Commitments. The Partnership leases certain property, plant and equipment, including portions of the Partnership’s vehicle fleet, for various periods under noncancelable leases. Rental expense under operating leases was $30,075, $30,582 and $29,171 for fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Future minimum rental commitments under noncancelable operating lease agreements as of September 29, 2018 are as follows:

Fiscal Year	Minimum Lease Payments
2019	$	24,367
2020		21,121
2021		17,733
2022		14,729
2023		10,029
2024 and thereafter		14,870

Self-Insurance. As described in Note 2, the Partnership is self-insured for general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile liabilities up to predetermined amounts above which third party insurance applies. At September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017, the Partnership had accrued liabilities of $70,567 and $68,581, respectively, representing the total estimated losses under these self-insurance programs. 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 $20,837 and $18,626 as of September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017, 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 business is currently a defendant in two putative class action suits in the federal district courts of New York and Pennsylvania. The complaints allege a number of claims regarding pricing to its electricity customers in those states under various consumer statutes and common law. The complaint in the Pennsylvania action was dismissed in its entirety by the district court, which dismissal is being appealed by plaintiff. Plaintiff also filed a motion to amend its complaint and reverse the dismissal order, which motion was also denied by the court. The complaint in the New York action was dismissed in part by the district court, but causes of action based on the NY consumer statute and breach of contract were allowed to proceed. The Partnership has filed a motion for reconsideration seeking the dismissal of the entire New York complaint. Based on the nature of the allegations under these suits, the Partnership believes that the suits are without merit and is defending each of these suits vigorously. With respect to these pending suits, the Partnership has determined, based on the allegations and discovery to date, that no reserve for a loss contingency other than for legal defense fees and expenses is required. The Partnership is unable to reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss, if any, arising from either of these two actions. Although any litigation is inherently uncertain, based on past experience, the information currently available to the Partnership, and the amount of its accrued insurance liabilities, the Partnership does not believe that currently pending or threatened litigation matters, or known claims or known contingent claims, will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial condition or cash flow.