Objective (AASB14_06-14_COMPmay19_01-20)

The objective of this Standard is to specify the financial reporting requirements for regulatory deferral account balances that arise when an entity provides goods or services to customers at a price or rate that is subject to rate regulation.

AusCF paragraphs and footnotes included in this Standard apply only to:

(a) not-for-profit entities; and

(b) for-profit entities that are not applying the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting (as identified in AASB 1048 Interpretation of Standards).

Such entities are referred to as ‘AusCF entities’. For AusCF entities, the term ‘reporting entity’ is defined in AASB 1057 Application of Australian Accounting Standards and Statement of Accounting Concepts SAC 1 Definition of the Reporting Entity also applies. For-profit entities applying the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting (as set out in paragraph Aus1.1 of the Conceptual Framework) shall not apply AusCF paragraphs or footnotes.

In meeting this objective, the Standard requires:

(a) limited changes to the accounting policies that were applied in accordance with previous generally accepted accounting principles (previous GAAP) for regulatory deferral account balances, which are primarily related to the presentation of these accounts; and

(b) disclosures that:

(i) identify and explain the amounts recognised in the entity’s financial statements that arise from rate regulation; and

(ii) help users of the financial statements to understand the amount, timing and uncertainty of future cash flows from any regulatory deferral account balances that are recognised.

The requirements of this Standard permit an entity within its scope to continue to account for regulatory deferral account balances in its financial statements in accordance with its previous GAAP when it adopts Australian Accounting Standards, subject to the limited changes referred to in paragraph 2 above.

In addition, this Standard provides some exceptions to, or exemptions from, the requirements of other Standards. All specified requirements for reporting regulatory deferral account balances, and any exceptions to, or exemptions from, the requirements of other Standards that are related to those balances, are contained within this Standard instead of within those other Standards.