Basis of Presentation (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 30, 2013

Basis of Presentation [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated. The Partnership consolidates the results of operations, financial condition and cash flows of the Operating Partnership as a result of the Partnership’s 100% limited partner interest in the Operating Partnership.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). They include all adjustments that the Partnership considers necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. Such adjustments consist only of normal recurring items, unless otherwise disclosed. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2012. Due to the seasonal nature of the Partnership’s operations, the results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full year.

Fiscal Period

Fiscal Period. The Partnership uses a 52/53 week fiscal year which ends on the last Saturday in September. The Partnership’s fiscal quarters are generally 13 weeks in duration. When the Partnership’s fiscal year is 53 weeks long, the corresponding fourth quarter is 14 weeks in duration.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition. Sales of propane, fuel oil and refined fuels are recognized at the time product is delivered to the customer. Revenue from the sale of appliances and equipment is recognized at the time of sale or when installation is complete, as applicable. Revenue from repairs, maintenance and other service activities is recognized upon completion of the service. Revenue from service contracts is recognized ratably over the service period. Revenue from the natural gas and electricity business is recognized based on customer usage as determined by meter readings for amounts delivered, some of which may be unbilled at the end of each accounting period. Revenue from annually billed tank fees is deferred at the time of billings and recognized on a straight-line basis over one year.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements. The Partnership measures certain of its assets and liabilities at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants – in either the principal market or the most advantageous market. The principal market is the market with the greatest level of activity and volume for the asset or liability.

The common framework for measuring fair value utilizes a three-level hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used in the valuation techniques to derive fair values. The basis for fair value measurements for each level within the hierarchy is described below with Level 1 having the highest priority and Level 3 having the lowest.

• Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

• Level 2: Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets.

• Level 3: Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates have been made by management in the areas of self-insurance and litigation reserves, pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities and costs, valuation of derivative instruments, depreciation and amortization of long-lived assets, asset impairment assessments, tax valuation allowances, allowances for doubtful accounts, and purchase price allocation for acquired businesses. Actual results could differ from those estimates, making it reasonably possible that a material change in these estimates could occur in the near term.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements.

In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an accounting standards update (“ASU”) regarding disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities (“ASU 2011-11”). The new guidance requires an entity to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. The amendments, further clarified with ASU 2013-01, will enhance disclosures by requiring improved information about financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either offset in accordance with other US GAAP or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, irrespective of whether or not they are offset in the balance sheet. The new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods, which will be the Partnership’s first quarter of its 2014 fiscal year. The Partnership is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its future disclosures.

In February 2013, the FASB issued an ASU to establish the effective date for the requirement to present components of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income either parenthetically on the face of the financial statements or in the notes to the financial statements (“ASU 2013-02”). The guidance is effective prospectively for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012, and interim periods within those annual periods, which will be the first quarter of the Partnership’s 2014 fiscal year. The adoption of ASU 2013-02 will not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued an ASU to provide guidance on increasing the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income (“ASU 2011-05”). The update eliminated the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of partners’ capital and required net income and the components of other comprehensive income be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The Partnership adopted ASU 2011-05 on September 30, 2012. This update did not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income, but required the Partnership to change its historical practice of showing comprehensive income and its components within the Statement of Partners’ Capital.

In July 2012, the FASB issued an ASU to simplify previous guidance which required an entity to perform a two-step impairment test for intangible assets (“ASU 2012-02”). The update allows entities to first assess the qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test. An entity also has the option to bypass the qualitative assessment for any indefinite-lived intangible asset in any period and proceed directly to performing the quantitative impairment test. An entity will be able to resume performing the qualitative assessment in any subsequent period. The Partnership adopted ASU 2012-02 on September 30, 2012 and its adoption did not have any impact on the Partnership’s financial position, results or operations or cash flows. See Note 6.