Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. They include all adjustments that we consider necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. Such adjustments consisted only of normal recurring items unless otherwise disclosed. The September 30, 2020, Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all footnote disclosures from the annual financial statements.

These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s 2020 Annual Report. Due to the seasonal nature of our businesses, the results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full year.

Equity Method Investments. We account for privately held equity securities of entities without readily determinable fair values in which we do not have control, but have significant influence over operating and financial policies, under the equity method. Our equity method investments are primarily comprised of PennEast and Pennant.

UGI PennEast, LLC and four other members comprising wholly owned subsidiaries of Southern Company, New Jersey Resources, South Jersey Industries, and Enbridge, Inc., each hold a 20% membership interest in PennEast. In September 2019, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled that New Jersey’s Eleventh Amendment immunity barred PennEast from bringing an eminent domain lawsuit in federal court, under the Natural Gas Act, against New Jersey or its agencies. The Third Circuit subsequently denied PennEast’s petition for rehearing en banc. PennEast also filed a petition for declaratory order with the FERC regarding interpretation of the Natural Gas Act; the FERC issued an order favorable to PennEast’s position on January 30, 2020. PennEast filed a petition for a writ of certiorari to seek U.S. Supreme Court review of the Third Circuit decision on February 18, 2020.  On June 29, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court invited the U.S. Solicitor General to file a brief in the case expressing the views of the U.S. On December 9, 2020, the U.S. Solicitor General filed a brief supporting PennEast’s petition for a writ of certiorari. On February 3, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an order granting PennEast’s petition for a writ of certiorari. The case will be set for argument in the April 2021 argument session. The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time, and could result in delays, additional costs, or the inability to move forward with the project, resulting in an impairment of all or a portion of our investment in PennEast.

Restricted Cash. Restricted cash principally represents those cash balances in our commodity futures brokerage accounts that are restricted from withdrawal. The following table provides a reconciliation of the total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets to the corresponding amounts reported on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

	December 31, 2020		December 31, 2019		September 30, 2020		September 30, 2019
Cash and cash equivalents	$	416	$	333	$	336	$	447
Restricted cash	30		96		21		64
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	446	$	429	$	357	$	511

Earnings Per Common Share. Basic earnings per share attributable to UGI stockholders reflect the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share attributable to UGI stockholders include the effects of dilutive stock options and common stock awards.

Shares used in computing basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows: 

	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2020	2019
Denominator (thousands of shares):
Weighted-average common shares outstanding — basic	208,774	209,439
Incremental shares issuable for stock options and awards (a)	866	1,819
Weighted-average common shares outstanding — diluted	209,640	211,258

(a)For the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, there were 6,000 and 3,499 shares, respectively, associated with outstanding stock option awards that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share above because their effect was antidilutive.

Derivative Instruments. Derivative instruments are reported on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair values, unless the NPNS exception is elected. The accounting for changes in fair value depends upon the purpose of the derivative instrument, whether it is subject to regulatory ratemaking mechanisms or if it qualifies and is designated as a hedge for accounting purposes.

Certain of our derivative instruments qualify and are designated as cash flow hedges. For cash flow hedges, changes in the fair values of the derivative instruments are recorded in AOCI, to the extent effective at offsetting changes in the hedged item, until earnings are affected by the hedged item. We discontinue cash flow hedge accounting if occurrence of the forecasted transaction is determined to be no longer probable. Hedge accounting is also discontinued for derivatives that cease to be highly effective. We do not designate our commodity and certain foreign currency derivative instruments as hedges under GAAP. Changes in the fair values of these derivative instruments are reflected in net income. Gains and losses on substantially all of

the commodity derivative instruments used by UGI Utilities are included in regulatory assets or liabilities because it is probable such gains or losses will be recoverable from, or refundable to, customers. From time to time, we also enter into net investment hedges. Gains and losses on net investment hedges that relate to our foreign operations are included in the cumulative translation adjustment component in AOCI until such foreign net investment is substantially sold or liquidated.

Cash flows from derivative instruments, other than certain cross-currency swaps and net investment hedges, if any, are included in cash flows from operating activities on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Cash flows from the interest portion of our cross-currency hedges, if any, are included in cash flows from operating activities while cash flows from the currency portion of such hedges, if any, are included in cash flows from financing activities. Cash flows from net investment hedges, if any, are included in cash flows from investing activities on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

For a more detailed description of the derivative instruments we use, our accounting for derivatives, our objectives for using them and other information, see Note 10.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and costs. These estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current events, historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Accordingly, actual results may be different from these estimates and assumptions.

Reclassifications. Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current-period presentation.