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Estimates, Significant Accounting Policies and Balance Sheet Detail (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Presentation. The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all majority-owned subsidiaries, after eliminating significant intercompany transactions and balances. Investments in which the Company has significant influence over the operations of the investee are accounted for using the equity method.

The Company is subject to regulation by certain state and federal authorities. The Company has accounting policies which are in accordance with the accounting requirements and ratemaking practices of the regulatory authorities. The Company does not apply regulatory-based accounting policies, primarily due to the level of discounting from tariff rates and its inability to recover specific costs. If regulatory-based accounting policies were applied, certain transactions would be recorded differently, including, among others, recording of regulatory assets, the capitalization of an equity component of invested funds on regulated capital projects and depreciation differences. The Company periodically reviews its level of discounting and negotiated rate contracts, the length of rate moratoriums and other related factors to determine if the regulatory-based authoritative guidance should be applied.

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all majority-owned subsidiaries, after eliminating significant intercompany transactions and balances. Investments in which the Company has significant influence over the operations of the investee are accounted for using the equity method.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Accounting Changes [Text Block]

Change in Accounting Policy

Adoption of Lease Accounting Standard

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which has amended the FASB Accounting Standards Codification and introduced Topic 842, Leases. On January 1, 2019, the Company has adopted Topic 842, which is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2018. Topic 842 requires entities to recognize lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with a term of more than one year, including operating leases, which historically were not recorded on the balance sheet in accordance with the prior standard.

To adopt Topic 842, the Company recognized a cumulative catch-up adjustment to the opening balance sheet as of January 1, 2019 related to certain leases that existed as of that date. As permitted, we have not retrospectively modified our consolidated financial statements for comparative purposes. The adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. As a result of adoption, we have recorded additional net ROU lease assets and lease liabilities of

approximately $6 million and $6 million, respectively, as of January 1, 2019. In addition, we have updated our business processes, systems, and internal controls to support the on-going reporting requirements under the new standard.

To adopt Topic 842, the Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the standard. The expedient package allowed us not to reassess whether existing contracts contained a lease, the lease classification of existing leases and initial direct cost for existing leases. In addition to the package of practical expedients, the Company has elected not to capitalize amounts pertaining to leases with terms less than twelve months, to use the portfolio approach to determine discount rates, not to separate non-lease components from lease components and not to apply the use of hindsight to the active lease population.

Cumulative-effect adjustments made to the opening balance sheet at January 1, 2019 were as follows:



	Balance at December 31, 2018, as previously reported		Adjustments due to Topic 842 (Leases)		Balance at January 1, 2019
Assets:
Operating lease right-of-use assets	$	—	$	6	$	6
Liabilities:
Non-current operating lease liabilities	—		6		6

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments, which are readily convertible into cash and have original maturities of three months or less. The Company places cash deposits and temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions. At times, cash and cash equivalents may be uninsured or in deposit accounts that exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limit.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventories. System natural gas and operating supplies consist of natural gas held for operations and materials and supplies, both of which are carried at the lower of weighted average cost or market, while natural gas owed back to customers is valued at market. The natural gas held for operations that the Company does not expect to consume in its operations in the next twelve months is reflected in non-current assets.

Natural Gas Exchanges [Policy Text Block]

Natural Gas Imbalances. Natural gas imbalances occur as a result of differences in volumes of natural gas received and delivered. The Company records natural gas imbalance in-kind receivables and payables at cost or market. Net imbalances that have reduced system natural gas are valued at the cost basis of the system natural gas, while net imbalances that have increased system natural gas and are owed back to customers are priced, along with the corresponding system natural gas, at market.

Fuel Tracker [Policy Text Block]

Fuel Tracker. The fuel tracker is the cumulative balance of compressor fuel volumes owed to the Company by its customers or owed by the Company to its customers. The customers, pursuant to each pipeline’s tariff and related contracts, provide all compressor fuel to the pipeline based on specified percentages of the customer’s natural gas volumes delivered into the pipeline. The percentages are designed to match the actual natural gas consumed in moving the natural gas through the pipeline facilities, with any difference between the volumes provided versus volumes consumed reflected in the fuel tracker. The tariff of Trunkline, in conjunction with the customers’ contractual obligations, allows the Company to record an asset and direct bill customers for any fuel ultimately under-recovered. The other FERC-regulated PEPL entities record an expense when fuel is under-recovered or record a credit to expense to the extent any under-recovered prior period balances are subsequently recouped as they do not have such explicit billing rights specified in their tariffs. Liability accounts are maintained for net volumes of compressor fuel natural gas owed to customers collectively. The pipelines’ fuel reimbursement is in-kind and non-discountable.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property, Plant and Equipment.

The following table presents the components of property, plant and equipment:



		December 31,
	Lives in Years	2019			2018
Land and improvements		$	4		$	3
Buildings and improvements	6 – 46	194			158
Pipelines and equipment	5 – 46	2,556			2,556
Natural gas storage facilities	26 – 46	348			282
Other	3 – 21	139			160
Construction work in progress		40			37
Property, plant and equipment		3,281			3,196
Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(607		)	(507		)
Property, plant and equipment, net		$	2,674		$	2,689

Additions. Ongoing additions of property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. The Company capitalizes all construction-related direct labor and material costs, as well as indirect construction costs. Such indirect construction costs primarily include capitalized interest costs and labor and related costs of departments associated with supporting construction activities. The indirect capitalized labor and related costs are largely based upon results of periodic time studies or management reviews of time allocations, which provide an estimate of time spent supporting construction projects. The cost of replacements and betterments that extend the useful life of property, plant and equipment is also capitalized. The cost of repairs and replacements of minor property, plant and equipment items is charged to expense as incurred.

Retirements. When ordinary retirements of property, plant and equipment occur, the original cost less salvage value is removed by a charge to accumulated depreciation and amortization, with no gain or loss recorded. When entire regulated operating units of property, plant and equipment are retired or sold, the original cost less salvage value and related accumulated depreciation and amortization accounts are removed, with any resulting gain or loss recorded in earnings.

Depreciation. The Company computes depreciation expense using the straight-line method.

Interest Cost Capitalized. The Company capitalizes interest on certain qualifying assets that are undergoing activities to prepare them for their intended use. Interest costs incurred during the construction period are capitalized and amortized over the life of the assets.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill. Long-lived assets are required to be tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. Goodwill and intangibles with indefinite lives must be tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related asset might be impaired. An impairment loss should be recognized only if the carrying amount of the asset/goodwill is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value.

In order to test for recoverability when performing a quantitative impairment test, the Company makes estimates of projected cash flows related to the asset, which include, but are not limited to, assumptions about the use or disposition of the asset, estimated remaining life of the asset, and future expenditures necessary to maintain the asset’s existing service potential. In order to determine fair value, the Company makes certain estimates and assumptions, including, among other things, changes in general economic conditions in the Company’s operating regions, the availability and prices of natural gas, the ability to negotiate favorable sales agreements, the risks that natural gas exploration and production activities will not occur or be successful, dependence on certain significant customers and producers of natural gas, and competition from other companies, including major energy producers. If future results are not consistent with the Company’s estimates, future impairment losses that could be material may be recorded to our results of operations.

The Company determines the fair value of its reporting units using a weighted combination of the discounted cash flow method and the guideline company method. Determining the fair value of a reporting unit requires judgment and the use of significant estimates and assumptions. Such estimates and assumptions include revenue growth rates, operating margins, weighted average costs of capital and future market conditions, among others. The Company believes the estimates and assumptions used in our impairment assessments are reasonable; however, variations in any of the assumptions could result in materially different calculations of fair value and determinations of whether or not an impairment is indicated. Under the discounted cash flow method, the Company determined fair value based on estimated future cash flows of each reporting unit including estimates for capital expenditures, discounted to present value using the risk-adjusted industry rate, which reflect the overall level of inherent risk of the reporting unit. Cash flow projections are derived from one year budgeted amounts and five year operating forecasts plus an estimate of later period cash flows, all of which are evaluated by management. Subsequent period cash flows are developed for each reporting unit using growth rates that management believes are reasonably likely to occur. Under the guideline company method, the Company determined the estimated fair value of each of our reporting units by applying valuation multiples of comparable publicly-traded companies to each reporting unit’s projected EBITDA and then averaging that estimate with similar historical calculations using a three year average. In addition, the Company estimated a reasonable control premium representing the incremental value that accrues to the majority owner from the opportunity to dictate the strategic and operational actions of the business.

Key assumptions for the measurement of goodwill impairment is management’s estimate of future cash flows and EBITDA. These estimates are based on the annual budget for the upcoming year and forecasted amounts for multiple subsequent years. The annual budget process is typically completed near the annual goodwill impairment testing date, and management uses the most recent information for the annual impairment tests. The forecast is also subjected to a comprehensive update annually in conjunction with the annual budget process and is revised periodically to reflect new information and/or revised expectations. The estimates of future cash flows and EBITDA are subjective in nature and are subject to impacts from the business risks described in “Item 1A. Risk Factors.” Therefore, the actual results could differ significantly from the amounts used for goodwill impairment testing, and significant changes in fair value estimates could occur in a given period.

During the third quarter of 2019, due to a decrease in the demand for storage on Southwest Gas assets, the Company performed an interim impairment test on the assets of Southwest Gas. As a result of the interim impairment test, the Company recognized a goodwill impairment of $12 million related to Southwest Gas, primarily due to decreases in projected future revenues and cash flows.

During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company performed goodwill impairment tests and did not record a goodwill or fixed asset impairment.

During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company performed goodwill impairment tests and recognized goodwill impairment of $262 million related to Trunkline, primarily due to decreases in projected future revenues and cash flows driven by declines in commodity prices and changes in the markets that the assets serve. The Company also recorded a $127 million fixed asset impairment related to Sea Robin, primarily due to lower utilization and expected decrease in projected future cash flows.

Related Party Transactions. Related party expenses primarily include payments for services provided by ET, ETO and other affiliates. Other income includes interest income on notes receivable from related parties.

Environmental Cost, Expense Policy [Policy Text Block]

Environmental Expenditures. Environmental expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations that do not contribute to current or future revenue generation are expensed. Environmental expenditures relating to current or future revenues are expensed or capitalized as appropriate. Liabilities are recorded when environmental assessments and/or clean-ups are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Remediation obligations are not discounted because the timing of future cash flow streams is not predictable.

Revenue [Policy Text Block]

Revenues. The Company’s revenues from transportation and storage of natural gas are based on capacity reservation charges and, to a lesser extent, commodity usage charges. Reservation revenues are based on contracted rates and capacity reserved by the customers and are recognized monthly. Revenues from commodity usage charges are also recognized monthly, based on the volumes received from or delivered for the customer, based on the tariff, with any differences in volumes received and delivered resulting in an imbalance. Volume imbalances generally are settled in-kind with no impact on revenues, with the exception of Trunkline, which settles certain imbalances in cash pursuant to its tariff, and records gains and losses on such cashout sales as a component of revenue, to the extent not owed back to customers. Because the Company is subject to FERC regulation, revenues collected during the pendency of a rate proceeding may be required by FERC to be refunded in the final order. The Company establishes reserves for such potential refunds, as appropriate.

Receivables, Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. The Company has a large number of customers in the electric and gas utility industries as well as oil and natural gas producers and municipalities. The large number of customers in these energy segments may impact our overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively, in that the customers may be similarly affected by changes in economic or other conditions. The Company manages trade credit risk to mitigate credit losses and exposure to uncollectible trade receivables. Prospective and existing customers are reviewed regularly for creditworthiness based upon pre-established standards consistent with FERC filed tariffs to manage credit risk within approved tolerances. Customers that do not meet minimum credit standards are required to provide additional credit support in the form of a letter of credit, prepayment, or other forms of security.

The Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts on trade receivables based on the expected ultimate recovery of these receivables and considers many factors including historical customer collection experience, general and specific economic trends, and known specific issues related to individual customers, sectors, and transactions that might impact collectability. Increases in the allowance are recorded as a component of operating expenses; reductions in the allowance are recorded when receivables are subsequently collected or written-off. Past due receivable balances are written-off when the Company’s efforts have been unsuccessful in collecting the amount due.

The allowance for doubtful accounts was not material as of and during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Policy Text Block]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The main components of accumulated other comprehensive income are a net actuarial gain and prior service costs on pension and other postretirement benefit plans

Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Retirement Benefits. The Company recognizes the overfunded or underfunded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans, measured as the difference between the fair value of the plan assets and the benefit obligation (the projected benefit obligation for pension plans and the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation for other postretirement plans). Each overfunded plan is recognized as an asset and each underfunded plan is recognized as a liability. Changes in the funded status of the plan are recorded in other comprehensive income in partners’ capital in the year in which the change occurs.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value Measurement. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company utilizes market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about nonperformance risk, which is primarily comprised of credit risk (both the Company’s own credit risk and counterparty credit risk) and the risks inherent in the inputs to any applicable valuation techniques. The Company places more weight on current market information concerning credit risk (e.g. current credit default swap rates) as opposed to historical information (e.g. historical default probabilities and credit ratings). These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated, or generally unobservable. The Company endeavors to utilize the best available information, including valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. A three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value, is as follows:


•	Level 1 – Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

•

Level 2 – Observable inputs such as: (i) quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; (ii) quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active and do not require significant adjustment based on unobservable inputs; or (iii) valuations based on pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies or similar techniques where significant inputs (e.g., interest rates, yield curves, etc.) are derived principally from observable market data, or can be corroborated by observable market data, for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities; and

•

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs, including valuations based on pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies or similar techniques where at least one significant model assumption or input is unobservable. Unobservable inputs are used to the extent that observable inputs are not available and reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the assets or liabilities. Unobservable inputs are based on the best information available in the circumstances, which might include the Company’s own data.

Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of these assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy.

Asset Retirement Obligation [Policy Text Block]

Asset Retirement Obligations. Legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets are recorded at fair value at the time the obligations are incurred, if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. Present value techniques are used which reflect assumptions such as removal and remediation costs, inflation, and profit margins that third parties would demand to settle the amount of the future obligation. The Company did not include a market risk premium for unforeseeable circumstances in its fair value estimates because such a premium could not be reliably estimated. Upon initial recognition of the liability, costs are capitalized as a part of the long-lived asset and allocated to expense over the useful life of the related asset. The liability is accreted to its present value each period with accretion being recorded to operating expense with a corresponding increase in the carrying amount of the liability. To the extent the Company is permitted to collect and has reflected in its financials amounts previously collected from customers and expensed, such amounts serve to reduce what would be reflected as capitalized costs at the initial establishment of an ARO.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes. Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rate is recognized in earnings in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts more likely than not to be realized.

The determination of the provision for income taxes requires significant judgment, use of estimates, and the interpretation and application of complex tax laws. Significant judgment is required in assessing the timing and amounts of deductible and taxable items and the probability of sustaining uncertain tax positions. The benefits of uncertain tax positions are recorded in our financial statements only after determining a more-likely-than-not probability that the uncertain tax positions will withstand challenge, if any, from taxing authorities. When facts and circumstances change, we reassess these probabilities and record any changes through the provision for income taxes.

Commitments and Contingencies, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Commitments and Contingencies. The Company is subject to proceedings, lawsuits and other claims related to environmental and other matters. Accounting for contingencies requires significant judgment by management regarding the estimated probabilities and ranges of exposure to potential liability.