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Nature of Operations
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Nature of Operations [Abstract] 
Nature of Operations
Note 1 — Nature of Operations
AmeriGas Partners, L.P. (“AmeriGas Partners”) is a publicly traded limited partnership that conducts a national propane distribution business through its principal operating subsidiary AmeriGas Propane, L.P. (“AmeriGas OLP”) and, prior to its merger with AmeriGas OLP on October 1, 2010 (“the Merger”), AmeriGas OLP’s subsidiary, AmeriGas Eagle Propane, L.P. (“Eagle OLP”). AmeriGas Partners and AmeriGas OLP are Delaware limited partnerships. AmeriGas OLP subsequent to the Merger, and AmeriGas OLP and Eagle OLP collectively prior to the Merger, are referred to herein as “the Operating Partnership.” AmeriGas Partners, the Operating Partnership and all of their subsidiaries are collectively referred to herein as “the Partnership” or “we.”
The Operating Partnership is engaged in the distribution of propane and related equipment and supplies. The Operating Partnership comprises the largest retail propane distribution business in the United States serving residential, commercial, industrial, motor fuel and agricultural customers in all 50 states.
At September 30, 2011, AmeriGas Propane, Inc. (the “General Partner”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of UGI Corporation (“UGI”), held a 1% general partner interest in AmeriGas Partners and a 1.01% general partner interest in AmeriGas OLP. The General Partner and its wholly owned subsidiary Petrolane Incorporated (“Petrolane,” a predecessor company of the Partnership) also owned 24,691,209 AmeriGas Partners Common Units (“Common Units”). The remaining 32,433,087 Common Units are publicly held. The Common Units represent limited partner interests in AmeriGas Partners.
AmeriGas Partners holds a 99% limited partner interest in AmeriGas OLP. Through September 30, 2010, AmeriGas OLP, indirectly through subsidiaries, owned an effective 0.1% general partner interest and a direct approximate 99.9% limited partner interest in Eagle OLP.
AmeriGas Partners and the Operating Partnership have no employees. Employees of the General Partner conduct, direct and manage our operations. The General Partner is reimbursed monthly for all direct and indirect expenses it incurs on our behalf (see Note 14).