Revenue Recognition

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Revenue From Contract With Customer [Abstract]

Revenue Recognition

3) Revenue Recognition

The following disaggregates our revenue by major sources for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020:

	Three Months Ended March 31,				Six Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2021		2020		2021		2020
Petroleum Products:
Home heating oil and propane	$	466,401	$	413,466	$	707,213	$	756,812
Other petroleum products		72,970		67,809		132,490		157,151
Total petroleum products		539,371		481,275		839,703		913,963
Installations and Services:
Equipment installations		22,865		20,158		52,925		50,723
Equipment maintenance service contracts		27,045		27,764		53,913		55,672
Billable call services		14,834		13,866		30,894		31,650
Total installations and services		64,744		61,788		137,732		138,045
Total Sales	$	604,115	$	543,063	$	977,435	$	1,052,008

Deferred Contract Costs 

We recognize an asset for incremental commission expenses paid to sales personnel in conjunction with obtaining new residential customer product and equipment maintenance service contracts. We defer these costs only when we have determined the commissions are, in fact, incremental and would not have been incurred absent the customer contract. Costs to obtain a contract are amortized and recorded ratably as delivery and branch expenses over the period representing the transfer of goods or services to which the assets relate.  Costs to obtain new residential product and equipment maintenance service contracts are amortized as expense over the estimated customer relationship period of approximately five years.  Deferred contract costs are classified as current or non-current within “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” and “Deferred charges and other assets, net,” respectively.  At March 31, 2021, the amount of deferred contract costs included in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” and “Deferred charges and other assets, net” was $3.5 million and $6.2 million, respectively.  At September 30, 2020, the amount of deferred contract costs included in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” and “Deferred charges and other assets, net” was $3.4 million and $5.9 million, respectively.  During the six months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 we recognized expense of $2.0 million and $1.9 million, respectively, associated with the amortization of deferred contract costs within “Delivery and branch expenses” in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. 

Contract Liability Balances

The Company has contract liabilities for advanced payments received from customers for future oil deliveries (primarily amounts received from customers on “smart pay” budget payment plans in advance of oil deliveries) and obligations to service customers with equipment maintenance service contracts.  Contract liabilities are recognized straight-line over the service contract period, generally one year or less.  As of March 31, 2021 and September 30, 2020 the Company had contract liabilities of $99.6 million and $139.6 million, respectively.  During the six months ended March 31, 2021, the Company recognized $107.2 million of revenue that was included in the September 30, 2020 contract liability balance.  During the six months ended March 31, 2020 the Company recognized $95.7 million of revenue that was included in the September 30, 2019 contract liability balance.

Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts receivables from customers are recorded at the invoiced amounts. Finance charges may be applied to trade receivables that are more than 30 days past due, and are recorded as finance charge income.

The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s estimate of the amount of trade receivables that may not be collectible. The allowance is determined at an aggregate level by grouping accounts based on certain account criteria and its receivable aging. The allowance is based on both quantitative and qualitative factors, including historical loss experience, historical collection patterns, overdue status, aging trends, current and future economic conditions. The Company has an established process to periodically review current and past due trade receivable balances to determine the adequacy of the allowance. No single statistic or measurement determines the adequacy of the allowance. The total allowance reflects management’s estimate of losses inherent in its trade receivables at the balance sheet date. Different assumptions or changes in economic conditions could result in material changes to the allowance for doubtful accounts.

Changes in the allowance for credit losses are as follows:

(in thousands)	Credit Loss Allowance
Balance at September 30, 2020	$	6,121
Current period provision		256
Write-offs, net and other		(580	)
Balance as of March 31, 2021	$	5,797