FERC Account 353 – Station Equipment
FERC Account 353 records the cost of equipment installed at electric transmission substations and switching stations.
Definition
Record in this account the cost of equipment used in transmission substations and switching stations.
Account 353 captures the cost of high-voltage equipment located at transmission substations and switching stations. This includes transformers that step voltage up or down for transmission, circuit breakers, disconnect switches, capacitors, reactors, and control systems. Equipment at distribution substations is classified in Account 362, not here.
What is typically included
- Power transformers stepping voltage for bulk transmission
- High-voltage circuit breakers and disconnect switches at transmission substations
- Bus work, insulators, and surge arresters at transmission facilities
- Capacitors, reactors, and voltage regulation equipment
- Protective relaying, metering, and SCADA control systems at transmission substations
What is generally not included
- Distribution substation equipment (recorded in Account 362)
- Transmission substation structures and buildings (Account 352)
- Transmission line conductors and towers (Accounts 354-358)
- Generation step-up transformers at generating facilities
- General plant communication equipment not specific to substations (Account 397)
Why this account matters
- Provides detailed tracking of high-value transmission substation investment
- Supports accurate depreciation calculation for transmission equipment
- Distinguishes transmission from distribution substation equipment for rate purposes
- Required for FERC Form 1 electric plant-in-service schedules
- Enables cost-of-service allocation between transmission and distribution functions
Deepen Your FERC Accounting Knowledge
Our on-demand courses cover the FERC Uniform System of Accounts in depth — with practical examples for utility and cooperative finance professionals.
Russ Hissom is a nationally recognized utility accounting and rate expert with deep hands-on experience in FERC and RUS accounting, regulatory accounting, cost-of-service studies, and rate design for electric utilities and cooperatives. Learn about consulting services →
Disclaimer: The material in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal or accounting advice provided by Utility Accounting & Rates Specialists, LLC. You should seek formal advice on this topic from your accounting or legal advisor.