3440

NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 132

30 NOVEMBER 2007

NGC HOLDINGS LIMITED

GAS TRANSMISSION ACTIVITIES

STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2007

SPECIFIC ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following specific accounting policies that materially affect the measurement of financial performance and financial position have been applied.

A) INCOME RECOGNITION

Income from the provision of gas transmission services is recognised as services are delivered. Interest income is accounted for as earned. Income from customer contributions is recognised on a percentage of completion basis.

B) GOODS AND SERVICES TAX (GST)

The statement of financial performance has been prepared so that all components are stated exclusive of GST. All items in the statement of financial position are stated net of GST, with the exception of receivables and payables, which include GST invoiced.

C) RECEIVABLES

Receivables are carried at estimated realisable value after providing against debts where collection is doubtful.

D) INVENTORIES

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is determined on a first in first out or weighted average basis.

E) INCOME TAX

The income tax expense recognised for the year is based on the operating surplus before taxation, adjusted for permanent differences between accounting and tax rules.

The impact of all timing differences between accounting and taxable income is recognised as a deferred tax liability or asset. This is the comprehensive basis for the calculation of deferred tax under the liability method.

A deferred tax asset, or the effect of tax losses carried forward is recognised in the financial statements only where there is the virtual certainty that the benefit of the timing differences, or losses, will be utilised.

F) PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

The cost of purchased property, plant and equipment is the value of the consideration given to acquire the property, plant and equipment and the value of other directly attributable costs, which have been incurred in bringing the property, plant and equipment to the location and condition necessary for the intended service. All feasibility costs are expensed as incurred.

The cost of constructed property, plant and equipment includes the cost of all materials used in construction, direct labour on the project, costs of obtaining resource management consents, financing costs that are attributable to the project and an appropriate proportion of the variable and fixed overheads. Costs cease to be capitalised as soon as the item of property, plant and equipment is ready for productive use and do not include any inefficiency costs.

Subsequent expenditure relating to an item of property, plant and equipment is added to its gross carrying amount when such expenditure either increases the future economic benefits beyond its existing service potential, or is necessarily incurred to enable future economic benefits to be obtained, and that expenditure would have been included in the initial cost of the item had the expenditure been incurred at that time.

Pipelines, compressors and gate stations are revalued by independent experts. Revalued assets are valued to fair value in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard No. 3, applying a depreciated replacement cost or a discounted cash flow methodology as appropriate. Revaluations of pipelines, compressors and gate stations are carried out at least every three years.

Other classes of property, plant and equipment are not revalued. If the estimated recoverable amount of an asset is less than its carrying amount, the asset is written down to its recoverable amount and an impairment loss is recognised in the statement of financial performance. Estimated recoverable amount is the greater of the estimated amount from the future use of property, plant and equipment and its ultimate disposal, and its net market value. Annual impairment reviews are undertaken for these classes of property, plant and equipment.