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Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Note 12 — Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

We are exposed to certain market risks related to our ongoing business operations. Management uses derivative financial and commodity instruments, among other things, to manage: (1) commodity price risk; (2) interest rate risk; and (3) foreign currency exchange rate risk. Although we use derivative financial and commodity instruments to reduce market risk associated with forecasted transactions, we do not use derivative financial and commodity instruments for speculative or trading purposes. The use of derivative instruments is controlled by our risk management and credit policies, which govern, among other things, the derivative instruments we can use, counterparty credit limits and contract authorization limits. Although our commodity derivative instruments extend over a number of years, a significant portion of our commodity derivative instruments economically hedge commodity price risk during the next twelve months. For information on the accounting for our derivative instruments, see Note 2.

The following summarizes the types of derivative instruments used by the Company to manage certain market risks:

Commodity Price Risk

Regulated Utility Operations

Natural Gas

UGI Utilities’ tariffs contain clauses that permit recovery of all prudently incurred costs of natural gas it sells to retail core-market customers, including the cost of financial instruments used to hedge purchased gas costs. As permitted and agreed to by the PAPUC pursuant to PA Gas Utility’s annual PGC filings, PA Gas Utility currently uses NYMEX natural gas futures and option contracts to reduce commodity price volatility associated with a portion of the natural gas it purchases for its retail core-market customers. See Note 7 for further information on the regulatory accounting treatment for these derivative instruments.

Non-utility Operations

LPG

In order to manage market price risk associated with the Partnership’s fixed-price programs and to reduce the effects of short-term commodity price volatility, the Partnership uses over-the-counter derivative commodity instruments, principally price
swap contracts. In addition, the Partnership and our UGI International operations also use over-the-counter price swap contracts to reduce commodity price volatility associated with a portion of their forecasted LPG purchases.

Natural Gas

In order to manage market price risk relating to fixed-price sales contracts for physical natural gas, Midstream & Marketing enters into NYMEX and over-the-counter natural gas futures and over-the-counter and ICE natural gas basis swap contracts. In addition, Midstream & Marketing uses NYMEX and over-the-counter futures and options contracts to economically hedge price volatility associated with the gross margin derived from the purchase and anticipated later near-term sale of natural gas storage inventories. Outside of the financial market, Midstream & Marketing also uses ICE and over-the-counter forward physical contracts. UGI International also uses natural gas futures and forward contracts to economically hedge market price risk associated with a substantial portion of anticipated volumes under fixed-price sales contracts with its customers.

Electricity

In order to manage market price risk relating to fixed-price sales contracts for electricity, Midstream & Marketing enters into electricity futures and forward contracts. Midstream & Marketing also uses NYMEX and over-the-counter electricity futures contracts to economically hedge the price of a portion of its anticipated future sales of electricity from its electric generation facilities. UGI International also uses electricity futures and forward contracts to economically hedge market price risk associated with fixed-price sales and purchase contracts for electricity.

Interest Rate Risk

Certain of our long-term debt agreements have interest rates that are generally indexed to short-term market interest rates. In order to fix the underlying short-term market interest rates, we may enter into pay-fixed, receive-variable interest rate swap agreements and designate such swaps as cash flow hedges.

The remainder of our long-term debt is typically issued at fixed rates of interest. As this long-term debt matures, we typically refinance such debt with new debt having interest rates reflecting then-current market conditions. In order to reduce market rate risk on the underlying benchmark rate of interest associated with near- to medium-term forecasted issuances of fixed-rate debt, from time to time, we enter into IRPAs. We account for IRPAs as cash flow hedges. There were no unsettled IRPAs during any of the periods presented. At December 31, 2021, the amount of pre-tax net losses associated with interest rate hedges (excluding pay-fixed, receive-variable interest rate swaps) expected to be reclassified into earnings during the next twelve months is $4.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

In order to reduce the volatility in net income associated with our foreign operations, principally as a result of changes in the U.S. dollar exchange rate to the euro and British pound sterling, we enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts. We layer in these foreign currency exchange contracts over a multi-year period to eventually equal approximately 90% of anticipated UGI International foreign currency earnings before income taxes. Because these contracts are not designated as hedging instruments, realized and unrealized gains and losses on these contracts are recorded in “Other non-operating income (expense), net,” on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

Net Investment Hedges

From time to time, we also enter into certain forward foreign currency exchange contracts to reduce the volatility of the U.S. dollar value of a portion of our UGI International euro-denominated net investments, including anticipated foreign currency denominated dividends. We account for these foreign currency exchange contracts as net investment hedges and all changes in the fair value of these contracts are reported in the cumulative translation adjustment component in AOCI. We use the spot rate method to measure ineffectiveness of our net investment hedges.
Concurrent with the repayment of UGI International’s 3.25% Senior Notes on December 7, 2021, we terminated an associated net investment hedge having a notional value of €93. Cash flows from this termination are included in cash flows from investing activities on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Our euro-denominated long-term debt has also been designated as net investment hedges, representing a portion of our UGI International euro-denominated net investment. We recognized pre-tax gains (losses) associated with these net investment hedges in the cumulative translation adjustment component in AOCI of $13 and $(32) during the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Quantitative Disclosures Related to Derivative Instruments

The following table summarizes by derivative type the gross notional amounts related to open derivative contracts at December 31, 2021, September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, and the final settlement dates of the Company's open derivative contracts as of December 31, 2021, excluding those derivatives that qualified for the NPNS exception:
Notional Amounts
(in millions)
TypeUnitsSettlements Extending ThroughDecember 31, 2021September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
Commodity Price Risk:
Regulated Utility Operations
PA Gas Utility NYMEX natural gas futures and option contractsDekathermsSeptember 202214 20 16 
Non-utility Operations
LPG swapsGallonsSeptember 2024732 708 719 
Natural gas futures, forward, basis swap, options and pipeline contractsDekathermsSeptember 2026382 355 342 
Electricity forward and futures contractsKilowatt hoursJanuary 20264,261 4,302 4,816 
Interest Rate Risk:
Interest rate swapsEuroOctober 2022300 300 300 
Interest rate swapsUSDSeptember 2024$1,418 $1,421 $1,306 
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk:
Forward foreign currency exchange contractsUSDSeptember 2024$415 $509 $457 
Net investment hedge forward foreign exchange contractsEuroDecember 2026486 173 173 

Derivative Instrument Credit Risk

We are exposed to risk of loss in the event of nonperformance by our derivative instrument counterparties. Our derivative instrument counterparties principally comprise large energy companies and major U.S. and international financial institutions. We maintain credit policies with regard to our counterparties that we believe reduce overall credit risk. These policies include evaluating and monitoring our counterparties’ financial condition, including their credit ratings, and entering into agreements with counterparties that govern credit limits or entering into netting agreements that allow for offsetting counterparty receivable and payable balances for certain financial transactions, as deemed appropriate.
We have concentrations of credit risk associated with derivative instruments and we evaluate the creditworthiness of our derivative counterparties on an ongoing basis. As of December 31, 2021, the maximum amount of loss, based upon the gross fair values of the derivative instruments, we would incur if these counterparties failed to perform according to the terms of their contracts was $1,156. In general, many of our over-the-counter derivative instruments and all exchange contracts call for the
posting of collateral by the counterparty or by the Company in the forms of letters of credit, parental guarantees or cash. At December 31, 2021, we had received cash collateral from derivative instrument counterparties totaling $205. In addition, we may have offsetting derivative liabilities and certain accounts payable balances with certain of these counterparties, which further mitigates the previously mentioned maximum amount of losses. Certain of the Partnership’s derivative contracts have credit-risk-related contingent features that may require the posting of additional collateral in the event of a downgrade of the Partnership’s debt rating. At December 31, 2021, if the credit-risk-related contingent features were triggered, the amount of collateral required to be posted would not be material.

Offsetting Derivative Assets and Liabilities

Derivative assets and liabilities are presented net by counterparty on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets if the right of offset exists. We offset amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral or the obligation to return cash collateral against amounts recognized for derivative instruments executed with the same counterparty. Our derivative instruments include both those that are executed on an exchange through brokers and centrally cleared and over-the-counter transactions. Exchange contracts utilize a financial intermediary, exchange or clearinghouse to enter, execute or clear the transactions. Over-the-counter contracts are bilateral contracts that are transacted directly with a third party. Certain over-the-counter and exchange contracts contain contractual rights of offset through master netting arrangements, derivative clearing agreements and contract default provisions. In addition, the contracts are subject to conditional rights of offset through counterparty nonperformance, insolvency or other conditions.

In general, many of our over-the-counter transactions and all exchange contracts are subject to collateral requirements. Types of collateral generally include cash or letters of credit. Cash collateral paid by us to our over-the-counter derivative counterparties, if any, is reflected in the table below to offset derivative liabilities. Cash collateral received by us from our over-the-counter derivative counterparties, if any, is reflected in the table below to offset derivative assets. Certain other accounts receivable and accounts payable balances recognized on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets with our derivative counterparties are not included in the table below but could reduce our net exposure to such counterparties because such balances are subject to master netting or similar arrangements.
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
 
The following table presents the Company’s derivative assets and liabilities by type, as well as the effects of offsetting:
December 31,
2021
September 30,
2021
December 31,
2020
Derivative assets:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:  
Foreign currency contracts$10 $20 $
Interest rate contracts— — 
15 20 
Derivatives subject to PGC and DS mechanisms:
Commodity contracts10 58 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:  
Commodity contracts1,112 1,591 170 
Foreign currency contracts19 18 
1,131 1,609 176 
Total derivative assets — gross1,156 1,687 185 
Gross amounts offset in the balance sheet(116)(216)(48)
Cash collateral received(205)(468)(6)
Total derivative assets — net$835 $1,003 $131 
Derivative liabilities:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Foreign currency contracts$(3)$— $— 
Interest rate contracts(17)(29)(50)
(20)(29)(50)
Derivatives subject to PGC and DS mechanisms:
Commodity contracts(7)(23)(2)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts(171)(257)(70)
Foreign currency contracts(4)(8)(25)
(175)(265)(95)
Total derivative liabilities — gross(202)(317)(147)
Gross amounts offset in the balance sheet116 216 48 
Cash collateral pledged— — 
Total derivative liabilities — net$(86)$(98)$(99)
Effects of Derivative Instruments

The following tables provide information on the effects of derivative instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and changes in AOCI:
Three Months Ended December 31,:
Gain (Loss)
Recognized in
AOCI
Loss
Reclassified from
AOCI into Income
Location of Loss Reclassified from
AOCI into Income
Cash Flow Hedges:2021202020212020
Interest rate contracts$12 $— $(6)$(7)Interest expense
Net Investment Hedges:
Foreign currency contracts$— $(8)
Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Income
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:20212020Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income
Commodity contracts$$Revenues
Commodity contracts(273)103 Cost of sales
Commodity contracts— Operating and administrative expenses
Commodity contracts— Other operating income, net
Foreign currency contracts(20)Other non-operating income (expense), net
Total$(257)$93 

We are also a party to a number of other contracts that have elements of a derivative instrument. However, these contracts qualify for NPNS exception accounting because they provide for the delivery of products or services in quantities that are expected to be used in the normal course of operating our business and the price in the contract is based on an underlying that is directly associated with the price of the product or service being purchased or sold. These contracts include, among others, binding purchase orders, contracts that provide for the purchase and delivery, or sale, of energy products, and service contracts that require the counterparty to provide commodity storage, transportation or capacity service to meet our normal sales commitments.