Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation

We are a party to various litigation that has arisen in the ordinary course of our business. While the results of such litigation cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe the final outcome of such litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Environmental Matters

We are a party to environmental matters and claims that have arisen in the ordinary course of our business. While the ultimate results of response actions to these environmental matters and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe the final outcome of such response actions will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows because we believe that the expenditures related to such response actions will either be recovered through rates, shared with other parties or are adequately covered by insurance.

Purchase Commitments

Our regulated distribution divisions maintain supply contracts with several vendors that generally cover a period of up to one year. Commitments for estimated base gas volumes are established under these contracts on a monthly basis at contractually negotiated prices. Commitments for incremental daily purchases are made as necessary during the month in accordance with the terms of the individual contract.

Our Mid-Tex Division also maintains a limited number of long-term supply contracts to ensure a reliable source of gas for our customers in its service area which obligate it to purchase specified volumes at prices indexed to natural gas distribution hubs. At September 30, 2015, we were committed to purchase 36.6 Bcf within one year and 26.8 Bcf within one to three years under indexed contracts. Purchases under these contracts totaled $113.3 million, $140.9 million and $89.0 million for 2015, 2014, 2013.

Our nonregulated segment has commitments to purchase physical quantities of natural gas under contracts indexed to the forward NYMEX strip or fixed price contracts. At September 30, 2015, we were committed to purchase 101.9 Bcf within one year, 16.0 Bcf within one to three years and 0.5 Bcf after three years under indexed contracts. We are committed to purchase 3.0 Bcf within one year under fixed price contracts with prices ranging from $2.32 to $3.23 per Mcf. Purchases under these contracts totaled $1,141.3 million, $1,687.5 million and $1,246.1 million for 2015, 2014 and 2013.

In addition, our nonregulated segment maintains long-term contracts related to storage and transportation. The estimated contractual demand fees for contracted storage and transportation under these contracts as of September 30, 2015 are as follows (in thousands):



2016	$	7,843
2017	3,522
2018	1,966
2019	426
2020	398
Thereafter	1,101
	$	15,256

Regulatory Matters

In July 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act was enacted, representing an extensive overhaul of the framework for regulation of U.S. financial markets. The Dodd-Frank Act required various regulatory agencies, including the SEC and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, to establish regulations for implementation of many of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. A number of those regulations have been adopted; we have enacted new procedures and modified existing business practices and contractual arrangements to comply with such regulations. We expect additional regulations to be issued, which should provide additional clarity regarding the extent of the impact of this legislation on us. The costs of participating in financial markets for hedging certain risks inherent in our business may be further increased when these expected additional regulations are adopted. We also anticipate that the Commodities Futures Trading Commission will issue additional related reporting and disclosure obligations.