Partnership Organization

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Partnership Organization [Abstract]

Partnership Organization

1) Partnership Organization

Star Gas Partners, L.P. (“Star Gas Partners,” the “Partnership,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a home heating oil and propane distributor and services provider with one reportable operating segment that principally provides services to residential and commercial customers to heat their homes and buildings. Star Gas Partners is a master limited partnership, which at September 30, 2012, had outstanding 61.0 million common units (NYSE: “SGU”) representing 99.47% limited partner interest in Star Gas Partners, and 0.3 million general partner units, representing 0.53% general partner interest in Star Gas Partners.

The Partnership is organized as follows:

• The general partner of the Partnership is Kestrel Heat, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Kestrel Heat” or the “general partner”). The Board of Directors of Kestrel Heat is appointed by its sole member, Kestrel Energy Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Kestrel”).

• The Partnership’s operations are conducted through Petro Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Petro”). Petro is a Minnesota corporation that is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership. Petro is subject to Federal and state corporate income taxes. Petro is a Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region retail distributor of home heating oil and propane that at September 30, 2012 served approximately 416,000 full-service residential and commercial home heating oil and propane customers. Petro also sold home heating oil, gasoline and diesel fuel to approximately 48,000 customers on a delivery only basis. In addition, Petro installed, maintained, and repaired heating and air conditioning equipment for its customers, and provided ancillary home services, including home security and plumbing, to approximately 11,500 customers.

• Star Gas Finance Company is a 100% owned subsidiary of the Partnership. Star Gas Finance Company serves as the co-issuer, jointly and severally with the Partnership, of its $125 million (excluding discount) 8.875% Senior Notes outstanding at September 30, 2012, that are due in 2017. The Partnership is dependent on distributions including inter-company dividends and interest payments from its subsidiaries to service the Partnership’s debt obligations. The distributions from the Partnership’s subsidiaries are not guaranteed and are subject to certain loan restrictions. Star Gas Finance Company has nominal assets and conducts no business operations. (See Note 10—Long-Term Debt and Bank Facility Borrowings)