Commitments and Contigencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Disclosure Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies [Text Block]

14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Leases

We lease land, buildings and equipment under agreements that expire in various years, including a 99-year land lease that extends through 2108. Rental expense under operating leases was $5.5 million, $5.9 million, and $5.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. The following table reflects the future minimum lease payments due under non-cancelable leases at December 31, 2015. These commitments relate principally to the lease of our office headquarters, underground gas storage facilities and computer equipment.

In thousands	Operating leases		Capital leases		Minimum lease payments
2016	$	5,417	$	564	$	5,981
2017	5,363		156		5,519
2018	5,348		3		5,351
2019	5,313		—		5,313
2020	2,765		—		2,765
Thereafter	30,475		—		30,475
Total	$	54,681	$	723	$	55,404

Gas Purchase and Pipeline Capacity Purchase and Release Commitments

We have signed agreements providing for the reservation of firm pipeline capacity under which we are required to make fixed monthly payments for contracted capacity. The pricing component of the monthly payment is established, subject to change, by U.S. or Canadian regulatory bodies. In addition, we have entered into long-term sale agreements to release firm pipeline capacity. We also enter into short-term and long-term gas purchase agreements.

The aggregate amounts of these agreements were as follows at December 31, 2015:

In thousands	Gas Purchase Agreements		Pipeline Capacity Purchase Agreements		Pipeline Capacity Release Agreements
2016	$	61,464	$	79,487	$	3,739
2017	—		79,370		—
2018	—		75,796		—
2019	—		75,683		—
2020	—		72,091		—
Thereafter	—		340,027		—
Total	61,464		722,454		3,739
Less: Amount representing interest	123		110,899		11
Total at present value	$	61,341	$	611,555	$	3,728

Our total payments for fixed charges under capacity purchase agreements were $85.2 million for 2015, $94.3 million for 2014, and $98.2 million for 2013. Included in the amounts were reductions for capacity release sales of $4.4 million for 2015, $4.8 million for 2014, and $4.5 million for 2013. In addition, per-unit charges are required to be paid based on the actual quantities shipped under the agreements. In certain take-or-pay purchase commitments, annual deficiencies may be offset by prepayments subject to recovery over a longer term if future purchases exceed the minimum annual requirements.

Environmental Matters

Refer to Note 15 for a discussion of environmental commitments and contingencies.