Regulatory Matters

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Other Disclosures [Abstract]

Regulatory Matters

Regulatory Matters

Following negotiations and other proceedings, on December 6, 2013, Distribution Corporation filed an agreement, also executed by the Department of Public Service and intervenors, extending existing rates through, at a minimum, September 30, 2015. Although customer rates were not changed, the parties agreed that the allowed rate of return on equity would be set, for ratemaking purposes, at 9.1%.  Following conventional practice in New York, the agreement authorizes an “earnings sharing mechanism” (“ESM”).  The ESM distributes earnings above the allowed rate of return as follows:  from 9.5% to 10.5%, 50% would be allocated to shareholders, and 50% will be deferred for the benefit of customers; above 10.5%, 20% would be allocated to shareholders and 80% will be deferred for the benefit of customers.  The agreement further authorizes, and rates reflect, an increase in Distribution Corporation’s pipeline replacement spending by $8.2 million per year of the agreement.  The agreement contains other terms and conditions of service that are customary for settlement agreements recently approved by the NYPSC.  A $7.5 million refund provision was passed back to ratepayers during 2014 after the NYPSC approved the settlement agreement without modification in an order issued on May 8, 2014. The agreement also states that nothing in the agreement precludes the parties from meeting to discuss extending the agreement on mutually acceptable terms, and presenting such extension to the NYPSC for approval. On May 22, 2015, Distribution Corporation filed with the NYPSC a Notice of Impending Settlement Discussions stating that settlement discussions would be scheduled in the near future, and that such discussions might include, among other things, the possible extension of the agreement on mutually acceptable terms. Settlement discussions, which under NYPSC regulations must remain confidential, have commenced.