398 Miscellaneous Equipment. Each principal item of equipment if includible in this account. 399 Other Tangible Equipment. Units to be assigned as items of property are included herein. Sec. PART 221-MISCELLANEOUS ACCOUNTING ORDERS 221.1 Gas plant instruction 2D, uniform system of accounts. 221.2 Disposition of gas plant acquisition adjustments. AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 221 issued under secs. 8(a), 10(a), 16, 52 Stat. 825, 826, 830; 15 U.S.C. 717g(a), 7171(a), 7170. SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 221 contained in Order 141, 12 F.R. 8657, Dec. 19, 1947, unless otherwise noted. § 221.1 Gas plant instruction 2D, uniform system of accounts. In submitting the information called for in Gas Plant Instruction 2D of the Uniform System of Accounts for Natural Gas Companies, each company shall furnish, insofar as applicable, the following statements, in triplicate, on paper cut or folded to 81⁄2 inches wide by 11 inches long, and properly sworn to by the officer in responsible charge of their compilation: (a) Statement A showing the origin and development of the company, including, particularly, a description (giving names of parties and dates) of each consolidation and merger to which the company, or a predecessor, was a party and each acquisition of a gas operating unit or system. Any affiliation existing between the parties shall be stated. (b) Statement B showing for each acquisition of a gas operating unit or system by the reporting company or any of its predecessors: (1) the original cost (estimated only if not determinable from existing records), (2) the cost of the acquiring company, (3) the amount entered in the books as of the date of acquisition, (4) the difference between the original cost and the amount entered in the books, (5) a summary of all transactions affecting such difference, including retirements, between the date of each acquisition and January 1, 1940, and (6) the amount of such difference remaining at January 1, 1940. (1) If the depreciation, retirement or amortization reserve was adjusted as of the date of acquisition and in connection therewith, a full disclosure of the pertinent facts shall be made. (2) The amount to be included in Account 100.5, Gas Plant Acquisition Adjustments, as of January 1, 1940, shall be subdivided so as to show the amounts applicable to (a) gas plant in service, (b) gas plant leased to others, and (c) gas plant held for future use. (3) The procedure followed in determining the original cost of the gas plant acquired as operating units or systems shall be described in sufficient detail so as to permit a clear understanding of the nature of the investigations and analyses which were made for that purpose. (4) Where estimates are used in arriving at original cost or the amount to be included in Account 100.5, a full disclosure of the method and underlying facts shall be given. The proportion of the original cost of each acquisition which has been determined from actual recorded costs and the proportion estimated shall be shown for each functional class of plant. In addition there shall be furnished in respect to each predecessor or vendor company for which complete construction costs are not available, a description of such plant records as are available, including the years covered thereby. (c) Statement C showing any amounts arrived at by appraisals, recorded prior to January 1, 1940, in the gas plant accounts (and not eliminated) in lieu of cost to the reporting company. This statement should describe the appraisal and give the complete journal entry at the time the appraisal was originally recorded. If the entry had the effect of appreciating or writing-up the gas plant account, the amount of the appreciation or write-up should be traced, by proper description and explanation of changes, from the date recorded to January 1, 1940. (d) Statement D showing in detail as of December 31, 1939, gas plant as classified in the books of account immediately prior to reclassification, including under appropriate descriptive headings, any unclassified amounts applicable jointly to the gas department and other departments of the utility. (e) Statement E showing the adjustments necessary to state, as of January 1, 1940, Account 100, Gas Plant, including its subaccounts, Account 107, Gas Plant Adjustments, and amount of common utility plant includible in Account 108, Other Utility Plant, as prescribed in the Uniform System of Accounts. (f) Statement F showing gas plant (balance sheet Account 100) as of January 1, 1940, classified according to the subaccounts and the detailed accounts thereunder prescribed in the Uniform System of Accounts effective on that date, and showing also the amount includible in Account 107, Gas Plant Adjustments, and the amount of common utility plant includible in Account 108, Other Utility Plant, (g) Statement G showing a comparative balance sheet, as of January 1, 1940, reflecting the accounts and amounts appearing in the books before the adjusting entries have been made and after such entries shall have been made. The balance sheet shall be classified by the accounts set forth in the Uniform System of Accounts Prescribed for Natural Gas Companies. (h) Statement H giving a suggested plan for depreciating, amortizing, or otherwise disposing of, in whole or in part, the amounts, as of January 1, 1940, includible in Account 100.5, Gas Plant Acquisition Adjustments, and Account 107, Gas Plant Adjustments. (i) Statement I furnishing the following statistical information relative to gas plant: PRODUCTION PLANT MANUFACTURED GAS Show separately for each producing plant the name and location of plant, date of original construction, type of plant (whether coal gas, coke ovens, water gas, etc.), rated 24-hr, capacity in M. c. f. of each unit and of the total plant, and date of installation of each unit installed after original construction. Show also the original cost according to the System of Accounts for each plant, by Accounts 311 to 325, inclusive. NATURAL GAS For each "field" includible in Account 100.1, Gas Plant in Service, furnish the number of acres each of gas producing lands owned, of gas producing lands leased by the company, and of land on which gas rights only are owned, as included, in Accounts 330.1, 330.2, The same information, 330.3, respectively. classified by subaccounts, shall be furnished for producing and nonproducing acreage includible in Account 100.2, Gas Plant Leased to Others, and in Account 100.4, Gas Plant Held for Future Use. For each "field" state number of feet of each size pipe used in Field Gathering Lines. For each "field" state number of wells included in Accounts 332.1 and 332.2 segregated to show the number of wells on each type of producing lands classified under Accounts 330.1, 330.2, 330.3. When pumping or compressing plants exist within the Production Plant, include the same information as that requested for Compressor Stations under Transmission Plant. State type and character of Purification Equipment and Residual Refining Equipment included in Accounts 335 and 336, respectively. Show the original cost according to the System of Accounts for natural gas production plant by each "field" and by Accounts. 330.1 to 337. STORAGE PLANT Show separately for each location the name of plant, date of construction, type and total capacity (M. c. f.) of each gas holder. State also the original cost according to the System of Accounts for each location, by Accounts 341 and 342. If depleted gas fields are being repressured, the statements furnished shall reflect the number of acres involved and the original cost according to the System of Accounts (Accounts 341 and 342). TRANSMISSION PLANT State the number of feet of each size of main. State separately for each compressor boost. ing station the name of plant, location, date of original construction, rated capacity, type and character of power unit and rated capacity and type of compressor units. Also state the capacity, type and date of installation of each additional power or compressor unit. Show for each station the original cost according to the System of Accounts by Accounts 351, 352 and 354 and by prescribed subaccounts. DISTRIBUTION PLANT State number of feet of each size of main and the number of active meters, house regulators and services. Give a general description of the district regulators and the number, by sizes. Where pumping or compressor stations. exist within the distribution plant, include the same information requested for similar stations under transmission plant. GENERAL PLANT Describe the principal structures and improvements. State the number and type of transporta tion vehicles and appurtenant equipment. Give a description of store, shop and laboratory equipment and miscellaneous equipment. Furnish maps, drawn to scale, upon which indicate transmission mains, location of production plants (artificial and natural), producing and nonproducing leaseholds (indicating thereon producing wells, dry holes and depleted wells), gathering systems, booster and compressor stations, communities served (noting as to wholesale or retail) and large industrial consumers. Where gas is purchased from or sold to other gas utilities, indicate location of measuring stations or gates. If scale maps are not available, furnish sketch maps upon which should be indicated approximate distances between the locations above specified. § 221.2 Disposition of gas plant acquisition adjustments. (a) Debit amounts in Account 100.5, Gas Plant Acquisition Adjustments, may be charged to Account 414, Miscellaneous Debits to Surplus, in whole or in part, or may be amortized over a reasonable period by charges to Account 537, Miscellaneous Amortization, without further order of the Commission; (b) Should a utility desire to account for debit amounts in Account 100.5, Gas Plant Acquisition Adjustments, in any manner different from that indicated in paragraph (a) of this section, it shall petition the Commission for authority to do so; (c) Debit balances shall not be determined by application of credit amounts thereto; (d) Credit amounts in Account 100.5, Gas Plant Acquisition Adjustments, shall be accounted for as directed by the Commission; (e) Where a utility, subject to both Federal and State regulations, petitions the Commission in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section, the cooperative procedure heretofore adopted between Federal and State Commissions shall be invoked; (f) Disposition of amounts in Account 100.5, Gas Plant Acquisition Adjustments, as directed in this section, is for accounting purposes only and such disposition shall not be construed as determining or controlling the consideration to be accorded these items in rate or other proceedings, nor shall anything contained in this account prevent the Commission from subsequently ordering the amounts to be charged directly to Account 414, Miscellaneous Debits to Surplus, or from modifying the adopted amortization period. SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 225 contained in Order 258, 27 F.R. 12251, Dec. 12, 1962, unless otherwise noted. § 225.1 Promulgation. (a) This part is prescribed and promulgated as the regulations governing the preservation of records by natural gas companies subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, to the extent and in the manner set forth therein; (b) This part shall, as to all natural gas companies now subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, become effective on December 12, 1962, and as to any natural gas company which may hereafter become subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, this part shall become effective as of the date when such natural gas company becomes subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission. § 225.2 General instructions. (a) Scope of the regulations in this part. (1) The regulations in this part apply to all books of account and other records prepared by or on behalf of the natural gas company. See Item 72 of the schedule for those records which come into possession of the natural gas company in connection with the acquisition of property, such as purchase, consolidation, merger, etc. (2) The regulations in this part shall not be construed as excusing compliance with any other lawful requirement for the preservation of records for periods longer than those prescribed herein. (3) Unless otherwise specified in § 225.3, duplicate copies of records may be destroyed at any time: Provided, however, That such duplicate copies contain no significant information not shown on the originals. (4) Records other than those listed in § 255.3 may be destroyed at the option of the natural gas company: Provided, however, That records which are used in lieu of those listed shall be preserved for the periods prescribed for the records used for substantially similar purposes, And, provided further, That retention of records pertaining to added services, functions, plant, etc., the establishment of which cannot be presently foreseen, shall conform to the principles embodied herein. (b) Designation of supervisory oficial. Each natural gas company subject to the regulations in this part shall designate one or more persons with official responsibility to supervise the natural gas company's program for preservation and the authorized destruction of its records. (c) Protection and storage of records. The natural gas company shall provide reasonable protection for records subject to the regulations in this part from damage by fires, floods, and other hazards and, in the selection of storage spaces, safeguard the records from unnecessary exposure to deterioration from excessive humidity, dryness, or lack of proper ventilation. (d) Index of records. At each office of the natural gas company where records are kept or stored, such records as are herein required to be preserved shall be so arranged, filed and currently indexed that they may be readily identified and made available to representatives of the Commission. (e) Preservation of records on microfilm. (1) As indicated in Schedule of Records and Periods of Retention, certain records may be microfilmed and the film retained in lieu of the original records, provided the procedures prescribed herein are followed. (2) Indicators are used in the schedule to designate those records for which microfilms will be accepted in lieu of the original records. These indicators, which are listed in the schedule in the column marked: "Microfilm Indicators", are as follows: M-Indicates that microfilms may be substituted for retention of the original records at any time after the use of the records for current recording purposes has been discontinued. M 10, M 6, etc.-Indicates that microfilms may be substituted for retention of the original records only after the original records have been retained in their original form for the number of years corresponding to the numeral, 1.e., 10 years, 6 years, etc. ME-Indicates records for which microfilms may be substituted for retention of the original records only for the period subsequent to the expiration, cancellation, supersedure, or other condition shown in the column, Period to be Retained. Thus, for item 9(e), microfilms are not acceptable for current contracts; however, they are acceptable for expired or canceled contracts, the retention period for which is six years after expiration or cancellation. (3) Absence of any of the "M" indicators explained above indicates that microfilms may not be substituted for retention of the records described. and reproduction of the photographs thereof. Any significant characteristic, feature, or other attribute of the original records which photography would not reflect clearly (e.g., that the record is a copy or that certain figures thereon are red) shall be so indicated on the records at the time of such arrangement, classification, and identification. When a number of the records to be microfilmed have in common such a characteristic or attribute, an appropriate notation identifying the characteristic or attribute may be indicated in a statement at the beginning of the roll of film instead of on each individual record. (5) Each roll of film shall include a microfilm of a certificate or certificates stating that the photographs are direct and facsimile reproductions of the original records and that they have been made in accordance with prescribed instructions. Such certificate or certificates shall be executed by a person or persons having personal knowledge of the facts covered thereby. (6) The photographic matter on each roll shall commence and end with a statement as to the nature and arrangement of the records reproduced, the name of the photographer, and the date. Rolls of film shall not be cut. Supplemental or retaken film, whether of misplaced or omitted documents or of portions of a film found to be spoiled or illegible or of other matter, shall be attached to the beginning of the roll, and in such event the aforementioned certificate or certificates shall cover also such supplemental or retaken film and shall state the reasons for taking such films. (7) All film stock shall be of approved permanent-record microcopying type, either perforated or unperforated. such as meets the minimum specifications of the National Bureau of Standards. (Such film stock may be identified by a manufacturer's mark, a solid triangle after the word "safety" in the edge marking of the film.) The photographing and processing shall be such that the film may be easily read and reproductions on photographic paper can be made, similar in size without significant loss of clarity of detail, during the period prescribed in this part for the retention of the records concerned. The natural gas company shall be prepared to furnish, at its own expense, appropriate standard facilities for reading the microfilm. If the Commission so directs, the natural gas company shall furnish (4) Prior to photographing, the records shall be so prepared, arranged, classified, and identified as readily to permit the subsequent location, examination, photographic reproductions of any records the originals of which have been destroyed under the provisions of this instruction. (8) The microfilm shall be indexed and retained in such manner as will render them readily accessible and identifiable. They shall be stored in such manner as to provide reasonable protection from hazards such as fire, flood, theft, etc. The films should be cared for in such manner as to prevent cracking, breaking, splitting, etc. (f) Destruction of records. The destruction of the records permitted to be destroyed under the provisions of the regulations in this part may be performed in any manner elected by the natural gas company concerned. Precautions should be taken, however, to macerate or otherwise destroy the legibility of records, the content of which is forbidden by law to be divulged to unauthorized persons. (g) Premature destruction or loss of records. When any records are destroyed before the expiration of the prescribed period of retention, a certified statement listing, as far as may be determined, the records destroyed and describing the circumstances of accidental or other premature destruction shall be filed with the Commission within ninety (90) days from the date of discovery of such destruction. Discovery of loss of records is to be treated in the same manner as in the case of premature destruction. (h) Schedule of records retention periods. The schedule of records annexed hereto shows the periods of time that designated records shall be preserved and the records for which microfilms may be substituted for retention of the original records, in accordance with the foregoing instructions. (i) Retention periods designated "Destroy at Option". Use of the retention period, "Destroy at Option", in the regulations in this part constitutes authorization for such destruction under the conditions specified for the particular types of records, only if such optional destruction is appropriate to limited managerial interest in such records and if such optional destruction is not in conflict with other legal retention requirements or usefulness of such records in satisfying pending regulatory actions or directives. (j) Records of services performed by associated companies. The natural gas company to which the regulations in this 34 86-036-6853 Records of reserve for depreciation and depletion of utility plant. Treasury Statements of funds and deposits. Records of deposits with banks and others. Records of receipts and disbursements. |