ESTIMATES, SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND BALANCE SHEET DETAIL:

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the accrual for and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

The natural gas industry conducts its business by processing actual transactions at the end of the month following the month of delivery. Consequently, the most current month’s financial results for the midstream, NGL and intrastate transportation and storage operations are estimated using volume estimates and market prices. Any differences between estimated results and actual results are recognized in the following month’s financial statements. Management believes that the estimated operating results represent the actual results in all material respects.

Some of the other significant estimates made by management include, but are not limited to, the timing of certain forecasted transactions that are hedged, the fair value of derivative instruments, useful lives for depreciation and amortization, purchase accounting allocations and subsequent realizability of intangible assets, fair value measurements used in the goodwill impairment test, market value of inventory, assets and liabilities resulting from the regulated ratemaking process, contingency reserves and environmental reserves. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”), which clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue based on the core principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Partnership adopted ASU 2014-09 on January 1, 2018.

Upon the adoption of ASU 2014-09, the amount of revenue that the Partnership recognizes on certain contracts has changed, primarily due to decreases in revenue (with offsetting decreases to cost of sales) resulting from recognition of non-cash consideration as revenue when received and as cost of sales when sold to third parties. In addition, income statement reclassifications were required for fuel usage and loss allowances related to multiple segments as well as contracts deemed to be in-substance supply agreements in our midstream segment. In addition to the evaluation performed, we have made appropriate design and implementation updates to our business processes, systems and internal controls to support recognition and disclosure under the new standard.

Utilizing the practical expedients allowed under the modified retrospective adoption method, Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606 was only applied to existing contracts for which the Partnership has remaining performance obligations as of January 1, 2018, and new contracts entered into after January 1, 2018. ASC Topic 606 was not applied to contracts that were completed prior to January 1, 2018.

The Partnership has elected to apply the modified retrospective method to adopt the new standard. For contracts in scope of the new revenue standard as of January 1, 2018, the cumulative effect adjustment to partners’ capital was not material. The comparative information has not been restated under the modified retrospective method and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods.

For contracts in scope of the new revenue standard as of January 1, 2018, the Partnership recognized a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings to account for the differences in timing of revenue recognition. The comparative information has not been restated under the modified retrospective method and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods.

The adjustments to the opening balance sheet primarily relate to a change in timing of revenue recognition for variable consideration at Sunoco LP, such as incentives paid to customers, as well as a change in timing of revenue recognition for franchise fee revenue. Historically, an asset was recognized related to the contract incentives which was amortized over the life of the agreement. Under the new standard, the timing of the recognition of incentives changed due to application of the expected value method to estimate variable consideration. Additionally, under the new standard the change in timing of franchise fee revenue is due to the treatment of revenue recognition from the symbolic license over the term of the agreement.

The cumulative effect of the changes made to the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheet for the adoption of ASU 2014-09 was as follows:



	Balance at December 31, 2017		Adjustments due to ASC 606			Balance at January 1, 2018
Assets:
Other current assets	$	295	$	8		$	303
Property, plant and equipment, net	61,088		—			61,088
Intangible assets, net	6,116		(100		)	6,016
Other non-current assets, net	886		39			925

Liabilities and Equity:
Other non-current liabilities	$	1,217	$	1		$	1,218
Noncontrolling interest	31,176		(54		)	31,122

The adoption of the new revenue standard resulted in reclassifications between revenue, cost of sales and operating expenses. Additionally, changes in timing of revenue recognition have required the creation of contract asset or contract liability balances, as well as certain balance sheet reclassifications. In accordance with the requirements of ASC Topic 606, the disclosure below shows the impact of adopting the new standard on the consolidated statement of operations and the consolidated balance sheet.



	Year Ended December 31, 2018
	As Reported		Balances Without Adoption of ASC 606		Effect of Change: Higher/(Lower)
Revenues:
Natural gas sales	$	4,452	$	4,452	$	—
NGL sales	9,109		9,071		38
Crude sales	14,415		14,403		12
Gathering, transportation and other fees	6,797		7,526		(729		)
Refined product sales	18,345		18,393		(48		)
Other	969		968		1

Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	$	41,658	$	42,389	$	(731	)
Operating expenses	3,089		3,045		44
Depreciation and amortization	2,859		2,888		(29		)



	Year Ended December 31, 2018
	As Reported		Balances Without Adoption of ASC 606		Effect of Change: Higher/(Lower)
Assets:
Other current assets	$	350	$	338	$	12
Property, plant and equipment, net	66,963		66,963		—
Other non-current assets, net	1,006		947		59
Intangible assets, net	6,000		6,134		(134		)

Liabilities and Equity:
Other non-current liabilities	$	1,184	$	1,183	$	1
Noncontrolling interest	10,291		10,355		(64		)

Additional disclosures related to revenue recognition are included in Note 12.

Regulatory Accounting – Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

Our interstate transportation and storage segment is subject to regulation by certain state and federal authorities, and certain subsidiaries in that segment have accounting policies that conform to the accounting requirements and ratemaking practices of the regulatory authorities. The application of these accounting policies allows certain of our regulated entities to defer expenses and revenues on the balance sheet as regulatory assets and liabilities when it is probable that those expenses and revenues will be allowed in the ratemaking process in a period different from the period in which they would have been reflected in the consolidated statement of operations by an unregulated company. These deferred assets and liabilities will be reported in results of operations in the period in which the same amounts are included in rates and recovered from or refunded to customers. Management’s assessment of the probability of recovery or pass through of regulatory assets and liabilities will require judgment and interpretation of laws and regulatory commission orders. If, for any reason, we cease to meet the criteria for application of regulatory accounting treatment for these entities, the regulatory assets and liabilities related to those portions ceasing to meet such criteria would be eliminated from the consolidated balance sheet for the period in which the discontinuance of regulatory accounting treatment occurs.

Although Panhandle’s natural gas transmission systems and storage operations are subject to the jurisdiction of FERC in accordance with the Natural Gas Act of 1938 and Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978, it does not currently apply regulatory accounting policies in accounting for its operations. Panhandle does not apply regulatory accounting policies primarily due to the level of discounting from tariff rates and its inability to recover specific costs.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Supplemental Cash Flow Information

Cash and cash equivalents include all cash on hand, demand deposits, and investments with original maturities of three months or less. We consider cash equivalents to include short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and that are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.

We place our cash deposits and temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions. At times, our cash and cash equivalents may be uninsured or in deposit accounts that exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limit.

The net change in operating assets and liabilities (net of effects of acquisitions, dispositions and deconsolidation) included in cash flows from operating activities was comprised as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2018			2017			2016
Accounts receivable	$	541		$	(948	)	$	(1,126	)
Accounts receivable from related companies	162			24			42
Inventories	282			58			(480		)
Other current assets	7			38			165
Other non-current assets, net	(92		)	84			(148		)
Accounts payable	(766		)	712			1,170
Accounts payable to related companies	(202		)	(178		)	(64		)
Accrued and other current liabilities	382			(97		)	89
Other non-current liabilities	28			106			106
Derivative assets and liabilities, net	(53		)	9			67
Net change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions	$	289		$	(192	)	$	(179	)

Non-cash investing and financing activities and supplemental cash flow information were as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2018			2017			2016
NON-CASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Accrued capital expenditures	$	1,030		$	1,060		$	848
Net gains (losses) from subsidiary common unit transactions	(126		)	(56		)	16
NON-CASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance of Common Units in connection with the PennTex Acquisition	$	—		$	—		$	307
Contribution of assets from noncontrolling interest	—			988			—
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest, net of interest capitalized	$	1,870		$	1,914		$	1,922
Cash paid for (refund of) income taxes	508			50			(229		)

Accounts Receivable

Our operations deal with a variety of counterparties across the energy sector, some of which are investment grade, and most of which are not. Internal credit ratings and credit limits are assigned to all counterparties and limits are monitored against credit exposure. Letters of credit or prepayments may be required from those counterparties that are not investment grade depending on the internal credit rating and level of commercial activity with the counterparty.

We have a diverse portfolio of customers; however, because of the midstream and transportation services we provide, many of our customers are engaged in the exploration and production segment. We manage trade credit risk to mitigate credit losses and exposure to uncollectible trade receivables. Prospective and existing customers are reviewed regularly for creditworthiness to manage credit risk within approved tolerances. Customers that do not meet minimum credit standards are required to provide additional credit support in the form of a letter of credit, prepayment, or other forms of security. We establish an allowance for doubtful accounts on trade receivables based on the expected ultimate recovery of these receivables and considers many factors including historical customer collection experience, general and specific economic trends, and known specific issues related to individual customers, sectors, and transactions that might impact collectability. Increases in the allowance are recorded as a component of operating expenses; reductions in the allowance are recorded when receivables are subsequently collected or written-off. Past due receivable balances are written-off when our efforts have been unsuccessful in collecting the amount due.

We enter into netting arrangements with counterparties to the extent possible to mitigate credit risk. Transactions are confirmed with the counterparty and the net amount is settled when due. Amounts outstanding under these netting arrangements are presented on a net basis in the consolidated balance sheets.

Inventories

Inventories consist principally of natural gas held in storage, NGLs and refined products, crude oil and spare parts, all of which are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value utilizing the weighted-average cost method.

Inventories consisted of the following:



	December 31,
	2018		2017
Natural gas, NGLs and refined products ⁽¹⁾	$	833	$	1,120
Crude oil	506		551
Spare parts and other	338		351
Total inventories	$	1,677	$	2,022


⁽¹⁾	Due to changes in fuel prices, Sunoco LP recorded a write-down on the value of its fuel inventory of $85 million as of December 31, 2018.

We utilize commodity derivatives to manage price volatility associated with our natural gas inventory. Changes in fair value of designated hedged inventory are recorded in inventory on our consolidated balance sheets and cost of products sold in our consolidated statements of operations.

Other Current Assets

Other current assets consisted of the following:



	December 31,
	2018		2017
Deposits paid to vendors	$	141	$	64
Prepaid expenses and other	209		231
Total other current assets	$	350	$	295

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful or FERC mandated lives of the assets, if applicable. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs that do not add capacity or extend the useful life are expensed as incurred. Expenditures to refurbish assets that either extend the useful lives of the asset or prevent environmental contamination are capitalized and depreciated over the remaining useful life of the asset. Additionally, we capitalize certain costs directly related to the construction of assets including internal labor costs, interest and engineering costs. Upon disposition or retirement of pipeline components or natural gas plant components, any gain or loss is recorded to accumulated depreciation. When entire pipeline systems, gas plants or other property and equipment are retired or sold, any gain or loss is included in our consolidated statements of operations.

Property, plant and equipment is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. If such a review should indicate that the carrying amount of long-lived assets is not recoverable, we reduce the carrying amount of such assets to fair value.

In 2018, USAC recognized a $9 million fixed asset impairment related to certain idle compressor assets.

In 2017, the Partnership recorded a $127 million fixed asset impairment related to Sea Robin primarily due to a reduction in expected future cash flows due to an increase during 2017 in insurance costs related to offshore assets.

In 2016, the Partnership recorded a $133 million fixed asset impairment related to its interstate transportation and storage segment primarily due to expected decreases in future cash flows driven by declines in commodity prices as well as a $10 million impairment to property, plant and equipment in its midstream segment.

Capitalized interest is included for pipeline construction projects, except for certain interstate projects for which an allowance for funds used during construction (“AFUDC”) is accrued. Interest is capitalized based on the current borrowing rate of our revolving credit facilities when the related costs are incurred. AFUDC is calculated under guidelines prescribed by the FERC and capitalized as part of the cost of utility plant for interstate projects. It represents the cost of servicing the capital invested in construction work-in-process. AFUDC is segregated into two component parts – borrowed funds and equity funds.

Components and useful lives of property, plant and equipment were as follows:



	December 31,
	2018			2017
Land and improvements	$	2,146		$	2,222
Buildings and improvements (1 to 45 years)	2,664			2,786
Pipelines and equipment (5 to 83 years)	57,584			44,673
Natural gas and NGL storage facilities (5 to 46 years)	1,898			1,681
Bulk storage, equipment and facilities (2 to 83 years)	3,395			3,036
Tanks and other equipment (5 to 40 years)	884			847
Vehicles (1 to 25 years)	123			126
Right of way (20 to 83 years)	3,555			3,432
Natural resources	434			434
Other (1 to 40 years)	1,026			1,029
Construction work-in-process	6,067			10,911
	79,776			71,177
Less – Accumulated depreciation and depletion	(12,813		)	(10,089		)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	66,963		$	61,088

We recognized the following amounts for the periods presented:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2018		2017		2016
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense	$	2,538	$	2,204	$	1,952
Capitalized interest	294		286		201

Advances to and Investments in Affiliates

We own interests in a number of related businesses that are accounted for by the equity method. In general, we use the equity method of accounting for an investment for which we exercise significant influence over, but do not control, the investee’s operating and financial policies. An impairment of an investment in an unconsolidated affiliate is recognized when circumstances indicate that a decline in the investment value is other than temporary.

Other Non-Current Assets, net

Other non-current assets, net are stated at cost less accumulated amortization. Other non-current assets, net consisted of the following:



	December 31,
	2018		2017
Regulatory assets	43		85
Deferred charges	241		210
Restricted funds	178		192
Other	544		399
Total other non-current assets, net	$	1,006	$	886

Restricted funds primarily consisted of restricted cash held in our wholly-owned captive insurance companies.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets are stated at cost, net of amortization computed on the straight-line method. The Partnership removes the gross carrying amount and the related accumulated amortization for any fully amortized intangibles in the year they are fully amortized.

Components and useful lives of intangible assets were as follows:



	December 31, 2018					December 31, 2017
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization
Amortizable intangible assets:
Customer relationships, contracts and agreements (3 to 46 years)	$	7,106	$	(1,493	)	$	6,979	$	(1,277	)
Patents (10 years)	48		(30		)	48		(26		)
Trade names (20 years)	66		(28		)	66		(25		)
Other (5 to 20 years)	33		(9		)	28		(14		)
Total amortizable intangible assets	7,253		(1,560		)	7,121		(1,342		)
Non-amortizable intangible assets:
Trademarks	295		—			295		—
Other	12		—			42		—
Total non-amortizable intangible assets	307		—			337		—
Total intangible assets	$	7,560	$	(1,560	)	$	7,458	$	(1,342	)

Aggregate amortization expense of intangibles assets was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2018		2017		2016
Reported in depreciation, depletion and amortization expense	$	321	$	344	$	264

Estimated aggregate amortization expense of intangible assets for the next five years was as follows:



Years Ending December 31:
2019	$	346
2020	345
2021	342
2022	325
2023	319

We review amortizable intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. If such a review should indicate that the carrying amount of amortizable intangible assets is not recoverable, we reduce the carrying amount of such assets to fair value. We review non-amortizable intangible assets for impairment annually, or more frequently if circumstances dictate.

Sunoco LP performed impairment tests on its indefinite-lived intangible assets during the fourth quarter of 2018 and recognized a $30 million impairment charge on its contractual rights, included in other in the table above, primarily due to decreases in projected future revenues and cash flows from the date the intangible asset was originally recorded.

Sunoco LP performed impairment tests on its indefinite-lived intangible assets during the fourth quarter of 2017 and recognized $13 million and $4 million impairment charge on their contractual rights and liquor licenses, included in other in the table above, primarily due to decreases in projected future revenues and cash flows from the date the intangible asset was originally recorded.

Goodwill

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually or more frequently if circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. The annual impairment test is performed during the fourth quarter.

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill were as follows:



	Intrastate Transportation and Storage		Interstate Transportation and Storage			Midstream			NGL and Refined Products Transportation and Services			Crude Oil Transportation and Services		Investment in Sunoco LP			Investment in USAC		All Other			Total
Balance, December 31, 2016	$	10	$	458		$	863		$	772		$	1,163	$	1,550		$	—	$	854		$	5,670
Acquired	—		—			8			—			4		—			—		—			12
Impaired	—		(262		)	—			(79		)	—		(102		)	—		(452		)	(895		)
Other	—		—			(1		)	—			—		(18		)	—		—			(19		)
Balance, December 31, 2017	10		196			870			693			1,167		1,430			—		402			4,768
Acquired	—		—			—			—			—		129			366		—			495
CDM Contribution	—		—			—			—			—		—			253		(253		)	—
Impaired	—		—			(378		)	—			—		—			—		—			(378		)
Other	—		—			—			—			—		—			—		—			—
Balance, December 31, 2018	$	10	$	196		$	492		$	693		$	1,167	$	1,559		$	619	$	149		$	4,885

Goodwill is recorded at the acquisition date based on a preliminary purchase price allocation and generally may be adjusted when the purchase price allocation is finalized.

As of December 31, 2018, ETO’s ETC Marketing reporting unit, to which $72 million of goodwill is allocated, had a negative carrying amount. The reporting unit is in the all other segment.

During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Partnership recognized goodwill impairments of $378 million related to our Northeast operations within the midstream segment primarily due to changes in assumptions related to projected future revenues and cash flows from the dates the goodwill was originally recorded. These changes in assumptions reflect delays in the construction of third-party takeaway capacity in the Northeast.

During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Partnership recognized goodwill impairments of $262 million in the interstate transportation and storage segment, $79 million in the NGL and refined products transportation and services segment and $452 million in the all other segment primarily due to changes in assumptions related to projected future revenues and cash flows from the dates the goodwill was originally recorded. Sunoco LP recognized goodwill impairments of $387 million, of which $102 million was allocated to continuing operations, primarily due to changes in assumptions related to projected future revenues and cash flows from the dates the goodwill was originally recorded.

During the fourth quarter of 2016, the Partnership recognized goodwill impairments of $638 million in the interstate transportation and storage segment and $32 million in the midstream segment primarily due to decreases in projected future revenues and cash flows driven by declines in commodity prices and changes in the markets that these assets serve. Sunoco LP recognized goodwill impairments of $641 million, of which $227 million was allocated to continuing operations, primarily due to changes in assumptions related to projected future revenues and cash flows from the dates the goodwill was originally recorded.

The Partnership determined the fair value of our reporting units using a weighted combination of the discounted cash flow method and the guideline company method. Determining the fair value of a reporting unit requires judgment and the use of significant estimates and assumptions. Such estimates and assumptions include revenue growth rates, operating margins, weighted average costs of capital and future market conditions, among others. The Partnership believes the estimates and assumptions used in our impairment assessments are reasonable and based on available market information, but variations in any of the assumptions could result in materially different calculations of fair value and determinations of whether or not an impairment is indicated. Under the discounted cash flow method, the Partnership determined fair value based on estimated future cash flows of each reporting unit including estimates for capital expenditures, discounted to present value using the risk-adjusted industry rate, which reflect the overall level of inherent risk of the reporting unit. Cash flow projections are derived from one year budgeted amounts and five year operating forecasts plus an estimate of later period cash flows, all of which are evaluated by management. Subsequent period cash flows are developed for each reporting unit using growth rates that management believes are reasonably likely to occur. Under the guideline company method, the Partnership determined the estimated fair value of each of our reporting units by applying valuation multiples of comparable publicly-traded companies to each reporting unit’s projected EBITDA and then averaging that estimate with similar historical calculations using a three year average. In addition, the Partnership estimated a reasonable control premium representing the incremental value that accrues to the majority owner from the opportunity to dictate the strategic and operational actions of the business.

Asset Retirement Obligations

We have determined that we are obligated by contractual or regulatory requirements to remove facilities or perform other remediation upon retirement of certain assets. The fair value of any ARO is determined based on estimates and assumptions related to retirement costs, which the Partnership bases on historical retirement costs, future inflation rates and credit-adjusted risk-free interest rates. These fair value assessments are considered to be Level 3 measurements, as they are based on both observable and unobservable inputs. Changes in the liability are recorded for the passage of time (accretion) or for revisions to cash flows originally estimated to settle the ARO.

An ARO is required to be recorded when a legal obligation to retire an asset exists and such obligation can be reasonably estimated. We will record an asset retirement obligation in the periods in which management can reasonably estimate the settlement dates.

Except for certain amounts discussed below, management was not able to reasonably measure the fair value of asset retirement obligations as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, in most cases because the settlement dates were indeterminable. Although a number of other onshore assets in Panhandle’s system are subject to agreements or regulations that give rise to an ARO upon Panhandle’s discontinued use of these assets, AROs were not recorded because these assets have an indeterminate removal or abandonment date given the expected continued use of the assets with proper maintenance or replacement. Sunoco, Inc. has legal AROs for several other assets at its previously owned refineries, pipelines and terminals, for which it is not possible to estimate when the obligations will be settled. Consequently, the retirement obligations for these assets cannot be measured at this time. At the end of the useful life of these underlying assets, Sunoco, Inc. is legally or contractually required to abandon in place or remove the asset. We believe we may have additional AROs related to Sunoco, Inc.’s pipeline assets and storage tanks, for which it is not possible to estimate whether or when the AROs will be settled. Consequently, these AROs cannot be measured at this time. Sunoco LP has AROs related to the estimated future cost to remove underground storage tanks.

As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, other non-current liabilities in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets included AROs of $193 million and $220 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 aggregate accretion expense related to AROs was $13 million, $9 million and $7 million, respectively.

Individual component assets have been and will continue to be replaced, but the pipeline and the natural gas gathering and processing systems will continue in operation as long as supply and demand for natural gas exists. Based on the widespread use of natural gas in industrial and power generation activities, management expects supply and demand to exist for the foreseeable future. We have in place a rigorous repair and maintenance program that keeps the pipelines and the natural gas gathering and processing systems in good working order. Therefore, although some of the individual assets may be replaced, the pipelines and the natural gas gathering and processing systems themselves will remain intact indefinitely.

Long-lived assets related to AROs aggregated $106 million and $103 million and were reflected as property, plant and equipment on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. In addition, other non-current assets on the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheet included $26 million and $21 million of legally restricted funds for the purpose of settling AROs as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Accrued and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued and other current liabilities consisted of the following:



	December 31,
	2018		2017
Interest payable	$	571	$	552
Customer advances and deposits	128		59
Accrued capital expenditures	1,030		1,006
Accrued wages and benefits	283		280
Taxes payable other than income taxes	256		288
Exchanges payable	112		154
Other	538		243
Total accrued and other current liabilities	$	2,918	$	2,582

Deposits or advances are received from customers as prepayments for natural gas deliveries in the following month. Prepayments and security deposits may be required when customers exceed their credit limits or do not qualify for open credit.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

Our redeemable noncontrolling interests relate to certain preferred unitholders of one of our consolidated subsidiaries that have the option to convert their preferred units to such subsidiary’s common units at the election of the holders and the noncontrolling interest holders in one of our consolidated subsidiaries that have the option to sell their interests to us. In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, the noncontrolling interest is excluded from total equity and reflected as redeemable noncontrolling interests on our consolidated balance sheet. See Note 7 for further information.

Environmental Remediation

We accrue environmental remediation costs for work at identified sites where an assessment has indicated that cleanup costs are probable and reasonably estimable. Such accruals are undiscounted and are based on currently available information, estimated timing of remedial actions and related inflation assumptions, existing technology and presently enacted laws and regulations. If a range of probable environmental cleanup costs exists for an identified site, the minimum of the range is accrued unless some other point in the range is more likely in which case the most likely amount in the range is accrued.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair value.

Based on the estimated borrowing rates currently available to us and our subsidiaries for loans with similar terms and average maturities, the aggregate fair value and carrying amount of our consolidated debt obligations as of December 31, 2018 was $45.06 billion and $46.03 billion, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, the aggregate fair value and carrying amount of our consolidated debt obligations was $45.62 billion and $44.08 billion, respectively. The fair value of our consolidated debt obligations is a Level 2 valuation based on the observable inputs used for similar liabilities.

We have commodity derivatives, interest rate derivatives and embedded derivatives in our preferred units that are accounted for as assets and liabilities at fair value in our consolidated balance sheets. We determine the fair value of our assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurement by using the highest possible “level” of inputs. Level 1 inputs are observable quotes in an active market for identical assets and liabilities. We consider the valuation of marketable securities and commodity derivatives transacted through a clearing broker with a published price from the appropriate exchange as a Level 1 valuation. Level 2 inputs are inputs observable for similar assets and liabilities. We consider OTC commodity derivatives entered into directly with third parties as a Level 2 valuation since the values of these derivatives are quoted on an exchange for similar transactions. Additionally, we consider our options transacted through our clearing broker as having Level 2 inputs due to the level of activity of these contracts on the exchange in which they trade. We consider the valuation of our interest rate derivatives as Level 2 as the primary input, the LIBOR curve, is based on quotes from an active exchange of Eurodollar futures for the same period as the future interest swap settlements. Level 3 inputs are unobservable. During the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, no transfers were made between any levels within the fair value hierarchy.

The following tables summarize the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 based on inputs used to derive their fair values:



	Fair Value Total			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2018
				Level 1			Level 2
Assets:
Commodity derivatives:
Natural Gas:
Basis Swaps IFERC/NYMEX	$	42		$	42		$	—
Swing Swaps IFERC	52			8			44
Fixed Swaps/Futures	97			97			—
Forward Physical Contracts	20			—			20
Power:
Forwards	48			—			48
Futures	1			1			—
Options – Calls	1			1			—
NGLs – Forwards/Swaps	291			291			—
Refined Products – Futures	7			7			—
Crude – Forwards/Swaps	1			1			—
Total commodity derivatives	560			448			112
Other non-current assets	26			17			9
Total assets	$	586		$	465		$	121
Liabilities:
Interest rate derivatives	$	(163	)	$	—		$	(163	)
Commodity derivatives:
Natural Gas:
Basis Swaps IFERC/NYMEX	(91		)	(91		)	—
Swing Swaps IFERC	(40		)	—			(40		)
Fixed Swaps/Futures	(88		)	(88		)	—
Forward Physical Contracts	(21		)	—			(21		)
Power:
Forwards	(42		)	—			(42		)
Futures	(1		)	(1		)	—
NGLs – Forwards/Swaps	(224		)	(224		)	—
Refined Products – Futures	(15		)	(15		)	—
Crude – Forwards/Swaps	(61		)	(61		)	—
Total commodity derivatives	(583		)	(480		)	(103		)
Total liabilities	$	(746	)	$	(480	)	$	(266	)



	Fair Value Total			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2017
				Level 1			Level 2
Assets:
Commodity derivatives:
Natural Gas:
Basis Swaps IFERC/NYMEX	$	11		$	11		$	—
Swing Swaps IFERC	13			—			13
Fixed Swaps/Futures	70			70			—
Forward Physical Contracts	8			—			8
Power – Forwards	23			—			23
NGLs – Forwards/Swaps	191			191			—
Refined Products – Futures	1			1			—
Crude:
Forwards/Swaps	2			2			—
Futures	2			2			—
Total commodity derivatives	321			277			44
Other non-current assets	21			14			7
Total assets	$	342		$	291		$	51
Liabilities:
Interest rate derivatives	$	(219	)	$	—		$	(219	)
Commodity derivatives:
Natural Gas:
Basis Swaps IFERC/NYMEX	(24		)	(24		)	—
Swing Swaps IFERC	(15		)	(1		)	(14		)
Fixed Swaps/Futures	(57		)	(57		)	—
Forward Physical Contracts	(2		)	—			(2		)
Power – Forwards	(22		)	—			(22		)
NGLs – Forwards/Swaps	(186		)	(186		)	—
Refined Products – Futures	(28		)	(28		)	—
Crude:
Forwards/Swaps	(6		)	(6		)	—
Futures	(1		)	(1		)	—
Total commodity derivatives	(341		)	(303		)	(38		)
Total liabilities	$	(560	)	$	(303	)	$	(257	)

Contributions in Aid of Construction Cost

On certain of our capital projects, third parties are obligated to reimburse us for all or a portion of project expenditures. The majority of such arrangements are associated with pipeline construction and production well tie-ins. Contributions in aid of construction costs (“CIAC”) are netted against our project costs as they are received, and any CIAC which exceeds our total project costs, is recognized as other income in the period in which it is realized.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of products sold, except for shipping and handling costs related to fuel consumed for compression and treating which are included in operating expenses.

Costs and Expenses

Cost of products sold include actual cost of fuel sold, adjusted for the effects of our hedging and other commodity derivative activities, and the cost of appliances, parts and fittings. Operating expenses include all costs incurred to provide products to customers, including compensation for operations personnel, insurance costs, vehicle maintenance, advertising costs, purchasing costs and plant operations. Selling, general and administrative expenses include all partnership related expenses and compensation for executive, partnership, and administrative personnel.

We record the collection of taxes to be remitted to government authorities on a net basis except for our all other segment in which consumer excise taxes on sales of refined products and merchandise are included in both revenues and costs and expenses in the consolidated statements of operations, with no effect on net income. Excise taxes collected by Sunoco LP’s retail locations where Sunoco LP holds the inventory were $370 million, $234 million and $243 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Issuances of Subsidiary Units

We record changes in our ownership interest of our subsidiaries as equity transactions, with no gain or loss recognized in consolidated net income or comprehensive income. For example, upon our subsidiary’s issuance of common units in a public offering, we record any difference between the amount of consideration received or paid and the amount by which the noncontrolling interest is adjusted as a change in partners’ capital.

Income Taxes

ET is a publicly traded limited partnership and is not taxable for federal and most state income tax purposes. As a result, our earnings or losses, to the extent not included in a taxable subsidiary, for federal and state income tax purposes are included in the tax returns of the individual partners. Net earnings for financial statement purposes may differ significantly from taxable income reportable to Unitholders as a result of differences between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities, in addition to the allocation requirements related to taxable income under our Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”).

As a publicly traded limited partnership, we are subject to a statutory requirement that our “qualifying income” (as defined by the Internal Revenue Code, related Treasury Regulations, and Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) pronouncements) exceed 90% of our total gross income, determined on a calendar year basis. If our qualifying income does not meet this statutory requirement, ET would be taxed as a corporation for federal and state income tax purposes. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, our qualifying income met the statutory requirement.

The Partnership conducts certain activities through corporate subsidiaries which are subject to federal, state and local income taxes. These corporate subsidiaries include ETP Holdco, Inland Corporation, Sunoco Property Company LLC and Aloha Petroleum. The Partnership and its corporate subsidiaries account for income taxes under the asset and liability method.

Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rate is recognized in earnings in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts more likely than not to be realized.

The determination of the provision for income taxes requires significant judgment, use of estimates, and the interpretation and application of complex tax laws. Significant judgment is required in assessing the timing and amounts of deductible and taxable items and the probability of sustaining uncertain tax positions. The benefits of uncertain tax positions are recorded in our financial statements only after determining a more-likely-than-not probability that the uncertain tax positions will withstand challenge, if any, from taxing authorities. When facts and circumstances change, we reassess these probabilities and record any changes through the provision for income taxes.

Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

For qualifying hedges, we formally document, designate and assess the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting treatment and the gains and losses offset related results on the hedged item in the statement of operations. The market prices used to value our financial derivatives and related transactions have been determined using independent third-party prices, readily available market information, broker quotes and appropriate valuation techniques.

At inception of a hedge, we formally document the relationship between the hedging instrument and the hedged item, the risk management objectives, and the methods used for assessing and testing effectiveness and how any ineffectiveness will be measured and recorded. We also assess, both at the inception of the hedge and on a quarterly basis, whether the derivatives that are used in our hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows. If we determine that a derivative is no longer highly effective as a hedge, we discontinue hedge accounting prospectively by including changes in the fair value of the derivative in net income for the period.

If we designate a commodity hedging relationship as a fair value hedge, we record the changes in fair value of the hedged asset or liability in cost of products sold in our consolidated statements of operations. This amount is offset by the changes in fair value of the related hedging instrument. Any ineffective portion or amount excluded from the assessment of hedge ineffectiveness is also included in the cost of products sold in the consolidated statements of operations.

Cash flows from derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges are reported as cash flows from operating activities, in the same category as the cash flows from the items being hedged.

If we designate a derivative financial instrument as a cash flow hedge and it qualifies for hedge accounting, the change in the fair value is deferred in AOCI until the underlying hedged transaction occurs. Any ineffective portion of a cash flow hedge’s change in fair value is recognized each period in earnings. Gains and losses deferred in AOCI related to cash flow hedges remain in AOCI until the underlying physical transaction occurs, unless it is probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur by the end of the originally specified time period or within an additional two-month period of time thereafter. For financial derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting, the change in fair value is recorded in cost of products sold in the consolidated statements of operations.

We manage a portion of our interest rate exposures by utilizing interest rate swaps and similar instruments. Certain of our interest rate derivatives are accounted for as either cash flow hedges or fair value hedges. For interest rate derivatives accounted for as either cash flow or fair value hedges, we report realized gains and losses and ineffectiveness portions of those hedges in interest expense. For interest rate derivatives not designated as hedges for accounting purposes, we report realized and unrealized gains and losses on those derivatives in “Gains (losses) on interest rate derivatives” in the consolidated statements of operations.

Non-Cash Compensation

For awards of restricted units, we recognize compensation expense over the vesting period based on the grant-date fair value, which is determined based on the market price of our common units on the grant date. For awards of cash restricted units, we remeasure the fair value of the award at the end of each reporting period based on the market price of our common units as of the reporting date, and the fair value is recorded in other non-current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets.

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

The Partnership recognizes the overfunded or underfunded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans, measured as the difference between the fair value of the plan assets and the benefit obligation (the projected benefit obligation for pension plans and the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation for other postretirement plans). Each overfunded plan is recognized as an asset and each underfunded plan is recognized as a liability. Changes in the funded status of the plan are recorded in the year in which the change occurs within AOCI in equity or, for entities applying regulatory accounting, as a regulatory asset or regulatory liability. In 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-07 Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) retrospectively. It requires the service cost component to be presented with other current compensation costs for the related employees in the operating section of our consolidated statements of operations, with other components of net benefit cost presented outside of the operating income.

Allocation of Income

For purposes of maintaining partner capital accounts, the Partnership Agreement specifies that items of income and loss shall generally be allocated among the partners in accordance with their percentage interests.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

ASU 2016-02

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”), which establishes the principles that lessees and lessors shall apply to report information about the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from a lease. The update requires lessees to record virtually all leases on their balance sheets. For lessors, this amended guidance modifies the classification criteria and the accounting for sales-type and direct financing leases. In January 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-01 (“ASU 2018-01”), which provides an optional transition practical expedient to not evaluate under Topic 842 existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases under the existing lease guidance. The Partnership plans to elect the package of transition practical expedients and will adopt this standard beginning with its first quarter of fiscal 2019 and apply it retrospectively at the beginning of the period of adoption through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings. The Partnership has performed several procedures to evaluate the impact of the adoption of this standard on the financial statements and disclosures and address the implications of Topic 842 on future lease arrangements. The procedures include reviewing all forms of leases, performing a completeness assessment over the lease population, establishing processes and controls to timely identify new and modified lease agreements, educating its employees on these new processes and controls and implementing a third-party supported lease accounting information system to account for our leases in accordance with the new standard. The Partnership is finalizing its evaluation of the impacts that the adoption of this accounting guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements, and estimates approximately $1.0 billion of right-to-use assets and lease liabilities will be recognized in the consolidated balance sheet upon adoption, with no material impact to its consolidated statements of operations.

ASU 2017-12

In August 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The amendments in this update improve the financial reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements. In addition, the amendments in this update make certain targeted improvements to simplify the application of the hedge accounting guidance in current GAAP. This ASU is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Partnership expects to adopt the new rules in the first quarter of 2019 and does not expect the adoption of the new accounting rules to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

ASU 2018-02

In February 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to partners’ capital for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The Partnership elected to early adopt this ASU in the first quarter of 2018. The effect of the adoption was not material.