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(continued) e placement and subject matter of information programs.
Materials and Expenses:
6. Use of newspapers, periodicals, billboards, radio, etc., for informational purposes.
7. Postage on direct mailings to customers exclusive of postage related to billings.
8. Printing of informational booklets, dodgers, bulletins, etc.
9. Supplies and expenses in preparing informational materials by the utility.
10. Office supplies and expenses.
Note A: 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. Exclude also all expenses of a promotional, institutional, goodwill or political nature, which are includible in such accounts as 913, Advertising Expenses, 930.1, General Advertising Expenses, and 426.4, Expenditures for Certain Civic, Political and Related Activities.
Note B: Entries relating to informational advertising included in this account shall contain or refer to supporting documents which identify the specific advertising message. If references are used, copies of the advertising message shall be readily available.
910 Miscellaneous customer service and informational expenses (Major only).
This account shall include the cost of labor, materials used and expenses incurred in connection with customer service and informational activities which are not includible in other customer information expense accounts.
Labor:
1. General clerical and stenographic work not assigned to specific customer service and informational programs.
2. Miscellaneous labor.
Materials and Expenses:
3. Communication service.
4. Printing, postage and office supplies expenses.
911 Supervision (Major only).
This account shall 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 shall be charged to the account wherein the costs of such activity are included. (See operating expense instruction 1.)
912 Demonstrating and selling expenses (Major only).
This account shall 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 use of utility services by present and prospective customers.
Items
Labor:
1. Demonstrating uses of utility services.
2. Conducting cooking schools, preparing recipes, and related home service activities.
3. Exhibitions, displays, lectures, and other programs designed to promote use of utility services.
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 utility services.
7. Special customer canvasses when their primary purpose is the retention of business or the promotion of new business.
Materials and Expenses:
8. Supplies and expenses pertaining to demonstration, and experimental and development activities.
9. Booth and temporary space rental.
10. Loss in value on equipment and appliances used for demonstration purposes.
11. Transportation, meals, and incidental expenses.
913 Advertising expenses (Major only).
This account shall include the cost of labor, materials used and expenses incurred in advertising designed to promote or retain the use of utility service, except advertising the sale of merchandise by the utility.
Items
Labor:
1. Direct supervision of department.
2. Preparing advertising material for newspapers, periodicals, billboards, etc., and preparing and conducting motion pictures, radio and television programs.
3. Preparing booklets, bulletins, etc., 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.
Materials and expenses:
7. Advertising in newspapers, periodicals, billboards, radio, etc., for sales promotion purposes, but not including institutional or goodwill advertising includible in account 930.1, General Advertising Expenses.
8. Materials and services given as prizes or otherwise in connection with civic lighting contests, canning, or cooking contests, bazaars, etc., in order to publicize and promote the use of utility services.
9. Fees and expenses of advertising agencies and commercial artists.
10. Novelties for general distribution.
11. Postage on direct mail advertising.
12. Premiums distributed generally, such as recipe books, etc., when not offered as inducement to purchase appliances.
13. Printing booklets, dodgers, bulletins, etc.
14. Supplies and expenses in preparing advertising material.
15. Office supplies and expenses.
Note A: The cost of advertisements which set forth the value or advantages of utility service without reference to specific appliances or, if reference is made to appliances invites the reader to purchase appliances from his dealer or refer to appliances not carried for sale by the utility, shall be considered sales promotion advertising and charged to this account. However, advertisements which are limited to specific makes of appliances sold by the utility and prices, terms, etc., thereof, without referring to the value or advantages of utility service, shall be considered as merchandise advertising and the cost shall be charged to Costs and Expenses of Merchandising, Jobbing and Contract Work, Account 416.
Note B: Advertisements which substantially mention or refer to the value or advantages of utility service, together with specific reference to makes of appliances sold by the utility and the price, terms, etc., thereof and designed for the joint purpose of increasing the use of utility service and the sales of appliances, shall be considered as a combination advertisement and the costs shall be distributed between this account and Account 416 on the basis of space, time, or other proportional factors.
Note C: 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. Exclude also all institutional or goodwill advertising. (See Account 930.1, General Advertising Expenses.)
916 Miscellaneous sales expenses (Major only).
This account shall 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.
Items
Labor:
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.
Materials and Expenses:
4. Communication service.
5. Printing, postage, and office supplies and expenses applicable to sales activities, except those chargeable to account 913, Advertising Expenses.
917 Sales expenses (Nonmajor only).
This account shall include the cost of labor and expenses incurred for the purpose of promoting the sale of electricity, other than merchandising, jobbing or contract work activities.
Items
1. Advertising.
2. Demonstrating uses of utility service.
3. Home service activities.
4. Solicitation of new business.
920 Administrative and general salaries.
A. This account shall include the compensation (salaries, bonuses, and other consideration for services, but not including directors' fees) of officers, executives, and other employees of the utility properly chargeable to utility operations and not chargeable directly to a particular operating function.
B. This account may be subdivided in accordance with a classification appropriate to the departmental or other functional organization of the utility.
921 Office supplies and expenses.
A. This account shall include office supplies and expenses incurred in connection with the general administration of the utility's operations which are assignable to specific administrative or general departments and are 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 includible in account 920.
B. This account may be subdivided in accordance with a classification appropriate to the departmental or other functional organization of the utility.
Note: Office expenses which are clearly applicable to any group of operating expenses other than the administrative and general group shall be included in the appropriate account in such group. Further, general expenses which apply to the utility as a whole rather than to a particular administrative function shall be included in account 930.2, Miscellaneous General Expenses.
Items
1. Automobile service, including charges through clearing account.
2. Bank messenger and service charges.
3. Books, periodicals, bulletins and subscriptions to newspapers, newsletters, tax services, etc.
4. Building service expenses for customer accounts, sales, and administrative and general purposes.
5. Communication service expenses.
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 are includible in account 930.2.)
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 and incidental expenses.
922 Administrative expenses transferred—Credit.
This account shall be credited with administrative expenses recorded in accounts 920 and 921 which are transferred to construction costs or to nonutility accounts. (See electric plant instruction 4.)
923 Outside services employed.
A. This account shall include the fees and expenses of professional consultants and others for general services which are not applicable to a particular operating function or to other accounts. It shall include also the pay and expenses of persons engaged for a special or temporary administrative or general purpose in circumstances where the person so engaged is not considered as an employee of the utility.
B. This account shall be so maintained as to permit ready summarization according to the nature of service and the person furnishing the same.
Items
1. Fees, pay and expenses of accountants and auditors, actuaries, appraisers, attorneys, engineering consultants, management consultants, negotiators, public relations counsel, tax consultants, etc.
2. Supervision fees and expenses paid under contracts for general management services.
Note: Do not include inspection and brokerage fees and commissions chargeable to other accounts or fees and expenses in connection with security issues which are includible in the expenses of issuing securities.
924 Property insurance.
A. This account shall include the cost of insurance or reserve accruals to protect the utility against losses and damages to owned or leased property used in its utility operations. It shall include also the cost of labor and related supplies and expenses incurred in property insurance activities.
B. Recoveries from insurance companies or others for property damages shall be credited to the account charged with the cost of the damage. If the damaged property has been retired, the credit shall be to the appropriate account for accumulated provision for depreciation.
C. Records shall 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 shall be credited to the accounts to which the insurance premiums were charged.
Items
1. Premiums payable to insurance companies for fire, storm, burglary, boiler explosion, lightning, fidelity, riot, and similar insurance.
2. Amounts credited to account 228.1, Accumulated Provision for Property Insurance, for similar protection.
3. Special costs incurred in procuring insurance.
4. Insurance inspection service.
5. Insurance counsel, brokerage fees, and expenses.
Note A: The cost of insurance or reserve accruals capitalized shall be charged to construction either directly or by transfer to construction work orders from this account.
Note B: The cost of insurance or reserve accruals for the following classes of property shall be charged as indicated.
(1) Materials and supplies and stores equipment, to account 163, Stores Expense Undistributed (store expenses in the case of Nonmajor utilities), or appropriate materials account.
(2) For Major Utilities, transportation and other general equipment to appropriate clearing accounts that may be maintained. For Nonmajor utilities, transportation and garage equipment, to account 933, Transportation Expenses.
(3) Electric plant leased to others, to account 413, Expenses of Electric Plant Leased to Others.
(4) Nonutility property, to the appropriate nonutility income account.
(5) Merchandise and jobbing property, to Account 416, Costs and Expenses of Merchandising, Jobbing and Contract Work.
Note C (Major only): 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, as appropriate.
925 Injuries and damages.
A. This account shall include the cost of insurance or reserve accruals to protect the utility 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. For Major utilities, it shall also 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 hereto on account of injuries and damages and insurance dividends or refunds shall be credited to this account.
Items
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, etc., and amounts credited to account 228.2, Accumulated Provision for Injuries and Damages, for similar protection.
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 Note A.)
8. Cost of safety, accident prevention and similar educational activities.
Note A: Payments to or in 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, shall be charged to account 926, Employee Pensions and Benefits. (See also Note B of account 926.)
Note B: The cost of injuries and damages or reserve accruals capitalized shall be charged to construction directly or by transfer to construction work orders from this account.
Note C: Exclude herefrom 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.
Note D: 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, as appropriate.
926 Employee pensions and benefits.
A. This account shall 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 utility 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 therefor. 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 utility shall 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. There shall be credited to this account the portion of pensions and benefits expenses which is applicable to nonutility operations or which is charged to construction unless such amounts are distributed directly to the accounts involved and are not included herein in the first instance.
D. For Major utilities, records in support of this account shall be so kept that the total pensions expense, the total benefits expense, the administrative expenses included herein, and the amounts of pensions and benefits expenses transferred to construction or other accounts will be readily available.
Items
1. Payment of pensions under a nonaccrual or nonfunded 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.
Note A: 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, as appropriate.
Note B: Salaries paid to employees during periods of nonoccupational sickness may be charged to the appropriate labor account rather than to employee benefits.
927 Franchise requirements.
A. This account shall include payments to municipal or other governmental authorities, and the cost of materials, supplies and services furnished such authorities without reimbursement in compliance with franchise, ordinance, or similar requirements; provided, however, that the utility may charge to this account at regular tariff rates, instead of cost, utility service furnished without charge under provisions of franchises.
B. When no direct outlay is involved, concurrent credit for such charges shall be made to account 929, Duplicate Charges—Credit.
C. The account shall be maintained so as to readily reflect the amounts of cash outlays, utility service supplied without charge, and other items furnished without charge.
Note A: Franchise taxes shall not be charged to this account but to account 408.1, Taxes Other Than Income Taxes, Utility Operating Income.
Note B: Any amount paid as initial consideration for a franchise running for more than one year shall be charged to account 302, Franchises and Consents.
928 Regulatory commission expenses.
A. This account shall include all expenses (except pay of regular employees only incidentally engaged in such work) properly includible in utility operating expenses, incurred by the utility in connection with formal cases before regulatory commissions, or other regulatory bodies, or cases in which such a body is a party, including payments made to a regulatory commission for fees assessed against the utility for pay and expenses of such commission, its officers, agents, and employees, and also including payments made to the United States for the administration of the Federal Power Act.
B. Amounts of regulatory commission expenses which by approval or direction of the Commission are to be spread over future periods shall be charged to account 186, Miscellaneous Deferred Debits, and amortized by charges to this account.
C. The utility shall be prepared to show the cost of each formal case.
Items
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, or in the valuation of property owned or used by the utility in connection with such cases.
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.
Note A: 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.
Note B: Do not include in this account amounts includible in account 302, Franchises and Consents, account 181, Unamortized Debt Expense, or account 214, Capital Stock Expense.
929 Duplicate charges—Credit.
This account shall include concurrent credits for charges which may be made to operating expenses or to other accounts for the use of utility service from its own supply. Include, also, offsetting credits for any other charges made to operating expenses for which there is no direct money outlay.
930.1 General advertising expenses.
This account shall 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.
Items
Labor:
1. Supervision.
2. Preparing advertising material for newspapers, periodicals, billboards, etc., and preparing or conducting motion pictures, radio and television programs.
3. Preparing booklets, bulletins, etc., 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.
Materials and Expenses:
7. Advertising in newspapers, periodicals, billboards, radio, etc.
8. Advertising matter such as posters, bulletins, booklets, and related items.
9. Fees and expenses of advertising agencies and commercial artists.
10. Postage and direct mail advertising.
11. Printing of booklets, dodgers, bulletins, etc.
12. Supplies and expenses in preparing advertising materials.
13. Office supplies and expenses.
Note A: 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 utility or the industry, including advertisements which inform the public concerning matters affecting the company's operations, such as, the cost of providing service, the company's efforts to improve the quality of service, the company's efforts to improve and protect the environment, etc. Entries relating to advertising included in this account shall contain or refer to supporting documents which identify the specific advertising message. If references are used, copies of the advertising message shall be readily available.
Note B: Exclude from this account and include in account 426.4, Expenditures for Certain Civic, Political and Related Activities, expenses for advertising activities, which are designed to solicit public support or the support of public officials in matters of a political nature.
930.2 Miscellaneous general expenses.
This account shall include the cost of labor and expenses incurred in connection with the general management of the utility not provided for elsewhere.
Items
Labor:
1. Miscellaneous labor not elsewhere provided for.
Expenses:
2. Industry association dues for company memberships.
3. Contributions for conventions and meetings of the industry.
4. For Major utilities, research, development, and demonstration expenses not charged to other operation and maintenance expense accounts on a functional basis.
5. Communication service not chargeable to other accounts.
6. Trustee, registrar, and transfer agent fees and expenses.
7. Stockholders meeting expenses.
8. Dividend and other financial notices.
9. Printing and mailing dividend checks.
10. Directors' fees and expenses.
11. Publishing and distributing annual reports to stockholders.
12. 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. For Nonmajor utilities, transportation and garage equipment, to account 933, Transportation Expenses.
931 Rents.
This account shall include rents properly includible in utility operating expenses for the property of others used, occupied, or operated in connection with the customer accounts, customer service and informational, sales, and general and administrative functions of the utility. (See operating expense instruction 3.)
933 Transportation expenses (Nonmajor only).
A. This account shall include the cost of labor, materials used and expenses incurred in the operation and maintenance of general transportation equipment of the utility.
B. This account may be used as a clearing account in which event the charges hereto shall be cleared by apportionment to the appropriate operating expense, electric plant, or other accounts on a basis which will distribute the expenses equitably. Credits to this account shall be made in such detail as to permit ready analysis.
Items
1. Supervision.
2. Building service.
3. Care of grounds, including snow removal, cutting grass, etc.
4. Utility services.
5. Depreciation of transportation equipment.
6. Fuel and lubricants for vehicles (including sales and excise taxes thereon).
7. Insurance on garage equipment and transportation equipment, including public liability and property damage.
8. Maintenance of transportation and garage equipment.
9. Compensation of drivers, mechanics, clerks, and other garage employees.
10. Rent of garage buildings and grounds, vehicles or equipment.
11. Replacement of tires, tubes, batteries, etc.
12. Direct taxes, licenses, and permits.
13. Miscellaneous garage supplies, tools, and equipment.
14. Miscellaneous office supplies and expenses, printing, and stationery.
15. Transportation, meals, and incidental expenses.
Note A: The pay of employees driving trucks or other transportation equipment incidental to their regular occupation, shall not be included herein but charged directly to the appropriate expense or other account.
Note B: Transportation expenses applicable to construction shall not be included in operating expenses.
935 Maintenance of general plant.
A. This account shall include the cost assignable to customer accounts, sales and administrative and general functions of labor, materials used and expenses incurred in the maintenance of property, the book cost of which is includible in account 390, Structures and Improvements, account 391, Office Furniture and Equipment, account 397, Communication Equipment, and account 398 Miscellaneous Equipment. For Nonmajor utilities, include also other general equipment accounts (not including transportation equipment). (See operating expense instruction 2.)
B. Maintenance expenses on office furniture and equipment used elsewhere than in general, commercial and sales offices shall be charged to the following accounts:
Steam Power Generation, Account 514.
Nuclear Power Generation, Account 532 (Major only).
Hydraulic Power Generation, Account 545.
Other Power Generation, Account 554.
Transmission, Account 573.
Distribution, Account 598.
Merchandise and Jobbing, Account 416.
Garages, Shops, etc., Appropriate clearing account, if used.
Note: Maintenance of plant included in other general equipment accounts shall be included herein unless charged to clearing accounts or to the particular functional maintenance expense account indicated by the use of the equipment.