Fair Value Measurements (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Note 6 - Fair Value Measurements

Questar complies with the accounting standards for fair value measurements and disclosures. The standards establish a fair value hierarchy. Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Fair value accounting standards also apply to certain nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

Questar

The following table discloses the carrying amount, estimated fair value and level within the fair value hierarchy of certain financial instruments not disclosed in other notes to Questar's financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:



	Hierarchy Level of Fair Value Estimates	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
		Sept. 30, 2014				Sept. 30, 2013				Dec. 31, 2013
		(in millions)
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents	1	$	7.3	$	7.3	$	—	$	—	$	16.0	$	16.0
Long-term investment	1	15.8		15.8		16.8		16.8		17.3		17.3
Financial liabilities
Checks outstanding in excess of cash balances	1	—		—		1.6		1.6		—		—
Short-term debt	1	234.0		234.0		355.0		355.0		276.0		276.0
Long-term debt	2	1,245.7		1,364.0		1,097.5		1,191.1		1,247.1		1,310.8

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, checks outstanding in excess of cash balances and short-term debt approximate fair value. The long-term investment is recorded at fair value and consists of money market and short-term bond index mutual funds held in Wexpro's trust (see Note 5). The fair value of the long-term investment is based on quoted prices for the underlying funds. The fair value of fixed-rate long-term debt is based on the discounted present value of cash flows using the Company's current credit risk-adjusted borrowing rates.

Questar Gas

The following table discloses the carrying amount, estimated fair value and level within the fair value hierarchy of certain financial instruments not disclosed in other notes to Questar Gas's financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:



	Hierarchy Level of Fair Value Estimates	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
		Sept. 30, 2014				Sept. 30, 2013				Dec. 31, 2013
		(in millions)
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents	1	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	8.8	$	8.8
Financial liabilities
Checks outstanding in excess of cash balances	1	2.1		2.1		1.4		1.4		—		—
Notes payable to Questar	1	90.8		90.8		195.0		195.0		17.7		17.7
Long-term debt	2	534.5		602.8		384.5		425.6		534.5		568.0

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents and checks outstanding in excess of cash balances approximate fair value. The carrying amounts of notes payable to Questar approximate fair value because of their short maturities and market-based interest rates. The fair value of fixed-rate long-term debt is based on the discounted present value of cash flows using Questar Gas's current credit risk-adjusted borrowing rates.

Questar Pipeline

The following table discloses the carrying amount, estimated fair value and level within the fair value hierarchy of certain financial instruments not disclosed in other notes to Questar Pipeline's financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:



	Hierarchy Level of Fair Value Estimates	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
		Sept. 30, 2014				Sept. 30, 2013				Dec. 31, 2013
		(in millions)
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents	1	$	0.4	$	0.4	$	1.5	$	1.5	$	2.7	$	2.7
Notes receivable from Questar	1	35.2		35.2		36.6		36.6		29.4		29.4
Financial liabilities
Long-term debt	2	458.8		505.0		458.8		505.5		458.9		486.0

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents approximate fair value. The carrying amounts of notes receivable from Questar approximate fair value because of their short maturities and market-based interest rates. The fair value of fixed-rate long-term debt is based on the discounted present value of cash flows using Questar Pipeline's current credit risk-adjusted borrowing rates.

The Questar and Questar Pipeline Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets included a nonrecurring fair value measurement at September 30, 2013 related to the impairment of the eastern segment of Questar Southern Trails Pipeline. The asset's fair value of zero was based on inputs that indicated overall negative future net cash flows. Questar Pipeline used a probability-weighted discounted cash flow analysis that included significant inputs such as Questar Pipeline's cost of capital and assumptions regarding future transportation rates and operating costs. Based on this analysis, Questar Pipeline determined that the asset was impaired. This is a Level 3 fair value measurement because the inputs are unobservable. See Note 12 for additional information.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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