Regulation and Rates	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Regulation and Rates [Abstract]
Regulation and Rates	REGULATION AND RATES: Panhandle. On July 26, 2012, Trunkline filed an application with the FERC for approval to transfer approximately 770 miles of underutilized loop piping facilities by sale to an affiliate; such facilities are contemplated to be converted to crude oil transportation service. This sale is subject to FERC approval. Several parties have intervened, commented, or protested this filing and the Company is currently responding to the Commission’s requests for additional information on this application. In November 2011, the FERC commenced an audit of PEPL to evaluate its compliance with the Uniform System of Accounts as prescribed by the FERC, annual and quarterly financial reporting to the FERC, reservation charge crediting policy and record retention. The audit is related to the period from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2011 and is pending the issuance of a draft audit report. New England Gas Company. On September 15, 2008, New England Gas Company made a filing with the MDPU seeking recovery of approximately $4 million, or 50% of the amount by which its 2007 earnings fell below a return on equity of 7%. This filing was made pursuant to New England Gas Company’s rate settlement approved by the MDPU in 2007. On February 2, 2009, the MDPU issued its order denying the Company’s requested earnings sharing adjustments (“ESA”) in its entirety. The Company appealed that decision to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“MSJC”). On November 13, 2009, New England Gas Company made a similar filing with the MDPU, also pursuant to the above-referenced settlement, to recover approximately $2 million, representing 50% of the amount by which its 2008 earnings deficiency fell below a return on equity of 7%. The MDPU held the 2008 ESA matter in abeyance pending judicial resolution of the issues pertaining to the 2007 ESA. On February 11, 2011, the MSJC issued an opinion reversing the MDPU’s rejection of New England Gas Company’s 2007 ESA and remanded the matter back to the MDPU to determine the appropriate amount of the 2007 ESA and the method for recovery. On July 13, 2011, New England Gas Company filed its motion for proceeding on remand requesting that the MDPU (i) find that $4 million is the appropriate ESA amount for recovery related to calendar year 2007 and that such amount should be recovered over a twelve month period beginning November 1, 2011; and (ii) investigate New England Gas Company’s request for recovery of an ESA amount of $2 million over a twelve-month period beginning November 1, 2012. On January 27, 2012, the MDPU issued its order approving the 2007 ESA in its entirety and authorizing recovery of approximately $4 million over a twelve-month period beginning February 1, 2012. On January 25, 2013, the MDPU issued its order approving the 2008 ESA for $2 million to be recovered over a twelve-month period beginning February 1, 2013, which reflected a reduction of approximately $10,000 from the initial request.

REGULATION AND RATES:

Panhandle. On July 26, 2012, Trunkline filed an application with the FERC for approval to transfer approximately 770 miles of underutilized loop piping facilities by sale to an affiliate; such facilities are contemplated to be converted to crude oil transportation service. This sale is subject to FERC approval. Several parties have intervened, commented, or protested this filing and the Company is currently responding to the Commission’s requests for additional information on this application.

In November 2011, the FERC commenced an audit of PEPL to evaluate its compliance with the Uniform System of Accounts as prescribed by the FERC, annual and quarterly financial reporting to the FERC, reservation charge crediting policy and record retention. The audit is related to the period from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2011 and is pending the issuance of a draft audit report.

New England Gas Company. On September 15, 2008, New England Gas Company made a filing with the MDPU seeking recovery of approximately $4 million, or 50% of the amount by which its 2007 earnings fell below a return on equity of 7%. This filing was made pursuant to New England Gas Company’s rate settlement approved by the MDPU in 2007. On February 2, 2009, the MDPU issued its order denying the Company’s requested earnings sharing adjustments (“ESA”) in its entirety. The Company appealed that decision to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“MSJC”). On November 13, 2009, New England Gas Company made a similar filing with the MDPU, also pursuant to the above-referenced settlement, to recover approximately $2 million, representing 50% of the amount by which its 2008 earnings deficiency fell below a return on equity of 7%. The MDPU held the 2008 ESA matter in abeyance pending judicial resolution of the issues pertaining to the 2007 ESA. On February 11, 2011, the MSJC issued an opinion reversing the MDPU’s rejection of New England Gas Company’s 2007 ESA and remanded the matter back to the MDPU to determine the appropriate amount of the 2007 ESA and the method for recovery. On July 13, 2011, New England Gas Company filed its motion for proceeding on remand requesting that the MDPU (i) find that $4 million is the appropriate ESA amount for recovery related to calendar year 2007 and that such amount should be recovered over a twelve month period beginning November 1, 2011; and (ii) investigate New England Gas Company’s request for recovery of an ESA amount of $2 million over a twelve-month period beginning November 1, 2012. On January 27, 2012, the MDPU issued its order approving the 2007 ESA in its entirety and authorizing recovery of approximately $4 million over a twelve-month period beginning February 1, 2012. On January 25, 2013, the MDPU issued its order approving the 2008 ESA for $2 million to be recovered over a twelve-month period beginning February 1, 2013, which reflected a reduction of approximately $10,000 from the initial request.