The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) published for public comment the Exposure Draft Regulatory Deferral Accounts as part of its reactivated Rate-regulated Activities research project.

Many jurisdictions applying International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) have industry sectors that are subject to rate regulation, such as the transportation and the utilities sectors. Rate regulation can have a significant impact on the timing and amount of an entity’s revenue. Existing IFRS does not provide any specific guidance for rate regulated activities.

In response to feedback from its agenda consultation, the IASB has initiated a project to consider whether the IASB should develop specific guidance for Rate-regulated Activities and, if so, what information about the consequences of rate regulation would be most useful for users of financial statements. At this stage, the IASB is proposing an interim Standard that would allow entities to preserve the existing accounting policies that they have in place for rate-regulated activities with some modifications designed to enhance comparability.

Invitation to comment

ASB invites comments on the said Exposure Draft from the public. The downloadable version of the Document is available at:www.ifrs.org/Current-Projects/IASB-Projects/Rate-regulated-activities/Exposure-Draft-April-2013/Documents/ED_Regulatory-Deferral%20Account.pdf

Comments would be most helpful if they indicate the specific paragraph or group of paragraphs to which they relate, contain a clear rationale and, where applicable, provide a suggestion for alternative wording.

Comments should be submitted in writing to the Secretary, Accounting Standards Board, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, ICAI Bhawan, Post Box No. 7100, Indraprastha Marg, New Delhi-110002, so as to be received not later than July 31, 2013. Comments can also be sent by e-mail at asb@icai.in