INVESTMENTS-AFFILIATED COMPANIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

INVESTMENTS-AFFILIATED COMPANIES

INVESTMENTS—AFFILIATED COMPANIES

Prior to the acquisition of SunBelt, we held a 50% ownership interest, which was accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

On November 16, 2007, we purchased for cash an $11.6 million equity interest in a bleach joint venture.  As part of the investment we also entered into several commercial agreements, including agreements by which we would supply raw materials and services, and we would have marketing responsibility for bleach and caustic soda. During 2013, we sold our equity interest in the bleach joint venture which resulted in a gain of$6.5 million. As a result of the sale, as of December 31, 2013, we have recorded a long-term receivable of$15.6 millionwhich is included within other assets on our consolidated balance sheet.

We hold a 9.1% limited partnership interest in Bay Gas Storage Company, Ltd. (Bay Gas), an Alabama limited partnership, in which EnergySouth, Inc. (EnergySouth), which was acquired in 2008 by Sempra Energy, is the general partner with interest of 90.9%.  Bay Gas owns, leases and operates underground gas storage and related pipeline facilities, which are used to provide storage in the McIntosh, AL area and delivery of natural gas to EnergySouth customers.

The following table summarizes our investments in our non-consolidated equity affiliates:

	December 31,
	2013		2012
	($ in millions)
Bay Gas	$	21.6	$	19.5
Bleach joint venture	—		9.8
Investments in equity affiliates	$	21.6	$	29.3

The following table summarizes our equity earnings of non-consolidated affiliates:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
	($ in millions)
SunBelt	$	—	$	—	$	6.3
Bay Gas	2.1		2.4		2.4
Bleach joint venture	0.7		0.6		0.9
Equity earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	$	2.8	$	3.0	$	9.6

We received net distributions from our non-consolidated affiliates of $1.5 million, $1.3 million and $1.9 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.