SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Basis of Accounting

Basis of Presentation - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the natural gas distribution business as set forth in “Organization and Nature of Operations” above. All significant balances and transactions between our subsidiaries have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates - The preparation of our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions with respect to values or conditions that cannot be known with certainty that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. These estimates and assumptions also affect the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Items that may be estimated include, but are not limited to, the economic useful life of assets, fair value of assets and liabilities, provisions for doubtful accounts receivable, unbilled revenues for natural gas delivered but for which meters have not been read, natural gas purchased but for which no invoice has been received, provision for income taxes, including any deferred income tax valuation allowances, the results of litigation and various other recorded or disclosed amounts.

We evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other methods we consider reasonable based on the particular circumstances. Nevertheless, actual results may differ significantly from the estimates. Any effects on our financial position or results of operations from revisions to these estimates are recorded in the period when the facts that give rise to the revision become known.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents - Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments, which are readily convertible into cash and have original maturities of three months or less.

Cost of Natural Gas [Policy Text Block]

Cost of Natural Gas - Cost of natural gas includes commodity purchases, fuel, storage, transportation and other gas purchase costs recovered through our cost of natural gas regulatory mechanisms and does not include an allocation of general operating costs or depreciation and amortization.  In addition, our cost of natural gas regulatory mechanisms provide a method of recovering natural gas costs on an ongoing basis without a profit. See Note 10 for additional discussion of purchased gas cost recoveries.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable - Accounts receivable represent valid claims against nonaffiliated customers for natural gas sold or services rendered, net of allowances for doubtful accounts. We assess the creditworthiness of our customers. Those customers who do not meet minimum standards may be required to provide security, including deposits and other forms of collateral, when appropriate and allowed by our tariffs. With approximately 2.2 million customers across three states, we are not exposed materially to a concentration of credit risk. We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of customers, historical trends, consideration of the current credit environment and other information. We are able to recover natural gas costs related to doubtful accounts through purchased-gas cost adjustment mechanisms. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, our allowance for doubtful accounts was $6.6 million and $4.7 million, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories - Natural gas in storage is maintained on the basis of weighted-average cost. Natural gas inventories that are injected into storage are recorded in inventory based on actual purchase costs, including storage and transportation costs. Natural gas inventories that are withdrawn from storage are accounted for in our purchased-gas cost adjustment mechanisms at the weighted-average inventory cost.

Materials and supplies inventories are stated at the lower of weighted-average cost or net realizable value.

Derivatives and Risk Management Activities

Derivatives and Risk Management Activities - We record all derivative instruments at fair value, with the exception of normal purchases and normal sales that are expected to result in physical delivery. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and, if so, the reason for holding it, or if regulatory rulings require a different accounting treatment.

If certain conditions are met, we may elect to designate a derivative instrument as a hedge of exposure to changes in fair values or cash flows. We have not elected to designate any of our derivative instruments as hedges.

The table below summarizes the various ways in which we account for our derivative instruments and the impact on our consolidated financial statements:

		Recognition and Measurement
Accounting Treatment		Balance Sheet		Income Statement
Normal purchases and normal sales	-	Fair value not recorded	-	Change in fair value not recognized in earnings
Mark-to-market	-	Recorded at fair value	-	Change in fair value recognized in, and recoverable through, the purchased-gas cost adjustment mechanisms

See Note 9 for additional information regarding our hedging activities using derivatives.

Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value Measurements - We define fair value as the price that would be received from the sale of an asset or the transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. We use the market and income approaches to determine the fair value of our assets and liabilities and consider the markets in which the transactions are executed. We measure the fair value of a group of financial assets and liabilities consistent with how a market participant would price the net risk exposure at the measurement date.

Fair Value Hierarchy - At each balance sheet date, we utilize a fair value hierarchy to classify fair value amounts recognized or disclosed in our consolidated financial statements based on the observability of inputs used to estimate such fair value. The levels of the hierarchy are described below:

• Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

• Level 2 - Significant observable pricing inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are, either directly or indirectly, observable as of the reporting date. Essentially, this represents inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data; and

• Level 3 - May include one or more unobservable inputs that are significant in establishing a fair value estimate. These unobservable inputs are developed based on the best information available and may include our own internal data.

We recognize transfers into and out of the levels as of the end of each reporting period.

Determining the appropriate classification of our fair value measurements within the fair value hierarchy requires management’s judgment regarding the degree to which market data is observable or corroborated by observable market data. We categorize derivatives for which fair value is determined using multiple inputs within a single level, based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. See Note 9 for additional information regarding our fair value measurements.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment - Our properties are stated at cost, which includes direct construction costs such as direct labor, materials, burden and AFUDC. Generally, the cost of our property retired or sold, plus removal costs, less salvage, is charged to accumulated depreciation. Gains and losses from sales or retirement of an entire operating unit or system of our properties are recognized in income. Maintenance and repairs are charged directly to expense.

AFUDC represents the cost of borrowed funds used to finance construction activities. We capitalize interest costs during the construction or upgrade of qualifying assets. Capitalized interest is recorded as a reduction to interest expense.

Our properties are depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. Generally, we apply composite depreciation rates to functional groups of property having similar economic circumstances. We periodically conduct depreciation studies to assess the economic lives of our assets. These depreciation studies are completed as a part of our regulatory proceedings, and the changes in economic lives, if applicable, are implemented prospectively when the new rates are approved by our regulators and become effective. Changes in the estimated economic lives of our property, plant and equipment could have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Property, plant and equipment on our Consolidated Balance Sheets includes construction work in process for capital projects that have not yet been placed in service and therefore are not being depreciated. Assets are transferred out of construction work in process when they are substantially complete and ready for their intended use.

See Note 11 for additional information regarding our property, plant and equipment.

Impairment of Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets - We assess our goodwill for impairment at least annually as of July 1, unless events or a change in circumstances indicate an impairment may have occurred before that time. As part of our goodwill impairment test, we first assess qualitative factors (including macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors and overall financial performance) to determine whether it is more likely than not that our fair value is less than the carrying amount of our net assets. If further testing is necessary or a quantitative test is elected to refresh our recurring qualitative assessment, we perform a quantitative impairment test for goodwill.

Our impairment test is made by comparing our fair value with our book value, including goodwill. If the fair value is less than the book value, an impairment is measured by the amount of our carrying value that exceeds our fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of our goodwill.

To estimate our fair value, we use two generally accepted valuation approaches, an income approach and a market approach, using assumptions consistent with a market participant’s perspective. Under the income approach, we use anticipated cash flows over a period of years plus a terminal value and discount these amounts to their present value using appropriate discount rates. Under the market approach, we apply acquisition multiples to forecasted cash flows. The acquisition multiples used are consistent with historical market transactions. The forecasted cash flows are based on average forecasted cash flows over a period of years.

We performed a quantitative analysis in 2019, which did not result in any impairment indicators, nor did our analysis reflect our reporting unit at risk. Our goodwill impairment analysis performed in 2018 and 2017 utilized a qualitative assessment and did not result in any impairment indicators, nor did our analysis reflect our reporting unit at risk. Subsequent to July 1, 2019, no event has occurred indicating that it is more likely than not that our fair value is less than the carrying value of our net assets.

We assess our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset’s carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment is indicated if the carrying amount of a long-lived asset exceeds the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If an impairment is indicated, we record an impairment loss equal to the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the long-lived asset. We determined that there were no asset impairments in 2019, 2018 or 2017.

Regulation

Regulation - We are subject to the rate regulation and accounting requirements of the OCC, KCC, RRC and various municipalities in Texas. We follow the accounting and reporting guidance for regulated operations. During the ratemaking process, regulatory authorities set the framework for what we can charge customers for our services and establish the manner that our costs are accounted for, including allowing us to defer recognition of certain costs and permitting recovery of the amounts through rates over time, as opposed to expensing such costs as incurred. Examples include weather normalization, unrecovered purchased-gas costs, pension and postemployment benefit costs and ad-valorem taxes. This allows us to stabilize rates over time rather than passing such costs on to the customer for immediate recovery. Actions by regulatory authorities could have an effect on the amount recovered from customers. Any difference in the amount recoverable and the amount deferred is recorded as income or expense at the time of the regulatory action. A write-off of regulatory assets and costs not recovered may be required if all or a portion of the regulated operations have rates that are no longer:

• established by independent regulators;

• designed to recover our costs of providing regulated services; and

• set at levels that will recover our costs when considering the demand and competition for our services.

See Note 10 for additional information regarding our regulatory assets and liabilities disclosures.

Pension and Other Postretirement Plans

Pension and Other Postemployment Employee Benefits - We have defined benefit retirement plans covering eligible employees. We also sponsor welfare plans that provide other postemployment medical and life insurance benefits to eligible employees who retire with at least five years of service. To calculate the costs and liabilities related to our plans, we utilize an outside actuarial consultant, which uses statistical and other factors to anticipate future events. These factors include assumptions about the discount rate, expected return on plan assets, rate of future compensation increases, age and mortality and employment periods. We use tables issued by the Society of Actuaries to estimate mortality rates. In determining the

projected benefit obligations and costs, assumptions can change from period to period and may result in material changes in the cost and liabilities we recognize.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes - Deferred income taxes are recorded for the difference between the financial statement and income tax basis of assets and liabilities and carryforward items, based on income tax laws and rates existing at the time the temporary differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred income taxes of a change in tax rates is deferred and amortized for operations regulated by the OCC, KCC, RRC and various municipalities in Texas, if, as a result of an action by a regulator, it is probable that the effect of the change in tax rates will be recovered from or returned to customers through future rates. We continue to amortize previously deferred investment tax credits for ratemaking purposes over the periods prescribed by our regulators.

A valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets is recognized when it is more likely than not that some or all of the benefit from the deferred income tax asset will not be realized. To assess that likelihood, we use estimates and judgment regarding our future taxable income, as well as the jurisdiction in which such taxable income is generated, to determine whether a valuation allowance is required. Such evidence can include our current financial position, our results of operations, both actual and forecasted, the reversal of deferred income tax liabilities, as well as the current and forecasted business economics of our industry. We had no valuation allowance at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

We utilize a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position that is taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. We reflect penalties and interest as part of income tax expense as they become applicable for tax provisions that do not meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold and measurement attribute. There were no material uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Changes in tax laws or tax rates are recognized in the financial reporting period that includes the enactment date.

See Note 14 for additional information regarding income taxes.

Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset Retirement Obligations - Asset retirement obligations represent legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or normal use of the asset. Certain long-lived assets that comprise our natural gas distribution systems, primarily our pipeline assets, are subject to agreements or regulations that give rise to an asset retirement obligation for removal or other disposition costs associated with retiring the assets in place upon the discontinued use of the natural gas distribution system. We recognize the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period when it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of the fair value can be made. We are not able to estimate reasonably the fair value of the asset retirement obligations for portions of our assets because the settlement dates are indeterminable given our expected continued use of the assets with proper maintenance. We expect our natural gas distribution systems will continue in operation as long as natural gas supply and demand for natural gas distribution service exists. Based on our proximity to significant natural gas reserves and infrastructure and the widespread use of natural gas for heating and cooking activities by residential and commercial customers in our service areas, we expect supply and demand to exist for the foreseeable future.

In accordance with long-standing regulatory treatment, we collect through rates the estimated costs of removal on certain regulated properties through depreciation expense, with a corresponding credit to accumulated depreciation and amortization. These removal costs collected through our rates include costs attributable to legal and nonlegal removal obligations. The amounts collected for non-legal asset removal costs that are in excess of costs incurred are accounted for as a regulatory liability for financial reporting purposes. Historically, with the exception of the regulatory authority in Kansas, the regulatory authorities that have jurisdiction over our regulated operations have not required us to quantify or disclose this amount. These costs are addressed prospectively in depreciation rates, rather than as a regulatory liability, in each general rate order.

For financial reporting purposes, if the removal costs collected have exceeded our removal cost incurred, we have made an estimate of our regulatory liability using current rates since the last general rate order in each of our jurisdictions. Significant uncertainty exists regarding the future disposition of this regulatory liability, pending, among other issues, clarification of regulatory intent. We continue to monitor the regulatory requirements, and the liability may be adjusted as more information is obtained. We record the estimated asset removal obligation in noncurrent liabilities in other deferred credits on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. To the extent this estimated liability is adjusted, such amounts will be reclassified between accumulated depreciation and amortization and other deferred credits and therefore will not have an impact on earnings.

Contingencies

Contingencies - Our accounting for contingencies covers a variety of business activities, including contingencies for legal and environmental exposures. We accrue these contingencies when our assessments indicate that it is probable that a liability has been incurred or an asset will not be recovered and an amount can be estimated reasonably. We expense legal fees as incurred and base our legal liability estimates on currently available facts and our estimates of the ultimate outcome or resolution.

Accruals for estimated losses from environmental remediation obligations generally are recognized no later than the completion of a remediation feasibility study. Recoveries of environmental remediation costs from other parties are recorded as assets when their receipt is deemed probable. Actual results may differ from our estimates resulting in an impact, positive or negative, on earnings.

See Note 16 for additional information regarding contingencies.

Share-Based Payments

Share-Based Payments - We expense the fair value of share-based payments net of estimated forfeitures. We estimate forfeiture rates based on historical forfeitures under our share-based payment plans.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings per share - Basic EPS is based on net income and is calculated based upon the daily weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented. Also, this calculation includes fully vested stock awards that have not yet been issued as common stock. Diluted EPS includes the above, plus unvested stock awards granted under our compensation plans, but only to the extent these instruments dilute earnings per share.

Segments

Segments - We operate in one reportable business segment: regulated public utilities that deliver natural gas primarily to residential, commercial and transportation customers. We define reportable business segments as components of an organization for which discrete financial information is available and operating results are evaluated on a regular basis by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) in order to assess performance and allocate resources. Our CODM is our Chief Executive Officer. Characteristics of our organization that were relied upon in making this determination include the similar nature of services we provide, the functional alignment of our organizational structure, and the reports that are regularly reviewed by the CODM for the purpose of assessing performance and allocating resources. Our management is functionally aligned and centralized, with performance evaluated based upon results of the entire distribution business. Capital allocation decisions are driven by asset integrity management, operating efficiency, growth opportunities and government relocations, not geographic location or regulatory jurisdiction.

In 2019, 2018 and 2017, we had no single external customer from which we received 10 percent or more of our gross revenues.

Treasury Stock

Treasury Stock - We record treasury stock purchases at cost, which includes incremental direct transaction costs. Amounts are recorded as reductions in equity in our consolidated balance sheets. We record the reissuance of treasury stock at our weighted average cost of treasury shares recorded in equity in our consolidated balance sheets.

Recently Issues Accounting Standards Updates

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Update - In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes,” which removes certain exceptions for recognizing deferred taxes for investments, performing intraperiod allocation and calculating income taxes in interim periods. The ASU also adds guidance to reduce complexity in certain areas, including recognizing deferred taxes for tax goodwill and allocating taxes to members of a consolidated group. This standard is effective for interim and annual periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and early adoption is permitted. We are currently assessing the timing and impacts of adopting this standard.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force).” Under this guidance, a company should defer implementation costs that it incurs if the company would capitalize those same costs under the internal-use software guidance for an arrangement that is a software license. This standard is effective for interim and annual periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and early adoption is permitted. We will adopt this new guidance in the first quarter of 2020 using the prospective transition approach and do not expect our adoption will result in a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, “Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income,” which allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. We adopted this new guidance in the first quarter 2019 and our adoption did not result in a material impact to our consolidated financial statements. This change is reflected in our consolidated statements of equity.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, “Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost,” which requires (1) separation of net periodic service costs for pension and other postemployment benefits into service cost and other components, (2) presentation of the service cost component in the same line as other compensation costs rendered by pertinent employees during the period, and (3) reporting the other components of net periodic benefit costs separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations. Additionally, only the service cost component is eligible for capitalization for GAAP, when

applicable. However, all of our cost components remain eligible for capitalization under the accounting requirements for rate regulated entities. We adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2018. The presentation changes required for net periodic benefit costs did not impact previously reported net income; however, the reclassification of the other components of benefits costs resulted in an increase in operating income and an increase in other expenses of $17.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. We elected the practical expedient to use the retroactive presentation of the amounts disclosed for the various components of net benefit cost in our Employee Benefit Plans footnote as the basis for the retrospective application. In addition, we updated our information systems for the capitalization of service costs to property, plant and equipment and non-service costs to a regulatory asset on a prospective basis, as well as the appropriate accounts for non-service costs to apply retroactive reclassification.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,’’ which introduces new guidance to the accounting for credit losses on instruments within its scope, including trade receivables. It is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We will adopt this new guidance in the first quarter of 2020 using the modified retrospective method. Our adoption is not expected to result in a cumulative adjustment to our opening retained earnings or a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” as amended, (“Topic 842”) which prescribes recognizing lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet and includes disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements. We adopted this new guidance effective January 1, 2019, and applied the modified retrospective approach to all existing leases. Upon adoption we recognized lease liabilities of approximately $32 million, with corresponding right-of-use assets of the same amount based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments for existing operating leases. Our adoption did not result in a material impact to our results of operations or cash flows. We utilized the practical expedients that allow us to: (1) not reassess expired or existing contracts to determine whether they are subject to lease accounting guidance, (2) not reconsider lease classification at transition, and (3) not evaluate previously capitalized initial direct costs under the revised requirements. We also utilized the practical expedients that allowed us to: (1) not evaluate under Topic 842 existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases under the current lease guidance in ASC Topic 840 (“Topic 840”) and (2) use an additional transition method in which an entity initially applies the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognizes a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. We adopted an accounting policy that exempts leases with terms of less than one year from the recognition requirements of Topic 842, and disclose such leases in our interim and annual disclosures upon adoption. Our adoption did not result in a cumulative adjustment to our opening retained earnings or a material impact to our consolidated financial statements. See Note 5 for additional information regarding our leases.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASC 606”), which clarifies and converges the revenue recognition principles under GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. We adopted this new guidance in the first quarter 2018, using the modified retrospective method. We evaluated all of our sources of revenue to determine the potential effect of the new standard on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and the related accounting policies and business processes. Our adoption did not result in a cumulative adjustment to our opening retained earnings. Our adoption resulted in a reclassification of certain revenues associated with certain regulatory mechanisms that do not meet the requirements under ASC 606 as revenue from contracts with customers, but will continue to be reflected as other revenues in determining total revenues. The reclassified revenues relate primarily to the weather normalization mechanism in Kansas, where the KCC determines how we reflect variations in weather in our rates billed to customers. See Note 2 for additional information regarding our revenues.