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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, principally Energen Resources Corporation and Alabama Gas Corporation, after elimination of all significant intercompany transactions in consolidation. Certain reclassifications have been made to conform the prior years' financial statements to the current-year presentation.

Fair Value Measurements

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable and receivable, derivative commodity instruments, pension and postretirement plan assets and liabilities and other current assets and liabilities approximate fair value. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). The fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value is defined as follows:


Level 1 -	Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;


Level 2 -	Pricing inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included within Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable through correlation with market data as of the reporting date;


Level 3 -	Pricing that requires inputs that are both significant and unobservable to the calculation of the fair value measure. The fair value measure represents estimates of the assumption that market value participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

Derivative commodity instruments are over-the-counter derivatives valued using market transactions and other market evidence whenever possible, including market-based inputs to models and broker or dealer quotations. These OTC derivative contracts trade in less liquid markets with limited pricing information as compared to markets with actively traded, unadjusted quoted prices; accordingly, the determination of fair value is inherently more difficult. OTC derivatives for which the Company is able to substantiate fair value through directly observable market prices are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. These Level 2 fair values consist of swaps priced in reference to New York Mercantile Exchange natural gas and oil futures. OTC derivatives valued using unobservable market prices have been classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. These Level 3 fair values include basin specific, basis and liquids swaps.

Pension and postretirement plan assets include mutual and comingled funds and a limited partnership. Plan assets were classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The determination and classification of fair value requires judgment and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and their placement within the fair value hierarchy. Level 1 and 2 fair values use market transactions and other market evidence whenever possible and consist primarily of equities, fixed income and mutual funds. Level 3 fair values used unobservable market prices primarily associated with certain alternative investments and a limited partnership.

Income Taxes

The Company uses the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, a deferred tax asset or liability is recognized for the estimated future tax effects attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities as well as tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period of the change. The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. Consolidated federal income taxes are charged to appropriate subsidiaries using the separate return method.

Accounts Receivalbe and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amounts and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company's best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical experience and in consideration of current market conditions. Account balances are charged against the allowance when it is anticipated the receivable will not be recovered.

Cash Equivalents

All highly liquid financial instruments with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase are considered to be cash or cash equivalents.

Short-term investments

All highly liquid financial instruments with maturities greater than three months and less than one year at the date of purchase are considered to be short-term investments.

Earnings Per Share (EPS)

The Company's basic earnings per share amounts have been computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share amounts reflect the assumed issuance of common shares for all potentially dilutive securities.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures all share-based compensation awards at fair value at the date of grant and expenses the awards over the requisite vesting period. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if the actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.

The Company recognizes all stock-based compensation expense in the period of grant for retirement eligible employees. The Company utilizes the long-form method of calculating the available pool of windfall tax benefit.

Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The major estimates and assumptions identified by management include, but are not limited to, physical quantities of oil and gas reserves, periodic assessments of oil and gas properties for impairment, an assumption that regulatory accounting will continue as the applicable accounting standard for the Company's regulated operations, the Company's obligations under its employee pension plans, the valuation of derivative financial instruments, the allowance for doubtful accounts, tax contingency reserves, legal contingency reserves, asset retirement obligations, self insurance reserves and regulatory assets and liabilities. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results reported in future periods may differ from the estimates.

Employee Benefit Plans

Energen has two defined benefit non-contributory qualified pension plans. These plans cover substantially all employees. Pension benefits for the majority of the Company’s employees are based on years of service and final earnings; one plan is based on years of service and flat dollar amounts. The Company also has nonqualified supplemental pension plans covering certain officers of the Company. In addition to providing pension benefits, the Company provides certain postretirement health care and life insurance benefits for all employees hired prior to January 1, 2010. The Company continues to provide these benefits to certain non-salaried employees. Substantially all of the Company's employees may become eligible for certain benefits if they reach normal retirement age while working for the Company. The projected unit credit actuarial method was used to determine the normal cost and actuarial liability.

For retirement plans and other postretirement plans, certain financial assumptions are used in determining the Company's projected benefit obligation. These assumptions are examined periodically by the Company, and any required changes are reflected in the subsequent determination of projected benefit obligations.

Measurement: The Company calculates periodic expense for defined benefit pension plans and other post retirement benefit plans on an actuarial basis and the net funded status of benefit plans is recognized as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position with changes in the funded status recognized through comprehensive income. For pension plans, the benefit obligation is the projected benefit obligation; for other postretirement plans, the benefit obligation is the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation. Alagasco recognizes a regulatory asset for the portion of the obligation to be recovered in rates in future periods and a regulatory liability for the portion of the plan obligation to be provided through rates in the future. The Company measures the funded status of its employee benefit plans as of the date of its year-end statement of financial position.

Discount Rate: In selecting each discount rate, consideration was given to Moody’s Aa corporate bond rates, along with a yield curve applied to payments the Company expects to make out of its retirement plans. The yield curve is comprised of a broad base of Aa bonds with maturities between zero and thirty years. The discount rate for each plan was developed as the level equivalent rate that would produce the same present value as that using spot rates aligned with the projected benefit payments; the weighted average discount rates used to determine net periodic costs were 4.89 percent for the pension plans and 5.45 percent for the other postretirement benefit plans for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Long-Term Rate of Return: The assumed rate of return on assets is the weighted average of expected long-term asset assumptions; the return on assets used to determine net periodic expense was 7.25 percent for each of the applicable plans for the year ended December 31, 2011. The Company based its expected return on long-term investment expectations. The Company considered past performance and current expectations for assets held by the plans as well as the expected long-term allocation of plan assets.

Other Significant Assumptions: The estimated weighted average rate of increase in the compensation level for pay related plans was 3.75 percent for determining the net periodic costs for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Environmental Costs

Environmental compliance costs, including ongoing maintenance, monitoring and similar costs, are expensed as incurred. Environmental remediation costs are accrued when remedial efforts are probable and the cost can be reasonably estimated.

Investment Strategy

Investment Strategy: The Company employs a total return investment approach whereby a mix of equities and fixed income investments are used to maximize the long-term return of plan assets with a prudent level of risk. Risk tolerance is established through consideration of plan liabilities, plan funded status, corporate financial condition, and market conditions.

The Company has developed an investment strategy that focuses on asset allocation, diversification and quality guidelines. The investment goals of the Company are to obtain an adequate level of return to meet future obligations of the plan by providing above average risk-adjusted returns with a risk exposure in the mid-range of comparable funds. Investment managers are retained by the Company to manage separate pools of assets. Funds are allocated to such managers in order to achieve an appropriate, diversified, and balanced asset mix. Comparative market and peer group benchmarks are utilized to ensure that investment managers are performing satisfactorily.

The Company seeks to maintain an appropriate level of diversification to minimize the risk of large losses in a single asset class. Accordingly, plan assets for the pension plans and the postretirement health care and life insurance benefit plan do not have a concentration of assets in a single entity, industry, country, commodity or class of investment fund.

Oil and Gas Operations

Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Property and Related Depletion

Property and Related Depletion: Energen Resources follows the successful efforts method of accounting for costs incurred in the exploration and development of oil, gas and natural gas liquid reserves. Lease acquisition costs are capitalized initially, and unproved properties are reviewed periodically to determine if there has been impairment of the carrying value, with any such impairment charged to exploration expense currently. All development costs are capitalized. Exploratory drilling costs are capitalized pending determination of proved reserves. If proved reserves are not discovered, the exploratory drilling costs are expensed. Other exploration costs, including geological and geophysical costs, are expensed as incurred. Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense is determined on a field-by-field basis using the units-of-production method based on proved reserves. Anticipated abandonment and restoration costs are capitalized and depreciated using the units-of-production method based on proved developed reserves.

Operating Revenue and Gas Costs

Operating Revenue: Energen Resources utilizes the sales method of accounting to recognize oil, gas and natural gas liquids production revenue. Under the sales method, revenues are based on actual sales volumes of commodities sold to purchasers. Over-production liabilities are established only when it is estimated that a property's over-produced volumes exceed the net share of remaining reserves for such property. Energen Resources had no material production imbalances at December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Derivative Commodity Instruments

Derivative Commodity Instruments: Energen Resources recognizes all derivatives on the balance sheet and measures all derivatives at fair value. If a derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, the effectiveness of the hedge, or the degree that the gain (loss) for the hedging instrument offsets the loss (gain) on the hedged item, is measured at each reporting period. The effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is recognized in other comprehensive income (OCI) as a component of shareholders’ equity and subsequently reclassified to operating revenues when the forecasted transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative's change in fair value is required to be recognized in operating revenues immediately. All derivative transactions are included in operating activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Energen Resources periodically enters into derivative commodity instruments to hedge its exposure to price fluctuations on oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids production. Such instruments may include natural gas and crude oil over-the-counter (OTC) swaps and basis hedges with major energy derivative product specialists. The counterparties to the commodity instruments are investment and commercial banks and energy-trading firms. All derivative commodity instruments in a gain position are valued on a discounted basis incorporating an estimate of performance risk specific to each related counterparty. Derivative commodity instruments in a loss position are valued on a discounted basis incorporating an estimate of performance risk specific to Energen.

The current policy of the Company is to not enter into agreements that require the posting of collateral. The Company has a few older agreements, none of which have active positions as of December 31, 2011, which include collateral posting requirements based on the amount of exposure and counterparty credit ratings. The majority of the Company’s counterparty agreements include provisions for net settlement of transactions payable on the same date and in the same currency. Most of the agreements include various contractual set-off rights which may be exercised by the non-defaulting party in the event of an early termination due to a default.

The Company periodically enters into derivatives that do not qualify for cash flow hedge accounting but are considered by management to represent valid economic hedges and are accounted for as mark-to-market transactions. These economic hedges may include, but are not limited to, hedges on estimated future production not yet flowing, basis hedges without a corresponding New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) hedge and hedges on non-operated or other properties for which all of the necessary information to qualify for cash flow hedge accounting is either not readily available or subject to change. Derivatives that do not qualify for hedge treatment or are not designated as accounting hedges are recorded at fair value with gains or losses recognized in operating revenues in the period of change.

All hedge transactions are pursuant to standing authorizations by the Board of Directors, which do not permit speculative positions. The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items at the inception of the hedge, as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge. This process includes specific identification of the hedging instrument and the hedge transaction, the nature of the risk being hedged and how the hedging instrument's effectiveness in hedging the exposure to the hedged transaction's variability in cash flows attributable to the hedged risk will be assessed. Both at the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, the Company assesses whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items. The Company discontinues hedge accounting if a derivative has ceased to be a highly effective hedge.

Long-Lived Assets and Discontinued Operations

Long-Lived Assets and Discontinued Operations: The Company reports gains and losses on the sale of certain oil and gas properties and any impairments of properties held-for-sale as discontinued operations, with income or loss from operations of the associated properties reported as income or loss from discontinued operations. The results of operations for certain held-for-sale properties are reclassified and reported as discontinued operations for prior periods. Energen Resources may, in the ordinary course of business, be involved in the sale of developed or undeveloped properties. All assets held-for-sale are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value.

Acquisitions

Acquisitions: Energen Resources recognizes all acquisitions at fair value. Energen Resources estimates the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date, the date on which Energen Resources obtained control of the properties for all acquisitions that qualify as business combinations. The fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). Fair value measurements also utilize assumptions of market participants. Energen Resources uses a discounted cash flow model and makes market assumptions as to future commodity prices, projections of estimated quantities of oil and natural gas reserves, expectations for timing and amount of future development and operating costs, projections of future rates of production, expected recovery rates and risk adjusted discount rates. These assumptions represent Level 3 inputs. Acquisition related costs are expensed as incurred in operations and maintenance expense on the consolidated income statements.

Natural Gas Distribution

Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Inventories

Inventories: Inventories, which consist primarily of gas stored underground, are stated at average cost. Liquified natural gas is stated at base cost.

Natural Gas Distribution | Alabama Gas Corporation

Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Operating Revenue and Gas Costs

Operating Revenue and Gas Costs: Alagasco records natural gas distribution revenues in accordance with its tariff established by the APSC. The margin and gas costs on service delivered to cycle customers but not yet billed are recorded in current assets as accounts receivable with a corresponding regulatory liability. Gas imbalances are settled on a monthly basis.

Derivative Commodity Instruments

Derivative Commodity Instruments: Alagasco may enter into cash flow derivative commodity instruments to hedge its exposure to price fluctuations on its gas supply pursuant to standing authorizations by the Board of Directors, which do not authorize speculative positions. Alagasco recognizes all derivatives as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet at fair value. Any gains or losses are passed through to customers using the mechanisms of the Gas Supply Adjustment (GSA) rider in accordance with Alagasco's APSC approved tariff and are recognized as a regulatory asset or regulatory liability. All derivative commodity instruments in a gain position are valued on a discounted basis incorporating an estimate of performance risk specific to each related counterparty. Derivative commodity instruments in a loss position are valued on a discounted basis incorporating an estimate of performance risk specific to Alagasco.

Regulatory Accounting

Regulatory Accounting: Alagasco is subject to regulation by the Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC) with respect to rates, accounting and various other matters. In general, Alagasco capitalizes or defers certain costs or revenues, based on the approvals received from the APSC, to be recovered from or refunded to customers in future periods. These costs or revenues are recorded as regulatory assets or liabilities.

Utility Plant and Depreciation: Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. The cost of utility plant includes an allowance for funds used during construction. Maintenance is charged for the cost of normal repairs and the renewal or replacement of an item of property which is less than a retirement unit. When property which represents a retirement unit is replaced or removed, the cost of such property is credited to utility plant and is charged to the accumulated reserve for depreciation. The estimated net removal costs on certain gas distribution assets are charged through depreciation and recognized as a regulatory liability in accordance with regulatory accounting. Depreciation is provided using the composite method of depreciation on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of utility property at rates approved by the APSC.

Taxes on Revenue

Taxes on revenues: Collections and payments of excise taxes are reported on a gross basis. These amounts are included in taxes other than income taxes on the consolidated statements of income as follows:



Years ended December 31, (in thousands)	2011		2010		2009
Taxes on revenues	$	25,268	$	30,704	$	31,704

The collection and payment of utility gross receipts tax is presented on a net basis.