Revenue from contracts with customers

12 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2020

Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block]

K.Revenue from contracts with customers

Ferrellgas earns revenue from contracts with customers primarily through the distribution of propane, as well as through the sale of propane related equipment and supplies. Revenues from propane and other gas liquids sales are comprised of revenue earned from the delivery of propane to tanks on customers’ premises, from the delivery of propane filled cylinders to customers, or from the sale of portable propane tanks to nationwide and local retailers and end use customers. Other revenues primarily include sales of appliances and other materials as well as other fees charged to customers.

Contracts with customers

Ferrellgas’ contracts with customers are principally for the bulk delivery of propane to tanks, delivery of propane filled cylinders or the delivery of portable propane tanks to retailers. Ferrellgas sells propane to a wide variety of customers, including residential, industrial/commercial, portable tank exchange, agricultural, wholesale and others. Ferrellgas’ performance obligations in these contracts are generally limited to the delivery of propane, and therefore revenues from these contracts are earned at the time product is delivered or, in the case of some of Ferrellgas’ portable tank exchange retailers who have consignment agreements, at the time the tanks are sold to the end use customer. Payment is generally due within 30 days. Revenues from sales of propane are included in Propane and other gas liquids sales on the consolidated statements of operations.

Typically, Ferrellgas bills customers upon delivery and payment is generally due within 30 days. With its residential customers, Ferrellgas offers customers the ability to spread their annual heating costs over a longer period, typically twelve months. Customers who opt to spread their heating costs over a longer period are referred to as “even-pay” customers.

Ferrellgas charges other amounts to customers associated with the delivery of propane including hazardous materials fees and fuel surcharge fees. In some regions, Ferrellgas also sells appliances and related parts and fittings as well as other retail propane related services. Ferrellgas charges on an annual basis tank and equipment rental charges for customers that are using our equipment to store propane. Other revenues associated with deliveries of propane are earned at the time product is delivered. Revenues associated with sales of appliances and other materials or services are earned at the time of delivery or installation. Revenues associated with tank and equipment rentals are generally recognized on a straight-line basis over one year.

Accounting estimates related to recognition of revenue require that Ferrellgas make estimates and assumptions about various factors including credits issued for completed sales, future returns and total consideration payable in instances where we have customer incentives payable to the customer.

Disaggregation of revenue

Ferrellgas disaggregates revenues based upon the type of customer and on the type of revenue. The following table presents retail propane revenues, wholesale propane revenues and other revenues. Retail revenues result from sales to end use customers, wholesale revenues result from sales to or through resellers and all other revenues include sales of appliances and other materials, other fees charged to customers and equipment rental charges.

	For the year ended July 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Retail - Sales to End Users	$	964,087	$	1,128,991	$	1,082,046
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers		430,435		419,349		448,943
Other Gas Sales		21,269		60,518		111,987
Other		82,035		75,534		147,847
Propane and related equipment revenues	$	1,497,826	$	1,684,392	$	1,790,823

Contract assets and liabilities

Ferrellgas’ performance obligations are generally limited to the delivery of propane for our retail and wholesale contracts. Ferrellgas’ performance obligations with respect to sales of appliances and other materials and other revenues are limited to the delivery of the agreed upon good or service. Ferrellgas does not have material performance obligations that are delivered over time, thus all of our revenue is recognized at the time the goods, including propane, are delivered or installed. Ferrellgas offers “even pay” billing programs that can create customer deposits or advances, depending on whether Ferrellgas has delivered more propane than the customer has paid for or whether the customer has paid for more propane than what has been delivered. Revenue is recognized from these customer deposits or advances to customers at the time product is delivered. The advance or deposit is considered to be a contract asset or liability. Additionally, from time to time, we have customers that pay in advance for goods or services, and such amounts result in contract liabilities.

Ferrellgas incurs incremental commissions directly related to the acquisition or renewal of customer contracts. The commissions are calculated and paid based upon the number of gallons sold to the acquired or renewed customer. The total amount of commissions that we incur is not material, and the commissions are expensed commensurate with the deliveries to which they relate; therefore, Ferrellgas does not capitalize these costs.

The following table presents the opening and closing balances of our receivables, contract assets, and contract liabilities:

	July 31, 2020		July 31, 2019
Accounts receivable	$	108,483	$	96,450
Contract assets	$	7,079	$	13,609
Contract liabilities
Deferred revenue (1)	$	42,911	$	31,974

(1) Of the beginning balance of deferred revenue, $29.8 million was recognized as revenue during the year ended July 31, 2020.

Remaining performance obligations

Ferrellgas’ remaining performance obligations are generally limited to situations where its customers have remitted payment but have not yet received deliveries of propane. This most commonly occurs in Ferrellgas’ even pay billing programs and Ferrellgas expects that these balances will be recognized within a year or less as the customer takes delivery of propane.

Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]

Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block]

K.     Revenue from contracts with customers

Ferrellgas, L.P. earns revenue from contracts with customers primarily through the distribution of propane, as well as through the sale of propane related equipment and supplies. Revenues from propane and other gas liquids sales are comprised of revenue earned from the delivery of propane to tanks on customers’ premises, from the delivery of propane filled cylinders to customers, or from the sale of portable propane tanks to nationwide and local retailers and end use customers. Other revenues primarily include sales of appliances and other materials as well as other fees charged to customers.

Contracts with customers

Ferrellgas, L.P.’s contracts with customers are principally for the bulk delivery of propane to tanks, delivery of propane filled cylinders or the delivery of portable propane tanks to retailers. Ferrellgas, L.P. sells propane to a wide variety of customers, including residential, industrial/commercial, portable tank exchange, agricultural, wholesale and others. Ferrellgas, L.P.’s performance obligations in these contracts are generally limited to the delivery of propane, and therefore revenues from these contracts are earned at the time product is delivered or, in the case of some of Ferrellgas, L.P.’s portable tank exchange retailers who have consignment agreements, at the time the tanks are sold to the end use customer. Payment is generally due within 30 days. Revenues from sales of propane are included in Propane and other gas liquids sales on the consolidated statements of operations.

Typically, Ferrellgas, L.P. bills customers upon delivery and payment is generally due within 30 days. With its residential customers, Ferrellgas, L.P offers customers the ability to spread their annual heating costs over a longer period, typically twelve months. Customers who opt to spread their heating costs over a longer period are referred to as “even-pay” customers.

Ferrellgas, L.P. charges other amounts to customers associated with the delivery of propane including hazardous materials fees and fuel surcharge fees. In some regions, Ferrellgas, L.P. also sells appliances and related parts and fittings as well as other retail propane related services. Ferrellgas, L.P. charges on an annual basis tank and equipment rental charges for customers that are using our equipment to store propane. Other revenues associated with deliveries of propane are earned at the time product is delivered. Revenues associated with sales of appliances and other materials or services are earned at the time of delivery or installation. Revenues associated with tank and equipment rentals are generally recognized on a straight-line basis over one year.

Accounting estimates related to recognition of revenue require that Ferrellgas, L.P. make estimates and assumptions about various factors including credits issued for completed sales, future returns and total consideration payable in instances where we have customer incentives payable to the customer.

Disaggregation of revenue

Ferrellgas, L.P. disaggregates revenues based upon the type of customer and on the type of revenue. The following table presents retail propane revenues, wholesale propane revenues and other revenues. Retail revenues result from sales to end use customers, wholesale revenues result from sales to or through resellers and all other revenues include sales of appliances and other materials, other fees charged to customers and equipment rental charges.

	For the year ended July 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Retail - Sales to End Users	$	964,087	$	1,128,991	$	1,082,046
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers		430,435		419,349		448,943
Other Gas Sales		21,269		60,518		111,987
Other		82,035		75,534		147,847
Propane and related equipment revenues	$	1,497,826	$	1,684,392	$	1,790,823

Contract assets and liabilities

Ferrellgas, L.P.’s performance obligations are generally limited to the delivery of propane for our retail and wholesale contracts. Ferrellgas, L.P.’s performance obligations with respect to sales of appliances and other materials and other revenues are limited to the delivery of the agreed upon good or service. Ferrellgas, L.P. does not have material performance obligations that are delivered over time, thus all of our revenue is recognized at the time the goods, including propane, are delivered or installed. Ferrellgas, L.P. offers “even pay” billing programs that can create customer deposits or advances, depending on whether Ferrellgas, L.P. has delivered more propane than the customer has paid for or whether the customer has paid for more propane than what has been delivered. Revenue is recognized from these customer deposits or advances to customers at the time product is delivered. The advance or deposit is considered to be a contract asset or liability. Additionally, from time to time, we have customers that pay in advance for goods or services, and such amounts result in contract liabilities.

Ferrellgas, L.P. incurs incremental commissions directly related to the acquisition or renewal of customer contracts. The commissions are calculated and paid based upon the number of gallons sold to the acquired or renewed customer. The total amount of commissions that we incur is not material, and the commissions are expensed commensurate with the deliveries to which they relate; therefore, Ferrellgas, L.P. does not capitalize these costs.

The following table presents the opening and closing balances of our receivables, contract assets, and contract liabilities:

	July 31, 2020		July 31, 2019
Accounts receivable	$	108,483	$	96,450
Contract assets	$	7,079	$	13,609
Contract liabilities
Deferred revenue (1)	$	42,911	$	31,974

(1) Of the beginning balance of deferred revenue, $29.8 million was recognized as revenue during the year ended July 31, 2020.

Remaining performance obligations

Ferrellgas, L.P.’s remaining performance obligations are generally limited to situations where its customers have remitted payment but have not yet received deliveries of propane. This most commonly occurs in Ferrellgas, L.P.’s even pay billing programs and Ferrellgas expects that these balances will be recognized within a year or less as the customer takes delivery of propane.