Organization and Basis of Presentation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Text Block [Abstract]

Organization and Basis of Presentation

ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Chesapeake Utilities, incorporated in 1947 in Delaware, is a diversified energy company engaged in regulated and unregulated energy businesses.

Our regulated energy businesses consist of: (a) regulated natural gas distribution operations in central and southern Delaware, Maryland’s eastern shore and Florida; (b) regulated natural gas transmission operations on the Delmarva Peninsula, in Pennsylvania, Florida and in Ohio; and (c) regulated electric distribution operations serving customers in northeast and northwest Florida.

Our unregulated energy businesses primarily include: (a) propane operations in the Mid-Atlantic region, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida; (b) our unregulated natural gas transmission/supply operation in central and eastern Ohio; (c) our CHP plant in Florida that generates electricity and steam; (d) our subsidiary, based in Florida, that provides CNG, LNG and RNG transportation and pipeline solutions, primarily to utilities and pipelines throughout the United States; and (e) project development activities related to our sustainable energy initiatives.

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Chesapeake Utilities and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. We do not have any ownership interest in investments accounted for using the equity method or any interest in a variable interest entity. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. We have assessed and, if applicable, reported on subsequent events through the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements. Where necessary to improve comparability, prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.

Covid-19 Effects

Effects of COVID-19

In March 2020, the CDC declared a national emergency due to the rapidly growing outbreak of COVID-19. In response to this declaration and the rapid spread of COVID-19 within the United States, federal, state and local governments throughout the country imposed varying degrees of restrictions on social and commercial activity to promote social distancing in an effort to slow the spread of the illness. These restrictions significantly impacted economic conditions in the United States beginning in 2020 and to a lesser extent continued throughout 2022. Chesapeake Utilities is considered an “essential business,” which allowed us to continue operational activities and construction projects while social distancing restrictions were in place. At this time, restrictions have predominantly been lifted as vaccines have become widely available in the United States. Previously existing states of emergency in all of our service territories expired during the second and third quarters of 2021 eliminating a majority of restrictions initially implemented to slow the spread of the virus. The expiration of the states of emergency along with the settlement of our limited proceeding in Florida concluded our ability to defer incremental pandemic related costs for consideration through the applicable regulatory process. We adjusted our operating practices accordingly to ensure the safety of our operations and will take the necessary actions to comply with the CDC, and the Occupational and Safety and Health Administration, as new developments occur.

Refer to Note 18, Rates and Other Regulatory Activities, for further information on the regulated assets established as a result of the incremental expenses associated with COVID-19.