Summary of Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

References in this document to the “Company,” “Chesapeake Utilities,” “we,” “us” and “our” are intended to mean Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, its divisions and/or its subsidiaries, as appropriate in the context of the disclosure.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in compliance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and GAAP. In accordance with these rules and regulations, certain information and disclosures normally required for audited financial statements have been condensed or omitted. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, included in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect normal recurring adjustments that are necessary for a fair presentation of our results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the interim periods presented.

Due to the seasonality of our business, results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal year. Revenue and earnings are typically greater during the first and fourth quarters, when consumption of energy is highest due to colder temperatures.

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table Text Block]

ARM, Chipola and Central Gas Asset Acquisitions

In August 2017, PESCO acquired certain natural gas marketing assets of ARM. The acquired assets complemented PESCO’s existing asset portfolio and expanded our regional footprint and retail demand in a market where we had existing pipeline capacity and wholesale liquidity. We accounted for the purchase of these assets as a business combination and initially recorded goodwill of $6.8 million within our Unregulated Energy segment. In connection with the acquisition, we initially recorded a contingent consideration liability of $2.5 million, based on our preliminary analysis projecting that the acquired business would achieve at least a certain gross margin target in 2018. During the second quarter of 2018, we identified certain known information as of the acquisition date that was not considered in our original analysis and would have resulted in no contingent consideration liability being initially recorded. Therefore, we reversed the originally-recorded contingent liability and reduced goodwill by $2.5 million. We similarly revised the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017. These revisions are considered immaterial to our condensed consolidated financial statements. The need for a contingent consideration liability will be re-evaluated in the final reporting period in 2018. However, our current assessment is that no contingent consideration will be paid.

In August 2017, Flo-gas acquired certain operating assets of Chipola, which provided propane distribution service to approximately 800 residential and commercial customers in Bay, Calhoun, Gadsden, Jackson, Liberty, and Washington Counties, Florida.

In December 2017, Flo-gas acquired certain operating assets of Central Gas, which provides propane distribution service to approximately 325 residential and commercial customers in Glades, Highlands, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie Counties, Florida.

The revenue and net income from these acquisitions, which were included in our condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, were not material. The acquisition accounting amounts recorded in conjunction with the ARM and Chipola acquisitions are now final although the amounts associated with the Central Gas acquisition are preliminary and subject to adjustment based on additional valuations performed during the measurement period.

FASB Statements and Other Authoritative Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606) - On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and all the related amendments using the modified retrospective method. We recognized the cumulative effect of initially applying the new revenue standard to all of our contracts as an adjustment to the beginning balance of retained earnings. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. The impact of adoption of the new revenue standard was immaterial to our net income.

This standard requires entities to recognize revenue when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration that the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance also requires a number of disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and the related cash flows. See Note 3, Revenue Recognition, for additional information.

The following highlights the impact of the adoption of ASC 606 on our condensed consolidated income statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2018:



	Three Months Ended September 30, 2018							Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
Income statement	As Reported		Without Adoption of ASC 606		Effect of Change Higher (Lower)			As Reported		Without Adoption of ASC 606		Effect of Change Higher (Lower)
(in thousands)
Regulated Energy operating revenues	$	72,770	$	72,879	$	(109	)	$	252,667	$	253,659	$	(992	)
Regulated Energy cost of sales	21,501		21,512		(11		)	89,741		90,454		(713		)
Depreciation and amortization	10,633		10,629		4			30,176		30,150		26
Income before income taxes	7,595		7,697		(102		)	53,510		53,815		(305		)
Income taxes	2,057		2,086		(29		)	14,731		14,819		(88		)
Net income	5,538		5,611		(73		)	38,779		38,996		(217		)



	As of September 30, 2018
Balance sheet	As Reported		Without Adoption of ASC 606		Effect of Change Higher (Lower)
(in thousands)
Assets
Accrued revenues	$	12,352	$	13,658	$	(1,306	)
Other assets	$	5,293	$	5,702	$	(409	)

Capitalization
Retained earnings	$	249,805	$	251,520	$	(1,715	)

The primary impact of the adoption of ASC 606 on our income statement was the delayed recognition of approximately $305,000 in revenue in the first nine months of 2018 to future years and a cumulative adjustment that decreased retained earnings and other assets by $1.7 million at September 30, 2018, associated with a long-term firm transmission contract with an industrial customer.

Compensation-Retirement Benefits (ASC 715) - In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Post Retirement Benefit Cost. Under this guidance, employers are required to report the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit costs are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and should not be included operating expenses. The update allows for capitalization of the service cost component when applicable. We adopted ASU 2017-07 on January 1, 2018 and applied the changes in the presentation of the service cost and other components of net benefit costs, retrospectively. Aside from changes in presentation, implementation of this standard did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Statement of Cash Flows (ASC 230) - In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which clarifies how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. We adopted ASU 2016-15 on January 1, 2018. Implementation of this new standard did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Compensation - Stock Compensation (ASC 718) - In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Scope of Modification Accounting, to clarify when to account for a change in the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification. Under this guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, the vesting conditions or the award classification (equity or liability) change because of a change in the terms or conditions of the award. We adopted ASU 2017-09, prospectively, on January 1, 2018. Implementation of this new standard did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (ASC 220) - In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the TCJA. We adopted ASU 2018-02 on January 1, 2018, and reclassified stranded tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive loss related to our employee benefit plans and commodity contract cash flows hedges. Implementation of this new standard did not have a material impact on our financial position and results of operations. See Note 8, Stockholders' Equity, for additional information.

Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815) - In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, to better align an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. ASU 2017-12 expands the risks that can be designated as hedged risks in cash flow hedges to include cash flow variability from contractually specified components of forecasted purchases or sales of non-financial assets. ASU 2017-12 requires the entire change in fair value of a hedging instrument that is included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness to be presented in the same income statement line that is used to present the earnings effects of the hedged item for fair value hedges and in other comprehensive income for cash flow hedges. ASU 2017-12 requires a tabular presentation of the income statement effect of fair value and cash flow hedges and eliminates the requirement to disclose the ineffective portion of the change in fair value of hedging instruments. ASU 2017-12 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginning January 1, 2019, although early adoption is permitted. We adopted ASU 2017-12 effective July 1, 2018, with no material impact on our financial statements. See Note 12, Derivative Instruments, for additional information with respect to the disclosures required by ASU 2017-12.

Recent Accounting Standards Yet to be Adopted

Leases (ASC 842) - In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which requires lessees to recognize leases on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The standard establishes a ROU model that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability for all leases with a term greater than 12 months. The update also expands the required quantitative and qualitative disclosures surrounding leases. ASC 842 was subsequently amended by ASU No. 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842; ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases; and ASU No. 2018-11, Targeted Improvements. ASU 2016-02 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements, beginning January 1, 2019, although early adoption is permitted. We expect to adopt ASU 2016-02 effective January 1, 2019 and use the modified retrospective transition approach to all existing leases.

The new standard permits companies to elect several practical expedients. We expect to elect: (1) the ‘package of practical expedients,’ pursuant to which we do not need to reassess our prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs and (2) the ‘use-of-hindsight’ practical expedient, which allows us to use hindsight in assessing impairment of our existing land easements. We also intend to aggregate all non-lease components with the lease components to which they relate.

The most significant effect of ASC 842 will be recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities on our balance sheet for our operating leases and providing significant new disclosures about our leasing activities. We currently expect that upon adoption, we will recognize lease liabilities ranging from $4.0 million to $5.0 million, with corresponding ROU of the same amount based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments for existing operating leases.

Intangibles-Goodwill (ASC 350) - In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. ASU 2017-04 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginning January 1, 2020, although early adoption is permitted. The amendments included in this ASU are to be applied prospectively. We believe that implementation of this new standard will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Compensation - Stock Compensation (ASC 718) - In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. ASU 2018-07 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginning January 1, 2019, although early adoption is permitted. We believe that implementation of this new standard will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Fair Value Measurement (ASC 820) - In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which removes, modifies and adds certain disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in ASC 820. ASU 2018-13 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginning January 1, 2020 and, since the changes only impact disclosures, will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General (ASC 715-20) - In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans, which removes, clarifies and adds certain disclosure requirements in ASC 715-20 related to defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. ASU 2018-14 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements, on a retrospective basis, beginning January 1, 2021 and, since the changes only impact disclosures, will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.