Transactions with Affiliates

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Transactions With Affiliates [Abstract]

TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFLIATES

6. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.

We are a participant in WPZ's cash management program, and we make advances to and receive advances from WPZ. At March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, our advances to WPZ totaled approximately $385.3 million and $312.2 million, respectively. These advances are represented by demand notes and are classified as Current Assets in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Advances are stated at the historical carrying amounts. Interest income is recognized when chargeable and collectability is reasonably assured. The interest rate on these intercompany demand notes is based upon the daily overnight investment rate paid on WPZ's excess cash at the end of each month. At March 31, 2013, the interest rate was 0.01 percent.

       Included in our operating revenues for the three months ending March 31, 2013 and 2012 are revenues received from affiliates of $5.9 million and $0.2 million, respectively. The rates charged to provide sales and services to affiliates are the same as those that are charged to similarly-situated nonaffiliated customers.

       Included in our cost of sales for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 is the cost of gas purchased from affiliates of $2.4 million and $1.3 million, respectively. All gas purchases are made at market or contract prices.

We have no employees. Services necessary to operate our business are provided to us by Williams and certain affiliates of Williams. We reimburse Williams for all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and benefits) in connection with these services. We were billed $45.9 million and $51.0 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, for these services. Such expenses are primarily included in Administrative and general and Operation and maintenance expenses in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.

       Employees of Williams also provide general and administrative services to us, and we are charged for certain administrative expenses incurred by Williams. These charges are either directly identifiable or allocated to our assets. Direct charges are for goods and services provided by Williams at our request. Allocated charges are based on a three-factor formula, which considers revenues; property, plant and equipment; and payroll. Our share of direct and allocated administrative expenses is reflected in Administrative and general expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. In management's estimation, the allocation methodologies used are reasonable and result in a reasonable allocation to us of our costs of doing business incurred by Williams. Included in our Administrative and general expensesfor the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, were $16.8 million and $15.8 million, respectively, for management services charged by Williams and other affiliated companies.

       Pursuant to an operating agreement, we serve as the contract operator on certain Williams Field Services Company (WFS) facilities. We recorded reductions in operating expenses for services provided to and reimbursed by WFS of $0.5 million and $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, under terms of the operating agreement.

We made equity distributions to WPO totaling $65.0 million and $54.3 million during the three months ended March 31,2013 and 2012, respectively. During April 2013, we made an additional distribution to WPO of $58.0 million.In the three months ended March 31,2013 and 2012, respectively, WPO made contributions totaling $55.0 million and $34.0 million to us to fund a portion of our expenditures for additions to property, plant and equipment. In April 2013, WPO made an additional $52.0 million contribution to us.