REPORTABLE SEGMENTS REPORTABLE SEGMENTS - Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The Company’s primary operating segments, which are individually disclosed as its reportable business segments, are:  Transportation and Storage, Gathering and Processing, and Distribution.  These operating segments are organized for segment reporting purposes based on the way internal managerial reporting presents the results of the Company’s various businesses to its chief operating decision maker for use in determining the performance of the businesses.

Sales of products or services between segments are billed at regulated rates or at market rates, as applicable.  There were no material intersegment revenues during the six months ended June 30, 2013, the period from Acquisition (March 26, 2012) to June 30, 2012 and the period from January 1, 2012 to March 25, 2012.

The remainder of the Company’s business operations, which do not meet the quantitative threshold for segment reporting, are presented as Corporate and other activities.  Corporate and other activities consist of the Company’s investment in Regency, unallocated corporate costs, a wholly-owned subsidiary with ownership interests in electric power plants, and other miscellaneous activities.

The Company reports Segment Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of segment performance.  The Company defines Segment Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and other non-cash items, such as non-cash compensation expense, unrealized gains and losses on unhedged derivative activities, accretion expense and amortization of regulatory assets and other non-operating income or expense items.  Segment Adjusted EBITDA reflects amounts for less-than-wholly-owned subsidiaries and unconsolidated affiliates based on the Company’s proportionate ownership.