SECTION 1. GROSS INCOME (§ 61)

.01 Up-front Payments for Network Upgrades received by Utilities .

(1) Description of change . This change applies to a Utility that wants to change its method of accounting for Up-front Payments to the safe harbor method described in Rev. Proc. 2005-35, 2005-2 C.B. 76. In general, this change applies to a Utility that receives an Up-front Payment from a Generator to finance Network Upgrades to the Utility’s Transmission System. For federal income tax purposes, if an Up-front Payment is made pursuant to an Interconnection Agreement that satisfies all of the conditions of section 5.02 of Rev. Proc. 2005-35, a Utility may treat that Up-front Payment as not being taxable income under § 61 when received (the safe harbor method). In addition, a Utility that uses the safe harbor method is not entitled to any deduction for its reimbursements of the Up-front Payment. To the extent that Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) interest is deductible, it must be properly allocated to the periods in which it accrues. A Utility using the safe harbor method must comply with all other applicable provisions of Rev. Proc. 2005-35. See Rev. Proc. 2005-35 for the definitions of certain terms for purposes of this change.

(2) Designated automatic accounting method change number . The designated automatic accounting method change number for a change under this section 1.01 is “91.”

(3) Contact information . For further information regarding a change under this section, contact William E. Blanchard at (202) 317-3900 (not a toll-free number).