Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Amounts deferred as regulatory assets and liabilities were as follows:



	Regulatory Assets
	June 30,				December 31,
In thousands	2018		2017		2017
Current:
Unrealized loss on derivatives⁽¹⁾	$	11,744	$	4,625	$	18,712
Gas costs	273		859		154
Environmental costs⁽²⁾	5,594		6,724		6,198
Decoupling⁽³⁾	10,232		12,136		11,227
Income taxes	2,217		4,378		2,218
Other⁽⁴⁾	11,032		8,782		7,272
Total current	$	41,092	$	37,504	$	45,781
Non-current:
Unrealized loss on derivatives⁽¹⁾	$	3,913	$	3,466	$	4,649
Pension balancing⁽⁵⁾	67,527		55,358		60,383
Income taxes	19,267		36,591		19,991
Pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities	171,186		176,136		179,824
Environmental costs⁽²⁾	65,156		64,008		72,128
Gas costs	28		87		84
Decoupling⁽³⁾	1,636		1,993		3,970
Other⁽⁴⁾	10,464		10,645		15,579
Total non-current	$	339,177	$	348,284	$	356,608


⁽¹⁾	Unrealized gains or losses on derivatives are non-cash items and therefore, do not earn a rate of return or a carrying charge. These amounts are recoverable through utility rates as part of the annual Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA) mechanism when realized at settlement.


⁽²⁾	Refer to footnote (3) per the Deferred Regulatory Asset table in Note 14 for a description of environmental costs.


⁽³⁾	This deferral represents the margin adjustment resulting from differences between actual and expected volumes.


⁽⁴⁾	Balances consist of deferrals and amortizations under approved regulatory mechanisms and typically earn a rate of return or carrying charge.


⁽⁵⁾	Refer to footnote (1) of the Net Periodic Benefit Cost table in Note 8 for information regarding the deferral of pension expenses.


⁽⁶⁾	This balance represents estimated amounts associated with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. See Note 9.


⁽⁷⁾	Estimated costs of removal on certain regulated properties are collected through rates.



	Regulatory Liabilities
	June 30,				December 31,
In thousands	2018		2017		2017
Current:
Gas costs	$	20,906	$	15,708	$	14,886
Unrealized gain on derivatives⁽¹⁾	1,938		1,459		1,674
Decoupling⁽³⁾	2,153		134		322
Other⁽⁴⁾	9,278		10,740		17,131
Total current	$	34,275	$	28,041	$	34,013
Non-current:
Gas costs	$	3,460	$	2,719	$	4,630
Unrealized gain on derivatives⁽¹⁾	1,077		162		1,306
Decoupling⁽³⁾	410		—		957
Income taxes⁽⁶⁾	222,734		—		213,306
Accrued asset removal costs⁽⁷⁾	370,245		350,828		360,929
Other⁽⁴⁾	4,368		5,496		4,965
Total non-current	$	602,294	$	359,205	$	586,093


⁽¹⁾	Unrealized gains or losses on derivatives are non-cash items and therefore, do not earn a rate of return or a carrying charge. These amounts are recoverable through utility rates as part of the annual Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA) mechanism when realized at settlement.


⁽²⁾	Refer to footnote (3) per the Deferred Regulatory Asset table in Note 14 for a description of environmental costs.


⁽³⁾	This deferral represents the margin adjustment resulting from differences between actual and expected volumes.


⁽⁴⁾	Balances consist of deferrals and amortizations under approved regulatory mechanisms and typically earn a rate of return or carrying charge.


⁽⁵⁾	Refer to footnote (1) of the Net Periodic Benefit Cost table in Note 8 for information regarding the deferral of pension expenses.


⁽⁶⁾	This balance represents estimated amounts associated with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. See Note 9.


⁽⁷⁾	Estimated costs of removal on certain regulated properties are collected through rates.