SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

General

Questar Gas makes certain estimates and assumptions in preparing its Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues, expenses and cash flows for the periods presented. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the 2016 and 2015 Financial Statements and footnotes have been reclassified to conform to the 2017 presentation for comparative purposes. The reclassifications did not affect Questar Gas’ net income, total assets, liabilities, equity or cash flows.

Operating Revenue

Operating revenue is recorded on the basis of services rendered, commodities delivered or contracts settled and includes amounts yet to be billed to customers. Questar Gas collects sales taxes; however, these amounts are excluded from revenue. Questar Gas’ customer receivables at December 31, 2017 and 2016 included $91.4 million and $88.6 million, respectively, of accrued unbilled revenue based on estimated amounts of natural gas delivered but not yet billed to its customers.

The primary types of sales and service activities reported as operating revenue for Questar Gas are as follows:

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Regulated gas sales consist of delivery of natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers;

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Gas transportation consists of transportation of gas for commercial and industrial customers who buy their own gas supply; and

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Other primarily consists of connection fees, royalties, miscellaneous product sales, etc.

Purchased Gas

Questar Gas obtains the majority of its gas supply from Wexpro’s cost-of-service production and pays Wexpro an operator service fee based on the terms of the Wexpro Agreement and the Wexpro II Agreement. Questar Gas also obtains transportation and storage services from Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline. See Note 19 for more information. During the second and third quarters of the year, a significant portion of the natural gas from Wexpro production is injected into underground storage. This gas is withdrawn from storage as needed during the heating season in the first and fourth quarters. Purchased gas is credited with the value of natural gas as it is injected into storage and debited as it is withdrawn from storage.

Purchased Gas-Deferred Costs

Where permitted by regulatory authorities, the differences between Questar Gas’ purchased gas expenses and the related levels of recovery for these expenses in current rates are deferred and matched against recoveries in future periods. The deferral of gas costs in excess of current period recovery is recognized as a regulatory asset, while rate recovery in excess of current period gas costs is recognized as a regulatory liability.

Virtually all of Questar Gas’ natural gas purchases are either subject to deferral accounting or are recovered from the customer in the same accounting period as the sale.

Income Taxes

Judgment and the use of estimates are required in developing the provision for income taxes and reporting of tax-related assets and liabilities. The interpretation of tax laws, including the provisions of the 2017 Tax Reform Act, involves uncertainty, since tax authorities may interpret the laws differently. In addition, the states in which we operate may or may not conform to some or all the provisions in the 2017 Tax Reform Act. Ultimate resolution or clarification of income tax matters may result in favorable or unfavorable impacts to net income and cash flows, and adjustments to tax-related assets and liabilities could be material.

A consolidated federal income tax return is filed for Dominion Energy and its subsidiaries, including Questar Gas for the full year 2017 and going forward. For 2016, a consolidated federal income tax return was filed for Dominion Energy Questar, including Questar Gas, for the period January 1, 2016 through September 16, 2016. Questar Gas was part of the consolidated federal income tax return filed by Dominion Energy for the period September 17, 2016 through December 31, 2016. In addition, where applicable, combined income tax returns for Dominion Energy and its subsidiaries are filed in various states; otherwise, separate state income tax returns are filed.

Questar Gas participates in intercompany tax sharing agreements with Dominion Energy and its subsidiaries. Current income taxes are based on taxable income or loss and credits determined on a separate company basis.

Under the agreements, if a subsidiary incurs a tax loss or earns a credit, recognition of current income tax benefits is limited to refunds of prior year taxes obtained by the carryback of the net operating loss or credit or to the extent the tax loss or credit is absorbed by the taxable income of other Dominion Energy consolidated group members. Otherwise, the net operating loss or credit is carried forward and is recognized as a deferred tax asset until realized.

The 2017 Tax Reform Act includes a broad range of tax reform provisions affecting Dominion Energy and its subsidiary Questar Gas, including changes in corporate tax rates and business deductions. The 2017 Tax Reform Act reduces the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the enacted tax rate expected to apply when temporary differences are realized or settled. Thus, at the date of enactment, deferred taxes were remeasured based upon the new 21% tax rate. The total effect of tax rate changes on federal deferred tax balances is recorded as a component of the income tax provision related to continuing operations for the period in which the law is enacted, even if the assets and liabilities relate to other components of the financial statements. As a regulated utility, Questar Gas is required to adjust deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the change in income tax rates. However, as it is probable that the effect of the change in income tax rates will be recovered or refunded in future rates, Questar Gas recorded a regulatory asset or liability instead of an increase or decrease to deferred income tax expense.

Accounting for income taxes involves an asset and liability approach. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are provided, representing future effects on income taxes for temporary differences between the bases of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and tax purposes. Accordingly, deferred taxes are recognized for the future consequences of different treatments used for the reporting of transactions in financial accounting and income tax returns. Questar Gas establishes a valuation allowance when it is more-likely-than-not that all, or a portion, of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. A regulatory asset is recognized if it is probable that future revenues will be provided for the payment of deferred tax liabilities.

Questar Gas recognizes positions taken, or expected to be taken, in income tax returns that are more-likely-than-not to be realized, assuming that the position will be examined by tax authorities with full knowledge of all relevant information.

If it is not more-likely-than-not that a tax position, or some portion thereof, will be sustained, the related tax benefits are not recognized in the financial statements. Unrecognized tax benefits may result in an increase in income taxes payable, a reduction of income tax refunds receivable or changes in deferred taxes. Also, when uncertainty about the deductibility of an amount is limited to the timing of such deductibility, the increase in income taxes payable (or reduction in tax refunds receivable) is accompanied by a decrease in deferred tax liabilities. Except when such amounts are presented net with amounts receivable from or amounts prepaid to tax authorities, noncurrent income taxes payable related to unrecognized tax benefits are classified in other deferred credits and other liabilities in the Balance Sheets and current payables are included in accrued interest, payroll and taxes in the Balance Sheets.

Questar Gas recognizes interest on underpayments and overpayments of income taxes in interest expense and other income, respectively. Penalties are also recognized in other income.

Questar Gas’ interest and penalties were immaterial in 2017, 2016 and 2015.

At December 31, 2017, Questar Gas’ Balance Sheet included $25.0 million of tax-related payables to affiliates, representing $22.0 million of current federal income taxes payable and $3.0 million of state income taxes payable.

At December 31, 2016, Questar Gas’ Balance Sheet included tax-related payables to affiliates of $3.1 million comprised of $1.4 million of federal income taxes payable and $1.7 million of state income taxes payable. These amounts were settled with Dominion Energy during 2017 as part of the final 2016 tax return settlement.

Investment tax credits are deferred and amortized over the service lives of the properties giving rise to the credits.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Current banking arrangements generally do not require checks to be funded until they are presented for payment. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, accounts payable included $14.9 million and $7.7 million, respectively, of checks outstanding but not yet presented for payment. For purposes of the Statements of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash in banks and temporary investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less.

Derivative Instruments

Questar Gas uses derivative instruments such as physical forwards and options to manage the commodity risk of its business operations. All derivatives, except those for which an exception applies, are required to be reported in the Balance Sheets at fair value. Derivative contracts representing unrealized gain positions and purchased options are reported as derivative assets. Derivative contracts representing unrealized losses and options sold are reported as derivative liabilities. One of the exceptions to fair value accounting, normal purchases and normal sales, may be elected when the contract satisfies certain criteria, including a requirement that physical delivery of the underlying commodity is probable. Expenses and revenues resulting from deliveries under normal purchase contracts and normal sales contracts, respectively, are included in earnings at the time of contract performance.

Questar Gas does not offset amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral or the obligation to return cash collateral against amounts recognized for derivative instruments executed with the same counterparty under the same master netting arrangement. See Note 6 for further information about derivatives.

Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments result in the recognition of regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities. Realized gains or losses on the derivative instruments are generally recognized when the related transactions impact earnings.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at lower of original cost or fair value, if impaired. Capitalized costs include labor, materials and other direct and indirect costs such as asset retirement costs, AFUDC and overhead costs. The cost of repairs and maintenance, including minor additions and replacements, is generally charged to expense as it is incurred.

In 2017, 2016 and 2015, Questar Gas capitalized AFUDC to property, plant and equipment of $0.5 million, $0.4 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

The undepreciated cost of property, less salvage value, is generally charged to accumulated depreciation at retirement. Cost of removal collections from utility customers not representing AROs are recorded as regulatory liabilities. For property subject to cost-of-service rate regulation that will be abandoned significantly before the end of its useful life, the net carrying value is reclassified from plant-in-service when it becomes probable it will be abandoned.

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is computed on the straight-line method based on projected service lives.

Long-Lived and Intangible Assets

Questar Gas performs an evaluation for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of long-lived assets or intangible assets with finite lives may not be recoverable. A long-lived or intangible asset is written down to fair value if the sum of its expected future undiscounted cash flows is less than its carrying amount. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives.

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

The accounting for Questar Gas’ operations differs from the accounting for nonregulated operations in that it is required to reflect the effect of rate regulation in its Financial Statements. For regulated businesses subject to state cost-of-service rate regulation, regulatory practices that assign costs to accounting periods may differ from accounting methods generally applied by nonregulated companies. When it is probable that regulators will permit the recovery of current costs through future rates charged to customers, these costs that otherwise would be expensed by nonregulated companies are deferred as regulatory assets. Likewise, regulatory liabilities are recognized when it is probable that regulators will require customer refunds through future rates or when revenue is collected from customers for expenditures that have yet to be incurred. Generally, regulatory assets and liabilities are amortized into income over the period authorized by the regulator.

Questar Gas evaluates whether or not recovery of its regulatory assets through future rates is probable and makes various assumptions in its analyses. The expectations of future recovery are generally based on orders issued by regulatory commissions, legislation or historical experience, as well as discussions with applicable regulatory authorities and legal counsel. If recovery of a regulatory asset is determined to be less than probable, it will be written off in the period such assessment is made.

Asset Retirement Obligations

Questar Gas recognizes AROs at fair value as incurred or when sufficient information becomes available to determine a reasonable estimate of the fair value of future retirement activities to be performed for which a legal obligation exists. These amounts are generally capitalized as costs of the related tangible long-lived assets. Since relevant market information is not available, fair value is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses. Quarterly, Questar Gas assesses its AROs to determine if circumstances indicate that estimates of the amounts or timing of future cash flows associated with retirement activities have changed. AROs are adjusted when significant changes in the amounts or timing of future cash flows are identified. Questar Gas reports accretion of AROs and depreciation on asset retirement costs associated with its natural gas pipeline assets as an adjustment to the related regulatory liabilities when revenue is recoverable from customers for AROs.

Debt Issuance Costs

Questar Gas defers and amortizes debt issuance costs and debt premiums or discounts over the expected lives of the respective debt issues, considering maturity dates and, if applicable, redemption rights held by others. Deferred debt issuance costs are recorded as a reduction in long-term debt in the Balance Sheets. Amortization of the issuance costs is reported as interest expense. Unamortized costs associated with redemptions of debt securities prior to stated maturity dates are generally recognized and recorded in interest expense immediately. As permitted by regulatory authorities, gains or losses resulting from the refinancing of debt allocable to utility operations subject to cost-based rate regulation are deferred and amortized over the lives of the new issuances.

Inventories

Materials and supplies inventories are valued primarily using the weighted-average cost method. Stored gas inventory for Questar Gas used in gas distribution operations is valued using the weighted-average cost method.

Goodwill

Questar Gas evaluates goodwill for impairment annually as of April 1 and whenever an event occurs or circumstances change in the interim that would more-likely-than-not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount.

New Accounting Standards

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the FASB issued revised accounting guidance for revenue recognition from contracts with customers. The core principle of this revised accounting guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The amendments in this update also require disclosure of the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.

For Questar Gas, the revised accounting guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2018. We have completed the evaluation of the impact of this guidance and expect no significant impact on our results of operations. Questar Gas will apply the standard using the modified retrospective method as opposed to the full retrospective method.

Tax Reform

In December 2017, the staff of the SEC issued guidance which clarifies accounting for income taxes if information is not yet available or complete and provides for up to a one year measurement period in which to complete the required analyses and accounting. The guidance describes three scenarios associated with a company’s status of accounting for income tax reform: (1) a company is complete with its accounting for certain effects of tax reform, (2) a company is able to determine a reasonable estimate for certain effects of tax reform and records that estimate as a provisional amount, or (3) a company is not able to determine a reasonable estimate and therefore continues to apply accounting for income taxes based on the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately prior to the 2017 Tax Reform Act being enacted. In addition, the guidance provides clarification related to disclosures for entities which are utilizing the measurement period. Questar Gas has recorded its best estimate of the impacts of the 2017 Tax Reform Act as discussed in Note 4. The amounts are considered to be provisional and may result in adjustments to be recognized during the measurement period.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. However, the use of a mid-market pricing convention (the mid-point between bid and ask prices) is permitted. Fair values are based on assumptions that market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in valuation techniques and the inputs to valuations. This includes not only the credit standing of counterparties involved and the impact of credit enhancements but also the impact of Questar Gas' own nonperformance risk on its liabilities. Fair value measurements assume that the transaction occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability (the market with the most volume and activity for the asset or liability from the perspective of the reporting entity), or in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset or liability (the market in which the reporting entity would be able to maximize the amount received or minimize the amount paid). Questar Gas applies fair value measurements to commodity derivative instruments in accordance with the requirements described above. Questar Gas applies credit adjustments to its derivative fair values in accordance with the requirements described above.

Inputs and Assumptions

Questar Gas maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Fair value is based on actively-quoted market prices, if available. In the absence of actively-quoted market prices, price information is sought from external sources, including broker quotes and industry publications. When evaluating pricing information provided by brokers and other pricing services, Questar Gas considers whether the broker is willing and able to trade at the quoted price, if the broker quotes are based on an active market or an inactive market and the extent to which brokers are utilizing a particular model if pricing is not readily available. If pricing information from external sources is not available, or if Questar Gas believes that observable pricing is not indicative of fair value, judgment is required to develop the estimates of fair value. In those cases Questar Gas must estimate prices based on available historical and near-term future price information and certain statistical methods, including regression analysis, that reflect its market assumptions.

Questar Gas' commodity derivative valuations are prepared by Dominion Energy’s Enterprise Risk Management department which creates mark-to-market valuations for Questar Gas' derivative transactions using computer-based statistical models. The inputs that go into the market valuations are transactional information and market pricing information that resides in data warehouse databases. The majority of forward prices are automatically uploaded into the data warehouse databases from various third-party sources. Inputs obtained from third-party sources are evaluated for reliability considering the reputation, independence, market presence, and methodology used by the third-party. If forward prices are not available from third-party sources, then Dominion Energy’s Enterprise Risk Management department models the forward prices based on other available market data. A team consisting of risk management and risk quantitative analysts meets to assess the validity of market prices and mark-to-market valuations. During this meeting, the changes in mark-to-market valuations from period to period are examined and qualified against historical expectations. If any discrepancies are identified during this process, the mark-to-market valuations or the market pricing information is evaluated further and adjusted, if necessary.

For options and contracts with option-like characteristics where observable pricing information is not available from external sources, Questar Gas generally uses a modified Black-Scholes Model or other option model.

The inputs and assumptions used in measuring fair value for commodity derivative contracts include the following:

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Forward commodity prices

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Transaction prices

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Price correlation

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Volumes

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Commodity location

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Interest rates

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Credit quality of counterparties and Questar Gas

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Credit enhancements

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Time value

Levels

Questar Gas also utilizes the following fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels:

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Level 1-Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that it has the ability to access at the measurement date.

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Level 2-Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and inputs that are derived from observable market data by correlation or other means. Instruments categorized in Level 2 primarily include commodity forwards and options.

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Level 3-Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, including situations where there is little, if any, market activity. Instruments categorized in Level 3 primarily include long-dated commodity derivatives.

The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable data (Level 3). In some cases, the inputs used to measure fair value might fall in different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In these cases, the lowest level input that is significant to a fair value measurement in its entirety determines the applicable level in the fair value hierarchy. Assessing the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, considering factors specific to the asset or liability.

For derivative contracts, Questar Gas recognizes transfers among Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 based on fair values as of the first day of the month in which the transfer occurs. Transfers out of Level 3 represent assets and liabilities that were previously classified as Level 3 for which the inputs became observable for classification in either Level 1 or Level 2. Because the activity and liquidity of commodity markets vary substantially between regions and time periods, the availability of observable inputs for substantially the full term and value of Questar Gas' over-the-counter derivative contracts is subject to change.

Level 3 Valuations

Fair value measurements are categorized as Level 3 when price or other inputs that are considered to be unobservable are significant to their valuations. Long-dated commodity derivatives are generally based on unobservable inputs due to the length of time to settlement and the absence of market activity and are therefore categorized as Level 3.

Questar Gas enters into certain physical forwards, which are considered Level 3 as they have one or more inputs that are not observable and are significant to the valuation. The discounted cash flow method is used to value Level 3 physical forward contracts. The discounted cash flow model for forwards calculates mark-to-market valuations based on forward market prices, original transaction prices, volumes, risk-free rate of return, and credit spreads. For Level 3 fair value measurements, certain forward market prices are considered unobservable. The unobservable inputs are developed and substantiated using historical information, available market data, third-party data, and statistical analysis. Periodically, inputs to valuation models are reviewed and revised as needed, based on historical information, updated market data, market liquidity and relationships, and changes in third-party pricing sources.

Commitments and Contingencies

As a result of issues generated in the ordinary course of business, Questar Gas is involved in legal proceedings before various courts and is periodically subject to governmental examinations (including by regulatory authorities), inquiries and investigations. Certain legal proceedings and governmental examinations involve demands for unspecified amounts of damages, are in an initial procedural phase, involve uncertainty as to the outcome of pending appeals or motions, or involve significant factual issues that need to be resolved, such that it is not possible for Questar Gas to estimate a range of possible loss. For such matters for which Questar Gas cannot estimate a range of possible loss, a statement to this effect is made in the description of the matter. Other matters may have progressed sufficiently through the litigation or investigative processes such that Questar Gas is able to estimate a range of possible loss. For legal proceedings and governmental examinations for which Questar Gas is able to reasonably estimate a range of possible losses, an estimated range of possible loss is provided, in excess of the accrued liability (if any) for such matters. Any accrued liability is recorded on a gross basis with a receivable also recorded for any probable insurance recoveries. Estimated ranges of loss are inclusive of legal fees and net of any anticipated insurance recoveries. Any estimated range is based on currently available information and involves elements of judgment and significant uncertainties. Any estimated range of possible loss may not represent Questar Gas’ maximum possible loss exposure. The circumstances of such legal proceedings and governmental examinations will change from time to time and actual results may vary significantly from the current estimate. For current proceedings not specifically reported below, management does not anticipate that the liabilities, if any, arising from such proceedings would have a material effect on the financial position, liquidity or results of operations of Questar Gas.

Credit Risk

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss if counterparties fail to perform their contractual obligations. In order to minimize overall credit risk, credit policies are maintained, including requiring customer deposits and the evaluation of counterparty financial condition. In addition, counterparties may make available collateral, including letters of credit or cash held as margin deposits, as a result of exceeding agreed-upon credit limits, or may be required to prepay the transaction.

Questar Gas maintains a provision for credit losses based on factors surrounding the credit risk of its customers, historical trends and other information. Management believes, based on credit policies and the December 31, 2017 provision for credit losses, that it is unlikely that a material adverse effect on financial position, results of operations or cash flows would occur as a result of counterparty nonperformance.

Supplemental Oil and Gas Information

The following information is provided with respect to estimated natural gas reserves, which are managed, developed and delivered by Wexpro at cost-of-service pursuant to the Wexpro Agreement. The estimates of proved gas reserves were prepared by Wexpro’s reservoir engineers. Gas reserve estimates are subject to numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves, projecting future rates or production and timing of development expenditures. The accuracy of these estimates depends on the quality of available data and on engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Reserve estimates are imprecise and will change as additional information becomes available. Geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty that these quantities are recoverable under existing economic and operating conditions. Since the gas reserves operated by Wexpro are delivered to Questar Gas at cost-of-service, SEC guidelines with respect to standard economic assumptions are not applicable. The SEC anticipated this potential difficulty and provides that companies may give appropriate recognition to differences because of the effect of the ratemaking process. Accordingly, Wexpro uses a minimum-producing rate or maximum well-life limit to determine the ultimate quantity of gas reserves.