20 CSR 4240-40.040 - Uniform System of Accounts-Gas Corporations

PURPOSE: This rule directs gas companies within the commission's jurisdiction to use the uniform system of accounts prescribed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for major natural gas companies, as modified herein. Requirements regarding the submission of depreciation studies, databases and property unit catalogs are found at 4 CSR 240-3.235 and 4 CSR 240-3.275.

(1) Beginning January 1, 1994, every gas company subject to the commission's jurisdiction shall keep all accounts in conformity with the Uniform System of Accounts Prescribed for Natural Gas Companies Subject to the Provisions of the Natural Gas Act, as prescribed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and published at 18 CFR part 201 (1992) and 2 FERC Stat. & Regs. paragraph 20,001 and following (1992), except as otherwise provided in this rule. This uniform system of accounts provides instruction for recording financial information about gas corporations. It contains definitions; general instructions; gas plant instructions; operating expense instructions; accounts that comprise the balance sheet, gas plant, income, operating revenues, and operation and maintenance expenses.

(2) When implementing 4 CSR 240-40.040(1), each gas company subject to the commission's jurisdiction shall-

(A) Keep its accounts in the manner and detail specified for natural gas companies classified as "major" at Part 201 General Instructions 1.A. and paragraph 20,011.1.A.; and

(B) Assemble by July 1, 1996 and maintain after that, a property unit catalog which contains for each designated property unit, in addition to the provisions of Part 201 General Instructions 6. and paragraph 20,016-

1. A description of each unit;

2. An item list; and

3. Accounting instructions, including instructions for distinguishing between operations expense, maintenance expense and capitalized plant improvements.

(3) Regarding plant acquired or placed in service after 1993, when implementing section (1), each gas corporation subject to the commission's jurisdiction shall-

(A) Maintain plant records of the year of each unit's retirement as part of the "continuing plant inventory records," as the term is otherwise defined at Part 201 Definitions 8. and paragraph 20,001.8.;

(B) State the detailed gas plant accounts (301 to 399, inclusive) on the basis of original cost, estimated if not known, when implementing the provisions of Part 201 Gas Plant Instructions 1.C. and paragraph 20,041.1.C.;

(C) Record gas plant acquired as an operating unit or system at original cost, estimated if not known, except as otherwise provided by the text of the intangible plant accounts, when implementing the provisions of Part 201 Gas Plant Instructions 2.A. and paragraph 20,042.2.A.;

(D) Account for the cost of items not classified as units of property as it would account for the cost of individual items of equipment of small value or of short life, as provided in Part 201 Gas Plant Instructions 3.A.(3) and paragraph 20,043.3.A.(3);

(E) Include in equipment accounts any hand or other portable tools which are specifically designated as units of property, when implementing the provisions of Part 201 Gas Plant Instructions 9.B. and paragraph 20,049.9.B.;

(F) Use the list of retirement units contained in its property unit catalog when implementing the provisions of Part 201 Gas Plant Instructions 10.A. and paragraph 20,050.10.A.;

(G) Estimate original cost with an appropriate average of the original cost of the units by vintage year, with due allowance for any difference in size and character, when it is impracticable to determine the original cost of each unit, when implementing the provisions of Part 201 Gas Plant Instructions 10.D. and paragraph 20,050.10.D.;

(H) Charge original cost less net salvage to account 108., when implementing the provisions of Part 201 Gas Plant Instructions 10.F. and paragraph 20,050.10.F.;

(I) Keep its work order system so as to show the nature of each addition to or retirement of gas plant by vintage year, in addition to the other requirements of Part 201 Gas Plant Instructions 11.B. and paragraph 20,051.11.B.;

(J) Maintain records which classify, for each plant account, the amounts of the annual additions and retirements so as to show the number and cost of the various record units or retirement units by vintage year, when implementing the provisions of Part 201 Gas Plant Instructions 11.C. and paragraph 20,051.11.C.;

(K) Maintain subsidiary records which separate account 108. according to primary plant accounts or subaccounts when implementing the provisions of Part 201 Balance Sheet Account 108.C. and paragraph 20,011.108.C.;

(L) Maintain subsidiary records which separate account 111. according to primary plant accounts or subaccounts when implementing the provisions of Part 201 Balance Sheet Accounts 111.C. and paragraph 20,114.111.C.; and

(M) Keep mortality records of property and property retirement as will reflect the average life of retiring property and will aid actuarial analysis of the probable service life of annual additions and aged retirements when implementing the provisions of Part 201 Income Accounts 403.B. and paragraph 20,422.403.B.

(4) In prescribing this system of accounts the commission does not commit itself to the approval or acceptance of any item set out in any account, for the purpose of fixing rates or in determining other matters before the commission. This rule shall not be construed as waiving any recordkeeping requirement in effect prior to 1994.

(5) The commission may waive or grant a variance from the provisions of this rule, in whole or in part, for good cause shown, upon a utility's written application.

Notes

20 CSR 4240-40.040

AUTHORITY: sections 386.250 and 393.140, RSMo 2000.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 240-40.040. Original rule filed Dec. 19, 1975, effective Dec. 29, 1975. Amended: Filed April 26, 1976, effective Sept. 11, 1976. Amended: Filed Feb. 5, 1993, effective Oct. 10, 1993. Amended: Filed March 19, 1996, effective Oct. 30, 1996. Amended: Filed Aug. 16, 2002, effective April 30, 2003. Moved to 20 CSR 4240-40.040, effective Aug. 28, 2019.

*Original authority: 386.250, RSMo 1939, amended 1963, 1967, 1977, 1980, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996; and 393.140, RSMo 1939, amended 1949, 1967.