Utility Regulatory Assets and Liabilities and Regulatory Matters

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Utility Regulatory Assets and Liabilities and Regulatory Matters

Note 6 — Utility Regulatory Assets and Liabilities and Regulatory Matters

For a description of the Company’s regulatory assets and liabilities other than those described below, see Note 9 in the Company’s 2020 Annual Report. Other than removal costs, UGI Utilities currently does not recover a rate of return on its regulatory assets listed below. The following regulatory assets and liabilities associated with UGI Utilities are included on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:


	March 31, 2021		September 30, 2020		March 31, 2020
Regulatory assets (a):
Income taxes recoverable	$	128	$	124	$	127
Underfunded pension and postretirement plans	169		175		172
Environmental costs	59		61		57

Removal costs, net	24		26		25
Other	18		11		10
Total regulatory assets	$	398	$	397	$	391
Regulatory liabilities (a):
Postretirement benefit overcollections	$	12	$	13	$	14

Deferred fuel and power refunds	17		29		11
State tax benefits — distribution system repairs	29		28		28
PAPUC Temporary Rates Order	2		7		15
Excess federal deferred income taxes	270		274		277
Other	5		2		1
Total regulatory liabilities	$	335	$	353	$	346

(a)Current regulatory assets are included in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” and regulatory liabilities are included in “Other current liabilities” and “Other noncurrent liabilities” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Deferred Fuel and Power Refunds. Gas Utility’s and Electric Utility’s tariffs contain clauses that permit recovery of all prudently incurred purchased gas and power costs through the application of PGC rates in the case of Gas Utility and DS tariffs in the case of Electric Utility. These clauses provide for periodic adjustments to PGC and DS rates for differences between the

total amount of purchased gas and electric generation supply costs billed to customers and recoverable costs incurred. Net undercollected costs are classified as a regulatory asset and net overcollections are classified as a regulatory liability.

Gas Utility uses derivative instruments to reduce volatility in the cost of gas it purchases for retail core-market customers. Realized and unrealized gains or losses on natural gas derivative instruments are included in deferred fuel and power costs or refunds. Net unrealized gains (losses) on such contracts at March 31, 2021, September 30, 2020 and March 31, 2020 were $1, $8 and $(1), respectively.

Other Regulatory Matters

Base Rate Filings. On February 8, 2021, Electric Utility filed a rate request with the PAPUC to increase its annual base distribution revenues by $9. The increased revenues would fund ongoing system improvements and operations necessary to maintain safe and reliable electric service. Electric Utility requested that the new electric rates become effective April 9, 2021. The PAPUC entered an Order on March 11, 2021, suspending the effective date for the rate increase to allow for investigation and public hearings. Unless a settlement is reached sooner, this review process is expected to last up to nine months from the date of filing. The Company cannot predict the timing or the ultimate outcome of the rate case review process.

On January 28, 2020, Gas Utility filed a request with the PAPUC to increase its annual base distribution operating revenues by $75 annually. On October 8, 2020, the PAPUC issued a final Order approving a settlement that permits Gas Utility to increase its annual base distribution rates by $20, through a phased approach, with $10 beginning January 1, 2021 and an additional $10 beginning July 1, 2021. Additionally, Gas Utility was authorized to implement a DSIC once Gas Utility total property, plant and equipment less accumulated depreciation reached $2,875. This threshold was achieved in December 2020, and Gas Utility implemented a DSIC effective April 1, 2021. The PAPUC’s final Order also includes enhanced COVID-19 customer assistance measures, including the establishment of an Emergency Relief Program for a defined set of payment troubled customers (“ERP”). Additionally, the PAPUC’s final Order permits Gas Utility to establish a regulatory asset for certain incremental expenses attributable to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, most notably expenses related to the ERP and uncollectible accounts expense, through the effective date of rates in the next Gas Utility base rate case, to be recovered and amortized over a 10-year period. In accordance with the terms of the PAPUC’s final Order, Gas Utility is not permitted to file a rate case prior to January 1, 2022.

On January 28, 2019, Gas Utility filed a rate request with the PAPUC to increase the base operating revenues for residential, commercial, and industrial customers throughout its Pennsylvania service territory by an aggregate $71. On October 4, 2019, the PAPUC issued a final Order approving a settlement that permitted Gas Utility, effective October 11, 2019, to increase its base distribution revenues by $30 under a single consolidated tariff, approved a plan for uniform class rates, and permitted Gas Utility to extend its Energy Efficiency and Conservation and Growth Extension Tariff programs by an additional term of five years. The PAPUC’s final Order approved a negative surcharge, to return to customers $24 of tax benefits experienced by Gas Utility over the period January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018, plus applicable interest, in accordance with the May 17, 2018 PAPUC Order, which became effective for a twelve-month period beginning on October 11, 2019, the effective date of Gas Utility’s new base rates.