3. Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
k. Property, plant and equipment Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. When significant parts of an item of property, plant and equipment have different useful lives, they are accounted for as separate items of property, plant and equipment. The cost of major inspections or overhauls is capitalized. The cost of replacing part of an item of property, plant and equipment is recognized in the carrying amount of the specific item if it is probable that the part will generate future economic benefits, and its cost can be measured reliably. The carrying amount of the replaced part is derecognized. The cost of regular servicing of property, plant and equipment is recognized in operating and maintenance expense as incurred. Cost includes expenditures that are directly attributable to the acquisition or construction of the asset. The cost of self- constructed assets includes materials, services, direct labour and directly attributable overheads. Borrowing costs associated with major projects are capitalized during the construction period. Major projects (or qualifying assets) are those projects that are under construction for a period greater than six months. Assets under construction are recorded as in progress until they are available for use. When property, plant and equipment is disposed of or retired, the related cost, accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses are eliminated. Any resulting gains or losses are reflected in net income in the period the asset is disposed of or retired. Depreciation is based on the cost of the asset less its residual value and is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset from the date the asset is available for use at the following annual rates (per cent): Distribution 1.5 to 5.3 Transmission and storage 2.0 to 20.0 Gathering, treatment and compression 2.0 to 33.0 Vehicles, equipment and other 2.5 to 20.0 Computer hardware 20.0 to 33.3 The estimated useful lives, residual values and method of depreciation are based on periodic depreciation studies with annual reviews for reasonableness.
l.
Impairment
i.
Financial assets Financial assets, other than those classified as at fair value through profit or loss, are reviewed at each reporting date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. Financial assets are impaired when there is objective evidence that the estimated future cash flows have been affected. Objective evidence of impairment could include significant financial difficulty, default, delinquency, indication of bankruptcy, or financial reorganization of a counterparty. The Corporation considers evidence of impairment for trade and other receivables on both an individual and a collective basis. In assessing collective impairment, the Corporation uses historical trends of the likelihood of default, timing of recoveries and the amount of losses incurred, adjusted for management’s judgment as to the impact of current economic and credit conditions. The carrying amount of trade and other receivables is reduced through the use of an allowance account. Once reasonable collection efforts have been exhausted, and a trade and other receivable balance is considered uncollectible, it is written off against the allowance account. Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off are credited against the allowance account. Changes in the carrying amount of the allowance account are recognized immediately in operating and maintenance expense.
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2015-16 ANNUAL REPORT SASKENERGY
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