Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Amounts deferred as regulatory assets and liabilities were as follows:



	Regulatory Assets
	March 31,				December 31,
In thousands	2018		2017		2017
Current:
Unrealized loss on derivatives⁽¹⁾	$	17,569	$	1,580	$	18,712
Gas costs	591		2,757		154
Environmental costs⁽²⁾	5,818		7,574		6,198
Decoupling⁽³⁾	9,578		10,087		11,227
Income taxes	2,218		4,378		2,218
Other⁽⁴⁾	10,126		8,498		7,272
Total current	$	45,900	$	34,874	$	45,781
Non-current:
Unrealized loss on derivatives⁽¹⁾	$	2,355	$	2,546	$	4,649
Pension balancing⁽⁵⁾	63,940		53,105		60,383
Income taxes	19,267		36,591		19,991
Pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities	175,505		179,586		179,824
Environmental costs⁽²⁾	66,730		62,227		72,128
Gas costs	49		114		84
Decoupling⁽³⁾	2,663		2,803		3,970
Other⁽⁴⁾	12,528		12,085		15,579
Total non-current	$	343,037	$	349,057	$	356,608


⁽¹⁾	Unrealized gains or losses on derivatives are non-cash items and, therefore, do not earn a rate of return or a carrying charge. These amounts are recoverable through utility rates as part of the annual Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA) mechanism when realized at settlement.


⁽²⁾	Refer to footnote (3) per the Deferred Regulatory Asset table in Note 14 for a description of environmental costs.


⁽³⁾	This deferral represents the margin adjustment resulting from differences between actual and expected volumes.


⁽⁴⁾	These balances primarily consist of deferrals and amortizations under approved regulatory mechanisms and typically earn a rate of return or carrying charge.


⁽⁵⁾	Refer to footnote (1) of the Net Periodic Benefit Cost table in Note 8 for information regarding the deferral of pension expenses.


⁽⁶⁾	Estimated costs of removal on certain regulated properties are collected through rates.


⁽⁷⁾	This balance represents estimated amounts associated with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. See Note 9.



	Regulatory Liabilities
	March 31,				December 31,
In thousands	2018		2017		2017
Current:
Gas costs	$	17,798	$	13,741	$	14,886
Unrealized gain on derivatives⁽¹⁾	1,120		2,870		1,674
Decoupling⁽³⁾	2,501		—		322
Other⁽⁴⁾	13,527		16,600		17,131
Total current	$	34,946	$	33,211	$	34,013
Non-current:
Gas costs	$	5,639	$	4,740	$	4,630
Unrealized gain on derivatives⁽¹⁾	1,148		46		1,306
Decoupling⁽³⁾	1,253		—		957
Income taxes⁽⁷⁾	219,795		—		213,306
Accrued asset removal costs⁽⁶⁾	365,363		345,614		360,929
Other⁽⁴⁾	7,244		7,187		4,965
Total non-current	$	600,442	$	357,587	$	586,093


⁽¹⁾	Unrealized gains or losses on derivatives are non-cash items and, therefore, do not earn a rate of return or a carrying charge. These amounts are recoverable through utility rates as part of the annual Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA) mechanism when realized at settlement.


⁽²⁾	Refer to footnote (3) per the Deferred Regulatory Asset table in Note 14 for a description of environmental costs.


⁽³⁾	This deferral represents the margin adjustment resulting from differences between actual and expected volumes.


⁽⁴⁾	These balances primarily consist of deferrals and amortizations under approved regulatory mechanisms and typically earn a rate of return or carrying charge.


⁽⁵⁾	Refer to footnote (1) of the Net Periodic Benefit Cost table in Note 8 for information regarding the deferral of pension expenses.


⁽⁶⁾	Estimated costs of removal on certain regulated properties are collected through rates.


⁽⁷⁾	This balance represents estimated amounts associated with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. See Note 9.