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Related-Party Transaction
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Related-Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions
Note 14 - Related-Party Transactions

Questar Pipeline
Questar Pipeline receives a substantial portion of its revenues from Questar Gas. Revenues received from Questar Gas were $74.1 million in 2011, $73.9 million in 2010 and $72.1 million in 2009.

In 2011, 2010 and 2009 Questar Gas provided technical and communication services to Questar Pipeline. In 2010 and 2009 Questar Gas also provided administrative, accounting, legal, data-processing and regulatory support to Questar Pipeline. Questar Gas provided these services at its cost of $9.6 million in 2011, $20.2 million in 2010 and $20.4 million in 2009. The majority of these costs are allocated and included in operating expenses. The allocation methods are based on the specific nature of the charges. Management believes that the allocation methods are reasonable.

Questar performs certain administrative functions for Questar Pipeline. The company was charged for its allocated portion of these services that totaled $22.2 million in 2011, $7.0 million in 2010 and $4.1 million in 2009. These costs are included in operating expenses and are allocated based on each affiliate's proportional share of revenues, net of gas costs; property, plant and equipment; and payroll. Management believes that the allocation method is reasonable.

Questar Pipeline has a lease with an affiliate for space in an office building located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Rent expense was $0.9 million in 2011 and $0.8 million in 2010 and 2009. The lease term ends on April 30, 2012, and payments through that date will be $0.3 million.

Questar Pipeline borrowed cash from Questar and incurred interest expense of $0.1 million in 2011. Questar Pipeline loaned excess funds to Questar and earned interest income of $0.1 million in 2011, $0.3 million in 2010 and $0.5 million in 2009.

Questar Gas
In 2011, 2010 and 2009 Questar Gas provided technical and communication services to affiliates. In 2010 and 2009 Questar Gas also provided administrative, accounting, legal, data-processing and regulatory support to affiliates. Questar Gas provided these services at its cost and charged $14.0 million in 2011, $25.9 million in 2010 and $25.6 million in 2009. The majority of these costs are allocated. The allocation methods are based on the specific nature of the charges. Management believes that the allocation methods are reasonable.

Questar Gas has reserved transportation capacity on Questar Pipeline for 881 Mdth per day. Questar Gas periodically releases excess capacity and receives a credit from Questar Pipeline for the released capacity revenues and a portion of Questar Pipeline's interruptible transportation revenues. Questar Gas paid for transportation, storage and processing services provided by Questar Pipeline and a subsidiary amounting to $73.7 million in 2011, $73.5 million in 2010 and $71.8 million in 2009, which included demand charges. The costs of these services were included in cost of natural gas sold.

Under the terms of the Wexpro Agreement, Questar Gas receives a portion of Wexpro's income from oil operations after recovery of Wexpro's operating expenses and a return on investment. This amount, which is included in revenues and reduces amounts billed to gas distribution customers, was $3.3 million in 2011, $1.1 million in 2010 and $1.0 million in 2009. The amounts that Questar Gas paid Wexpro for the operation of cost-of-service gas properties were $253.4 million in 2011, $240.0 million in 2010 and $225.0 million in 2009. Questar Gas reports these amounts in cost of natural gas sold.

Questar Gas has a lease with an affiliate for space in an office building located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Rent expense was $1.1 million in 2011 and $2.5 million in 2010 and 2009. The lease term ends on April 30, 2012, and payments through that date will be $0.4 million.

Questar charged Questar Gas for certain administrative functions amounting to $46.9 million in 2011, $13.2 million in 2010 and $8.4 million in 2009. These costs are included in operating expenses and are allocated based on each affiliated company's proportional share of revenues less product costs; property, plant and equipment; and labor costs. Management believes that the allocation method is reasonable.

Questar Gas borrowed cash from Questar and incurred interest expense of $0.3 million in 2011, $0.4 million in 2010 and $0.3 million in 2009. Questar Gas loaned excess funds to Questar and earned interest income of $0.1 million in 2009.