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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Basis of Presentation

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and costs. These estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current events, historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Accordingly, actual results may be different from these estimates and assumptions.

Principles of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of UGI Utilities and its subsidiaries (collectively, “we” or “the Company”). We eliminate all significant intercompany accounts when we consolidate.

Effects of Regulation

UGI Utilities accounts for the financial effects of regulation in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB’s”) guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 980 related to regulated entities whose rates are designed to recover the costs of providing service. In accordance with this guidance, incurred costs and estimated future expenditures that would otherwise be charged to expense are capitalized and recorded as regulatory assets when it is probable that the incurred costs or estimated future expenditures will be recovered in rates in the future. Similarly, we recognize regulatory liabilities when it is probable that regulators will require customer refunds through future rates or when revenue is collected from customers for expenditures that have not yet been incurred. Generally, regulatory assets are amortized into expense and regulatory liabilities are amortized into income over the period authorized by the regulator.

Fair Value Measurements

We apply fair value measurements to certain assets and liabilities, principally our commodity derivative instruments. Fair value in GAAP is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value is based upon assumptions that market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and risks inherent in valuation techniques and inputs to valuations. This includes not only the credit standing of counterparties and credit enhancements but also the impact of our own nonperformance risk on our liabilities. Fair value measurements require that we assume that the transaction occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability or in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset or liability (the market for which the reporting entity would be able to maximize the amount received or minimize the amount paid). We evaluate the need for credit adjustments to our derivative instrument fair values in accordance with the requirements noted above. Such adjustments were not material to the fair values of our derivative instruments.

We use the following fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels:


•	Level 1 — Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that we have the ability to access at the measurement date. Instruments categorized in Level 1 consist of our exchange-traded commodity futures and option contracts and non exchange-traded electricity forward contracts whose underlying is identical to an exchange-traded electricity contract.

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Level 2 — Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and inputs that are derived from observable market data by correlation or other means. Instruments categorized in Level 2 include financial transmission rights (“FTRs”) and non exchange-traded electricity forward contracts not qualifying for Level 1.


•	Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability including situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. We did not have any derivative financial instruments categorized as Level 3 at September 30, 2012 or 2011.

The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable data (Level 3). In some cases, the inputs to measure fair value might fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. The lowest level input that is significant to a fair value measurement in its entirety determines the applicable level in the fair value hierarchy. Assessing the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, considering factors specific to the asset or liability. See Note 13 for additional information on fair value measurements.

Derivative Instruments

We account for derivative instruments and hedging activities in accordance with guidance provided by the FASB which requires that all derivative instruments be recognized as either assets or liabilities and measured at fair value. The accounting for changes in fair value depends upon the purpose of the derivative instrument and whether it is designated and qualifies for hedge accounting.

Substantially all of the gains and losses on derivative instruments used by Gas Utility and Electric Utility are included in regulatory assets and liabilities in accordance with FASB guidance regarding accounting for rate-regulated entities. For cash flow hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivative financial instruments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), to the extent effective at offsetting changes in the hedged item, until earnings are affected by the hedged item. We discontinue cash flow hedge accounting if the occurrence of the forecasted transaction is determined to be no longer probable. Certain of our derivative financial instruments, although generally effective as hedges, do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. Changes in the fair values of these derivative instruments are reflected in net income. Cash flows from derivative financial instruments are included in cash flows from operating activities.

For a more detailed description of the derivative instruments we use, our accounting for derivatives, our objectives for using them and related supplemental information required by GAAP, see Note 14.

Revenue Recognition

UGI Utilities’ regulated revenues are recognized as natural gas and electricity are delivered and include estimated amounts for distribution service and commodities rendered but not billed at the end of each month. We reflect the impact of Gas Utility and Electric Utility rate increases or decreases at the time they become effective. Nonregulated revenues are recognized as services are performed or products are delivered.

We present revenue-related taxes collected from customers and remitted to taxing authorities, principally sales and use taxes, on a net basis. Electric Utility gross receipts taxes are included in total revenues in accordance with regulatory practice.

Income Taxes

We record deferred income taxes in the Consolidated Statements of Income resulting from the use of accelerated depreciation methods based upon amounts recognized for ratemaking purposes. We also record a deferred tax liability for tax benefits, principally the result of accelerated tax depreciation for state income tax purposes, that are flowed through to ratepayers when temporary differences originate and record a regulatory income tax asset for the probable increase in future revenues that will result when the temporary differences reverse.

We are amortizing deferred investment tax credits related to Utilities’ plant additions over the service lives of the related property. Utilities reduces its deferred income tax liability for the future tax benefits that will occur when the deferred investment tax credits, which are not taxable, are amortized. We also reduce the regulatory income tax asset for the probable reduction in future revenues that will result when such deferred investment tax credits amortize.

We join with UGI and its subsidiaries in filing a consolidated federal income tax return. We are charged or credited for our share of current taxes resulting from the effects of our transactions in the UGI consolidated federal income tax return including giving effect to intercompany transactions. The result of this allocation is generally consistent with income taxes calculated on a separate return basis. We record interest on tax deficiencies and income tax penalties in income taxes on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Comprehensive Income/Presentation of Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income comprises net income and other comprehensive income (loss).

Cash and Cash Equivalents

All highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased are classified as cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash represents those cash balances in our commodity futures and option brokerage accounts which are restricted from withdrawal.

Inventories

Our inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Substantially all of our inventory is determined on an average cost method.

Property, Plant and Equipment and Related Depreciation

We record property, plant and equipment at original cost. The amounts assigned to property, plant and equipment of acquired businesses are based upon estimated fair value at date of acquisition.

We record depreciation expense for Utilities’ plant and equipment on a straight-line basis over the estimated average remaining lives of the various classes of its depreciable property. Depreciation expense as a percentage of the related average depreciable base for Gas Utility was 2.2% in Fiscal 2012, 2.3% in Fiscal 2011 and 2.3% in Fiscal 2010. Depreciation expense as a percentage of the related average depreciable base for Electric Utility was 2.4% in Fiscal 2012, 2.6% in Fiscal 2011 and 2.6% in Fiscal 2010. When Utilities retires depreciable utility plant and equipment, we charge the original cost to accumulated depreciation for financial accounting purposes.

We include in property, plant and equipment costs associated with computer software we develop or obtain for use in our businesses. We amortize computer software costs on a straight-line basis over expected periods of benefit not exceeding fifteen years once the installed software is ready for its intended use.

No depreciation expense is included in cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Goodwill

Our goodwill is the result of business acquisitions. We do not amortize goodwill, but test it at least annually for impairment at the reporting unit level. A reporting unit is the operating segment, or a business one level below the operating segment (a component) if discrete financial information is prepared and regularly reviewed by segment management. Components are aggregated as a single reporting unit if they have similar economic characteristics. We are required to recognize an impairment charge under GAAP if the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value and the carrying amount of the reporting unit's goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill. The Company adopted new accounting guidance regarding goodwill impairment during Fiscal 2012 which permits us, in certain circumstances, to perform a qualitative approach to determine if it is more likely than not that the carrying value of a reporting unit is greater than its fair value (see Note 3).

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

We evaluate the impairment of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. We evaluate recoverability based upon undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by such assets.

Employee Retirement Plans

We use a market-related value of plan assets and an expected long-term rate of return to determine the expected return on assets of our pension and other postretirement plans. The market-related value of plan assets, other than equity investments, is based upon fair values. The market-related value of equity investments is calculated by rolling forward the prior-year’s market-related value with contributions, disbursements and the expected return on plan assets. One third of the difference between the expected and the actual value is then added to or subtracted from the expected value to determine the new market-related value (see Note 9).

Equity-Based Compensation

All of our equity-based compensation principally comprising UGI stock options and grants of UGI stock-based equity instruments (“Units”) is measured at fair value on the grant date, date of modification or end of the period, as applicable. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Depending upon the settlement terms of the awards, equity-based compensation costs are measured based upon the fair value of the award on the date of grant or the fair value of the award as of the end of each reporting period.

Environmental Matters

We are subject to environmental laws and regulations intended to mitigate or remove the effect of past operations and improve or maintain the quality of the environment. These laws and regulations require the removal or remedy of the effect on the environment of the disposal or release of certain specified hazardous substances at current or former operating sites.

Environmental reserves are accrued when assessments indicate that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and an amount can reasonably be estimated. Amounts recorded as environmental liabilities on the balance sheets represent our best estimate of costs expected to be incurred or, if no best estimate can be made, the minimum liability associated with a range of expected environmental investigation and remediation costs. Our estimated liability for environmental contamination is reduced to reflect anticipated participation of other responsible parties but is not reduced for possible recovery from insurance carriers. In those instances for which the amount and timing of cash payments associated with environmental investigation and cleanup are reliably determinable, we discount such liabilities to reflect the time value of money. We intend to pursue recovery of incurred costs through all appropriate means, including regulatory relief. UGI Gas is permitted to amortize as removal costs site-specific environmental investigation and remediation costs, net of related third-party payments, associated with Pennsylvania sites. UGI Gas is currently permitted to include in rates, through future base rate proceedings, a five-year average of such prudently incurred remediation costs, and CPG and PNG are currently receiving regulatory recovery of estimated environmental investigation and remediation costs associated with Pennsylvania sites. For further information, see Note 12.