Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Amounts deferred as regulatory assets and liabilities were as follows:



	Regulatory Assets
	September 30,				December 31,
In thousands	2018		2017		2017
Current:
Unrealized loss on derivatives⁽¹⁾	$	8,828	$	8,887	$	18,712
Gas costs	461		1,851		154
Environmental costs⁽²⁾	5,633		6,362		6,198
Decoupling⁽³⁾	11,990		15,663		11,227
Income taxes	2,217		4,378		2,218
Other⁽⁴⁾	12,112		12,363		7,272
Total current	$	41,241	$	49,504	$	45,781
Non-current:
Unrealized loss on derivatives⁽¹⁾	$	3,016	$	3,926	$	4,649
Pension balancing⁽⁵⁾	72,291		57,599		60,383
Income taxes	19,267		36,591		19,991
Pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities	165,741		172,687		179,824
Environmental costs⁽²⁾	63,464		63,339		72,128
Gas costs	14		48		84
Decoupling⁽³⁾	829		1,025		3,970
Other⁽⁴⁾	9,295		10,137		15,579
Total non-current	$	333,917	$	345,352	$	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 15 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
	September 30,				December 31,
In thousands	2018		2017		2017
Current:
Gas costs	$	20,716	$	16,459	$	14,886
Unrealized gain on derivatives⁽¹⁾	2,862		2,020		1,674
Decoupling⁽³⁾	1,697		314		322
Other⁽⁴⁾	12,229		15,866		17,131
Total current	$	37,504	$	34,659	$	34,013
Non-current:
Gas costs	$	1,409	$	1,015	$	4,630
Unrealized gain on derivatives⁽¹⁾	861		1,555		1,306
Decoupling⁽³⁾	119		—		957
Income taxes⁽⁶⁾	223,841		—		213,306
Accrued asset removal costs⁽⁷⁾	375,257		356,106		360,929
Other⁽⁴⁾	4,688		5,162		4,965
Total non-current	$	606,175	$	363,838	$	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 15 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.