plant asset. Similarly, we clarify that public utilities and 
natural gas companies should continue to account for excess and 
deficient ADIT related to retirements as regulatory liabilities and 
assets.
    38. We acknowledge that numerous current and deferred tax accounts 
as well as other accounts may be affected by reversals of ADIT account 
balances recorded on the books of public utilities and natural gas 
companies subject to the Commission's jurisdiction. Thus, in order to 
provide transparency regarding the accounting and rate treatment of 
amounts removed from the ADIT accounts, we clarify that public 
utilities and natural gas pipelines should disclose in their FERC 
annual financial filings within the Notes to the Financial Statements: 
(1) The FERC accounts affected; (2) how any ADIT accounts were re-
measured in the determination of the excess or deficient ADIT amounts 
in Accounts 182.3 and 254; (3) the related amounts associated with the 
reversal and elimination of ADIT balances in those accounts; (4) the 
amount of excess and deficient ADIT that is protected and unprotected; 
(5) the accounts to which the excess or deficient ADIT will be 
amortized; and (6) the amortization period of the excess and deficient 
ADIT to be returned or recovered through rates for both protected and 
unprotected ADIT.\75\ Disclosures should also summarize the manner by 
which excess and deficient will be included in rates by rate 
jurisdiction.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \75\ Public utilities should include this information in FERC 
Form No. 1 or 1-A and natural gas pipelines should include this 
information in FERC Form No. 2 or 2-A.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    39. As for oil pipelines, as discussed above, ADIT balances will be 
reduced immediately by the full amount of the excess or deficient tax 
reserve in line with the USofA for oil pipelines outlined in General 
Instruction 1-12.\76\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \76\ General Instructions 1-12, Accounting for Income Taxes, 18 
CFR part 352.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Ratemaking Guidance
    40. The Commission has previously found that the sale or retirement 
of an asset with an ADIT balance is usually deemed a taxable event 
under IRS rules, and, as such, the ADIT balance is extinguished as the 
deferred taxes then become payable to the appropriate government 
authorities, and there is no longer an ADIT balance to ``return'' to 
customers.\77\ However, we believe that

[[Page 59301]]

excess or deficient ADIT associated with post-December 31, 2017, asset 
dispositions and retirements should be treated differently for 
ratemaking purposes. For these assets, there are two associated 
balances: (1) The ADIT balance based on the 21 percent tax rate that 
will be owed to the IRS and (2) deficient ADIT or excess ADIT balances 
resulting from the reduced tax liability that will not be payable to 
the IRS upon the sale or retirement of the asset. While the ADIT 
balance that needs to be settled with the IRS would be extinguished 
following a sale, the deficient ADIT or excess ADIT balances is more 
reflective of a regulatory liability or asset, and no longer reflects 
deferred taxes that are still to be settled with the IRS and need not 
be extinguished.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \77\ The Commission has found that master limited partnerships 
that were no longer entitled to an income tax allowance were not 
required to return any remaining ADIT balances. Inquiry Regarding 
the Commission's Policy for Recovery of Income Tax Costs, 162 FERC ] 
61,227, order on reh'g, 164 FERC ] 61,030 (2018) (Revised Income Tax 
Policy Statement Order on Rehearing). However, as relevant here, the 
Commission found that ``[t]here is a critical distinction between 
adjustments to amortize excess or deficient ADIT to be included in 
future rates to account for changes in income tax rates, as opposed 
to a complete elimination of the income tax allowance. When income 
tax rates are merely reduced and an income tax allowance remains in 
future cost of service, it is appropriate to credit any excess in 
ADIT in the future cost of service.'' Revised Income Tax Policy 
Statement Order on Rehearing, 164 FERC ] 61,030 at P 20. Thus, in 
the case of retired or sold assets of regulated entities that 
continue to have an income tax allowance (and in the case of all 
regulated entities with excess and deficient ADIT), it is 
appropriate to credit any excess in ADIT in the future cost of 
service.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    41. Additionally, we note that the rationale for continuing to 
amortize deficient ADIT or excess ADIT balances in rates upon sales or 
retirements of assets is substantively similar to the rationale for 
amortizing excess ADIT in rates for assets that have not been sold or 
retired. The difference is that for a sale or retirement, ADIT based on 
a 21 percent tax rate will be settled with the IRS immediately, while 
for an asset that is not sold or retired, the ADIT will be settled with 
the IRS over the remaining life of the asset as it depreciates. In 
other words, the difference between the ADIT for assets that are sold 
or retired and ADIT for assets that are not sold or retired is the 
timing of when companies will settle the 21 percent of ADIT with the 
IRS. In both scenarios, there is excess ADIT based on the 14 percent 
previously collected from the customers that will no longer be payable 
to the IRS.
    42. While some commenters suggest that continuing to amortize 
excess or deficient ADIT following a sale or retirement would 
constitute a normalization violation based on certain IRS private 
letter rulings, the Commission notes that the IRS established a 
rulemaking proceeding and reversed its positions made in the PLR 
referenced by the commenters.\78\ Current IRS regulations speak 
specifically to the normalization requirements for sales and 
retirements as a result of the Tax Reform Act of 1986.\79\ These 
regulations permit the amortization of protected excess and/or 
deficient ADIT even in the event that the underlying asset associated 
with the ADIT has been sold or retired.\80\ That is, the selling 
jurisdictional entity can continue to amortize excess ADIT in rates 
after the sale without violating the IRS' normalization requirements. 
The only limitation imposed by the IRS is that the timing of the 
amortization must be similar to protected excess and/or deficient ADIT 
for which the underlying asset has not been sold or retired.\81\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \78\ See Application of Normalization Accounting Rules to 
Balances of Excess Deferred Income Taxes and Accumulated Deferred 
Investment Tax Credits of Public Utilities Whose Assets Cease To Be 
Public Utility Property, 73 FR 14,934 (Mar. 20, 2008); Application 
of Normalization Accounting Rules to Balances of Excess Deferred 
Income Taxes and Accumulated Deferred Investment Tax Credits of 
Public Utilities Whose Assets Cease to Be Public Utility Property, 
70 FR 75,762 (Dec. 21, 2005) (notice of proposed rulemaking, notice 
of public hearing, and withdrawal of previous proposed regulations).
    \79\ 26 CFR 1.168(i)-3 (2018). This section of the IRS code does 
not apply to ordinary retirements within the meaning of 26 CFR 
1.167(a)-11(d)(3)(ii) of the internal revenue regulations, and such 
retirements are excluded from this policy statement.
    \80\ Id.
    \81\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    43. Consistent with the above discussion, oil pipelines should 
continue maintaining excess and/or deficient ADIT within the 
appropriate ADIT accounts for ratemaking purposes. When jurisdictional 
assets are retired or sold the oil pipeline should continue to amortize 
any excess and/or deficient amounts associated with those assets as 
part of the process of determining an income tax allowance within the 
rate making process, or seek prior Commission approval to do otherwise.

C. Conclusion

    44. We adopt the policies set forth herein regarding the treatment 
of ADIT for public utilities, natural gas pipelines and oil pipelines. 
Above, we state our policy regarding the treatment of ADIT for both 
accounting and ratemaking purposes as to Commission-jurisdictional 
public utilities, natural gas pipelines and oil pipelines, in light of 
the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and also address the accounting and 
ratemaking treatment of ADIT following the sale or retirement of an 
asset. We expect such regulated entities to follow these policies 
absent prior Commission approval to use a different treatment. We 
further note that if a regulated entity determines that its unique 
circumstances merit a different treatment of ADIT, such an entity is 
free to request such treatment at any time.

III. Document Availability

    48. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the 
Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an 
opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the 
internet through FERC's Home Page (https://www.ferc.gov) and in FERC's 
Public Reference Room during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 
p.m. Eastern time) at 888 First Street NE, Room 2A, Washington, DC 
20426.
    49. From FERC's Home Page on the internet, this information is 
available on eLibrary. The full text of this document is available on 
eLibrary in PDF and Microsoft Word format for viewing, printing, and/or 
downloading. To access this document in eLibrary, type the docket 
number excluding the last three digits of this document in the docket 
number field.
    50. User assistance is available for eLibrary and the FERC's 
website during normal business hours from FERC Online Support at (202) 
502-6652 (toll free at 1-866-208-3676) or email at 
[email protected], or the Public Reference Room at (202) 502-
8371, TTY (202) 502-8659. Email the Public Reference Room at 
[email protected].

IV. Applicability Date

    51. This Policy Statement will become applicable November 23, 2018.

    By the Commission. Commissioner McIntyre is not voting on this 
order.

    Issued: November 15, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.

    Note:  Appendix A will not be published in the Code of Federal 
Regulations.

Appendix

    A--List of Commenters to NOI TABLE

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Short name                                               Commenter
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AEP......................................................  American Electric Power Service Corporation.
Ameren...................................................  Ameren Services Company on behalf of Union Electric
                                                            Company d/b/a Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois
                                                            Company d/b/a Ameren Illinois, and Ameren
                                                            Transmission Company of Illinois.
AOPL.....................................................  Association of Oil Pipe Lines.

[[Page 59302]]

 
APGA.....................................................  American Public Gas Association.
APPA and AMP.............................................  American Public Power Association and American
                                                            Municipal Power, Inc.
Avangrid.................................................  Avangrid Networks, Inc.
Berkshire................................................  Berkshire Hathaway Energy Pipeline Group.
Boardwalk................................................  Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP.
CAPP.....................................................  Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
Consumer Advocates.......................................  Office of the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of
                                                            Massachusetts; the Ohio Consumers' Counsel; the
                                                            Maryland Office of People's Counsel; the Nevada
                                                            Bureau of Consumer Protection; the Delaware Division
                                                            of the Public Advocate; the Pennsylvania Office of
                                                            Consumer Advocate; the Citizens Utility Board of
                                                            Wisconsin; and the Indiana Office of Utility
                                                            Consumer Counselor.
DEMEC....................................................  Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation, Inc.
Dominion Energy Gas Pipelines............................  Dominion Energy Transmission, Inc.; Dominion Energy
                                                            Carolina Gas Transmission, LLC; Dominion Energy
                                                            Quester Pipeline, LLC; Dominion Energy Overthrust
                                                            Pipeline, LLC; and Questar Southern Trails Pipeline
                                                            Company.
EEI......................................................  Edison Electric Institute.
Enable Interstate Pipelines..............................  Enable Mississippi River Transmission, LLC and Enable
                                                            Gas Transmission, LLC.
Enbridge and Spectra.....................................  Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. and Spectra Energy
                                                            Partners, LP.
EQT Midstream............................................  EQT Midstream Partners, LP.
Eversource...............................................  Eversource Energy Service Company.
Exelon...................................................  Exelon Corporation.
Indicated Customers......................................  Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., North
                                                            Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, Southern
                                                            Maryland Electric Cooperative, Inc., and the New
                                                            Jersey Division of Rate Counsel.
Indicated Local Distribution Companies...................  Atmos Energy Corporation; the City of
                                                            Charlottesville, Virginia; the City of Richmond,
                                                            Virginia; the Easton Utilities Commission; Exelon
                                                            Corporation; and Washington Gas Light Company.
Indicated Transmission Owners............................  American Electric Power Service Corporation; Dominion
                                                            Energy Services, Inc., on behalf of Virginia
                                                            Electric and Power Company d/b/a Dominion Energy
                                                            Virginia; Duquesne Light Company; Exelon
                                                            Corporation; FirstEnergy Service Company, on behalf
                                                            of American Transmission Systems, Incorporated;
                                                            Jersey Central Power & Light Company; Mid-Atlantic
                                                            Interstate Transmission, LLC; West Penn Power
                                                            Company; The Potomac Edison Company; Monongahela
                                                            Power Company; and PPL Electric Utilities Corp.
INGAA....................................................  Interstate Natural Gas Association of America.
ITC Great Plains.........................................  ITC Great Plains, LLC.
Kentucky Municipals......................................  Frankfort Plant Board of Frankfort, Kentucky;
                                                            Barbourville Utility Commission of the City of
                                                            Barbourville, City; Utilities Commission of the City
                                                            of Corbin; and the Cities of Bardwell, Berea,
                                                            Falmouth, Madisonville, and Providence, Kentucky.
Kinder Morgan Entities...................................  Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America LLC;
                                                            Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C.; Southern
                                                            Natural Gas Company, L.L.C.; Colorado Interstate Gas
                                                            Company, L.L.C.; Wyoming Interstate Company, L.L.C.;
                                                            El Paso Natural Gas Company, L.L.C.; Mojave Pipeline
                                                            Company, L.L.C.; Bear Creek Storage Company, L.L.C.;
                                                            Cheyenne Plains Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C.; Elba
                                                            Express Company, L.L.C.; Kinder Morgan Louisiana
                                                            Pipeline LLC; Southern LNG Company, L.L.C.; and
                                                            TransColorado Gas Transmission Company LLC.
Kinder Morgan Subsidiaries...............................  SFPP, L.P.; Calnev Pipe Line, LLC; and Kinder Morgan
                                                            Cochin, LLC.
MISO Transmission Owners.................................  Ameren Services Company, as agent for Union Electric
                                                            Company d/b/a Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois
                                                            Company d/b/a Ameren Illinois and Ameren
                                                            Transmission Company of Illinois; American
                                                            Transmission Company LLC; Central Minnesota
                                                            Municipal Power Agency; City Water, Light & Power
                                                            (Springfield, IL); Cleco Power LLC; Cooperative
                                                            Energy; Dairyland Power Cooperative; Duke Energy
                                                            Business Services, LLC for Duke Energy Indiana, LLC;
                                                            East Texas Electric Cooperative; Entergy Arkansas,
                                                            Inc.; Entergy Louisiana, LLC; Entergy Mississippi,
                                                            Inc.; Entergy New Orleans, LLC; Entergy Texas, Inc.;
                                                            Great River Energy; Indiana Municipal Power Agency;
                                                            Indianapolis Power & Light Company; International
                                                            Transmission Company d/b/a ITCTransmission; ITC
                                                            Midwest LLC; Lafayette Utilities System; Michigan
                                                            Electric Transmission Company, LLC; MidAmerican
                                                            Energy Company; Minnesota Power (and its subsidiary
                                                            Superior Water, L&P); Missouri River Energy
                                                            Services; Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.; Northern
                                                            Indiana Public Service Company LLC; Northern States
                                                            Power Company, a Minnesota corporation, and Northern
                                                            States Power Company, a Wisconsin corporation,
                                                            subsidiaries of Xcel Energy Inc.; Northwestern
                                                            Wisconsin Electric Company; Otter Tail Power
                                                            Company; Prairie Power Inc.; Southern Indiana Gas &
                                                            Electric Company (d/b/a Vectren Energy Delivery of
                                                            Indiana); Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency;
                                                            Wabash Valley Power Association, Inc.; and Wolverine
                                                            Power Supply Cooperative, Inc.
National Grid............................................  National Grid USA.
Natural Gas Indicated Shippers...........................  Aera Energy, LLC; Anadarko Energy Services Company;
                                                            Apache Corporation; BP Energy Company;
                                                            ConocoPhillips Company; Hess Corporation; Occidental
                                                            Energy Marketing, Inc.; Petrohawk Energy
                                                            Corporation; and XTO Energy, Inc.
New York Transco.........................................  New York Transco LLC.
Oklahoma Attorney General................................  Mike Hunter, Oklahoma Attorney General.
PJM......................................................  PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.
Plains...................................................  Plains Pipeline, L.P.
Process Gas and American Forest and Paper................  Process Gas Consumers Group and American Forest and
                                                            Paper Association.
PSEG.....................................................  Public Service Electric and Gas Company.
Tallgrass Pipelines......................................  Trailblazer Pipeline Company LLC; Tallgrass
                                                            Interstate Gas Transmission, LLC; and Rockies
                                                            Express Pipeline LLC.
TAPS.....................................................  Transmission Access Policy Study Group.
TransCanada..............................................  TransCanada Corporation.

[[Page 59303]]

 
United Airlines Petitioners..............................  United Airlines, Inc.; American Airlines, Inc.; Delta
                                                            Air Lines, Inc.; Southwest Airlines, Co.; BP West
                                                            Coast Products LLC; ExxonMobil Oil Corporation;
                                                            Chevron Products Company; HollyFrontier Refining &
                                                            Marketing LLC; Valero Marketing and Supply Company;
                                                            Airlines for America; and the National Propane Gas
                                                            Association.
Williams.................................................  Williams Companies, Inc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. 2018-25372 Filed 11-21-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P