Earnings Per Share

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

Note 2 - Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share

Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income attributable to Questar by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period, which include vested restricted stock units. Diluted EPS includes the potential increase in the number of outstanding shares that could result from the exercise of in-the-money stock options, the vesting of restricted stock units and the distribution of performance shares that are part of the Company's LTSIP, less shares repurchased under the treasury stock method. Restricted shares are participating securities for the computation of basic earnings per share. Unvested restricted stock units are not participating securities because their dividend equivalents are forfeitable under certain circumstances. The application of the two-class method had an insignificant impact on the calculation of both basic and diluted EPS. A reconciliation of the components of basic and diluted shares used in the EPS calculation follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2012	2011	2010
	(in millions)
Weighted-average basic common shares outstanding	176.5	177.4	175.4
Potential number of shares issuable under the Company's LTSIP	1.0	1.4	2.6
Weighted-average diluted common shares outstanding	177.5	178.8	178.0

In the past three years, Questar had the ability to issue shares under the terms of the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, Employee Investment Plan and Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan.

Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan

The Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan allows shareholders to reinvest dividends or invest additional funds in Questar common stock. The Company can issue new shares or buy shares in the open market to meet shareholders' purchase requests. The Company bought shares in the open market to satisfy shareholders' purchases in 2012 and no shares were issued. The Company issued 4,400 shares in 2011 and 162,157 shares in 2010 and relied on open market purchases to supplement Company-issued shares in both years. At December 31, 2012, 20,531,255 shares were reserved and authorized for future issuance.

Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan

Questar issues stock options, restricted shares and restricted stock units to certain officers, directors and employees under its LTSIP. Stock options for participants have terms ranging from five to ten years with a majority issued with a seven to ten-year term. Options held by employees generally vest in three or four equal, annual installments. Options granted to non-employee directors generally vest in one installment six months after grant. Restricted shares and restricted stock units vest in equal installments over a specified number of years after the grant date with the majority vesting in three or four years. Unvested restricted shares have voting and dividend rights; however, sale or transfer is restricted. Restricted stock units do not have voting rights until shares are distributed. Restricted stock units also accrue dividend equivalents, which are subject to the same vesting, distribution and voting conditions of the underlying award.

Beginning in 2011, Questar grants performance shares to certain Company executive officers under the terms of the LTSIP. The awards are designed to motivate and reward these executives for long-term Company performance and provide an incentive for them to remain with the Company. The target number of performance shares for each executive officer is subject to adjustment upward or downward based on the Company's performance relative to a specified peer group of companies over a three-year performance period with respect to defined performance criteria. Each three-year performance period commences at the beginning of the year of grant. The actual performance shares awarded, if any, are distributed in the quarter following the conclusion of the performance period so long as such executive officer was employed by the Company or its affiliates as of the last day of the performance period. Half of any award will be distributed in shares of Questar common stock and half in cash. For a summary of LTSIP transactions, see Note 11.