FERC Account 391 – Office Furniture and Equipment | UtilityEducation.com
FERC Definition Page
General Plant Account

FERC Account 391 – Office Furniture and Equipment

FERC Account 391 records the cost of office furniture and equipment used in general utility administrative operations.

Definition

Record in this account the cost of office furniture, fixtures, and equipment used in the general administrative operations of the utility.

Account 391 captures the cost of desks, chairs, file cabinets, computers, printers, copiers, and other office equipment used in administrative and general functions. Equipment specifically dedicated to technical operational functions (such as engineering workstations for system operations) may be recorded in other accounts depending on their primary function.

What is typically included

  • Desks, chairs, tables, and general office furniture
  • Computers, monitors, and related peripheral equipment for administrative use
  • Printers, copiers, and imaging equipment
  • Telephone systems and switchboards for general office use
  • Filing systems, storage cabinets, and office fixtures

What is generally not included

  • Communication equipment for operational use (Account 397)
  • Computers and equipment dedicated to system operations (may be Account 397)
  • Office structures and buildings (Account 390)
  • Laboratory equipment (Account 395)
  • Tools and equipment in field operations (Account 394)

Why this account matters

  • Provides detailed tracking of general administrative equipment investment
  • Supports depreciation calculations for office equipment with shorter useful lives
  • Required for FERC Form 1 general plant-in-service reporting
  • Enables cost allocation of general plant between operating departments
  • Distinguishes administrative equipment from operational and technical equipment

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.

Stay Current
New articles and course updates — straight to your inbox
Russ Hissom, CPA
Written by
Russ Hissom, CPA
Principal, UtilityEducation.com  ·  35+ Years of Utility Accounting Experience

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.