Commitments and Contigencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Disclosure Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies [Text Block]

14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Leases

We lease land, buildings and equipment under agreements that expire in various years, including a 99-year land lease that extends through 2108. Rental expense under operating leases was $6.2 million, $5.5 million, and $5.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. The following table reflects the future minimum lease payments due under non-cancelable leases at December 31, 2016. These commitments relate principally to the lease of our office headquarters, underground gas storage facilities and computer equipment.

In thousands	Operating leases		Capital leases		Minimum lease payments
2017	$	5,476	$	156	$	5,632
2018	5,385		3		5,388
2019	5,340		—		5,340
2020	2,835		—		2,835
2021	930		—		930
Thereafter	28,895		—		28,895
Total	$	48,861	$	159	$	49,020

Gas Purchase and Pipeline Capacity Purchase and Release Commitments

We have signed agreements providing for the reservation of firm pipeline capacity under which we are required to make fixed monthly payments for contracted capacity. The pricing component of the monthly payment is established, subject to change, by U.S. or Canadian regulatory bodies. In addition, we have entered into long-term sale agreements to release firm pipeline capacity. We also enter into short-term and long-term gas purchase agreements.

The aggregate amounts of these agreements were as follows at December 31, 2016:

In thousands	Gas Purchase Agreements		Pipeline Capacity Purchase Agreements		Pipeline Capacity Release Agreements
2017	$	78,587	$	81,206	$	4,487
2018	—		79,741		3,739
2019	—		77,125		—
2020	—		72,021		—
2021	—		45,971		—
Thereafter	—		296,592		—
Total	78,587		652,656		8,226
Less: Amount representing interest	220		101,576		94
Total at present value	$	78,367	$	551,080	$	8,132

Our total payments for fixed charges under capacity purchase agreements were $85.0 million for 2016, $85.2 million for 2015, and $94.3 million for 2014. Included in the amounts were reductions for capacity release sales of $4.5 million for 2016, $4.4 million for 2015, and $4.8 million for 2014. In addition, per-unit charges are required to be paid based on the actual quantities shipped under the agreements. In certain take-or-pay purchase commitments, annual deficiencies may be offset by prepayments subject to recovery over a longer term if future purchases exceed the minimum annual requirements.

Environmental Matters

Refer to Note 15 for a discussion of environmental commitments and contingencies.