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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Our allowance for doubtful accounts is determined based on specific identification and estimates of future uncollectible accounts, including those related to natural gas imbalances. Our procedure for estimating the allowance for doubtful accounts is based on: (i) historical experience with customers, (ii) the perceived financial stability of customers based on our research and (iii) the levels of credit we grant to customers. In addition, we may increase the allowance for doubtful accounts in response to the specific identification of customers involved in bankruptcy proceedings and similar financial difficulties. On a routine basis, we review estimates associated with the allowance for doubtful accounts to ensure that we have recorded sufficient reserves to cover potential losses. The following table presents our allowance for doubtful accounts activity for the periods indicated:
|  | For the Year Ended December 31, |
|  | 2014 |  |  | 2013 |  |  | 2012 |
Balance at beginning of period |  | $ | 7.5 |  |  | $ | 13.2 |  |  | $ | 13.4 |
Charged to costs and expenses |  |  | 8.4 |  |  |  | 2.1 |  |  |  | 0.3 |
Deductions (1) |  |  | (2.0 | ) |  |  | (7.8 | ) |  |  | (0.5 | )
Balance at end of period |  | $ | 13.9 |  |  | $ | 7.5 |  |  | $ | 13.2 |
(1) The 2013 deduction is primarily due to the write-off of certain amounts attributable to companies in bankruptcy and amounts we believe are no longer collectible. |
See "Credit Risk Due to Industry Concentrations" in Note 19 for additional information. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents represent unrestricted cash on hand and highly liquid investments with original maturities of less than three months from the date of purchase. Consolidation Policy Our consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our majority-owned subsidiaries in which we have a controlling interest, after the elimination of all intercompany accounts and transactions. We also consolidate other entities and ventures in which we possess a controlling financial interest as well as partnership interests where we are the sole general partner of the partnership. We evaluate our financial interests in business enterprises to determine if they represent variable interest entities where we are the primary beneficiary. If such criteria are met, we consolidate the financial statements of such businesses with those of our own. Third party or affiliate ownership interests in our controlled subsidiaries are presented as noncontrolling interests. See Note 13 for information regarding noncontrolling interests. If the entity is organized as a limited partnership or limited liability company and maintains separate ownership accounts, we account for our investment using the equity method if our ownership interest is between 3% and 50%, unless our interest is so minor that we have virtually no influence over the investee's operating and financial policies. For all other types of investments, we apply the equity method of accounting if our ownership interest is between 20% and 50% and we exercise significant influence over the investee's operating and financial policies. In consolidation, we eliminate our proportionate share of profits and losses from transactions with equity method unconsolidated affiliates to the extent such amounts remain on our Consolidated Balance Sheets (or those of our equity method investments) in inventory or similar accounts. We account for investments using the cost method when our ownership interest in an entity does not provide us with significant influence or when we have virtually no influence over the investee's operating and financial policies. At December 31, 2014, we did not have any significant investments accounted for using the cost method. Contingencies Certain conditions may exist as of the date our consolidated financial statements are issued, which may result in a loss to us but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. Management has regular quarterly litigation reviews, including updates from legal counsel, to assess the need for accounting recognition or disclosure of these contingencies, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise in judgment. In assessing loss contingencies related to legal proceedings that are pending against us or unasserted claims that may result in such proceedings, our management and legal counsel evaluate the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or unasserted claims as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought therein. We accrue an undiscounted liability for those contingencies where the incurrence of a loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. If a range of amounts can be reasonably estimated and no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, then the minimum of the range is accrued. We do not record a contingent liability when the likelihood of loss is probable but the amount cannot be reasonably estimated or when it is believed to be only reasonably possible or remote. For contingencies where an unfavorable outcome is reasonably possible and the impact would be material, we disclose the nature of the contingency and, if feasible, an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss. Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the guarantees would be disclosed. See Note 18 for additional information regarding our contingencies. Current Assets and Current Liabilities We present, as individual captions in our Consolidated Balance Sheets, all components of current assets and current liabilities that exceed 5% of total current assets and liabilities, respectively. We use derivative instruments such as futures, swaps, options, forward contracts and other arrangements to manage price risks associated with inventories, firm commitments, interest rates, foreign currencies and certain anticipated future commodity transactions. To qualify for hedge accounting, the hedged item must expose us to risk and the related derivative instrument must reduce the exposure to that risk and meet specific hedge documentation requirements related to designation dates, expectations for hedge effectiveness and the probability that hedged future transactions will occur as forecasted. We formally designate derivative instruments as hedges and document and assess their effectiveness at inception of the hedge and on a monthly basis thereafter. Forecasted transactions are evaluated for the probability of occurrence and are periodically back-tested once the forecasted period has passed to determine whether similarly forecasted transactions are probable of occurring in the future. For certain physical forward commodity derivative contracts, we apply the normal purchase/normal sale exception, whereby changes in the mark-to-market values of such contracts are not recognized in income. As a result, the revenues and expenses associated with such physical transactions are recognized during the period when volumes are physically delivered or received. Physical forward commodity contracts subject to this exception are evaluated for the probability of future delivery and are periodically back-tested once the forecasted period has passed to determine whether similar forward contracts are probable of physical delivery in the future. See Note 6 for additional information regarding our derivative instruments. Earnings Per Unit Earnings per unit is based on the amount of net income available to common unitholders and the weighted-average number of common units outstanding during a period. See Note 17 for additional information regarding our earnings per unit amounts. Environmental Costs Environmental costs for remediation are accrued based on estimates of known remediation requirements. Such accruals are based on management's best estimate of the ultimate cost to remediate a site and are adjusted as further information and circumstances develop. Those estimates may change substantially depending on information about the nature and extent of contamination, appropriate remediation technologies and regulatory approvals. Expenditures to mitigate or prevent future environmental contamination are capitalized. Ongoing environmental compliance costs are charged to expense as incurred. In accruing for environmental remediation liabilities, costs of future expenditures for environmental remediation are not discounted to their present value, unless the amount and timing of the expenditures are fixed or reliably determinable. At December 31, 2014, none of our estimated environmental remediation liabilities were discounted to present value since the ultimate amount and timing of cash payments for such liabilities were not readily determinable. The following table presents the activity of our environmental reserves for the periods indicated:
|  | For the Year Ended December 31, |
|  | 2014 |  |  | 2013 |  |  | 2012 |
Balance at beginning of period |  | $ | 9.9 |  |  | $ | 13.7 |  |  | $ | 12.3 |
Charged to costs and expenses |  |  | 11.9 |  |  |  | 3.9 |  |  |  | 13.9 |
Acquisition-related additions and other |  |  | 2.5 |  |  |  | 0.7 |  |  |  | 5.2 |
Deductions |  |  | (8.7 | ) |  |  | (8.4 | ) |  |  | (17.7 | )
Balance at end of period |  | $ | 15.6 |  |  | $ | 9.9 |  |  | $ | 13.7 |
At December 31, 2014 and 2013, $8.1 million and $6.0 million, respectively, of our environmental reserves were classified as current liabilities. Equity-based Awards See Note 5 for information regarding our accounting for equity-based awards. Estimates Preparing our consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") requires us to make estimates that affect amounts presented in the financial statements. Our most significant estimates relate to (i) the useful lives and depreciation/amortization methods used for fixed and identifiable intangible assets; (ii) measurement of fair value and projections used in impairment testing of fixed and intangible assets (including goodwill); (iii) contingencies; and (iv) revenue and expense accruals. Actual results could differ materially from our estimates. On an ongoing basis, we review our estimates based on currently available information. Any changes in the facts and circumstances underlying our estimates may require us to update such estimates, which could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Impairment Testing for Goodwill Our goodwill amounts are assessed for impairment on a routine annual basis or when impairment indicators are present. If such indicators occur (e.g., the loss of a significant customer or technological obsolescence of assets), the estimated fair value of the reporting unit to which the goodwill is assigned is determined and compared to its carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value including associated goodwill amounts, a charge to earnings is recorded to reduce the carrying value of the goodwill to its implied fair value. See Note 11 for additional information regarding goodwill. Impairment Testing for Long-Lived Assets Long-lived assets (including intangible assets with finite useful lives and property, plant and equipment) are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Long-lived assets with carrying values that are not expected to be recovered through future cash flows are written-down to their estimated fair values. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is deemed not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If the asset's carrying value exceeds the sum of its undiscounted cash flows, a non-cash asset impairment charge equal to the excess of the asset's carrying value over its estimated fair value is recorded. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at a specified measurement date. We measure fair value using market price indicators or, in the absence of such data, appropriate valuation techniques. See Note 6 for information regarding impairment charges related to long-lived assets during 2014, 2013 and 2012. Impairment Testing for Unconsolidated Affiliates We evaluate our equity method investments for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that there is a loss in value of the investment attributable to an other than temporary decline. Examples of such events or changes in circumstances include continuing operating losses of the entity and/or long-term negative changes in the entity's industry. In the event we determine that the loss in value of an investment is an other than temporary decline, we record a charge to equity earnings to adjust the carrying value of the investment to its estimated fair value. There were no impairment charges in 2014 and 2012 related to our equity method investments. See Note 9 for information regarding our equity method investments and related impairment charge recorded during 2013. Income Taxes Publicly traded partnerships like ours are treated as corporations unless they have 90% or more in qualifying income (as that term is defined in the IRS Internal Revenue Code). We satisfied this requirement in each of the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and, as a result, are not subject to federal income tax. However, our partners are individually responsible for paying federal income taxes on their share of our taxable income. Net earnings for financial statement purposes may differ significantly from taxable income reportable to our unitholders as a result of differences between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of certain assets and liabilities and other factors. We do not have access to information regarding each partner's individual tax basis in our limited partner interests. See Note 16 for additional information regarding our income taxes. Inventories Inventories primarily consist of NGLs, petrochemicals, refined products, crude oil and natural gas volumes that are valued at the lower of average cost or market. We capitalize, as a cost of inventory, shipping and handling charges (e.g., pipeline transportation and storage fees) and other related costs associated with purchased volumes. As volumes are sold and delivered out of inventory, the cost of these volumes (including freight-in charges that have been capitalized as part of inventory cost) are charged to operating costs and expenses. Shipping and handling fees associated with products we sell and deliver to customers are charged to operating costs and expenses as incurred. See Note 7 for additional information regarding our inventories. Other Non-Operating Income The following table presents the components of "Other, net" as presented on our Statements of Consolidated Operations for the periods indicated:
|  | For the Year Ended December 31, |
|  | 2014 |  |  | 2013 |  |  | 2012 |
Gain on sales of available-for-sale securities of Energy Transfer Equity (1) |  | $ | -- |  |  | $ | -- |  |  | $ | 68.8 |
Other |  |  | 0.6 |  |  |  | (1.1 | ) |  |  | 3.8 |
Total |  | $ | 0.6 |  |  | $ | (1.1 | ) |  | $ | 72.6 |
(1) See Note 9 for information regarding the liquidation of our investment in limited partnership units of Energy Transfer Equity. |
Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost. Expenditures for additions, improvements and other enhancements to property, plant and equipment are capitalized, and minor replacements, maintenance, and repairs that do not extend asset life or add value are charged to expense as incurred. When property, plant and equipment assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation is removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in results of operations for the respective period. We capitalize interest costs incurred on funds used to construct property, plant and equipment while the asset is in its construction phase. The capitalized interest is recorded as part of the asset to which it relates and is amortized over the asset's estimated useful life as a component of depreciation expense. When capitalized interest is recorded, it reduces interest expense from what it would be otherwise. In general, depreciation is the systematic and rational allocation of an asset's cost, less its residual value (if any), to the periods it benefits. The majority of our property, plant and equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method, which results in depreciation expense being incurred evenly over the life of an asset. Our estimate of depreciation expense incorporates management assumptions regarding the useful economic lives and residual values of our assets. With respect to midstream energy assets such as natural gas gathering systems that are reliant upon a specific natural resource basin for throughput volumes, the anticipated useful economic life of such assets may be limited by the estimated life of the associated natural resource basin from which the assets derive benefit. Our forecast of the remaining life for the applicable resource basins is based on several factors, including information published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Where appropriate, we use other depreciation methods (generally accelerated) for tax purposes. Leasehold improvements are recorded as a component of property, plant and equipment. The cost of leasehold improvements is charged to earnings using the straight-line method over the shorter of (i) the remaining lease term or (ii) the estimated useful lives of the improvements. We consider renewal terms that are deemed reasonably assured when estimating remaining lease terms. Our assumptions regarding the useful economic lives and residual values of our assets may change in response to new facts and circumstances, which would prospectively impact our depreciation expense amounts. Examples of such circumstances include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in laws and regulations that limit the estimated economic life of an asset; (ii) changes in technology that render an asset obsolete; (iii) changes in expected salvage values or (iv) significant changes in the forecast life of the applicable resource basins, if any. See Note 8 for additional information regarding our property, plant and equipment. Certain of our plant operations entail periodic planned outages for major maintenance activities. These planned shutdowns typically result in significant expenditures, which are principally comprised of amounts paid to third parties for materials, contract services and related items. We use the expense-as-incurred method for our planned major maintenance activities for plant operations; however, the cost of annual planned major maintenance projects for such plants are deferred and recognized ratably until the next planned annual outage. With regard to the planned major maintenance activities on our marine transportation assets and underground storage caverns, we use the deferral method to account for such costs. Under this method, major maintenance costs are capitalized and amortized over the period until the next major overhaul or cavern integrity project. Asset retirement obligations ("AROs") are legal obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets that result from their acquisition, construction, development and/or normal operation. When an ARO is incurred, we record a liability for the ARO and capitalize an equal amount as an increase in the carrying value of the related long-lived asset. ARO amounts are measured at their estimated fair value using expected present value techniques. Over time, the ARO liability is accreted to its present value (through accretion expense) and the capitalized amount is depreciated over the remaining useful life of the related long-lived asset. We will incur a gain or loss to the extent that our ARO liabilities are not settled at their recorded amounts. Restricted Cash Restricted cash represents amounts held in segregated bank accounts by our clearing brokers as margin in support of our commodity derivative instruments portfolio and related physical purchases and sales of natural gas, crude oil, refined products and NGLs. Additional cash may be restricted to maintain our commodity derivative instruments portfolio as prices fluctuate or deposit requirements change. At December 31, 2013, our restricted cash amount was $65.6 million. We did not have any restricted cash as of December 31, 2014. See Note 6 for information regarding our derivative instruments and hedging activities. Revenue Recognition In general, we recognize revenue from our customers when all of the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an exchange arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the buyer's price is fixed or determinable and (iv) collectibility is reasonably assured. Amounts billed in advance of the period in which the service is rendered or product delivered are recorded as deferred revenue. See Note 4 for information regarding our revenue recognition policies.

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