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Statements of fiduciary net position of the Retirement Plan
Turlock Irrigation District
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (dollars in thousands)
Note 1 – Organization, Description of Business
The Turlock Irrigation District (TID or the District) was organized under the Wright Act in 1887 and operates under the provisions of the California Water Code as a special district of the State of California (the State). As a public power utility, TID is not subject to regulation or oversight by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). TID provides electric power and irrigation water to its customers.
TID’s Board of Directors (the Board) determines its rates and charges for its commodities and services. TID levies ad valorem property taxes on property located in the counties of Stanislaus and Merced. TID may also incur indebtedness, including issuing bonds, and is exempt from payment of federal and state income taxes.
Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Method of accounting
TID maintains its accounts in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for proprietary funds as prescribed by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). TID is accounted for as an enterprise fund and is financed and operated in a manner similar to that of a private business enterprise. TID uses the economic resources measurement focus and the accrual basis of accounting. Under this method, revenues are recorded when earned and expenses are recorded at the time liabilities are incurred. TID’s accounting records generally follow the Uniform System of Accounts for public utilities and licensees prescribed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), except as it relates to the accounting for contributions in aid of construction (CIAC).
TID provides energy for residential, commercial, and industrial use and provides irrigation water for agricultural use. Accordingly, TID defines operating revenues as sales of energy, wholesale sales of energy and natural gas, irrigation sales, and other miscellaneous energy and irrigation service revenues. Operating expenses include the costs of sales and services, administration expenses, depreciation, depletion and amortization. Nonoperating revenue and expense typically includes interest income on investments, interest expense, and other miscellaneous items.
Component units
The Walnut Energy Center Authority (WECA) owns and operates a 250 MW natural gas fueled generation facility, which commenced commercial operations in 2006. The Tuolumne Wind Project Authority (TWPA) owns a membership interest in a 136.6 MW wind farm, consisting of 62 wind-turbine generators located in Klickitat County, Washington. WECA and TWPA have no employees and all the output from both facilities is sold to TID through power purchase agreements.
Although WECA and TWPA are separate legal entities from TID, they are consolidated component units of TID and reported as part of TID because of the extent of their operational and financial relationship with TID which includes majority oversight from the same Board of Directors.