THE AES CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) DECEMBER 31, 2012, 2011, AND 2010 receivable and payable are included in Other Noncurrent Assets and Other Noncurrent Liabilities, respectively, on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The following table summarizes the income taxes receivable and payable as of December 31, 2012 and 2011:
## Table 0 ##
Deferred Income Taxes—Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of (a) temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes and (b) operating loss and tax credit carryforwards.
These items are stated at the enacted tax rates that are expected to be in effect when taxes are actually paid or recovered.
As of December 31, 2012, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards for tax purposes of approximately $2.2 billion expiring in years 2023 to 2032.
Approximately $76 million of the net operating loss carryforward related to stock option deductions will be recognized in additional paid-in capital when realized.
The Company also had federal general business tax credit carryforwards of approximately $18 million expiring primarily from 2020 to 2032, and federal alternative minimum tax credits of approximately $5 million that carry forward without expiration.
The Company had state net operating loss carryforwards as of December 31, 2012 of approximately $5.8 billion expiring in years 2016 to 2032.
As of December 31, 2012, the Company had foreign net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $3.3 billion that expire at various times beginning in 2013 and some of which carry forward without expiration, and tax credits available in foreign jurisdictions of approximately $23 million, $1 million of which expire in 2013 to 2015, $3 million of which expire in 2016 to 2023 and $19 million of which carryforward without expiration.
Valuation allowances increased $5 million during 2012 to $0.9 billion at December 31, 2012.
This net increase was primarily the result of valuation allowance activity at certain U. S.  state jurisdictions.
Valuation allowances decreased $376 million during 2011 to $0.9 billion at December 31, 2011.
This net decrease was primarily the result of the release of a valuation allowance against certain foreign operating loss carryforwards which were written off in 2011 and a release of a valuation allowance at one of our Brazilian subsidiaries.
The Company believes that it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets as shown below will be realized when future taxable income is generated through the reversal of existing taxable temporary differences and income that is expected to be generated by businesses that have long-term contracts or a history of generating taxable income.
The Company continues to monitor the utilization of its deferred tax asset for its U. S.  consolidated net operating loss carryforward.
Although management believes it is more likely than not that this deferred tax asset will be realized through generation of sufficient taxable income prior to expiration of the loss carryforwards, such realization is not assured.
Operating Expenses as a Percentage of Total Revenue
## Table 1 ##
Operating Expense Summary 2006 compared to 2005 Overall operating expenses increased $122.5 million in 2006, as compared to 2005, primarily due to: ?
An increase of $58.4 million in stock-based compensation expense due to our adoption of SFAS No.123R; and ?
An increase of $49.2 million in salary, benefits and other employee-related costs, primarily due to an increased number of employees and increases in bonus and commission costs, in part due to our acquisition of Verisity Ltd. , or Verisity, in the second quarter of 2005.2005 compared to 2004 Operating expenses increased $97.4 million in 2005, as compared to 2004, primarily due to: ?
An increase of $63.3 million in employee salary and benefit costs, primarily due to our acquisition of Verisity and increased bonus and commission costs; ?
An increase of $9.9 million in stock-based compensation expense due to grants of restricted stock and the assumption of options in our acquisitions; ?
An increase of $8.6 million in losses associated with the sale of installment contract receivables; and ?
An increase of $7.1 million in costs related to the retirement of our Executive Chairman and former President and Chief Executive Officer in 2005; partially offset by ?
Our restructuring activities, as discussed below.
Marketing and Sales 2006 compared to 2005 Marketing and sales expenses increased $39.4 million in 2006, as compared to 2005, primarily due to: ?
An increase of $14.8 million in stock-based compensation expense due to our adoption of SFAS No.123R; ?
An increase of $18.2 million in employee salary, commissions, benefits and other employee-related costs due to increased hiring of sales and technical personnel, and higher commissions earned resulting from an increase in 2006 sales performance; and ?
An increase of $7.8 million in marketing programs and customer-focused conferences due to our new marketing initiatives and increased travel to visit our customers.2005 compared to 2004 Marketing and sales expenses increased $33.1 million in 2005, as compared to 2004, primarily due to: ?
An increase of $29.4 million in employee salary, commission and benefit costs due to increased hiring of sales and technical personnel and higher employee bonuses and commissions; and ?
An increase of $1.6 million in stock-based compensation expense due to grants of restricted stock and the assumption of options in our acquisitions; partially offset by ?
A decrease of $1.9 million in marketing program costs.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (COMBINED FOR CON EDISON AND CON EDISON OF NEW YORK)–CONTINUED Electric delivery volumes in Con Edison of New York’s service area increased 1.9 percent in 2004 compared with 2003, reflecting principally increased new business.
After adjusting for variations, principally weather and billing days in each period and the August 2003 regional power outage, electric delivery volumes in Con Edison of New York’s service area increased 1.4 percent in 2004 compared with 2003.
Weather-adjusted sales represent an estimate of the sales that would have been made if historical average weather conditions had prevailed.
Con Edison of New York’s electric fuel costs increased $46 million in 2004 as compared with 2003, primarily because the company’s generation plants were dispatched more frequently than in the same period last year.
Electric purchased power costs decreased $80 million, reflecting a decrease in purchased volumes, partially offset by higher unit costs.
Con Edison of New York’s electric operating income decreased $106 million in 2004 compared with 2003.
The principal components of the decrease were lower net revenues ($147 million), and increases in other operations and maintenance expense ($49 million – due primarily to a reduced net credit for pensions and other postretirement benefits), property taxes ($21 million) and depreciation ($16 million).
The increases in expense were offset in part by lower income tax ($80 million), state and local revenue taxes ($32 million), sales and use tax ($8 million).
Gas Con Edison of New York’s gas operating revenues in 2004 increased $8 million compared with 2003, reflecting primarily higher firm and non-firm revenues due principally to the gas rate plan ($23 million) and the reconciliation of gas distribution losses to levels reflected in rates, which resulted in a net benefit of $12 million.
This increase was partially offset by non-cash charge ($18 million) under the gas rate plan (see Note B to the financial statements).
Con Edison of New York’s revenues from gas sales are subject to a weather normalization clause that moderates, but does not eliminate, the effect of weather-related changes on net income.
## Table 2 ##
Con Edison of New York’s sales and transportation volumes for firm customers decreased 3.8 percent in 2004 compared with 2003 reflecting the impact of milder winter and warmer spring weather, partially offset by increased new business.
After adjusting for variations, principally weather and billing days in each period and the August 2003 regional power outage, firm gas sales and transportation volumes in the company’s service area increased 0.6 percent in 2004.
Non-firm transportation of customer-owned gas to NYPA and electric generating plants decreased 5.6 percent in 2004 as compared with 2003 due to higher gas prices.
In 2004, because of the relative prices of gas and fuel oil, electric generating plants in the company’s gas service area utilized oil rather than gas for a significant portion of their generation.
The decline in gas usage had minimal impact on earnings due to the application of a fixed demand charge for local transportation.
Con Edison of New York’s purchased gas cost decreased $6 million in 2004 compared with 2003, due to lower delivery volumes, partially offset by higher unit costs.
Additional information for our significant US operating areas is as follows:

<table><tr><td></td><td colspan="2"> December 31,</td></tr><tr><td></td><td> 2012</td><td> 2011</td></tr><tr><td></td><td colspan="2"> (in millions)</td></tr><tr><td>Income taxes receivable—current</td><td>$296</td><td>$563</td></tr><tr><td>Income taxes receivable—noncurrent</td><td>15</td><td>21</td></tr><tr><td>Total income taxes receivable</td><td>$311</td><td>$584</td></tr><tr><td>Income taxes payable—current</td><td>$405</td><td>$759</td></tr><tr><td>Income taxes payable—noncurrent</td><td>2</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Total income taxes payable</td><td>$407</td><td>$762</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td>2006</td><td>2005</td><td>2004</td></tr><tr><td>Marketing and sales</td><td>27%</td><td>28%</td><td>28%</td></tr><tr><td>Research and development</td><td>31%</td><td>29%</td><td>31%</td></tr><tr><td>General and administrative</td><td>10%</td><td>10%</td><td>7%</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td colspan="2"> Thousands of DTHs  Twelve Months Ended</td><td></td><td rowspan="2">Percent Variation</td></tr><tr><td> Description</td><td> December 31, 2004</td><td> December 31, 2003</td><td>Variation</td></tr><tr><td> Firm Sales</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Residential</td><td>48,569</td><td>51,944</td><td>-3,375</td><td>-6.5%</td></tr><tr><td>General</td><td>35,887</td><td>36,840</td><td>-953</td><td>-2.6</td></tr><tr><td> Firm Trans- portation</td><td> 16,795</td><td> 16,486</td><td>309</td><td>1.9</td></tr><tr><td> Total Firm Sales and Trans- portation</td><td> 101,251</td><td> 105,270</td><td>-4,019</td><td>-3.8</td></tr><tr><td>Off Peak/Interruptible Sales</td><td>13,187</td><td>15,247</td><td>-2,060</td><td>-13.5</td></tr><tr><td> Non-Firm Trans- portation of Gas</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>NYPA</td><td>18,623</td><td>23,360</td><td>-4,737</td><td>-20.3</td></tr><tr><td>Generation Plants</td><td>44,772</td><td>43,808</td><td>964</td><td>2.2</td></tr><tr><td> Total NYPA and Generation Plants</td><td> 63,395</td><td> 67,168</td><td>-3,773</td><td>-5.6</td></tr><tr><td>Other</td><td>18,534</td><td>17,766</td><td>768</td><td>4.3</td></tr><tr><td> Total Sales and Trans- portation</td><td> 196,367</td><td> 205,451</td><td>-9,084</td><td>-4.4%</td></tr></table>

Question: What's the growth rate of Residential Firm Sales in 2004?