Utility Regulatory Assets and Liabilities and Regulatory Matters

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2024

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 2023 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:


	June 30, 2024		September 30, 2023		June 30, 2023
Regulatory assets (a):
Income taxes recoverable	$	91	$	94	$	95
Underfunded pension plans	109		111		118
Environmental costs	28		28		28
Deferred fuel and power costs	—		27		30
Removal costs, net	26		23		22
Other	57		64		57
Total regulatory assets	$	311	$	347	$	350
Regulatory liabilities (a):
Postretirement benefit overcollections	$	11	$	12	$	10

Deferred fuel and power refunds	33		55		63
State tax benefits — distribution system repairs	44		43		40

Excess federal deferred income taxes	248		254		260
Other	5		2		3
Total regulatory liabilities	$	341	$	366	$	376

(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 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.

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 on such contracts at June 30, 2024, September 30, 2023 and June 30, 2023 were $1, $2 and $7, 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. On September 21, 2023, the PAPUC issued a final order approving a settlement providing for a $9 annual base distribution rate increase for Electric Utility, effective October 1, 2023.

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 was not 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%, for bills rendered during the period of October 1 through May 31, 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).

Mountaineer. On July 31, 2024, Mountaineer submitted its 2024 IREP filing to the WVPSC requesting recovery of $19, which includes $3 of prior year under-recovery, for costs associated with capital investments after December 31, 2022, that total $197, including $74 in calendar year 2025. The filing included capital investments totaling $418 over the 2025 - 2029 period.

On July 31, 2023, Mountaineer submitted its 2023 IREP filing to the WVPSC requesting recovery of $10 for costs associated with capital investments after December 31, 2022, that total $131, including $67 in calendar year 2024. The filing included capital investments totaling $383 over the 2024 - 2028 period. On December 20, 2023, the WVPSC issued a final order approving a settlement effective January 1, 2024.

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. On October 6, 2023, Mountaineer filed a joint stipulation and agreement for settlement of the base rate case, which included a $14 net revenue increase, effective January 1, 2024. On December 21, 2023, the WVPSC issued a final order approving the joint stipulation and agreement, except the WVPSC authorized Mountaineer to implement a weather normalization adjustment rider as a five-year pilot program beginning on October 1, 2024. On April 11, 2024 the WVPSC approved the calculation methodology submitted by Mountaineer on March 28, 2024. Under this rider, when weather deviates from normal by more than 2%, for service rendered during the period October 1 through May 31, residential and small commercial customer billings for distribution services are adjusted for weather related impacts exceeding the 2% threshold.

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 December 21, 2022, the WVPSC issued a final order approving a settlement for $22 in cumulative revenue, effective January 1, 2023.