a $6.8 million decrease in severance benefits related to employee terminations.
Compensation and benefit expenses as a percentage of operating revenues were 17%, 18% and 17% for fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011.
At September 30, 2013, our global workforce had increased to approximately 9,000 employees from approximately 8,600 employees at September 30, 2012.
Compensation and benefit expenses increased $24.3 million in fiscal year 2012 primarily due to an increase in salaries, wages and benefits, partially offset by decreases in commissions and variable compensation.
Salaries, wages and benefits increased $38.4 million, primarily due to a $25.1 million increase in salaries and wages resulting from higher staffing levels and annual merit salary adjustments that were effective December 1, 2011 and a $9.5 million increase in severance benefits related to various employee terminations.
Commissions decreased $11.5 million, reflecting the 23% decrease in long-term sales.
Variable compensation decreased $1.8 million, as an $8.8 million decrease related to private equity performance fees was substantially offset by higher bonus expense based on our performance.
We continue to place a high emphasis on our pay for performance philosophy.
As such, any changes in the underlying performance of our SIPs or changes in the composition of our incentive compensation offerings could have an impact on compensation and benefit expenses going forward.
However, in order to attract and retain talented individuals, our level of compensation and benefit expenses may increase more quickly or decrease more slowly than our revenue.
Information Systems and Technology Information systems and technology costs increased $8.2 million and $9.8 million in fiscal years 2013 and 2012 primarily due to higher investments in strategic technology projects for operational purposes.
Details of capitalized information systems and technology costs are shown below.
## Table 0 ##
Occupancy We conduct our worldwide operations using a combination of leased and owned facilities.
Occupancy costs include rent and other facilities-related costs including depreciation and utilities.
Occupancy costs increased $4.3 million in fiscal year 2013 primarily due to increases in building maintenance costs and rent expense.
Occupancy costs decreased $1.1 million in fiscal year 2012 primarily due to lower building maintenance costs.
General, Administrative and Other General, administrative and other operating expenses primarily consist of fund administration services and shareholder servicing fees payable to external parties, corporate travel and entertainment, advertising and promotion costs, professional fees, and other miscellaneous expenses.
General, administrative and other operating expenses increased $34.0 million in fiscal year 2013 primarily due to the acquisition of K2 and higher levels of general business activity.
The K2 acquisition resulted in a $9.5 million increase in amortization of intangible assets and a $7.7 million increase in the contingent consideration liability.
Higher business activity levels resulted in increases of $5.1 million in corporate travel expenses, $4.5 million in advertising and promotion expenses and $3.4 million in professional fees.
Commitments and Contingencies As of December 31, 2011 , approximately $9.6 billion of unused credit was available to Bill Me Later accountholders.
The individual lines of credit that make up this unused credit are subject to periodic review and termination by the chartered financial institution that is the issuer of Bill Me Later credit products based on, among other things, account usage and customer creditworthiness.
When a consumer makes a purchase using a Bill Me Later credit product the chartered financial institution extends credit to the consumer, funds the extension of credit at the point of sale and advances funds to the merchant.
We subsequently purchase the receivables related to the consumer loans extended by the chartered financial institution and, as a result of the purchase, bear the risk of loss in the event of loan defaults.
Although the chartered financial institution continues to own each customer account, we own the related receivable, and Bill Me Later is responsible for all servicing functions related to the account.
We have certain fixed contractual obligations and commitments that include future estimated payments for general operating purposes.
Changes in our business needs, contractual cancellation provisions, fluctuating interest rates, and other factors may result in actual payments differing from the estimates.
We cannot provide certainty regarding the timing and amounts of these payments.
The following table summarizes our fixed contractual obligations and commitments (in thousands):
## Table 1 ##
The significant assumptions used in our determination of amounts presented in the above table are as follows: ?
Debt amounts include the principal and interest amounts of the respective debt instruments.
For additional details related to our debt, please see “Note 12 – Debt” to the consolidated financial statements included in this report.  ?
Lease amounts include minimum rental payments under our non-cancelable operating leases for office facilities, fulfillment centers, as well as computer and office equipment that we utilize under lease arrangements.
The amounts presented are consistent with contractual terms and are not expected to differ significantly from actual results under our existing leases, unless a substantial change in our headcount needs requires us to expand our occupied space or exit an office facility early.  ?
Purchase obligation amounts include minimum purchase commitments for advertising, capital expenditures (computer equipment, software applications, engineering development services, construction contracts) and other goods and services entered into in the ordinary course of business.
As we are unable to reasonably predict the timing of settlement of liabilities related to unrecognized tax benefits, net, the table does not include $368.9 million of such non-current liabilities included in deferred and other tax liabilities recorded on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2011 .
Liquidity and Capital Resource Requirements At December 31, 2011 , we had assets classified as cash and cash equivalents, as well as time deposits and fixed income securities classified as short-term investments, in an aggregate amount of $7.5 billion , compared to $7.8 billion at December 31, 2010 .
At December 31, 2011 , this amount included assets held in certain of our foreign operations totaling approximately $6.6 billion .
If these assets were distributed to the U. S. , we may be subject to additional U. S.  taxes in certain circumstances.
We actively monitor the third-party depository institutions and money market funds that hold these assets, primarily focusing on the safety of principal and secondarily maximizing yield on these assets.
We diversify our cash and cash equivalents and investments among various financial institutions and money market funds in order to reduce our exposure should any one of these financial institutions or money market funds fail or encounter difficulties.
To date, we have not experienced any material loss or lack of access to our invested cash, cash equivalents or short-term investments; however, we can provide no assurances that access to our invested cash, cash equivalents or short-term investments will not be impacted by adverse conditions in the financial markets.
At any point in time we have funds in our operating accounts and customer
M ANAGEMENT ’ S D ISCUSSION AND A NALYSIS OF F INANCIAL C ONDITION AND R ESULTS OF O PERATIONS – C ONTINUED Net Interest Expense Net interest expense increased $11 million in 2012 compared with 2011 due primarily to interest on regulatory liabilities and the issuance by CECONY in March 2012 of $400 million of 4.2 percent 30-year debentures.
Income Taxes Income taxes decreased $29 million in 2012 compared with 2011 due primarily to higher deductions for injuries and damages payments in 2012 Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements Preferred stock dividend requirements decreased $8 million in 2012 compared with 2011 due to the company’s redemption, in May 2012, of all of its outstanding shares of $5 Cumulative Preferred Stock and Cumulative Preferred Stock ($100 par value
## Table 2 ##
Electric O&R’s results of electric operations for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared with the year ended December 31, 2011 is as follows:
## Table 3 ##
O&R’s electric sales and deliveries, excluding off-system sales, in 2012 compared with 2011 were:
## Table 4 ##
(a) “Residential/Religious” generally includes single-family dwellings, individual apartments in multi-family dwellings, religious organizations and certain other not-for-profit organizations.
fees paid to collaborative partners.
Where contingent milestone payments are due to third parties under research and development arrangements, the milestone payment obligations are expensed when the milestone results are achieved.
Litigation – We record a liability for contingent losses, including future legal costs, settlements and judgments, when we consider it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.
Special Items – We recognize expenses resulting directly from our business combinations, employee termination benefits, certain R&D agreements, certain contract terminations, consulting and professional fees and asset impairment or loss on disposal charges connected with global restructuring, operational and quality excellence initiatives, and other items as “Special items” in our consolidated statement of earnings.
“Special items” included (in millions):
## Table 5 ##
Impairment/ loss on disposal of assets relates to impairment of intangible assets that were acquired in business combinations or impairment of or a loss on the disposal of other assets.
Consulting and professional fees relate to third-party consulting, professional fees and contract labor related to our quality and operational excellence initiatives, third-party consulting fees related to certain information system implementations, third-party integration consulting performed in a variety of areas such as tax, compliance, logistics and human resources for our business combinations, third-party fees related to severance and termination benefits matters and legal fees related to certain product liability matters.
Our quality and operational excellence initiatives are companywide and include improvements in quality, distribution, sourcing, manufacturing and information technology, among other areas.
In 2013, 2012 and 2011, we eliminated positions as we reduced management layers, restructured certain areas, announced closures of certain facilities, and commenced initiatives to focus on business opportunities that best support our strategic priorities.
In 2013, 2012 and 2011, approximately 170, 400 and 500 positions, respectively, from across the globe were affected by these actions.
As a result of these changes in our work force and headcount reductions in connection with acquisitions, we incurred expenses related to severance benefits, redundant salaries as we worked through transition periods, share-based compensation acceleration and other employee termination-related costs.
The majority of these termination benefits were provided in accordance with our existing or local government policies and are considered ongoing benefits.
These costs were accrued when they became probable and estimable and were recorded as part of other current liabilities.
The majority of these costs were paid during the year they were incurred.
Dedicated project personnel expenses include the salary, benefits, travel expenses and other costs directly associated with employees who are 100 percent dedicated to our operational and quality excellence initiatives or integration of acquired businesses.
Certain R&D agreements relate to agreements with upfront payments to obtain intellectual property to be used in R&D projects that have no alternative future use in other projects.
Relocated facilities expenses are the moving costs and the lease expenses incurred during the relocation period in connection with relocating certain facilities.
Over the past few years we have acquired a number of U. S.  and foreign-based distributors.
We have incurred various costs related to the consummation and integration of those businesses.
Certain litigation matters relate to costs and adjustments recognized during the year for the estimated or actual settlement of various legal matters, including royalty disputes, patent litigation matters, commercial litigation matters and matters arising from our acquisitions of certain competitive distributorships in prior years.
Contract termination costs relate to terminated agreements in connection with the integration of acquired companies and changes to our distribution model as part of business restructuring and operational excellence initiatives.
The terminated contracts primarily relate to sales agents and distribution agreements.
Contingent consideration adjustments represent the changes in the fair value of contingent consideration obligations to be paid to the prior owners of acquired businesses.
Accelerated software amortization is the incremental amortization resulting from a reduction in the estimated life of certain software.
In 2012, we approved a plan to replace certain software.
As a result, the estimated economic useful life of the existing software was decreased to represent the period of time expected to implement replacement software.
As a result, the amortization from the shortened life of this software is substantially higher than the previous amortization being recognized.
Cash and Cash Equivalents – We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost, which approximates their fair value.

<table><tr><td>for the fiscal years ended September 30,</td><td>2013</td><td>2012</td><td>2011</td></tr><tr><td>Net carrying value at beginning of year</td><td>$90.3</td><td>$67.9</td><td>$63.9</td></tr><tr><td>Additions, net of disposals</td><td>43.2</td><td>54.9</td><td>40.4</td></tr><tr><td>Amortization</td><td>-40.0</td><td>-32.5</td><td>-36.4</td></tr><tr><td>Net Carrying Value at End of Year</td><td>$93.5</td><td>$90.3</td><td>$67.9</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td>Payments Due During the Year Ending December 31,</td><td>Debt</td><td>Leases</td><td>Purchase Obligations</td><td>Total</td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>$588,222</td><td>$94,853</td><td>$209,469</td><td>$892,544</td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>443,370</td><td>66,771</td><td>67,523</td><td>577,664</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>42,786</td><td>49,820</td><td>63,384</td><td>155,990</td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>626,484</td><td>37,587</td><td>61,152</td><td>725,223</td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>16,261</td><td>23,730</td><td>54,652</td><td>94,643</td></tr><tr><td>Thereafter</td><td>565,000</td><td>38,693</td><td>—</td><td>603,693</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>$2,282,123</td><td>$311,454</td><td>$456,180</td><td>$3,049,757</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td colspan="2"> Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2012</td><td></td><td colspan="2"> Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2011</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td> (millions of dollars)</td><td> Electric</td><td> Gas</td><td> 2012 Total</td><td> Electric</td><td> Gas</td><td> 2011 Total</td><td>2012-2011 Variation</td></tr><tr><td>Operating revenues</td><td>$592</td><td>$203</td><td>$795</td><td>$641</td><td>$214</td><td>$855</td><td>$-60</td></tr><tr><td>Purchased power</td><td>198</td><td>-</td><td>198</td><td>267</td><td>-</td><td>267</td><td>-69</td></tr><tr><td>Gas purchased for resale</td><td>-</td><td>69</td><td>69</td><td>-</td><td>87</td><td>87</td><td>-18</td></tr><tr><td>Net revenues</td><td>394</td><td>134</td><td>528</td><td>374</td><td>127</td><td>501</td><td>27</td></tr><tr><td>Operations and maintenance</td><td>227</td><td>64</td><td>291</td><td>218</td><td>66</td><td>284</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Depreciation and amortization</td><td>38</td><td>15</td><td>53</td><td>35</td><td>13</td><td>48</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Taxes, other than income taxes</td><td>46</td><td>15</td><td>61</td><td>40</td><td>15</td><td>55</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td> Operating income</td><td>$83</td><td>$40</td><td>$123</td><td>$81</td><td>$33</td><td>$114</td><td>$9</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td colspan="2"> Twelve Months Ended</td><td></td></tr><tr><td> (millions of dollars)</td><td> December 31, 2012</td><td> December 31, 2011</td><td>Variation</td></tr><tr><td>Operating revenues</td><td>$592</td><td>$641</td><td>$-49</td></tr><tr><td>Purchased power</td><td>198</td><td>267</td><td>-69</td></tr><tr><td>Net revenues</td><td>394</td><td>374</td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td>Operations and maintenance</td><td>227</td><td>218</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Depreciation and amortization</td><td>38</td><td>35</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Taxes, other than income taxes</td><td>46</td><td>40</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td> Electric operating income</td><td>$83</td><td>$81</td><td>$2</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td colspan="4">Millions of kWhs Delivered</td><td colspan="4">Revenues in Millions</td></tr><tr><td></td><td colspan="2"> Twelve Months Ended</td><td colspan="2"></td><td colspan="2">Twelve Months Ended</td><td colspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td> Description</td><td> December 31, 2012</td><td> December 31, 2011</td><td>Variation</td><td>Percent Variation</td><td> December 31, 2012</td><td>December 31, 2011</td><td>Variation</td><td>Percent Variation</td></tr><tr><td>Residential/Religious(a)</td><td>1,632</td><td>1,750</td><td>-118</td><td>-6.7%</td><td>$272</td><td>$314</td><td>$-42</td><td>-13.4%</td></tr><tr><td>Commercial/Industrial</td><td>945</td><td>1,168</td><td>-223</td><td>-19.1</td><td>123</td><td>161</td><td>-38</td><td>-23.6</td></tr><tr><td>Retail access customers</td><td>3,040</td><td>2,760</td><td>280</td><td>10.1</td><td>178</td><td>157</td><td>21</td><td>13.4</td></tr><tr><td>Public authorities</td><td>114</td><td>111</td><td>3</td><td>2.7</td><td>10</td><td>11</td><td>-1</td><td>-9.1</td></tr><tr><td>Other operating revenues</td><td>-</td><td>-</td><td>-</td><td>-</td><td>9</td><td>-2</td><td>11</td><td>Large</td></tr><tr><td> Total</td><td> 5,731</td><td> 5,789</td><td>-58</td><td>-1.0%</td><td>$592</td><td>$641</td><td>$-49</td><td>-7.6%</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td>For the Years Ended December 31,</td><td>2013</td><td>2012</td><td>2011</td></tr><tr><td>Impairment/loss on disposal of assets</td><td>$10.9</td><td>$14.6</td><td>$8.4</td></tr><tr><td>Consulting and professional fees</td><td>99.1</td><td>90.1</td><td>26.0</td></tr><tr><td>Employee severance and retention, including share-based compensation acceleration</td><td>14.2</td><td>8.2</td><td>23.1</td></tr><tr><td>Dedicated project personnel</td><td>34.0</td><td>15.1</td><td>3.2</td></tr><tr><td>Certain R&D agreements</td><td>0.8</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>Relocated facilities</td><td>3.6</td><td>1.8</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>Distributor acquisitions</td><td>0.4</td><td>0.8</td><td>2.0</td></tr><tr><td>Certain litigation matters</td><td>26.9</td><td>13.7</td><td>0.1</td></tr><tr><td>Contract terminations</td><td>3.9</td><td>6.6</td><td>6.3</td></tr><tr><td>Contingent consideration adjustments</td><td>9.0</td><td>-2.8</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>Accelerated software amortization</td><td>6.0</td><td>4.5</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><td>Other</td><td>7.9</td><td>2.8</td><td>6.1</td></tr><tr><td>Special items</td><td>$216.7</td><td>$155.4</td><td>$75.2</td></tr></table>

Question: what is the percent change in accelerated software amortization from 2012 to 2013?
Answer: 0.33333