Title 18—Conservation of Power and Water Resources--Volume 1
PART 367—UNIFORM SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS FOR CENTRALIZED SERVICE COMPANIES SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT OF 2005, FEDERAL POWER ACT AND NATURAL GAS ACT
§ 367.9090   Account 909, Informational and instructional advertising expenses.
(a) This account must include the cost of labor, materials used and expenses incurred in activities which primarily convey information as to what the associate utility company urges or suggests customers should do in utilizing service to protect health and safety, to encourage environmental protection, to utilize their equipment safely and economically, or to conserve energy.
(b) This account must include the following labor items:
(1) Direct supervision of informational activities.
(2) Preparing informational materials for newspapers, periodicals, billboards, and other similar forms of advertisement, and preparing and conducting informational motion pictures, radio and television programs.
(3) Preparing informational booklets, bulletins, and other similar forms of advertisement, used in direct mailings.
(4) Preparing informational window and other displays.
(5) Employing agencies, selecting media and conducting negotiations in connection with the placement and subject matter of information programs.
(c) This account must include the following materials and expenses items:
(1) Use of newspapers, periodicals, billboards, radio, and other similar forms of advertisement, for informational purposes.
(2) Postage on direct mailings to customers exclusive of postage related to billings.
(3) Printing of informational booklets, dodgers, bulletins, and other similar items.
(4) Supplies and expenses in preparing informational materials for the associate utility company.
(5) Office supplies and expenses.
(d) Exclude from this account and charge to account 930.2, Miscellaneous general expenses, the cost of publication of stockholder reports, dividend notices, bond redemption notices, financial statements, and other notices of a general corporate character. Also exclude all expenses of a promotional, institutional, goodwill or political nature, that are included in accounts 913, Advertising expenses (§ 367.9130), 930.1, General advertising expenses (§ 367.9301), and 426.4, Expenditures for certain civic, political, and related expenses (§ 367.4264).
(e) Entries relating to informational advertising included in this account must contain or refer to supporting documents that identify the specific advertising message. If references are used, copies of the advertising message must be readily available.
§ 367.9100   Account 910, Miscellaneous customer service and informational expenses.
(a) This account must include the cost of labor, materials used and expenses incurred in connection with customer service and informational activities that are not includible in other customer information expense accounts.
(b) This account must include the following labor items:
(1) General clerical and stenographic work not assigned to specific customer service and informational programs.
(2) Miscellaneous labor.
(c) This account must include the following materials and expenses items:
(1) Communication service.
(2) Printing, postage and office supplies expenses.
§ 367.9110   Account 911, Supervision.
This account must include the cost of labor and expenses incurred in the general direction and supervision of sales activities, except merchandising. Direct supervision of a specific activity, such as demonstrating, selling, or advertising, must be charged to the account wherein the costs of such activity are included ( See Operating Expense Instructions in § 367.80).
§ 367.9120   Account 912, Demonstrating and selling expenses.
(a) This account must include the cost of labor, materials used and expenses incurred in promotional, demonstrating, and selling activities, except by merchandising, the object of which is to promote or retain the business of present and prospective customers of the service company and the companies within the holding company system that is not recorded in Accounts 416, Costs and expenses of merchandising, jobbing and contract work (§ 367.4160), or 930.1, General advertising expenses for associated companies (§ 367.9301).
(b) This account must include the following labor items:
(1) Demonstrating uses of services provided by companies within the holding company system.
(2) Conducting cooking schools, preparing recipes, and related home service activities.
(3) Exhibitions, displays, lectures, and other programs to promote the services provided by the service company or the companies within the holding company system.
(4) Experimental and development work in connection with new and improved appliances and equipment, prior to general public acceptance.
(5) Solicitation of new customers or of additional business from old customers, including commissions paid employees.
(6) Engineering and technical advice to present or prospective customers in connection with promoting or retaining the use of services.
(7) Special customer canvasses when their primary purpose is the retention of business or the promotion of new business.
(c) This account must include the following materials and expenses items:
(1) Supplies and expenses pertaining to demonstration and experimental and development activities.
(2) Booth and temporary space rental.
(3) Loss in value on equipment and appliances used for demonstration purposes.
(4) Transportation, meals, and incidental expenses.
§ 367.9130   Account 913, Advertising expenses.
(a) This account must include the cost of labor, materials used and expenses incurred in advertising designed to promote or retain the use of services provided by the service company or the companies within the holding company system, except advertising the sale of merchandise.
(b) This account must include the following labor items:
(1) Direct supervision of department.
(2) Preparing advertising material for newspapers, periodicals, billboards, and other similar forms of advertisement, and preparing and conducting motion pictures, radio and television programs.
(3) Preparing booklets, bulletins, and other similar forms of advertisement, used in direct mail advertising.
(4) Preparing window and other displays.
(5) Clerical and stenographic work.
(6) Investigating advertising agencies and media and conducting negotiations in connection with the placement and subject matter of sales advertising.
(c) This account must include the following materials and expenses items:
(1) Advertising in newspapers, periodicals, billboards, radio, and other similar forms of advertisement, for sales promotion purposes, but not including institutional or goodwill advertising included in account 930.1, General advertising expenses (§ 367.9301).
(2) Materials and services given as prizes or otherwise in connection with civic lighting contests, canning, or cooking contests, bazaars, and other similar materials and services, in order to publicize and promote the use of utility services.
(3) Fees and expenses of advertising agencies and commercial artists.
(4) Novelties for general distribution.
(5) Postage on direct mail advertising.
(6) Premiums distributed generally, such as recipe books, and other similar items, when not offered as inducement to purchase appliances.
(7) Printing booklets, dodgers, bulletins, and other similar forms of advertisement.
(8) Supplies and expenses in preparing advertising material.
(9) Office supplies and expenses.
(d) The cost of advertisements which set forth the value or advantages of offered services without reference to specific appliances or the promotion of appliances must be considered sales promotion advertising and charged to this account. However, advertisements that are limited to specific makes of appliances sold by any company and prices, terms, and other similar items, without referring to the value or advantages of offered services, must be considered as merchandise advertising and the cost must be charged to account 416, Costs and expenses of merchandising, jobbing and contract work (§ 367.4160).
(e) Advertisements that substantially mention or refer to the value or advantages of offered services, together with specific reference to makes of appliances sold by any company and the price, terms, and other similar items, and designed for the joint purpose of increasing the use of offered services and the sales of appliances, must be considered as a combination advertisement and the costs must be distributed between this account and account 416 (§ 367.4160) on the basis of space, time, or other proportional factors.
(f) Exclude from this account and charge to account 930.2, Miscellaneous general expenses (§ 367.9302), the cost of publication of stockholder reports, dividend notices, bond redemption notices, financial statements, and other notices of a general corporate character. Exclude also all institutional or goodwill advertising ( See account 930.1, General advertising expenses (§ 367.9301)).
§ 367.9160   Account 916, Miscellaneous sales expenses.
(a) This account must include the cost of labor, materials used and expenses incurred in connection with sales activities, except merchandising, which are not includible in other sales expense accounts.
(b) This account must include the following labor items:
(1) General clerical and stenographic work not assigned to specific functions.
(2) Special analysis of customer accounts and other statistical work for sales purposes not a part of the regular customer accounting and billing routine.
(3) Miscellaneous labor.
(c) This account must include the following materials and expenses items:
(1) Communication service.
(2) Printing, postage, and office supplies and expenses applicable to sales activities, except those chargeable to account 913, Advertising expenses (§ 367.9130).
§ 367.9200   Account 920, Administrative and general salaries.
(a) This account must include salaries, wages, bonuses and other consideration for services, with the exception of director's fees paid directly to officers and employees of the service company.
(b) This account must be supported by time records and appropriately referenced to detailed records subdividing salaries and wages by departments or other functional organization units.
§ 367.9210   Account 921, Office supplies and expenses.
(a) This account must include office supplies and expenses incurred in connection with the general administration of service company operations assignable to specific administrative or general departments and not specifically provided for in other accounts. This includes the expenses of the various administrative and general departments, the salaries and wages of which are included in account 920, Administrative and general salaries (§ 367.9200).
(b) This account may be subdivided in accordance with a classification appropriate to the departmental or other functional organization of the service company. The following items must be included in this account:
(1) Automobile service, including charges through clearing account.
(2) Bank messenger and service charges.
(3) Books, periodicals, bulletins and subscriptions to newspapers, newsletters, tax service, and other similar items.
(4) Building service expenses for customer accounts, sales, and administrative and general purposes.
(5) Communication service expenses to include telephone, telegraph, wire transfer, micro-wave, and other similar items.
(6) Cost of individual items of office equipment used by general departments which are of small value or short life.
(7) Membership fees and dues in trade, technical, and professional associations paid by a utility for employees. (Company memberships must be included in account 930.2 in § 367.9302.)
(8) Office supplies and expenses.
(9) Payment of court costs, witness fees, and other expenses of legal department.
(10) Postage, printing and stationery.
(11) Meals, traveling, entertainment and incidental expenses.
(c) Records must be so maintained to permit ready analysis by item showing the nature of the expense and identity of the person furnishing the service.
§ 367.9230   Account 923, Outside services employed.
(a) This account must include the fees and expenses of professional consultants and others for general services with the exception of fees and expenses for outside services of account 928, Regulatory commission expenses (§ 367.9280), and account 930.1, General advertising expenses (§ 367.9301). Separate subaccounts must be provided for auditing, legal, engineering, management consulting fees and any other fees for professional or outside services.
(b) Records must be maintained so as to permit ready analysis showing the nature of service, identity of the person furnishing the service, affiliation to the service company, and, if allocated to more than one company, the specific method of allocation.
§ 367.9240   Account 924, Property insurance.
(a) This account must include the cost of insurance or reserve accruals to protect the service company against losses and damages to owned or leased property used in service company operations. It also must include the cost of labor and related supplies and expenses incurred in property insurance activities.
(b) Recoveries from insurance companies or others for property damages must be credited to the account charged with the cost of the damage. If the damaged property has been retired, the credit must be to the appropriate account for accumulated provision for depreciation.
(c) Records must be kept so as to show the amount of coverage for each class of insurance carried, the property covered, and the applicable premiums. Any dividends distributed by mutual insurance companies must be credited to the accounts to which the insurance premiums were charged. The following items must be included in this account:
(1) Premiums payable to insurance companies for fire, storm, burglary, boiler explosion, lightning, fidelity, riot, and similar insurance.
(2) Special costs incurred in procuring insurance.
(3) Insurance inspection service.
(4) Insurance counsel, brokerage fees, and expenses.
(d) The cost of insurance or reserve accruals capitalized must be charged to construction either directly or by transfer to construction projects from this account.
(e) The cost of insurance or reserve accruals for the following classes of property must be charged as indicated.
(1) Materials and supplies and stores equipment, to account 163, Stores expense undistributed (§ 367.1630), or appropriate materials account.
(2) Transportation and other general equipment to appropriate clearing accounts that may be maintained.
(3) Merchandise and jobbing property, to account 416, Costs and expenses of merchandising, jobbing and contract work (§ 367.4160).
(f) The cost of labor and related supplies and expenses of administrative and general employees who are only incidentally engaged in property insurance work may be included in accounts 920 and 921 (§§ 367.9200 and 367.9210), as appropriate.
§ 367.9250   Account 925, Injuries and damages.
(a) This account must include the cost of insurance or reserve accruals to protect the service company against injuries and damages claims of employees or others, losses of such character not covered by insurance, and expenses incurred in settlement of injuries and damages claims. It also must include the cost of labor and related supplies and expenses incurred in injuries and damages activities.
(b) Reimbursements from insurance companies or others for expenses charged to this account because of injuries and damages and insurance dividends or refunds must be credited to this account. The following items must be included in this account:
(1) Premiums payable to insurance companies for protection against claims from injuries and damages by employees or others, such as public liability, property damages, casualty, employee liability, and other similar items.
(2) Losses not covered by insurance or reserve accruals on account of injuries or deaths to employees or others and damages to the property of others.
(3) Fees and expenses of claim investigators.
(4) Payment of awards to claimants for court costs and attorneys' services.
(5) Medical and hospital service and expenses for employees as the result of occupational injuries, or resulting from claims of others.
(6) Compensation payments under workmen's compensation laws.
(7) Compensation paid while incapacitated as the result of occupational injuries ( See paragraph (c) of this section).
(8) Cost of safety, accident prevention and similar educational activities.
(c) Payments to or on behalf of employees for accident or death benefits, hospital expenses, medical supplies or for salaries while incapacitated for service or on leave of absence beyond periods normally allowed, when not the result of occupational injuries, must be charged to account 926, Employee pensions and benefits (§ 367.9260) ( See also paragraph (e) of account 926 (§ 367.9260)).
(d) The cost of injuries and damages or reserve accruals capitalized must be charged to construction directly or by transfer to construction projects from this account.
(e) Exclude the time and expenses of employees (except those engaged in injuries and damages activities) spent in attendance at safety and accident prevention educational meetings, if occurring during the regular work period.
(f) The cost of labor and related supplies and expenses of administrative and general employees who are only incidentally engaged in injuries and damages activities may be included in accounts 920 and 921 (§§ 367.9200 and 367.9210), as appropriate.
§ 367.9260   Account 926, Employee pensions and benefits.
(a) This account must include pensions paid to, or on behalf of, retired employees, or accruals to provide for pensions, or payments for the purchase of annuities for this purpose, when the service company has definitely, by contract, committed itself to a pension plan under which the pension funds are irrevocably devoted to pension purposes, and payments for employee accident, sickness, hospital, and death benefits, or insurance related to this account. Include, also, expenses incurred in medical, educational or recreational activities for the benefit of employees, and administrative expenses in connection with employee pensions and benefits.
(b) The service company must maintain a complete record of accruals or payments for pensions and be prepared to furnish full information to the Commission of the plan under which it has created or proposes to create a pension fund and a copy of the declaration of trust or resolution under which the pension plan is established.
(c) Records in support of this account must be kept so that the total pensions expense, the total benefits expense, the administrative expenses included in this account, and the amounts of pensions and benefits expenses transferred to construction or other accounts will be readily available. The following items must be included in this account:
(1) Payment of pensions under a non-accrual or non-funded basis.
(2) Accruals for or payments to pension funds or to insurance companies for pension purposes.
(3) Group and life insurance premiums (credit dividends received).
(4) Payments for medical and hospital services and expenses of employees when not the result of occupational injuries.
(5) Payments for accident, sickness, hospital, and death benefits or insurance.
(6) Payments to employees incapacitated for service or on leave of absence beyond periods normally allowed, when not the result of occupational injuries, or in excess of statutory awards.
(7) Expenses in connection with educational and recreational activities for the benefit of employees.
(d) The cost of labor and related supplies and expenses of administrative and general employees who are only incidentally engaged in employee pension and benefit activities may be included in accounts 920 and 921 (§§ 367.9200 and 367.9210), as appropriate.
(e) Salaries paid to employees during periods of non-occupational sickness may be charged to the appropriate labor account rather than to employee benefits.
§ 367.9280   Account 928, Regulatory commission expenses.
(a) This account must include all expenses, properly included in service company operating expenses, incurred by the service company in connection with formal cases before regulatory commissions, or other regulatory bodies, on its own behalf or on behalf of associate companies, including payments made to a regulatory commission for fees assessed to the service company for pay and expenses of such commission, its officers, agents and employees, and for filings or reports made under regulations of regulatory commissions. The service company must be prepared to show the cost of each formal case. The following items must be included in this account:
(1) Salaries, fees, retainers, and expenses of counsel, solicitors, attorneys, accountants, engineers, clerks, attendants, witnesses, and others engaged in the prosecution of, or defense against petitions or complaints presented to regulatory bodies.
(2) Office supplies and expenses, payments to public service or other regulatory commissions, stationery and printing, traveling expenses, and other expenses incurred directly in connection with formal cases before regulatory commissions.
(b) Exclude from this account and include in other appropriate operating expense accounts, expenses incurred in the improvement of service, additional inspection, or rendering reports, which are made necessary by the rules and regulations, or orders, of regulatory bodies.
§ 367.9301   Account 930.1, General advertising expenses for associated companies.
(a) This account must include the cost of labor, materials used, and expenses incurred in advertising and related activities, the cost of which by their content and purpose are not provided for elsewhere.
(b) This account must include the following labor items:
(1) Supervision.
(2) Preparing advertising material for newspapers, periodicals, billboards, and other similar items, and preparing or conducting motion pictures, radio and television programs.
(3) Preparing booklets, bulletins, and other similar forms of advertisement, used in direct mail advertising.
(4) Preparing window and other displays.
(5) Clerical and stenographic work.
(6) Investigating and employing advertising agencies, selecting media and conducting negotiations in connection with the placement and subject matter of advertising.
(c) This account must include the following materials and expenses items:
(1) Advertising in newspapers, periodicals, billboards, radio, and other similar forms of advertisement.
(2) Advertising matter such as posters, bulletins, booklets, and related items.
(3) Fees and expenses of advertising agencies and commercial artists.
(4) Postage and direct mail advertising.
(5) Printing of booklets, dodgers, bulletins, and other related items.
(6) Supplies and expenses in preparing advertising materials.
(7) Office supplies and expenses.
(d) Properly includible in this account is the cost of advertising activities on a local or national basis of a good will or institutional nature, which is primarily designed to improve the image of the associate utility company or the industry, including advertisements which inform the public concerning matters affecting the associate utility company's operations, such as, the cost of providing service, the associate utility company's efforts to improve the quality of service, the company's efforts to improve and protect the environment, and other similar forms of advertisement. Entries relating to advertising included in this account must contain or refer to supporting documents which identify the specific advertising message. If references are used, copies of the advertising message must be readily available.
(e) Exclude from this account and include in account 426.4, Expenditures for certain civic, political and related activities (§ 367.4264), expenses for advertising activities that are designed to solicit public support or the support of public officials in matters of a political nature.
§ 367.9302   Account 930.2, Miscellaneous general expenses.
(a) This account must include the cost of expenses incurred in connection with the general management of the service company not provided for elsewhere.
(b) This account must include labor items including miscellaneous labor not elsewhere provided for.
(c) This account must include the following expenses items:
(1) Industry association dues for company memberships.
(2) Contributions for conventions and meetings of the industry.
(3) Research, development, and demonstration expenses not charged to other operation and maintenance expense accounts on a functional basis.
(4) Communication service not chargeable to other accounts.
(5) Trustee, registrar, and transfer agent fees and expenses.
(6) Stockholders meeting expenses.
(7) Dividend and other financial notices.
(8) Printing and mailing dividend checks.
(9) Directors' fees and expenses.
(10) Publishing and distributing annual reports to stockholders.
(11) Public notices of financial, operating and other data required by regulatory statutes, not including, however, notices required in connection with security issues or acquisitions of property.
(d) Records must be maintained so as to permit ready analysis by item showing the nature of the expense and identity of the person furnishing the service.
§ 367.9310   Account 931, Rents.
This account must include rents, including taxes, paid for the property of others used, occupied or operated in connection with service company functions. Provide subaccounts for major groupings such as office space, warehouses, other structure, office furniture, fixtures, computers, data processing equipment, microwave and telecommunication equipment, airplanes, automobiles, and other similar groupings of property. The cost, when incurred by the lessee, of operating and maintaining leased property, must be charged to the accounts appropriate for the expense as if the property were owned.
§ 367.9350   Account 935, Maintenance of structures and equipment.
This account must include materials used and expenses incurred in the maintenance of property owned, the cost of which is included in accounts 390 through 399 (§§ 367.3900 through 367.3990), and of property leased from others. Provide subaccounts by major classes of structures and equipment, owned and leased.