Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Star and its subsidiaries. All material intercompany items and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The financial information included herein is unaudited; however, such information reflects all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments), which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair statement of financial condition and results for the interim periods. Due to the seasonal nature of the Company’s business, the results of operations and cash flows for the nine-month period ended June 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. These interim financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2019. Comprehensive Income (Loss) Comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of Net income (loss) and Other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) consists of the unrealized gain on amortization on the Company’s pension plan obligation for its two frozen defined benefit pension plans, unrealized gain on available-for-sale investments, unrealized loss on interest rate hedge and the corresponding tax effects. Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. At June 30, 2020, the $67.0 million of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is composed of $66.7 million of cash and cash equivalents and $0.3 million of restricted cash. At September 30, 2019, the $5.1 million of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is composed of $4.9 million of cash and cash equivalents and $0.3 million of restricted cash. Restricted cash represents deposits held by our captive insurance company that are required by state insurance regulations to remain in the captive insurance company as cash. Captive Insurance Collateral The captive insurance collateral is held by our captive insurance company in an irrevocable trust as collateral for certain workers’ compensation and automobile liability claims. The collateral is required by a third party insurance carrier that insures per claim amounts above a set deductible. If we did not deposit cash into the trust, the third party carrier would require that we issue an equal amount of letters of credit, which would reduce our availability under the fifth amended and restated credit agreement. Due to the expected timing of claim payments, the nature of the collateral agreement with the carrier, and our captive insurance company’s source of other operating cash, the collateral is not expected to be used to pay obligations within the next twelve months. At June 30, 2020, captive insurance collateral is comprised of $68.8 million of Level 1 debt securities measured at fair value and $0.8 million of mutual funds measured at net asset value. At September 30, 2019, the balance was comprised of $58.0 million of Level 1 debt securities measured at fair value and $0.5 million of mutual funds measured at net asset value. Unrealized gains and losses, net of related income taxes, are reported as accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss), except for losses from impairments which are determined to be other-than-temporary. Realized gains and losses, and declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary on available-for-sale securities are included in the determination of net income and are included in Interest expense, net, at which time the average cost basis of these securities are adjusted to fair value. Weather Hedge Contract To partially mitigate the adverse effect of warm weather on cash flows, the Company has used weather hedge contracts for a number of years. Weather hedge contracts are recorded in accordance with the intrinsic value method defined by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 815-45-15 Derivatives and Hedging, Weather Derivatives (EITF 99-2). The premium paid is included in the caption “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” in the accompanying balance sheets and amortized over the life of the contract, with the intrinsic value method applied at each interim period. The Company entered into weather hedge contracts for fiscal years 2019, 2020 and 2021. Under these contracts, we are entitled to receive a payment if the total number of degree days within the hedge period is less than the prior ten year average. The “Payment Thresholds,” or strikes, are set at various levels. In addition, we will be obligated to make a payment capped at $5.0 million if degree days exceed the Payment Threshold which approximates the prior ten year average. The hedge period runs from November 1 through March 31, taken as a whole, for each respective fiscal year. For fiscal 2020 and 2021 the maximum that the Company can receive annually is $12.5 million and the maximum that the Company would be obligated to pay annually is $5.0 million. As of June 30, 2020, the Company reduced delivery and branch expense under these contracts by $10.1 million and received the amount in full in April 2020. As of June 30, 2019, the Company increased delivery and branch expense under these contracts of $2.1million, and paid the amount in full in April 2019. New England Teamsters and Trucking Industry Pension Fund (“the NETTI Fund”) Liability As of June 30, 2020, we had $0.2 million and $16.8 million balances included in the captions “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” and “Other long-term liabilities,” respectively, on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet representing the remaining balance of the NETTI Fund withdrawal liability. Based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for long-term financing of a similar maturity, the fair value of the NETTI Fund withdrawal liability as of June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 was $29.3 million and $21.1 million, respectively. We utilized Level 2 inputs in the fair value hierarchy of valuation techniques to determine the fair value of this liability. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASC Topic 842”). The update requires all leases with a term greater than twelve months to be recognized on the balance sheet by recording (1) a lease liability that represents a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured at the present value of the remaining lease payments; and (2) a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset that represents the lessee’s right to use a specified asset for the lease term, measured in an amount equal to the lease liability adjusted for accrued lease payments. The standard also requires the disclosure of key information pertaining to leasing arrangements. As of October 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASC Topic 842 using the modified retrospective transition approach as of the effective date as permitted by the amendments in ASU 2018-11. As a result, the Company was not required to adjust its comparative period financial information for effects of the standard or make the new required lease disclosures for periods before the date of adoption (i.e. October 1, 2019). The Company has elected to adopt the package of transition practical expedients and, therefore, has not reassessed (1) whether existing or expired contracts contain a lease, (2) lease classification for existing or expired leases or (3) the accounting for initial direct costs that were previously capitalized. We also elected a practical expedient to not separate non-lease components from the lease components and excluded short term leases from the calculation of right of use asset and operating lease liability. For certain leases relating to vehicles and equipment we elected to apply portfolio approach guidance and accounted for leases with similar characteristics as a single lease. The Company did not elect the practical expedient to use hindsight for leases existing at the adoption date. The adoption of ASC Topic 842 had a material impact to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, but did not impact the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations or Condensed Consolidated Statement of Partners’ Capital. The most significant changes to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet relate to the recognition of the following as of October 1, 2019: “Operating lease right-of-use assets” in the amount of $104.7 million, “Current portion of operating lease liabilities” in the amount of $20.1 million and “Long-term operating lease liabilities” in the amount of $89.9 million. The adoption of ASC Topic 842 also had no impact on operating, investing, or financing cash flows in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. However, ASC Topic has significantly affected the Company’s disclosures about noncash investing activities. Additionally, the Company’s lease-related disclosures have significantly increased as of and for the nine months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to prior years. See Note 13 – Leases for further details on the adoption of ASC Topic 842. In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The Company adopted the ASU effective March 12, 2020. The update provides optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease potential accounting impacts associated with transitioning away from reference rates that are expected to be discontinued, such as interbank offered rates and LIBOR. The Company has $65.3 million of interest rate swap agreements at June 30, 2020 that are benchmarked against LIBOR, which the Company has designated as cash flow hedging derivatives. This guidance includes practical expedients for contract modifications due to reference rate reform. The Company has elected to adopt the practical expedient that the Company may change the contractual terms of the interest rate swap agreements that are expected to be affected by reference rate reform and not be required to de-designate the hedging relationships. The adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses. The update broadens the information that an entity should consider in developing expected credit loss estimates, eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold, and allows for the immediate recognition of the full amount of expected credit losses. This new guidance is effective for our annual reporting period beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU No. 2016-13 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 230): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The update simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, but not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. This new guidance is effective for our annual reporting period beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The Company does not expect ASU 2017-04 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General: Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans, which modifies the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans by removing and adding certain disclosures for these plans. The new guidance is effective for our annual reporting period beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU No. 2018-14 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software: Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract, which will align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The new guidance is effective for our annual reporting period beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The Company does not expect ASU No. 2018-15 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Star and its subsidiaries. All material intercompany items and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The financial information included herein is unaudited; however, such information reflects all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments), which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair statement of financial condition and results for the interim periods. Due to the seasonal nature of the Company’s business, the results of operations and cash flows for the nine-month period ended June 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

These interim financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2019.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of Net income (loss) and Other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) consists of the unrealized gain on amortization on the Company’s pension plan obligation for its two frozen defined benefit pension plans, unrealized gain on available-for-sale investments, unrealized loss on interest rate hedge and the corresponding tax effects.

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. At June 30, 2020, the $67.0 million of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is composed of $66.7 million of cash and cash equivalents and $0.3 million of restricted cash. At September 30, 2019, the $5.1 million of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is composed of $4.9 million of cash and cash equivalents and $0.3 million of restricted cash. Restricted cash represents deposits held by our captive insurance company that are required by state insurance regulations to remain in the captive insurance company as cash.

Captive Insurance Collateral

The captive insurance collateral is held by our captive insurance company in an irrevocable trust as collateral for certain workers’ compensation and automobile liability claims. The collateral is required by a third party insurance carrier that insures per claim amounts above a set deductible. If we did not deposit cash into the trust, the third party carrier would require that we issue an equal amount of letters of credit, which would reduce our availability under the fifth amended and restated credit agreement. Due to the expected timing of claim payments, the nature of the collateral agreement with the carrier, and our captive insurance company’s source of other operating cash, the collateral is not expected to be used to pay obligations within the next twelve months.

At June 30, 2020, captive insurance collateral is comprised of $68.8 million of Level 1 debt securities measured at fair value and $0.8 million of mutual funds measured at net asset value. At September 30, 2019, the balance was comprised of $58.0 million of Level 1 debt securities measured at fair value and $0.5 million of mutual funds measured at net asset value. Unrealized gains and losses, net of related income taxes, are reported as accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss), except for losses from impairments which are determined to be other-than-temporary. Realized gains and losses, and declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary on available-for-sale securities are included in the determination of net income and are included in Interest expense, net, at which time the average cost basis of these securities are adjusted to fair value.

Weather Hedge Contract

To partially mitigate the adverse effect of warm weather on cash flows, the Company has used weather hedge contracts for a number of years. Weather hedge contracts are recorded in accordance with the intrinsic value method defined by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 815-45-15 Derivatives and Hedging, Weather Derivatives (EITF 99-2). The premium paid is included in the caption “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” in the accompanying balance sheets and amortized over the life of the contract, with the intrinsic value method applied at each interim period.

The Company entered into weather hedge contracts for fiscal years 2019, 2020 and 2021. Under these contracts, we are entitled to receive a payment if the total number of degree days within the hedge period is less than the prior ten year average. The “Payment Thresholds,” or strikes, are set at various levels. In addition, we will be obligated to make a payment capped at $5.0 million if degree days exceed the Payment Threshold which approximates the prior ten year average. The hedge period runs from November 1 through March 31, taken as a whole, for each respective fiscal year. For fiscal 2020 and 2021 the maximum that the Company can receive annually is $12.5 million and the maximum that the Company would be obligated to pay annually is $5.0 million. As of June 30, 2020, the Company reduced delivery and branch expense under these contracts by $10.1 million and received the amount in full in April 2020. As of June 30, 2019, the Company increased delivery and branch expense under these contracts of $2.1million, and paid the amount in full in April 2019.

New England Teamsters and Trucking Industry Pension Fund (“the NETTI Fund”) Liability

As of June 30, 2020, we had $0.2 million and $16.8 million balances included in the captions “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” and “Other long-term liabilities,” respectively, on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet representing the remaining balance of the NETTI Fund withdrawal liability. Based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for long-term financing of a similar maturity, the fair value of the NETTI Fund withdrawal liability as of June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 was $29.3 million and $21.1 million, respectively. We utilized Level 2 inputs in the fair value hierarchy of valuation techniques to determine the fair value of this liability.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASC Topic 842”). The update requires all leases with a term greater than twelve months to be recognized on the balance sheet by recording (1) a lease liability that represents a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured at the present value of the remaining lease payments; and (2) a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset that represents the lessee’s right to use a specified asset for the lease term, measured in an amount equal to the lease liability adjusted for accrued lease payments. The standard also requires the disclosure of key information pertaining to leasing arrangements.

As of October 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASC Topic 842 using the modified retrospective transition approach as of the effective date as permitted by the amendments in ASU 2018-11. As a result, the Company was not required to adjust its comparative period financial information for effects of the standard or make the new required lease disclosures for periods before the date of adoption (i.e. October 1, 2019). The Company has elected to adopt the package of transition practical expedients and, therefore, has not reassessed (1) whether existing or expired contracts contain a lease, (2) lease classification for existing or expired leases or (3) the accounting for initial direct costs that were previously capitalized. We also elected a practical expedient to not separate non-lease components from the lease components and excluded short term leases from the calculation of right of use asset and operating lease liability. For certain leases relating to vehicles and equipment we elected to apply portfolio approach guidance and accounted for leases with similar characteristics as a single lease. The Company did not elect the practical expedient to use hindsight for leases existing at the adoption date.

The adoption of ASC Topic 842 had a material impact to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, but did not impact the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations or Condensed Consolidated Statement of Partners’ Capital. The most significant changes to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet relate to the recognition of the following as of October 1, 2019: “Operating lease right-of-use assets” in the amount of $104.7 million, “Current portion of operating lease liabilities” in the amount of $20.1 million and “Long-term operating lease liabilities” in the amount of $89.9 million. The adoption of ASC Topic 842 also had no impact on operating, investing, or financing cash flows in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. However, ASC Topic has significantly affected the Company’s disclosures about noncash investing activities. Additionally, the Company’s lease-related disclosures have significantly increased as of and for the nine months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to prior years. See Note 13 – Leases for further details on the adoption of ASC Topic 842.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The Company adopted the ASU effective March 12, 2020. The update provides optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease potential accounting impacts associated with transitioning away from reference rates that are expected to be discontinued, such as interbank offered rates and LIBOR. The Company has $65.3 million of interest rate swap agreements at June 30, 2020 that are benchmarked against LIBOR, which the Company has designated as cash flow hedging derivatives. This guidance includes practical expedients for contract modifications due to reference rate reform. The Company has elected to adopt the practical expedient that the Company may change the contractual terms of the interest rate swap agreements that are expected to be affected by reference rate reform and not be required to de-designate the hedging relationships. The adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses. The update broadens the information that an entity should consider in developing expected credit loss estimates, eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold, and allows for the immediate recognition of the full amount of expected credit losses. This new guidance is effective for our annual reporting period beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU No. 2016-13 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 230): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The update simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, but not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. This new guidance is effective for our annual reporting period beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The Company does not expect ASU 2017-04 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General: Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans, which modifies the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans by removing and adding certain disclosures for these plans. The new guidance is effective for our annual reporting period beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU No. 2018-14 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software: Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract, which will align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The new guidance is effective for our annual reporting period beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The Company does not expect ASU No. 2018-15 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.