Commitments and Contingencies	6 Months Ended
Mar. 30, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	13. Commitments and Contingencies Accrued Insurance. The Partnership is self-insured for general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile liabilities up to predetermined amounts above which third party insurance applies. As of March 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, the Partnership had accrued liabilities of $60,252 and $61,182, respectively, representing the total estimated losses for known and anticipated or unasserted general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile claims. For the portion of the estimated liability that exceeds insurance deductibles, the Partnership records an asset within other assets (or prepaid expenses and other current assets, as applicable) related to the amount of the liability expected to be covered by insurance which amounted to $16,183 and $15,448 as of March 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively. Legal Matters. The Partnership’s operations are subject to operating hazards and risks normally incidental to handling, storing and delivering combustible liquids such as propane. The Partnership has been, and will continue to be, a defendant in various legal proceedings and litigation as a result of these operating hazards and risks, and as a result of other aspects of its business. In this regard, the Partnership’s natural gas and electricity (“AES”) business was sued in a putative class action suit in the Northern District of New York. The complaint alleged a number of claims under various consumer statutes and common law in New York and Pennsylvania regarding pricing offered to electricity customers in those states. The case was dismissed in part by the district court, but causes of action based on the New York consumer statute and breach of contract were allowed to proceed. On April 12, 2022, the court granted summary judgment in favor of the Partnership on the remaining counts and the complaint was dismissed in full. The plaintiff appealed the judgment to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. On December 12, 2023, the Court of Appeals issued an Order and Decision affirming the decision of the lower court granting judgment to Agway and dismissing the plaintiff’s claims. The State of New York amended Section 349-d of the New York General Business Law (“GBL”) effective on March 18, 2024, to require that energy service companies that operate in the state, such as AES in connection with its natural gas and electricity business, first obtain written consent from the customer before any change in commodity prices can be charged to the customer. To date, the amended statute has not had a material negative impact on AES, but the Partnership continues to assess the impact that the GBL amendment may have in the future on its natural gas and electricity business. In addition, the New York Public Service Commission (“NYPSC”) has proposed an amendment to its Uniform Business Practices (“UBP”), which would apply to AES and other energy supply companies that operate in the state, that would, if adopted, require AES to send notice each month to its customers that includes a historical comparison between the rates charged by AES and what the customer would have paid had they remained with their incumbent utility. While the effective date of this UBP amendment is not yet known, the Partnership anticipates that the additional notice requirements mandated by the NYPSC could have a negative effect on customer retention for energy supply companies if the amendment is finalized as proposed. As a result of the amendment to the GBL, as well as the pending UBP revision, the Partnership is in the process of reviewing strategic alternatives for the AES business.

Commitments and Contingencies

6 Months Ended

Mar. 30, 2024

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

13.

Commitments and Contingencies

Accrued Insurance. The Partnership is self-insured for general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile liabilities up to predetermined amounts above which third party insurance applies. As of March 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, the Partnership had accrued liabilities of $60,252 and $61,182, respectively, representing the total estimated losses for known and anticipated or unasserted general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile claims. For the portion of the estimated liability that exceeds insurance deductibles, the Partnership records an asset within other assets (or prepaid expenses and other current assets, as applicable) related to the amount of the liability expected to be covered by insurance which amounted to $16,183 and $15,448 as of March 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively.

Legal Matters. The Partnership’s operations are subject to operating hazards and risks normally incidental to handling, storing and delivering combustible liquids such as propane. The Partnership has been, and will continue to be, a defendant in various legal proceedings and litigation as a result of these operating hazards and risks, and as a result of other aspects of its business. In this regard, the Partnership’s natural gas and electricity (“AES”) business was sued in a putative class action suit in the Northern District of New York. The complaint alleged a number of claims under various consumer statutes and common law in New York and Pennsylvania regarding pricing offered to electricity customers in those states. The case was dismissed in part by the district court, but causes of action based on the New York consumer statute and breach of contract were allowed to proceed. On April 12, 2022, the court granted summary judgment in favor of the Partnership on the remaining counts and the complaint was dismissed in full. The plaintiff appealed the judgment to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. On December 12, 2023, the Court of Appeals issued an Order and Decision affirming the decision of the lower court granting judgment to Agway and dismissing the plaintiff’s claims.

The State of New York amended Section 349-d of the New York General Business Law (“GBL”) effective on March 18, 2024, to require that energy service companies that operate in the state, such as AES in connection with its natural gas and electricity business, first obtain written consent from the customer before any change in commodity prices can be charged to the customer. To date, the amended statute has not had a material negative impact on AES, but the Partnership continues to assess the impact that the GBL amendment may have in the future on its natural gas and electricity business. In addition, the New York Public Service Commission (“NYPSC”) has proposed an amendment to its Uniform Business Practices (“UBP”), which would apply to AES and other energy supply companies that operate in the state, that would, if adopted, require AES to send notice each month to its customers that includes a historical comparison between the rates charged by AES and what the customer would have paid had they remained with their incumbent utility. While the effective date of this UBP amendment is not yet known, the Partnership anticipates that the additional notice requirements mandated by the NYPSC could have a negative effect on customer retention for energy supply companies if the amendment is finalized as proposed. As a result of the amendment to the GBL, as well as the pending UBP revision, the Partnership is in the process of reviewing strategic alternatives for the AES business.