Utility Regulatory Assets and Liabilities and Regulatory Matters

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Utility Regulatory Assets and Liabilities and Regulatory Matters

Note 7 — 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 2022 Annual Report. Other than removal costs, Utilities currently does not recover a rate of return on its regulatory assets listed below. The following regulatory assets and liabilities associated with Utilities are included on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:


	March 31, 2023		September 30, 2022		March 31, 2022
Regulatory assets (a):
Income taxes recoverable	$	94	$	83	$	148
Underfunded pension plans	118		114		104
Environmental costs	34		37		55
Deferred fuel and power costs	38		32		6
Removal costs, net	22		22		22
Other	53		52		49
Total regulatory assets	$	359	$	340	$	384
Regulatory liabilities (a):
Postretirement benefit overcollections	$	10	$	11	$	12

Deferred fuel and power refunds	28		3		17
State tax benefits — distribution system repairs	39		38		34

Excess federal deferred income taxes	262		279		283
Other	6		4		14
Total regulatory liabilities	$	345	$	335	$	360

(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 - costs and refunds. Utilities’ tariffs contain clauses that permit recovery of all prudently incurred purchased gas and power costs through the application of PGC rates, PGA rates and DS tariffs. These clauses provide for periodic adjustments to PGC, PGA and DS rates for differences between the total amount of purchased gas and electric generation supply costs collected from customers and recoverable costs incurred. Net undercollected costs are classified as a regulatory asset and net overcollections are classified as a regulatory liability.

The WVPSC, in an effort to mitigate the impact of WV Gas Utility’s 2022 PGA rate increase to customers, delayed the effective date in 2022 from November 1 to December 1 and deferred $12 of unrecovered gas costs in determining the rates to be charged to the various customer classes effective December 1, 2022. Additionally, in order to lower winter bills for residential customers, the WVPSC removed transportation and storage costs from the volumetric rate and created a fixed monthly pipeline demand charge applicable only to residential customers. On April 12, 2023, the WVPSC issued a final Order that increased the PGA rate, which included the unrecovered gas cost balance initially deferred in the interim order, and continued the fixed monthly demand charge for residential customers.

PA 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 (losses) gains on such contracts at March 31, 2023, September 30, 2022 and March 31, 2022 were $(17), $5 and $21, respectively.

Other Regulatory Matters

UGI Utilities. On January 27, 2023, Electric Utility filed a request with the PAPUC to increase its annual base distribution revenues by $11. 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 March 28, 2023. The PAPUC issued an Order on March 2, 2023, 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, 2022, PA Gas Utility filed a request with the PAPUC to increase its base operating revenues for residential, commercial and industrial customers by $83 annually. On September 15, 2022, the PAPUC issued a final order approving a settlement providing for a $49 annual base distribution rate increase for PA Gas Utility, through a phased approach, with $38 beginning October 29, 2022 and an additional $11 beginning October 1, 2023. In accordance with the terms of the final order, PA Gas Utility will not be permitted to file a rate case prior to January 1, 2024. Also in accordance with the terms of the final order, PA Gas Utility was authorized to implement a weather normalization adjustment rider as a five-year pilot program beginning on November 1, 2022. Under this rider, when weather deviates from normal by more than 3%, residential and small commercial customer billings for distribution services are adjusted monthly for weather related impacts exceeding the 3% threshold. Additionally, under the terms of the final order, PA Gas Utility was authorized to implement a DSIC once its total property, plant and equipment less accumulated depreciation reached $3,368 (which threshold was achieved in September 2022).

On February 8, 2021, Electric Utility filed a request with the PAPUC to increase its annual base distribution revenues by $9. On October 28, 2021, the PAPUC issued a final Order approving a settlement that permitted Electric Utility, effective November 9, 2021, to increase its base distribution revenues by $6.

Mountaineer. On March 6, 2023, Mountaineer submitted a base rate case filing with the WVPSC seeking a net revenue increase of $20, which consists of an increase in base rates of $38 and a decrease in the IREP rates of $18 annually to be effective on April 5, 2023. On March 31, 2023 the WVPSC suspended the effective date of the requested rate change increase until January 1, 2024 to allow for a full review of the filing.

On July 29, 2022, Mountaineer submitted its 2022 IREP filing to the WVPSC requesting recovery of costs associated with capital investments totaling $354 over the 2023 - 2027 period, including $64 in calendar year 2023. On November 16, 2022, Mountaineer and the intervening parties submitted a Joint Stipulation and Agreement for Settlement to the WVPSC requesting approval of 2023 IREP revenue of $22 to be charged effective January 1, 2023, which includes the recovery of a $1 under-recovery of 2021 IREP revenue. On December 21, 2022, the WVPSC issued an order approving the Joint Stipulation and Agreement for Settlement as filed.