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Income Taxes (Notes)
3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Tax Disclosure
Note 5 — Income Tax Reform

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “TCJA”) was enacted into law. The significant changes resulting from the law that impact UGI Utilities include a reduction in the U.S. federal income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 (resulting in a blended rate of 24.5% for Fiscal 2018) and the elimination of bonus depreciation for regulated utilities.
In accordance with GAAP as determined by ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” we are required to record the effects of tax law changes in the period enacted. As further discussed below, our results for the three months ended December 31, 2017, contain provisional estimates of the impact of the TCJA. These amounts are considered provisional because they use estimates for which tax returns have not yet been filed and because estimated amounts may be impacted by future regulatory and accounting guidance if and when issued. We will adjust these provisional amounts as further information becomes available and as we refine our calculations. As permitted by recent guidance issued by the SEC, these adjustments will occur during a reasonable “measurement period” not to exceed twelve months from the date of enactment.
As a result, during the three months ended December 31, 2017, we reduced our net deferred income tax liabilities by $223,660 due to the remeasuring of our existing federal deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of the date of enactment. Because a significant amount of the reduction relates to our regulated utility plant assets, most of the reduction to our excess deferred income taxes is not being recognized immediately in income tax expense. During the three months ended December 31, 2017, the amount of the reduction in our net deferred income tax liabilities that reduced income tax expense totaled $8,122.
In order for utility assets to continue to be eligible for accelerated tax depreciation, current law requires that excess deferred income taxes be amortized no more rapidly than over the remaining lives of the assets that gave rise to the excess deferred income taxes. At December 31, 2017, we have recorded a regulatory liability of $216,098 associated with the excess deferred federal income taxes related to our regulated utility plant assets. This regulatory liability has been increased, and a federal deferred income tax asset has been recorded, in the amount of $87,803 to reflect the tax benefit generated by the amortization of the excess deferred federal income taxes. For further information on this regulatory liability, see Note 6 to condensed consolidated financial statements.
For the three months ended December 31, 2017, we included the estimated impacts of the TCJA in determining our estimated annual effective income tax rate. We are subject to a blended federal tax rate of 24.5% for Fiscal 2018 because our fiscal year contains the effective date of the rate change from 35% to 21% on January 1, 2018. As a result, the U.S. federal income tax rate included in our estimated annual effective tax rate is based on this 24.5% blended rate for Fiscal 2018. The PUC has not issued any orders with respect to the lower income tax rate. Our estimated annual effective tax rate for Fiscal 2018 does not reflect the impact of any regulatory action that may be taken by the PUC with respect to the TCJA.