Rates and Other Regulatory Activities	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Text Block [Abstract]
Rates and Other Regulatory Activities	RATES AND OTHER REGULATORY ACTIVIT IES Our natural gas and electric distribution operations in Delaware, Maryland and Florida are subject to regulation by their respective PSC; Eastern Shore, our natural gas transmission subsidiary, is subject to regulation by the FERC; and Peninsula Pipeline, our intrastate pipeline subsidiary, is subject to regulation by the Florida PSC. Chesapeake Utilities' Florida natural gas distribution division and FPU’s natural gas and electric distribution operations continue to be subject to regulation by the Florida PSC as separate entities. Delaware Rate Case Filing: On December 21, 2015, our Delaware division filed an application with the Delaware PSC for a base rate increase and certain other changes to its tariff. Delaware division proposed a base rate increase of $4.7 million or nearly 10 percent of existing revenues based on the test period ending March 31, 2016. Included in the application are new service offerings to promote growth and a revenue decoupling mechanism for residential and small commercial customers. A decision on the application is expected during the third quarter of 2016. Pending the decision, the Delaware division proposed to increase rates on an interim basis by $2.5 million beginning February 19, 2016. These rates, which are subject to refund, represent a five percent increase over current rates. Maryland Ocean City SIR Filing: On July 2, 2015, Sandpiper filed an application with the Maryland PSC, to establish an SIR to further fund system expansion within the city limits of Ocean City, Maryland. The proposed SIR, which would only be charged to customers located within city limits, was supported by Ocean City's local government. On August 5, 2015, the Maryland PSC approved the application. Sandpiper Rate Case Filing: On December 1, 2015, Sandpiper filed an application with the Maryland PSC for a base rate increase and certain other changes to its tariff. Sandpiper proposed a base rate increase of $950,000, which represents five percent over existing revenues based on the test period ended December 31, 2015. A decision on the application is expected during the second quarter of 2016. Included in this application is a stratification of rate classes to further match the cost of service, and a revenue decoupling mechanism for residential and small commercial customers. Florida On January 16, 2015, Chesapeake Utilities' Florida natural gas distribution division filed a petition with the Florida PSC for approval of a contract with its affiliate, Peninsula Pipeline, for additional natural gas transportation services in the vicinity of Haines City, located in Polk County, Florida. This petition was approved by the Florida PSC at its Agenda Conference on May 5, 2015. On July 1, 2015, FPU's electric division filed an electric depreciation study with the Florida PSC, which approved new depreciation rates at its Agenda Conference on December 3, 2015. New rates became effective retroactive to January 1, 2015 and resulted in a reduction of approximately $229,000 in annual depreciation expense. On September 1, 2015, FPU’s electric division filed to recover the cost of the proposed Florida Power & Light Company interconnect project through the annual Fuel and Purchased Power Cost Recovery Clause filing. The project will enable FPU's electric division to negotiate a new power purchase agreement that will mitigate fuel costs for its Northeast division. This action was approved by the Florida PSC at its Agenda Conference held on December 3, 2015. On January 22, 2016, the Office of Public Counsel filed an appeal with the Florida Supreme Court opposing the decision on this action. On September 1, 2015, FPU's Fort Meade division filed a petition with the Florida PSC for approval to implement GRIP. On October 27, 2015, the petition was amended to allow Fort Meade to commence the replacement of steel tubing services in January 2016, although the collection of GRIP surcharges from customers will be delayed until January 2017, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the purchase agreement with the City of Fort Meade. This action was approved by the Florida PSC at its Agenda Conference on December 3, 2015. Eastern Shore White Oak Mainline Expansion Project: On November 21, 2014, Eastern Shore submitted an application to the FERC seeking authorization to construct, own and operate certain expansion facilities designed to provide 45,000 Dts/d of firm transportation service to an industrial customer in Kent County, Delaware. Eastern Shore proposes to construct approximately 7.2 miles of 16-inch diameter pipeline looping in Chester County, Pennsylvania and 3,550 horsepower of additional compression at Eastern Shore’s existing Delaware City Compressor Station in New Castle County, Delaware. The estimated cost of the project is between $32.0 million and $35.0 million. On January 22, 2015, the FERC issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for this project. In February, April and May 2015, Eastern Shore filed environmental data in response to comments regarding evaluation of alternate routes for a segment of the pipeline route in the vicinity of the Kemblesville Historic District. On June 2, 2015, a field meeting was conducted to review the proposed route and alternate routes. In response to comments received from the National Park Service and other stakeholders, the FERC requested that Eastern Shore conduct an additional investigation in relation to Eastern Shore's existing right-of-way. On July 9, 2015, the FERC issued a 30-day public scoping notice in advance of issuing an Environmental Assessment in order to solicit comments from the public regarding construction of the Kemblesville loop. On August 18, 2015, Eastern Shore submitted supplemental information to the FERC regarding the results of its investigation of the Kemblesville loop. On November 18, 2015, Eastern Shore filed an amendment to this application, which indicated the preferred pipeline route. Eastern Shore has responded to the FERC Staff's environmental data requests. On February 10, 2016 the FERC issued a notice to prepare an environmental assessment and will combine both the White Oak Mainline Expansion project and System Reliability Project into a single assessment. The environmental assessment is scheduled to be issued on April 12, 2016, with the FERC's 90-day authorization decision to be issued on July 11, 2016. System Reliability Project: On May 22, 2015, Eastern Shore submitted an application to the FERC seeking authorization to construct, own and operate approximately 10.1 miles of 16-inch pipeline looping and auxiliary facilities in New Castle and Kent Counties, Delaware and a new compressor at its existing Bridgeville compressor station in Sussex County, Delaware. Eastern Shore further proposes to reinforce critical points on its pipeline system. The total project will benefit all of Eastern Shore’s customers by modifying the pipeline system to respond to severe operational conditions experienced during actual winter peak days in 2014 and 2015. The estimated cost of the project is $32.1 million. Since the project is intended to improve system reliability, Eastern Shore requested a predetermination of rolled-in rate treatment for the costs of the project. On June 8, 2015, the FERC filed a notice of the application, and the comment period ended on June 29, 2015. Two interested parties filed comments and protests with the FERC. Eastern Shore has filed answers with the FERC in response to the comments and protests from the two parties. On September 4, 2015, the FERC issued a notice of intent to prepare an environmental assessment and Eastern Shore has responded to the FERC Staff's environmental data requests. On February 10, 2016 the FERC issued a notice to prepare an environmental assessment and will combine both the System Reliability Project and White Oak Mainline Expansion project into a single assessment. The environmental assessment is scheduled to be issued on April 12, 2016, with the FERC's 90-day authorization decision to be issued on July 11, 2016. TETLP Capacity Expansion Project: On October 13, 2015, Eastern Shore submitted an application to the FERC to make certain measurement and related improvements at its TETLP interconnect facilities, which will enable Eastern Shore to increase natural gas receipts from TETLP by 53,000 Dts/d, for a total capacity of 160,000 Dts/d. On December 22, 2015, the FERC authorized Eastern Shore to proceed with the project.

RATES AND OTHER REGULATORY ACTIVIT IES

Our natural gas and electric distribution operations in Delaware, Maryland and Florida are subject to regulation by their respective PSC; Eastern Shore, our natural gas transmission subsidiary, is subject to regulation by the FERC; and Peninsula Pipeline, our intrastate pipeline subsidiary, is subject to regulation by the Florida PSC. Chesapeake Utilities' Florida natural gas distribution division and FPU’s natural gas and electric distribution operations continue to be subject to regulation by the Florida PSC as separate entities.

Delaware

Rate Case Filing: On December 21, 2015, our Delaware division filed an application with the Delaware PSC for a base rate increase and certain other changes to its tariff. Delaware division proposed a base rate increase of $4.7 million or nearly 10 percent of existing revenues based on the test period ending March 31, 2016. Included in the application are new service offerings to promote growth and a revenue decoupling mechanism for residential and small commercial customers. A decision on the application is expected during the third quarter of 2016. Pending the decision, the Delaware division proposed to increase rates on an interim basis by $2.5 million beginning February 19, 2016. These rates, which are subject to refund, represent a five percent increase over current rates.

Maryland

Ocean City SIR Filing: On July 2, 2015, Sandpiper filed an application with the Maryland PSC, to establish an SIR to further fund system expansion within the city limits of Ocean City, Maryland. The proposed SIR, which would only be charged to customers located within city limits, was supported by Ocean City's local government. On August 5, 2015, the Maryland PSC approved the application.

Sandpiper Rate Case Filing: On December 1, 2015, Sandpiper filed an application with the Maryland PSC for a base rate increase and certain other changes to its tariff. Sandpiper proposed a base rate increase of $950,000, which represents five percent over existing revenues based on the test period ended December 31, 2015. A decision on the application is expected during the second quarter of 2016. Included in this application is a stratification of rate classes to further match the cost of service, and a revenue decoupling mechanism for residential and small commercial customers.

Florida

On January 16, 2015, Chesapeake Utilities' Florida natural gas distribution division filed a petition with the Florida PSC for approval of a contract with its affiliate, Peninsula Pipeline, for additional natural gas transportation services in the vicinity of Haines City, located in Polk County, Florida. This petition was approved by the Florida PSC at its Agenda Conference on May 5, 2015.

On July 1, 2015, FPU's electric division filed an electric depreciation study with the Florida PSC, which approved new depreciation rates at its Agenda Conference on December 3, 2015. New rates became effective retroactive to January 1, 2015 and resulted in a reduction of approximately $229,000 in annual depreciation expense.

On September 1, 2015, FPU’s electric division filed to recover the cost of the proposed Florida Power & Light Company interconnect project through the annual Fuel and Purchased Power Cost Recovery Clause filing. The project will enable FPU's electric division to negotiate a new power purchase agreement that will mitigate fuel costs for its Northeast division. This action was approved by the Florida PSC at its Agenda Conference held on December 3, 2015. On January 22, 2016, the Office of Public Counsel filed an appeal with the Florida Supreme Court opposing the decision on this action.

On September 1, 2015, FPU's Fort Meade division filed a petition with the Florida PSC for approval to implement GRIP. On October 27, 2015, the petition was amended to allow Fort Meade to commence the replacement of steel tubing services in January 2016, although the collection of GRIP surcharges from customers will be delayed until January 2017, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the purchase agreement with the City of Fort Meade. This action was approved by the Florida PSC at its Agenda Conference on December 3, 2015.

Eastern Shore

White Oak Mainline Expansion Project: On November 21, 2014, Eastern Shore submitted an application to the FERC seeking authorization to construct, own and operate certain expansion facilities designed to provide 45,000 Dts/d of firm transportation service to an industrial customer in Kent County, Delaware. Eastern Shore proposes to construct approximately 7.2 miles of 16-inch diameter pipeline looping in Chester County, Pennsylvania and 3,550 horsepower of additional compression at Eastern Shore’s existing Delaware City Compressor Station in New Castle County, Delaware. The estimated cost of the project is between $32.0 million and $35.0 million. On January 22, 2015, the FERC issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for this project. In February, April and May 2015, Eastern Shore filed environmental data in response to comments regarding evaluation of alternate routes for a segment of the pipeline route in the vicinity of the Kemblesville Historic District. On June 2, 2015, a field meeting was conducted to review the proposed route and alternate routes. In response to comments received from the National Park Service and other stakeholders, the FERC requested that Eastern Shore conduct an additional investigation in relation to Eastern Shore's existing right-of-way. On July 9, 2015, the FERC issued a 30-day public scoping notice in advance of issuing an Environmental Assessment in order to solicit comments from the public regarding construction of the Kemblesville loop. On August 18, 2015, Eastern Shore submitted supplemental information to the FERC regarding the results of its investigation of the Kemblesville loop.

On November 18, 2015, Eastern Shore filed an amendment to this application, which indicated the preferred pipeline route. Eastern Shore has responded to the FERC Staff's environmental data requests. On February 10, 2016 the FERC issued a notice to prepare an environmental assessment and will combine both the White Oak Mainline Expansion project and System Reliability Project into a single assessment. The environmental assessment is scheduled to be issued on April 12, 2016, with the FERC's 90-day authorization decision to be issued on July 11, 2016.

System Reliability Project: On May 22, 2015, Eastern Shore submitted an application to the FERC seeking authorization to construct, own and operate approximately 10.1 miles of 16-inch pipeline looping and auxiliary facilities in New Castle and Kent Counties, Delaware and a new compressor at its existing Bridgeville compressor station in Sussex County, Delaware. Eastern Shore further proposes to reinforce critical points on its pipeline system. The total project will benefit all of Eastern Shore’s customers by modifying the pipeline system to respond to severe operational conditions experienced during actual winter peak days in 2014 and 2015. The estimated cost of the project is $32.1 million. Since the project is intended to improve system reliability, Eastern Shore requested a predetermination of rolled-in rate treatment for the costs of the project.

On June 8, 2015, the FERC filed a notice of the application, and the comment period ended on June 29, 2015. Two interested parties filed comments and protests with the FERC. Eastern Shore has filed answers with the FERC in response to the comments and protests from the two parties.

On September 4, 2015, the FERC issued a notice of intent to prepare an environmental assessment and Eastern Shore has responded to the FERC Staff's environmental data requests. On February 10, 2016 the FERC issued a notice to prepare an environmental assessment and will combine both the System Reliability Project and White Oak Mainline Expansion project into a single assessment. The environmental assessment is scheduled to be issued on April 12, 2016, with the FERC's 90-day authorization decision to be issued on July 11, 2016.

TETLP Capacity Expansion Project: On October 13, 2015, Eastern Shore submitted an application to the FERC to make certain measurement and related improvements at its TETLP interconnect facilities, which will enable Eastern Shore to increase natural gas receipts from TETLP by 53,000 Dts/d, for a total capacity of 160,000 Dts/d. On December 22, 2015, the FERC authorized Eastern Shore to proceed with the project.