Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

As permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC, Questar Gas' accompanying unaudited Financial Statements contain certain condensed financial information and exclude certain footnote disclosures normally included in annual audited financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Use of Estimates

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 Questar Gas’ 2017 Financial Statements and Notes have been reclassified to conform to the 2018 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 include 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, subsequent to the adoption of revised guidance for revenue recognition from contracts with customers, are as follows:

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

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

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Regulated gas transportation sales consist of state-regulated transportation of natural gas for commercial and industrial customers to buy their own natural gas supply;

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Other regulated revenue consists primarily of miscellaneous product sales, connection fees and forfeited discounts; and

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Other nonregulated revenue consists primarily of sales of natural gas production at market-based rates and sales of extracted products.

Other Revenue

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Other revenue consists primarily of royalty revenues.

The primary types of sales and service activities reported as operating revenue for Questar Gas, prior to the adoption of revised guidance for revenue recognition from contracts with customers, were as follows:

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

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

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Other consisted of connection fees, royalties, miscellaneous product sales, etc.

Revenues from gas sales are recognized over time, as the customers of Questar Gas consume the gas as it is delivered. Transportation contracts are primarily stand-ready service contracts that include fixed reservation and variable usage fees. Fixed fees are recognized ratably over the life of the contract, which is less than 12 months, as the stand-ready performance obligation is satisfied, while variable usage fees are recognized when Questar Gas has a right to consideration from a customer in an amount that corresponds directly with the value to the customer of the performance obligation completed to date. As a local distribution company, substantially all of Questar Gas’ revenues are derived from performance obligations satisfied over time, rather than recognized at a single point in time, and are month-to-month contracts billed according to the terms of its tariff. Payment for most sales varies by contract type, but is typically due within a month of billing.

New Accounting Standards

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued revised accounting guidance for revenue recognition from contracts with customers. Questar Gas adopted this revised accounting guidance for interim and annual reporting periods beginning January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. The adoption of the revised standard had no impact on the amount of revenue recognized.

Fair Value Measurements

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, 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.

Derivatives

Derivative assets and liabilities are presented gross on Questar Gas' Balance Sheets. Questar Gas' derivative contracts include over-the-counter transactions, which are bilateral contracts that are transacted directly with a counterparty. At March 31, 2018, substantially all of Questar Gas' derivative assets and liabilities were not subject to a master netting or similar arrangement.

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

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 March 31, 2018 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.