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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
GENERAL - SJI provides a variety of energy-related products and services primarily through the following wholly-owned subsidiaries:

SJIU is a holding company that owns SJG, ETG and ELK.

SJG is a regulated natural gas utility which distributes natural gas in the seven southernmost counties of New Jersey.

ETG is a regulated natural gas utility which distributes natural gas in seven counties in northern and central New Jersey.

ELK is a regulated natural gas utility which distributes natural gas in northern Maryland. In December 2019, the Company announced it had entered into an agreement to sell ELK to a third-party buyer, pending MPSC approval (see "Agreement to Sell ELK" below).

SJE acquires and markets electricity to retail end users.

SJRG markets natural gas storage, commodity and transportation assets along with fuel management services on a wholesale basis in the mid-Atlantic, Appalachian and southern states.

SJEX owns oil, gas and mineral rights in the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania.

Marina develops and operates on-site energy-related projects. Included in Marina was MTF, which, in February 2020, was sold to a third party buyer (see "Agreement to Sell MTF & ACB" below). Also included in Marina are two solar projects which are currently listed as held for sale, and a third solar project that was sold in March 2020 (see "Agreement to Sell Solar Assets" below). The significant wholly-owned subsidiaries of Marina include:

ACB, which owned and operated a natural gas fueled combined heating, cooling and power facility located in Atlantic City, New Jersey. ACB was included in the sale to a third party buyer (see "Agreement to Sell MTF & ACB" below).

ACLE, BCLE, SCLE and SXLE, which own and operate landfill gas-to-energy production facilities in Atlantic, Burlington, Salem and Sussex Counties located in New Jersey.

SJESP receives commissions on service contracts from a third party.

Midstream invests in infrastructure and other midstream projects, including PennEast. See Note 3.

SJEI provides energy procurement and cost reduction services. AEP, an aggregator, broker and consultant in the retail energy markets, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SJEI after completion of the AEP acquisition in August 2019.

BASIS OF PRESENTATION - SJI's condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SJI, its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries (including SJG) and subsidiaries in which SJI has a controlling interest. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. SJI is reporting on a consolidated basis the operations of AEP as of the date of its acquisition, August 31, 2019.

As permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of SJI and SJG contain certain condensed financial information and exclude certain footnote disclosures normally included in annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with SJI’s and SJG's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. In management’s opinion, the condensed consolidated financial statements of SJI and SJG reflect all normal recurring adjustments needed to fairly present their respective financial positions, operating results and cash flows at the dates and for the periods presented. SJI’s and SJG's businesses are subject to seasonal fluctuations and, accordingly, this interim financial information should not be the basis for estimating the full year’s operating results.
As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, SJI had assets and liabilities held for sale on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as a result of the agreements to sell that are discussed below. Unless otherwise noted, the disclosures herein related to specific asset and liability balances as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 exclude assets and liabilities held for sale. See "Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale" below for additional information including major classes of assets and liabilities classified as held for sale for both periods presented.

ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS - The condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared to conform with GAAP. Management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Therefore, actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates include amounts related to regulatory accounting, energy derivatives, environmental remediation costs, pension and other postretirement benefit costs, revenue recognition, goodwill and evaluation of equity method investments for other-than-temporary impairment.

REGULATION - SJG and ETG are subject to the rules and regulations of the BPU, while ELK is subject to the rules and regulations of the MPSC. See Note 7 for a discussion of SJG's, ETG's and ELK's rate structure and regulatory actions. SJG, ETG and ELK maintain their accounts according to the BPU's and MPSC's prescribed Uniform System of Accounts. SJG, ETG and ELK follow the accounting for regulated enterprises prescribed by ASC 980, Regulated Operations. In general, Topic 980 allows for the deferral of certain costs (regulatory assets) and creation of certain obligations (regulatory liabilities) when it is probable that such items will be recovered from or refunded to customers in future periods. See Note 8 for a detailed discussion of regulatory assets and liabilities.

ACQUISITIONS - On August 31, 2019, SJI, through its wholly-owned subsidiary SJEI, completed its acquisition of AEP for $4.0 million in total consideration. See Note 17.

AGREEMENT TO SELL SOLAR ASSETS - On June 27, 2018, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Marina, entered into a series of agreements whereby Marina agreed to sell its portfolio of solar energy assets (the “Transaction”) to a third-party buyer. As part of the Transaction, Marina agreed to sell its distributed solar energy projects across New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts and Vermont (the “Projects”), along with the assets comprising the Projects. Also in connection with the Transaction, Marina is leasing back from the buyer certain of the Projects that have not yet passed the fifth anniversary of their placed-in-service dates for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The leaseback will run from the date each such project was acquired by the buyer until the later of the first anniversary of the applicable acquisition date and the fifth anniversary of the applicable placed-in-service date of the project.

During the first quarter of 2020, one Project was sold for total consideration of $7.2 million, which was the net book value of the asset on the date of sale. The solar assets related to this Project were recorded as Assets Held for Sale on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2019. During the first quarter 2019, four projects were sold for total consideration of $16.1 million, with a gain recognized on these projects of less than $0.1 million.

The Company currently has two solar projects that are not part of the Transaction but are expected to be sold in 2020. The solar assets related to these two projects were recorded as Assets Held For Sale on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, where they will remain until they are transferred to a buyer.

AGREEMENT TO SELL MTF & ACB - In December 2019, the Company announced it had entered into an agreement to sell MTF and ACB to a third-party buyer for an initial sales price of $100.0 million, which includes working capital. This sale closed on February 18, 2020 for a final sales price of $97.0 million, with the initial sales price being reduced by the amount of cash flows generated by MTF and ACB from October 1, 2019 through the date of closing. These unsold assets and liabilities were recorded as Assets Held for Sale and Liabilities Held For Sale, respectively, on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2019.

AGREEMENT TO SELL ELK - In December 2019, the Company announced it had entered into an agreement to sell ELK to a third-party buyer for approximately $15.0 million, less any indebtedness at the time of closing, and pending MPSC approval. This transaction is expected to close in the middle of 2020. The assets and liabilities for ELK were recorded as Assets Held for Sale and Liabilities Held for Sale, respectively, on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES HELD FOR SALE - As of both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, SJI has recorded assets and liabilities held for sale as a result of the agreement to sell ELK discussed above. As of both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, assets held for sale also relate to the solar projects discussed under "Agreement to Sell Solar Assets" above. As of December 31, 2019, SJI had recorded assets and liabilities held for sale as a result of the agreement to sell MTF and ACB discussed above.

As a result, SJI has recorded the following in Assets Held for Sale and Liabilities Held for Sale on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 (in thousands):

March 31, 2020December 31, 2019
Assets Held for Sale:
   Current Assets$—  $5,365  
   Net Utility Plant19,293  18,692  
   Net Nonutility Property, Plant & Equipment19,993  110,400  
   Goodwill59  59  
   Regulatory Assets455  415  
   Other Noncurrent Assets29  8,509  
      Total Assets Held for Sale$39,829  $143,440  
Liabilities Held for Sale:
   Current Liabilities$—  $916  
   Asset Retirement Obligations2,609  2,515  
   Regulatory Liabilities3,025  2,583  
   Other Noncurrent Liabilities170  29  
      Total Liabilities Held for Sale$5,804  $6,043  

SJG does not have any assets or liabilities recorded as held for sale as of March 31, 2020 or December 31, 2019.

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS - Long-lived assets that are held and used are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate carrying values may not be recoverable. Such reviews are performed in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other, and ASC 360, Property, Plant and Equipment. An impairment loss is indicated if the total future estimated undiscounted cash flows expected from an asset are less than its carrying value. An impairment charge is measured by the difference between an asset's carrying amount and fair value with the difference recorded within Impairment Charges on the condensed consolidated statements of income. Fair values can be determined based on agreements to sell assets as well as by a variety of valuation methods, including third-party appraisals, sales prices of similar assets, and present value techniques.

We performed a qualitative assessment of the long-lived assets of SJI and SJG as of March 31, 2020 to determine whether the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting downturn in the market conditions, indicates that the fair value of the assets are less than their carrying value. There were no indicators noted through these qualitative assessments that we believe would lead to an other-than-temporary impairment. Further analysis was performed on goodwill, see Note 18.

No impairments were identified at either SJI or SJG for the three months ended March 31, 2020 or 2019, respectively.

OPERATING REVENUES - Gas and electric revenues are recognized in the period the commodity is delivered to customers. For retail customers (including SJG) that are not billed at the end of the month, we record an estimate to recognize unbilled revenues for gas and electricity delivered from the date of the last meter reading to the end of the month. SJRG's gas revenues are recognized in the period the commodity is delivered. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on energy-related derivative instruments are also recognized in operating revenues for SJRG. SJRG presents revenues and expenses related to its energy trading activities on a net basis in operating revenues. This net presentation has no effect on operating income or net income. The Company recognizes revenues on commissions received related to SJESP appliance service contracts from a third party on a monthly basis as these commissions are earned. Marina recognizes revenue on a monthly basis as services are provided, as lease income is earned, and for on-site energy production that is delivered to its customers.
We considered the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on operating revenues, noting that SJI and SJG have not seen a significant reduction in revenues as a result of the pandemic. This is due to gas and electricity continuing to be delivered timely to customers, and no delays or operational shutdowns taking place to date. Given the performance obligation is satisfied at delivery, which matches the time when the Company is able to invoice the customer, the Company is confident in being able to meet its future performance obligations. To the extent that the pandemic does impact our ability to deliver in the future, operating revenues could be impacted.

GAS EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT - SJI capitalizes all costs associated with gas property acquisition, exploration and development activities under the full cost method of accounting. Capitalized costs include costs related to unproved properties, which are not amortized until proved reserves are found or it is determined that the unproved properties are impaired. All costs related to unproved properties are reviewed quarterly to determine if impairment has occurred. No impairment charges were recorded on these properties during the three months ended March 31, 2020 or 2019. As of both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, $8.6 million related to interests in proved and unproved properties in Pennsylvania, net of amortization, is included with Nonutility Property and Equipment and Other Noncurrent Assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and in the Wholesale Energy Operations segment.
 
TREASURY STOCK - SJI uses the par value method of accounting for treasury stock. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, SJI held 219,136 and 231,514 shares of treasury stock, respectively. These shares are related to deferred compensation arrangements where the amounts earned are held in the stock of SJI.

AFUDC - SJI and SJG record AFUDC, which represents the estimated debt and equity costs of capital funds that are necessary to finance the construction of new facilities. While cash is not realized currently, AFUDC increases the regulated revenue requirement and is included in rate base and recovered over the service life of the asset through a higher rate base and higher depreciation.

INCOME TAXES - Deferred income taxes are provided for all significant temporary differences between the book and taxable bases of assets and liabilities in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes. A valuation allowance is established when it is determined that it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS - The Company applies the acquisition method to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred for an acquisition is the fair value of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred or assumed by the acquirer and the equity interests issued by the acquirer. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. The excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill (see Note 17).

GOODWILL - See Note 18.

AMA - On July 1, 2018, SJRG purchased from a third party an AMA whereby SJRG manages the pipeline capacity of ETG. Total cash payment was $11.3 million. The AMA expires on March 31, 2022. Under the AMA, SJRG pays ETG an annual fee of $4.25 million, plus additional profit sharing as defined in the AMA. The amounts received by ETG will be credited to its BGSS clause and returned to its ratepayers. The total purchase price was allocated as follows (in thousands):

Natural Gas in Storage$9,685  
Intangible Asset19,200  
Profit Sharing - Other Liabilities(17,546) 
   Total Consideration$11,339  

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the balance of the intangible asset is $10.2 million and $11.5 million, respectively, and is recorded to Other Current and Noncurrent Assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets of SJI, with the reduction being due to amortization. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the balance in the liability is $10.3 million and $10.6 million, respectively, and is recorded to Regulatory Liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets of SJI, with the change resulting from profit sharing earned.
CURRENT PORTION OF LONG-TERM DEBT & SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS - As of March 31, 2020, the Company has $470.4 million of long-term debt that is due within one year, along with $697.3 million of notes payable which includes borrowings under the commercial paper program and revolving credit facilities (see Note 10). SJI has refinanced $600.0 million of these short-term amounts, including $400.0 million at SJG, in April 2020 (see Notes 14 and 20). SJI expects to further reduce its debt and notes payable over the next twelve months using cash provided from the sale of ELK and the remaining solar assets as discussed above. The remaining portion of long-term debt that is due within one year is expected to be paid by utilizing funds provided from refinancing activities and from the Company's revolving credit facilities.

Although there can be no assurance, management believes that actions presently being taken to pay off or refinance the long-term debt and borrowings that are due within the next year will be successful, as the Company has been successful in refinancing debt in the past. No adjustments have been made to the financial statements to account for this uncertainty.

AOCL - SJI and SJG release income tax effects from AOCL on an individual unit of account basis.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS - Other than as described below, no new accounting pronouncement had, or is expected to have, a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements of SJI, or the condensed financial statements of SJG.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The update simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Step 2 measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount. The amendments in this update are effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. SJI and SJG adopted this guidance on January 1, 2020, consistent with the effective date. Adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the financial statement results of SJI or SJG.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. This ASU modifies the disclosure requirements on the timing of liquidation of an investee's assets and the description of measurement uncertainty at the reporting date. Entities are now required to disclose: (1) the changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements; and (2) the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. Further, the standard eliminates disclosure requirements with respect to: (1) the transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; (2) the policy for timing of transfers between levels; and (3) the valuation process for Level 3 fair value measurements. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The new disclosure requirement for unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. SJI and SJG adopted this guidance on January 1, 2020, consistent with the effective date. Adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the financial statement results of SJI or SJG.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General (Subtopic 715-20) Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plan. This ASU eliminates requirements for certain disclosures such as the amount and timing of plan assets expected to be returned to the employer and the amount of future annual benefits covered by insurance contracts. The standard added new disclosures such as for sponsors of the defined benefit plans to provide information relating to the weighted-average interest crediting rate for cash balance plans and other plans with promised interest crediting rates and an explanation for significant gains or losses related to changes in the benefit obligations for the period. The standard is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. Management is currently determining the impact that adoption of this guidance will have on the financial statements of SJI and SJG.

In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments. The amendments in this ASU provide codification improvements and further clarification on several topics, including ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, as well as ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10). Since SJI and SJG have adopted the amendments in ASU 2017-12 (with no impact to the financial statements results of SJI or SJG) as of April 25, 2019 (the issuance date of ASU 2019-04), the effective date for the amendments to Topic 815 contained in ASU 2019-04 is as of the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning after April 25, 2019. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption on any date on or after April 25, 2019. The amendments are effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. SJI and SJG adopted this guidance on January
1, 2020, consistent with the effective date. Adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the financial statement results of SJI or SJG. See ASU 2016-13 below for more detail.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, as amended. The amendments in this update replace the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to develop credit loss estimates. An entity will apply the amendment through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. After the issuance of ASU 2016-13, the FASB issued additional guidance regarding Topic 326 as follows:

In May 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-05, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326). The amendments in this ASU provide optional targeted transition relief for entities adopting the provisions of ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), which introduced the expected credit losses methodology for the measurement of credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost basis, replacing the previous incurred loss methodology. The amendments in ASU 2019-05 provide entities that have certain instruments within the scope of Subtopic 326-20, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses - Measured at Amortized Cost, with an option to irrevocably elect the fair value option in Subtopic 825-10, Financial Instruments - Overall, applied on an instrument-by-instrument basis for eligible instruments, upon adoption of Topic 326. The fair value option election does not apply to held-to-maturity debt securities. An entity that elects the fair value option should subsequently apply the guidance in Subtopics 820-10, Fair Value Measurement - Overall, and 825-10.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-03, Codification Improvements to Financial Instruments. The amendments in this ASU clarify that the contractual term of a net investment in a lease determined in accordance with Topic 842 should be the contractual term used to measure expected credit losses under Topic 326. The amendments in this ASU related to Subtopic 860-20, Transfers and Servicing - Sales of Financial Assets, clarify that when an entity regains control of financial assets sold, an allowance for credit losses should be recorded in accordance with Topic 326.

The new guidance in ASU 2016-13, as well as all amendments discussed above, was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2020. The impact of adoption did not result in an adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2020 nor did it have a material impact on the financial statement results of SJI or SJG, given that the current expected lifetime loss estimates were not materially different from the reserves already in place.

In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, Investments - Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Clarifying the Interactions between Topic 321, Topic 323, and Topic 815. The amendments in this ASU clarify that an entity should consider observable transactions that require it to either apply or discontinue the equity method of accounting for the purposes of applying the measurement alternative in accordance with Topic 321 immediately before applying or upon discontinuing the equity method. The amendments in this ASU also clarify that for the purposes of applying Topic 815, an entity should not consider whether, upon the settlement of a forward contract or exercise of a purchased option, individually or with existing investments, the underlying securities would be accounted for under the equity method in Topic 323 or the fair value option in accordance with the financial instruments guidance in Topic 825. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years, for public companies. Early adoption is permitted, including early adoption in an interim period. Management is currently determining the impact that adoption of this guidance will have on the financial statements of SJI and SJG.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) - Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The amendments in this ASU provide various optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The expedients and exceptions provided by the amendments do not apply to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated after December 31, 2022, except for hedging relationships existing as of December 31, 2022, that an entity has elected certain optional expedients for and that are retained through the end of the hedging relationship. The amendments in this ASU are effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. An entity may elect to apply the amendments for contract modifications by Topic or Industry Subtopic as of any date from the beginning of an interim period that includes or is subsequent to March 12, 2020, or prospectively from a date within an interim period that includes or is subsequent to March 12, 2020, up to the date that the financial statements are available to be issued. Once elected for a Topic or an Industry Subtopic, the amendments in this Update must be applied prospectively for all eligible contract modifications for that Topic or Industry
Subtopic. An entity may elect to apply the amendments in this Update to eligible hedging relationships existing as of the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020 and to new eligible hedging relationships entered into after the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020. Management has not yet adopted this guidance and is currently determining when to adopt it for SJI and SJG, and the impact that adoption of this guidance will have on the financial statements of SJI and SJG.

AMENDED SEC RULES - In March 2020, the SEC adopted final rules that amend the financial disclosure requirements for subsidiary issuers and guarantors of registered debt securities in Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X. The SEC also amended the disclosure requirements for affiliates whose securities are pledged as collateral for registered securities in Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X.

As adopted, Rule 3-10 will be amended and partly relocated to new Rule 13-01, and the requirements in Rule 3-16 will be replaced with the requirements in new Rule 13-02. New Rules 13-01 and 13-02 will comprise new Article 13 in Regulation S-X. The amendments are intended to improve the rules by requiring disclosures that focus investors on the information that is material given the specific facts and circumstances and by making the disclosures easier to understand. The amendments are also intended to reduce the costs and burdens of compliance for registrants. Under the amendments, Rule 3-10 will continue to permit the omission of separate financial statements of subsidiary issuers and guarantors when certain conditions are met and the parent company provides supplemental financial and non-financial disclosure about the subsidiary issuers and/or guarantors and the guarantees. Similar to the existing rule, the amended rule will provide the conditions that must be met in order to omit separate subsidiary issuer or guarantor financial statements. New Rule 13-01 specifies the accompanying amended disclosure requirements. The disclosure requirements in Rule 3-16 will be replaced with the amended disclosure requirements in new Rule 13-02 (although existing Rule 3-16 will remain in place for transitional purposes). Among other things, these amendments will:

Replace the condition that a subsidiary issuer or guarantor be 100%-owned by the parent company with a condition that it be consolidated in the parent company's consolidated financial statements;

Replace condensed consolidating financial information, as specified in existing Rule 3-10, with certain new financial and non-financial disclosures. The amended financial disclosures will consist of summarized financial information, as defined in Rule 1-02(bb)(1) of Regulation S-X, of the issuers and guarantors, which may be presented on a combined basis, and reduce the number of periods presented. The amended non-financial disclosures, among other matters, will expand the qualitative disclosures about the guarantees and the issuers and guarantors. Consistent with the existing rule, disclosure of additional information about each guarantor will be required if it would be material for investors to evaluate the sufficiency of the guarantee;

Permit the amended disclosures to be provided outside the footnotes to the parent company’s audited annual and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in all filings;

Require the amended financial and non-financial disclosures for as long as an issuer or guarantor has an Exchange Act reporting obligation with respect to the guaranteed securities rather than for as long as the guaranteed securities are outstanding;

Replace the existing requirement to provide separate financial statements for each affiliate whose securities are pledged as collateral with amended financial and non-financial disclosures about the affiliate(s) and the collateral arrangement as a supplement to the consolidated financial statements of the registrant that issues the collateralized security. The registrant will be permitted to provide the amended financial and non-financial disclosures outside the footnotes to its audited annual and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in all filings; and

Replace the requirement to provide disclosure only when the pledged securities meet or exceed a numerical threshold relative to the securities registered or being registered with a requirement to provide the proposed financial and non-financial disclosures in all cases, unless they are immaterial.

The amendments will be effective on January 4, 2021; however, voluntary compliance with the final amendments will be accepted in advance of the January 4, 2021 effective date. Management is currently determining the impact that adoption of this guidance will have on the financial statements of SJI and SJG.