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Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

The following table provides a brief description of the accounting pronouncements applicable to the Company and the potential impact on its financial statements and or disclosures:


Standard	Description	Effective date	Impact on financial statements/disclosures
Recently adopted accounting standards
ASU 2021-10 - Government Assistance	In November 2021, the FASB issued guidance on modifying the disclosure requirements to increase the transparency of government assistance including disclosure of the types of assistance, an entity's accounting for the assistance and the effect of the assistance on an entity's financial statements.	January 1, 2022	The Company determined the guidance did not have a material impact on its disclosures for the year ended December 31, 2022.
ASU 2020-04 - Reference Rate Reform	In March 2020, the FASB issued optional guidance to ease the facilitation of the effects of reference rate reform on financial reporting. The guidance applies to certain contract modifications, hedging relationships and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. Beginning January 1, 2022, LIBOR or other discontinued reference rates cannot be applied to new contracts. New contracts will incorporate a new reference rate, which includes SOFR. LIBOR or other discontinued reference rates cannot be applied to contract modifications or hedging relationships entered into or evaluated after December 31, 2022. Existing contracts referencing LIBOR or other reference rates expected to be discontinued must identify a replacement rate by June 30, 2023.	Effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022	For more information, see ASU 2022-06 - Reference Rate Reform: Deferral of Sunset Date in recently issued accounting standards not yet adopted.
Recently issued accounting standards not yet adopted
ASU 2022-06 - Reference Rate Reform: Deferral of Sunset Date	In December 2022, the FASB included a sunset provision within ASC 848 based on expectations of when LIBOR would cease being published. At the time ASU 2020-04 was issued, the UK Financial Conduct Authority had established its intent to cease overnight tenors of LIBOR after December 31, 2021. In March 2021, the UK Financial Conduct Authority announced that the intended cessation date of the overnight tenors of LIBOR would be June 30, 2023 which is beyond the current sunset date of ASC 848. The amendments in this Update defer the sunset date of ASC 848 from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2024, after which entities will no longer be permitted to apply the relief in ASC 848.	December 31, 2024	The Company has updated its credit agreements to include language regarding the successor or alternate rate to LIBOR, and a review of other contracts and agreements is on-going. The Company does not expect the guidance to have a material impact on its results of operations, financial position, cash flows or disclosures.

Cash and cash equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Revenue recognition

Revenue is recognized when a performance obligation is satisfied by transferring control over a product or service to a customer. Revenue is measured based on consideration specified in a contract with a customer and excludes any sales incentives and amounts collected on behalf of third parties. The Company is considered an agent for certain taxes collected from customers. As such, the Company presents revenues net of these taxes at the time of sale to be remitted to governmental authorities, including sales and use taxes.

The electric and natural gas distribution segments generate revenue from the sales of electric and natural gas products and services, which includes retail and transportation services. These segments establish a customer's retail or transportation service account based on the customer's application/contract for service, which indicates approval of a contract for service. The contract identifies an obligation to provide service in exchange for delivering or standing ready to deliver the identified commodity; and the customer is obligated to pay for the service as provided in the applicable tariff. The product sales are based on a fixed rate that includes a base and per-unit rate, which are included in approved tariffs as determined by state or federal regulatory agencies. The quantity of the commodity consumed or transported determines the total per-unit revenue. The service provided, along with the product consumed or transported, are a single performance obligation because both are required in combination to successfully transfer the contracted product or service to the customer. Revenues are recognized over time as customers receive and consume the products and services. The method of measuring progress toward the completion of the single performance obligation is on a per-unit output method basis, with revenue recognized based on the direct measurement of the value to the customer of the goods or services transferred to date. For contracts governed by the Company’s utility tariffs, amounts are billed monthly with the amount due between 15 and 22 days of receipt of the

invoice depending on the applicable state’s tariff. For other contracts not governed by tariff, payment terms are net 30 days. At this time, the segment has no material obligations for returns, refunds or other similar obligations.

The pipeline segment generates revenue from providing natural gas transportation and underground storage services, as well as other energy-related services to both third parties and internal customers, largely the natural gas distribution segment. The pipeline segment establishes a contract with a customer based upon the customer’s request for firm or interruptible natural gas transportation or storage service(s). The contract identifies an obligation for the segment to provide the requested service(s) in exchange for consideration from the customer over a specified term. Depending on the type of service(s) requested and contracted, the service provided may include transporting or storing an identified quantity of natural gas and/or standing ready to deliver or store an identified quantity of natural gas. Natural gas transportation and storage revenues are based on fixed rates, which may include reservation fees and/or per-unit commodity rates. The services provided by the segment are generally treated as single performance obligations satisfied over time simultaneous to when the service is provided and revenue is recognized. Rates for the segment’s regulated services are based on its FERC approved tariff or customer negotiated rates, and rates for its non-regulated services are negotiated with its customers and set forth in the contract. For contracts governed by the company’s tariff, amounts are billed on or before the ninth business day of the following month and the amount is due within 12 days of receipt of the invoice. For other contracts not governed by the tariff, payment terms are net 30 days. At this time, the segment has no material obligations for returns, refunds or other similar obligations.

The construction materials and contracting segment generates revenue from contracting services and construction materials sales. This segment focuses on the vertical integration of its contracting services with its construction materials to support the aggregate-based product lines. This segment provides contracting services to a customer when a contract has been signed by both the customer and a representative of the segment obligating a service to be provided in exchange for the consideration identified in the contract. The nature of the services this segment provides generally include integrating a set of services and related construction materials into a single project to create a distinct bundle of goods and services, which the Company has determined are single performance obligations. The transaction price includes the fixed consideration required pursuant to the original contract price together with any additional consideration, to which the Company expects to be entitled to, associated with executed change orders plus the estimate of variable consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled, subject to the following constraint. The nature of this segment's contracts gives rise to several types of variable consideration. Examples of variable consideration include: liquidated damages; performance bonuses or incentives and penalties; claims; unpriced change orders; and index pricing. The variable amounts usually arise upon achievement of certain performance metrics or change in project scope. The Company estimates the amount of revenue to be recognized on variable consideration using one of the two prescribed estimation methods, the expected value method or the most likely amount method, depending on which method best predicts the most likely amount of consideration the Company expects to be entitled to or expects to incur. Assumptions as to the occurrence of future events and the likelihood and amount of variable consideration are made during the contract performance period. Estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on the assessment of anticipated performance and all information (historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available to management. The Company only includes variable consideration in the estimated transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur or when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. Changes in circumstances could impact management's estimates made in determining the value of variable consideration recorded. When determining if the variable consideration is constrained, the Company considers if factors exist that could increase the likelihood or the magnitude of a potential reversal of revenue. The Company updates its estimate of the transaction price each reporting period and the effect of variable consideration on the transaction price is recognized as an adjustment to revenue on a cumulative catch-up basis. Contract revenue is recognized over time using an input method based on the cost-to-cost measure of progress on a project. This is the preferred method of measuring revenue because the costs incurred have been determined to represent the best indication of the overall progress toward the transfer of such goods or services promised to a customer. Under the cost-to-cost measure of progress, the costs incurred are compared with total estimated costs of a performance obligation. Revenues are recorded proportionately to the costs incurred. The percentage of completion is determined on a performance obligation basis. This segment also sells construction materials to third parties and internal customers. The contract for material sales is the use of a sales order or an invoice, which includes the pricing and payment terms. All material contracts contain a single performance obligation for the delivery of a single distinct product or a distinct separately identifiable bundle of products and services. Revenue is recognized at a point in time when the performance obligation has been satisfied with the delivery of the products or services. The warranties associated with the sales are those consistent with a standard warranty that the product meets certain specifications for quality or those required by law. For most contracts, amounts billed to customers are due within 30 days of receipt. There are no material obligations for returns, refunds or other similar obligations.

The construction services segment generates revenue from specialty contracting services which also includes the sale of construction equipment and other supplies. This segment provides specialty contracting services to a customer when a contract has been signed by both the customer and a representative of the segment obligating a service to be provided in exchange for the consideration identified in the contract. The nature of the services this segment provides generally includes multiple promised goods and services in a single project to create a distinct bundle of goods and services, which the Company has determined are single performance obligations. The transaction price includes the fixed consideration required pursuant to the original contract price together with any additional consideration, to which the Company expects to be entitled to, associated with executed change orders plus the estimate of variable consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled, subject to the following constraint. The nature of the segment's contracts gives rise to several types of variable consideration. Examples of variable consideration include: liquidated damages; performance bonuses or incentives and penalties; claims; unpriced change orders; and index pricing. The variable amounts usually arise upon achievement of certain performance metrics or change in project scope. The Company estimates the amount of revenue to be recognized on variable consideration using one of the two prescribed estimation methods, the expected value method or the most likely amount method, depending on which method best predicts the most likely amount of consideration the Company expects to be entitled to or expects to incur. Assumptions as to

the occurrence of future events and the likelihood and amount of variable consideration are made during the contract performance period. Estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on the assessment of anticipated performance and all information (historical, current, and forecasted) that is reasonably available to management. The Company only includes variable consideration in the estimated transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur or when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. Changes in circumstances could impact management's estimates made in determining the value of variable consideration recorded. When determining if the variable consideration is constrained, the Company considers if factors exist that could increase the likelihood or the magnitude of a potential reversal of revenue. The Company updates its estimate of the transaction price each reporting period and the effect of variable consideration on the transaction price is recognized as an adjustment to revenue on a cumulative catch-up basis. Contract revenue is recognized over time using the input method based on the measurement of progress on a project. This is the preferred method of measuring revenue because the costs incurred have been determined to represent the best indication of the overall progress toward the transfer of such goods or services promised to a customer. Under the cost-to-cost measure of progress, the costs incurred are compared with total estimated costs of a performance obligation. Revenues are recorded proportionately to the costs incurred. This segment also sells construction equipment and other supplies to third parties and internal customers. The contract for these sales is the use of a sales order or invoice, which includes the pricing and payment terms. All such contracts include a single performance obligation for the delivery of a single distinct product or a distinct separately identifiable bundle of products and services. Revenue is recognized at a point in time when the performance obligation has been satisfied with the delivery of the products or services. The warranties associated with the sales are those consistent with a standard warranty that the product meets certain specifications for quality or those required by law. For most contracts, amounts billed to customers are due within 30 days of receipt. There are no material obligations for returns, refunds or other similar obligations.

The Company recognizes all other revenues when services are rendered or goods are delivered.

Legal costs

The Company expenses external legal fees as they are incurred.

Business combinations policy

For all business combinations, the Company preliminarily allocates the purchase price of the acquisitions to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as of the acquisition dates and are considered provisional until final fair values are determined or the measurement period has passed. The Company expects to record adjustments as it accumulates the information needed to estimate the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including working capital balances, estimated fair value of identifiable intangible assets, property, plant and equipment, total consideration and goodwill. The excess of the purchase price over the aggregate fair values is recorded as goodwill. The Company calculated the fair value of the assets acquired in 2022 and 2021 using a market or cost approach (or a combination of both). Fair values for some of the assets were determined based on Level 3 inputs including estimated future cash flows, discount rates, growth rates, sales projections, retention rates and terminal values, all of which require significant management judgment and are susceptible to change. The discount rate used in calculating the fair value of common stock issued in a business combination is determined by using a Black-Scholes-Merton model. The model uses Level 2 inputs including risk-free interest rate, volatility range and dividend yield. The final fair value of the net assets acquired may result in adjustments to the assets and liabilities, including goodwill, and will be made as soon as practical, but no later than 12 months from the respective acquisition dates. Any subsequent measurement period adjustments are not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations.

Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts

Receivables consist primarily of trade and contracting services receivables from the sale of goods and services net of expected credit losses. The Company's trade receivables are all due in 12 months or less.The Company's expected credit losses are determined through a review using historical credit loss experience, changes in asset specific characteristics, current conditions and reasonable and supportable future forecasts, among other specific account data, and is performed at least quarterly. The Company develops and documents its methodology to determine its allowance for expected credit losses at each of its reportable business segments. Risk characteristics used by the business segments may include customer mix, knowledge of customers and general economic conditions of the various local economies, among others. Specific account balances are written off when management determines the amounts to be uncollectible. Management has reviewed the balance reserved through the allowance for expected credit losses and believes it is reasonable.

Inventories and natural gas in storage

Natural gas in storage for the Company's regulated operations is generally valued at lower of cost or market using the last-in, first-out method or lower of cost or net realizable value using the average cost or first-in, first-out method. The majority of all other inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the average cost method.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy

Additions to property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Aggregate mining development costs are capitalized and classified as land improvements and depreciated over the lower of the estimated life of the reserves or the life of the associated improvement. The Company begins capitalizing development costs at a point when reserves are determined to be proven or probable and economically mineable. Capitalization of these costs cease when production commences. The cost of acquiring reserves in connection with a business combination are valued at fair value. When regulated assets are retired, or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business, the original cost of the asset is charged to accumulated depreciation. With respect to the retirement or disposal of all other assets, the resulting gains or losses are recognized as a component of income. The Company is permitted to capitalize AFUDC on regulated construction projects and to include such amounts in rate base when the related facilities are placed in service. In addition, the Company capitalizes interest, when applicable, on certain contracting services projects associated with its other operations.

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Including Intangible Assets, Policy

The Company reviews the carrying values of its long-lived assets, including mining and related assets, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that such carrying values may not be recoverable. The Company tests long-lived assets for impairment at a level significantly lower than that of goodwill impairment testing. Long-lived assets or groups of assets that are evaluated for impairment at the lowest level of largely independent identifiable cash flows at an individual operation or group of operations collectively serving a local market. The determination of whether an impairment has occurred is based on an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows attributable to the assets, compared to the carrying value of the assets. If impairment has occurred, the amount of the impairment recognized is determined by estimating the fair value of the assets and recording a loss if the carrying value is greater than the fair value.

Regulatory assets and liabilities

The Company's regulated businesses are subject to various state and federal agency regulations. The accounting policies followed by these businesses are generally subject to the Uniform System of Accounts of the FERC as well as the provisions of ASC 980 - Regulated Operations. These accounting policies differ in some respects from those used by the Company's non-regulated businesses.

The Company's regulated businesses account for certain income and expense items under the provisions of regulatory accounting, which requires these businesses to defer as regulatory assets or liabilities certain items that would have otherwise been reflected as expense or income, respectively. The Company records regulatory assets or liabilities at the time the Company determines the amounts to be recoverable in current or future rates. Regulatory assets and liabilities are being amortized consistently with the regulatory treatment established by the FERC and the applicable state public service commission. See Note 6 for more information regarding the nature and amounts of these regulatory deferrals.

Natural gas costs recoverable or refundable through rate adjustments

Under the terms of certain orders of the applicable state public service commissions, the Company is deferring natural gas commodity, transportation and storage costs that are greater or less than amounts presently being recovered through its existing rate schedules. Such orders generally provide that these amounts are recoverable or refundable through rate adjustments

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net tangible and intangible assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is required to be tested for impairment annually, which the Company completes in the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill may be impaired.

Investment, Policy

The Company's investments include the cash surrender value of life insurance policies, insurance contracts, mortgage-backed securities and U.S. Treasury securities. The Company measures its investment in the insurance contracts at fair value with any unrealized gains and losses recorded on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company has not elected the fair value option for its mortgage-backed securities and U.S. Treasury securities and, as a result, the unrealized gains and losses on these investments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. For more information, see Notes 8 and 18

Government Assistance

The Company accounts for government assistance received for capital projects by reducing the cost of the project by the amount of assistance received. The Company records government assistance received as taxable income and writes-up the tax basis of the asset to include the amount of the assistance received.

Variable interest entities

The Company evaluates its arrangements and contracts with other entities to determine if they are VIEs and if so, if the Company is the primary beneficiary. GAAP provides a framework for identifying VIEs and determining when a company should include the assets, liabilities, noncontrolling interest and results of activities of a VIE in its consolidated financial statements.

A VIE should be consolidated if a party with an ownership, contractual or other financial interest in the VIE (a variable interest holder) has the power to direct the VIE's most significant activities and the obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits of the VIE that could be significant to the VIE. A variable interest holder that consolidates the VIE is called the primary beneficiary. Upon consolidation, the primary beneficiary generally must initially record all of the VIE's assets, liabilities and noncontrolling interests at fair value and subsequently account for the VIE as if it were consolidated.

The Company's evaluation of whether it qualifies as the primary beneficiary of a VIE involves significant judgments, estimates and assumptions and includes a qualitative analysis of the activities that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and whether the Company has the power to direct those activities, the design of the entity, the rights of the parties and the purpose of the arrangement.

Joint ventures

The Company accounts for unconsolidated joint ventures using either the equity method or proportionate consolidation. The Company currently holds interests between 25 percent and 50 percent in joint ventures formed primarily for the purpose of pooling resources on construction contracts. Proportionate consolidation is used for joint ventures that include unincorporated legal entities and activities of the joint venture which are construction-related. For those joint ventures accounted for under proportionate consolidation, only the Company’s pro rata share of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses are included in the Company’s balance sheet and results of operations.

Derivative Instruments

The Company enters into commodity price derivative contracts in order to minimize the price volatility associated with customer natural gas costs at its natural gas distribution segment. These derivatives are not designated as hedging instruments and are recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. Changes in the fair value of these derivatives along with any contract settlements are recorded each period in regulatory assets or liabilities in accordance with regulatory accounting. The Company does not enter into any derivatives for trading or other speculative purposes.

Leases

Lease liabilities and their corresponding right-of-use assets are recorded based on the present value of lease payments over the expected lease term. The Company recognizes leases with an original lease term of 12 months or less in income on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease and does not recognize a corresponding right-of-use asset or lease liability. The Company determines the lease term based on the non-cancelable and cancelable periods in each contract. The non-cancelable period consists of the term of the contract that is legally enforceable and cannot be canceled by either party without incurring a significant penalty. The cancelable period is determined by various factors that are based on who has the right to cancel a contract. If only the lessor has the right to cancel the contract, the Company will assume the contract will continue. If the lessee is the only party that has the right to cancel the contract, the Company looks to asset, entity and market-based factors. If both the lessor and the lessee have the right to cancel the contract, the Company assumes the contract will not continue.

The discount rate used to calculate the present value of the lease liabilities is based upon the implied rate within each contract. If the rate is unknown or cannot be determined, the Company uses an incremental borrowing rate, which is determined by the length of the contract, asset class and the Company's borrowing rates, as of the commencement date of the contract.

Asset retirement obligation

The Company records the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred. When the liability is initially recorded, the Company capitalizes a cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its present value each period and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the liability, the Company either settles the obligation for the recorded amount or incurs a gain or loss at its non-regulated operations or incurs a regulatory asset or liability at its regulated operations.

Stock-based compensation

The Company determines compensation expense for stock-based awards based on the estimated fair values at the grant date and recognizes the related compensation expense over the vesting period. The Company uses the straight-line amortization method to recognize compensation expense related to restricted stock, which only has a service condition. This method recognizes stock compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. The Company recognizes compensation expense related to performance awards that vest based on performance metrics and service conditions on a straight-line basis over the service period. Inception-to-date expense is adjusted based upon the determination of the potential achievement of the performance target at each reporting date. The Company recognizes compensation expense related to performance awards with market-based performance metrics on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.The Company records the compensation expense for performance share awards using an estimated forfeiture rate. The estimated forfeiture rate is calculated based on an average of actual historical forfeitures. The Company also performs an analysis of any known factors at the time of the calculation to identify any necessary adjustments to the average historical forfeiture rate. At the time actual forfeitures become more than estimated forfeitures, the Company records compensation expense using actual forfeitures

Earnings (loss) per common share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the total of the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year, plus the effect of nonvested performance share awards and restricted stock units.

Income Tax, Policy

The Company provides deferred federal and state income taxes on all temporary differences between the book and tax basis of the Company's assets and liabilities by using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Excess deferred income tax balances associated with the Company's rate-regulated activities have been recorded as regulatory liabilities. These regulatory liabilities are expected to be reflected as a reduction in future rates charged to customers in accordance with applicable regulatory procedures.

The Company uses the deferral method of accounting for investment tax credits and amortizes the credits on regulated electric and natural gas distribution plant over various periods that conform to the ratemaking treatment prescribed by the applicable state public service commissions.

Income tax uncertainties

The Company records uncertain tax positions in accordance with accounting guidance on accounting for income taxes on the basis of a two-step process in which (1) the Company determines whether it is more-likely-than-not that the tax position will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the Company recognizes the largest amount of the tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority. Tax positions that do not meet the more-likely-than-not criteria are reflected as a tax liability. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income taxes.