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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2024

Basis of Presentation - Our accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. These statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidation

Consolidation - Our Consolidated Financial Statements include our accounts and the accounts of our subsidiaries over which we have control or are the primary beneficiary. Third party ownership interests in our controlled subsidiaries are presented as noncontrolling interests. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

We account for investments where we control the investment using the consolidation method of accounting. Under this method, we consolidate all assets and liabilities of an investment on our Consolidated Balance Sheets and record noncontrolling interests for the portion of the investment we do not own. We include all of the investment’s results of operations on our Consolidated Statement of Income and record income attributable to noncontrolling interests for the portion of the investment that we do not own. Our noncontrolling interests for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024, are composed of approximately 57% of outstanding EnLink Units we did not own, Series B Preferred Units and the partially owned consolidated subsidiaries of EnLink.

See Note I for disclosures of our noncontrolling interests.

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates are accounted for using the equity method if we have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies of our investee. Under this method, an investment is carried at its acquisition cost and adjusted each period for contributions made, distributions received and our share of the investee’s comprehensive income. The difference between the carrying value of an investment and our share of the investment’s underlying equity in net assets is referred to as a basis difference. Basis differences related to depreciable or amortizable assets are amortized through equity in net earnings from investments. The premium or excess cost over underlying fair value of net assets is referred to as equity-method goodwill. The portion of the basis difference that is attributable to our equity-method goodwill is not amortized. Impairment of equity investments is recorded when the impairments are other than temporary. These amounts are recorded as investments in unconsolidated affiliates on our accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

See Note O for disclosures of our unconsolidated affiliates.

Distributions paid to us from our unconsolidated affiliates are classified as operating activities on our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows until the cumulative distributions exceed our proportionate share of income from the unconsolidated affiliate since the date of our initial investment. The amount of cumulative distributions paid to us that exceeds our cumulative proportionate share of income in each period represents a return of investment and is classified as an investing activity on our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Variable Interest Entities (VIE)

Variable Interest Entities (VIE) - We evaluate all legal entities in which we hold an ownership interest to determine if the entity is a VIE. Variable interests are ownership interests in an entity that change with changes in the fair value of the VIE’s assets. When we conclude that we hold an interest in a VIE, we must determine if we are the entity’s primary beneficiary. A primary beneficiary is deemed to have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance. We consolidate any VIE when we determine that we are the primary beneficiary.

Significant judgment is exercised in determining that a legal entity is a VIE and in evaluating our interest in a VIE. We use primarily a qualitative analysis to determine if an entity is a VIE. We evaluate our interests in a VIE to determine whether we are the primary beneficiary. We continually monitor our interests in legal entities for changes in the design or activities of an entity and changes in our interests, including our status as the primary beneficiary to determine if the changes require us to revise our previous conclusions.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates - The preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures in accordance with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions with respect to values or conditions that cannot be known with certainty that affect the reported amounts on our Consolidated Financial Statements. Items that may be estimated include, but are not limited to, the economic useful life of assets, fair value of assets, liabilities and equity-method investments, obligations under employee benefit plans, allowance for credit losses, expenses for services received but for which no invoice has been received, provision for income taxes, including any deferred tax valuation allowances, the results of litigation, environmental remediation and various other recorded or disclosed amounts. In addition, a portion of our revenues and cost of sales and fuel are recorded based on current month prices and estimated volumes. The estimates are reversed in the following month when we record actual volumes.

We evaluate our estimates on an ongoing basis using historical experience, consultation with experts and other methods we consider reasonable based on the particular circumstances. Nevertheless, actual results may differ significantly from the estimates. Any effects on our financial position or results of operations from revisions to these estimates are recorded in the period when the facts that give rise to the revision become known.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements - For our fair value measurements, we utilize market prices, third-party pricing services, present value methods and standard option valuation models to determine the price we would receive from the sale of an asset or the transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction at the measurement date. We measure the fair value of a group of financial assets and liabilities consistent with how a market participant would price the net risk exposure at the measurement date.

Most of the contracts in our derivative portfolio are executed in liquid markets where price transparency exists. Our financial commodity derivatives are primarily settled through a NYMEX or Intercontinental Exchange clearing broker account with daily margin requirements. We validate our valuation inputs with third-party information and settlement prices from other sources, where available.

We compute the fair value of our derivative portfolio by discounting the projected future cash flows from our derivative assets and liabilities to present value using interest-rate yields to calculate present-value discount factors derived from the implied forward SOFR yield curve. The fair value of our forward-starting interest-rate swaps is determined using financial models that incorporate the implied forward SOFR yield curve for the same period as the future interest-rate swap settlements. We consider current market data in evaluating counterparties’, as well as our own, nonperformance risk, net of collateral, by using counterparty-specific bond yields. Although we use our best estimates to determine the fair value of the derivative contracts we have executed, the ultimate market prices realized could differ materially from our estimates.

Fair Value Hierarchy - At each balance sheet date, we utilize a fair value hierarchy to classify fair value amounts recognized or disclosed in our financial statements based on the observability of inputs used to estimate such fair value. The levels of the hierarchy are described below:

•Level 1 - fair value measurements are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical securities in active markets. These balances are composed predominantly of exchange-traded derivative contracts for natural gas, Refined Products and crude oil.

•Level 2 - fair value measurements are based on significant observable pricing inputs, including quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets and inputs from third-party pricing services supported with corroborative evidence. These balances are composed of exchange cleared and over-the-counter derivatives to hedge natural gas, NGLs, Refined Products and crude oil price risk and over-the-counter interest-rate derivatives.

•Level 3 - fair value measurements are based on inputs that may include one or more unobservable inputs.

Determining the appropriate classification of our fair value measurements within the fair value hierarchy requires management’s judgment regarding the degree to which market data is observable or corroborated by observable market data. We categorize derivatives based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

See Note D for our fair value measurements disclosures.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents - Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments, which are readily convertible into cash and have original maturities of three months or less.

Revenue Recognition and Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities

Revenue Recognition - Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to receive in exchange for those goods or services. Our payment terms vary by customer and contract type, including requiring payment before products or services are delivered to certain customers. However, the term between customer prepayments, completion of our performance obligations, invoicing and receipt of payment due is generally not significant.

Performance Obligations and Revenue Sources - Revenue sources are disaggregated in Note S and are derived from commodity sales and services revenues, as described below:

Commodity Sales (all segments) - We contract to deliver residue natural gas, unfractionated NGLs and/or Purity NGLs, Refined Products, condensate and crude oil to customers at a specified delivery point. Our sales agreements may be daily or longer-term contracts for a specified volume. We consider the sale and delivery of each unit of a commodity an individual performance obligation as the customer is expected to control, accept and benefit from each unit individually. We record revenue when the commodity is delivered to the customer as this represents the point in time when control of the product is transferred to the customer. Revenue is recorded based on the contracted selling price, which is generally index-based and settled daily or monthly. Occasionally, we sell unfractionated NGLs to customers at an index-based price less third-party fractionation costs. These costs are included as a reduction to commodity sales revenue.

Services

Fee with POP contracts with producer take-in-kind rights (Natural Gas Gathering and Processing segment) - Under this type of contract, we do not control the stream of unprocessed natural gas that we receive at the wellhead due to the producer’s take-in-kind rights. We purchase a portion of the raw natural gas stream, charge fees for providing midstream services, which include gathering, treating, compressing and processing our customer’s natural gas. After performing these services, we return certain commodities to the producer, sell the remaining commodities and remit a portion of the commodity sales proceeds to the producer less our contractual fees. Our performance obligation begins with delivery of raw natural gas to our system. This service is treated as one performance obligation that is satisfied over time. We use the output method based on delivery of product to our system as the measure of progress, as our services are performed simultaneously.

Transportation, exchange and terminal service contracts (Natural Gas Liquids and Refined Products and Crude segments) - Under this type of contract, we charge fees for providing midstream services, which may include a bundled combination of one or more of the following services: gathering, transporting, terminalling, fractionation or other ancillary services. Our performance obligation begins with delivery of product to our system. These services represent a series of distinct services that are treated as one performance obligation that is satisfied over time. We use the output method based on delivery of product to our system as the measure of progress, as our services are performed simultaneously. For transportation services under a tariff on our transportation pipelines, fees are recorded when the product reaches its destination. We have certain contracts that require counterparties to ship a minimum volume over an agreed-upon time period, which are contracted as minimum dollar or volume commitments. Revenue pursuant to these take-or-pay contracts is initially deferred and subsequently recognized when the customers utilize their committed volumes or when the likelihood of meeting the minimum volume commitment becomes remote.

Storage contracts (Natural Gas Liquids, Refined Products and Crude and Natural Gas Pipelines segments) - We reserve a stated storage capacity and inject/withdraw/store commodities for our customer. As these services represent a stand-ready obligation provided on a daily basis over the life of the agreement, the fixed capacity reservation fees are allocated and evenly recognized in revenue over the contract term. Capacity reservation fees that vary based on a stated or implied economic index and correspond with the costs to provide our services are recognized in revenue as invoiced to our customers. We use the output method based on the passage of time to measure satisfaction of the performance obligation associated with our daily stand-ready services. Other fees are recognized in revenue as those services are provided and are dependent on the volume moved, which is at our customer’s discretion.

Firm service transportation contracts (Natural Gas Pipelines segment) - We reserve a stated transportation capacity and transport commodities for our customer. The capacity reservation and transportation services are considered a bundled service, as we integrate them into one stand-ready obligation provided on a daily basis over the life of the agreement and satisfied over time. Fixed capacity reservation fees are allocated and evenly recognized in revenue. Capacity reservation fees that vary based on a stated or implied economic index and correspond with the costs to provide our services are recognized in revenue based on a daily effective fee rate. If the capacity reservation fees vary solely as a contract feature, contract assets or liabilities are recorded for the difference between the amount recorded in revenue and the amount billed to the customer. Transportation fees are recognized in revenue as those services are provided and are dependent on the volume transported by our customer, which is at our customer’s discretion. We use the output method based on the passage of time to measure satisfaction of the performance obligation associated with our daily stand-ready services.

Interruptible transportation contracts (Natural Gas Pipelines segment) - We agree to transport natural gas on our pipelines between the customer’s specified nominated-receipt and delivery points if capacity is available after satisfying firm transportation service obligations. The transaction price is based on the transportation fees times the volumes transported. We use the output method based on delivery of product to the customer to measure satisfaction of the performance obligation. The total consideration for delivered volumes is recorded in revenue at the time of delivery, when the customer obtains control.

Many of the contract types described above contain additional fees or charges payable by customers for nonperformance (e.g., minimum volume commitments or product specifications), which are considered to be variable consideration. These fees and charges are not recorded until it is probable that a significant reversal of the associated revenue will not occur.

Receivables from Customers - Substantially all of the balances in accounts receivable on our Consolidated Balance Sheet at Dec. 31, 2024, relate to customer receivables. Substantially all of the balances in accounts receivable on our Consolidated Balance Sheet at Dec. 31, 2023, related to customer receivables, excluding the insurance receivable related to the legal proceeding described in Note P.

See Note R for our revenue disclosures.

Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities - Contract assets and contract liabilities are recorded when the amount of revenue recognized from a contract with a customer differs from the amount billed to the customer and recorded in accounts receivable. Our contract asset balances at the beginning and end of the period primarily relate to our firm service transportation contracts with tiered rates, which are not material. Our contract liabilities primarily represent deferred revenue on Refined Products and crude transportation contracts and NGL storage contracts for which revenue is recognized over a one-year term, and deferred revenue on contributions in aid of construction received from customers for which revenue is recognized over the contract periods, which range from one year to 17 years, contract liabilities are not material.

Cost of Sales and Fuel

Cost of Sales and Fuel - Cost of sales and fuel primarily includes (i) the cost of purchased commodities, including natural gas, NGLs, Refined Products, condensate and crude oil, (ii) fees incurred for third-party transportation, fractionation and storage of

commodities, (iii) fuel and power costs incurred to operate our own facilities that gather, process, transport and store commodities, (iv) product gains and losses and (v) an offset from the contractual fees deducted from the cost of purchased commodities under the contract types below:

Fee with POP contracts with no producer take-in-kind rights (Natural Gas Gathering and Processing segment) - We purchase raw natural gas and charge contractual fees for providing midstream services, which include gathering, treating, compressing and processing the producer’s natural gas. After performing these services, we sell the commodities and return a portion of the commodity sales proceeds to the producer less our contractual fees.

Purchase with fee (Natural Gas Liquids segment) - Under this type of contract, we purchase raw, unfractionated NGLs at an index price and charge fees for providing midstream services, which may include a bundled combination of gathering, transporting and/or fractionation.

Operations and Maintenance

Operations and Maintenance - Operations and maintenance primarily includes (i) payroll and benefit costs, (ii) third-party costs for operations, maintenance and integrity management, regulatory compliance and environmental and safety, and (iii) other business-related service costs.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable - Accounts receivable represent valid claims against nonaffiliated customers for products sold or services rendered. We present accounts receivable net of an allowance for credit losses to reflect the net amount expected to be collected. We assess the creditworthiness of our counterparties on an ongoing basis and require security, including prepayments and other forms of collateral, when appropriate. Outstanding customer receivables are reviewed regularly for possible nonpayment indicators, and allowances for credit losses are recorded based upon management’s estimate of collectability, current conditions and supportable forecasts at each balance sheet date. At Dec. 31, 2024, our allowance for credit losses was not material.

Inventory

Inventory - The values of current NGLs, natural gas, Refined Products and crude oil in storage are determined using the lower of weighted-average cost or net realizable value. Materials and supplies are valued at average cost.

Commodity Imbalances

Commodity Imbalances - In our Natural Gas Gathering and Processing, Natural Gas Liquids and Natural Gas Pipelines segments, commodity imbalances represent amounts payable or receivable for NGL exchange contracts and natural gas pipeline imbalances and are valued at market prices. Under the majority of our NGL exchange agreements, we physically receive volumes of unfractionated NGLs, including the risk of loss and legal title to such volumes, from the exchange counterparty. In turn, we deliver Purity NGLs back to the customer and charge gathering, transportation and fractionation fees. To the extent that the volumes we receive under such agreements differ from those we deliver, we record a net exchange receivable or payable position with the counterparties. These net exchange receivables and payables are generally settled with movements of Purity NGLs rather than with cash. Natural gas pipeline imbalances are settled in cash or in-kind, subject to the terms of the pipelines’ tariffs or by agreement.

In our Refined Products and Crude segment, commodity imbalances represent differences in product volumes in our pipeline systems and terminals, compared to the volumes of our customers’ inventories, as we do not take legal title to the majority of the products on our pipeline systems and terminals. To the extent the product volumes differ from the volumes of our customers’ book inventories, we record adjustments to our product inventories. When product shortages cause a net short inventory position in a product, a liability is recorded based on market prices. Refined Products and crude oil imbalances are generally settled in-kind through product purchases and sales.

Derivatives and Risk Management

Derivatives and Risk Management - We utilize derivatives to reduce our market-risk exposure to commodity price and interest-rate fluctuations and to achieve more predictable cash flows. We record all derivative instruments at fair value, with the exception of normal purchases and normal sales transactions that are expected to result in physical delivery. Commodity price and interest-rate volatility may have a significant impact on the fair value of derivative instruments as of a given date. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and, if so, the reason for holding it.

The table below summarizes the various ways in which we account for our derivative instruments and the impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements:

Recognition and Measurement

Accounting Treatment

Balance Sheet

Income Statement

Normal purchases and
normal sales

Fair value not recorded

Change in fair value not recognized in earnings

Mark-to-market

Recorded at fair value

Change in fair value recognized in earnings

Cash flow hedge

The gain or loss on the
derivative instrument is reported initially as a
component of accumulated other
comprehensive income (loss)

The gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into earnings when the forecasted transaction affects earnings

Fair value hedge

Recorded at fair value

The gain or loss on the derivative instrument is
recognized in earnings

Change in fair value of the hedged item is
recorded as an adjustment to book value

Change in fair value of the hedged item is
recognized in earnings

To reduce our exposure to fluctuations in natural gas, NGLs, Refined Products, condensate and crude oil prices, we periodically enter into futures, forward purchases and sales, options or swap transactions in order to hedge anticipated purchases and sales of natural gas, NGLs, Refined Products, condensate and crude oil. Treasury locks and interest-rate swaps are used from time to time to manage interest-rate risk. Under certain conditions, we designate our derivative instruments as a hedge of exposure to changes in fair values or cash flows. We formally document all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as risk-management objectives and strategies for undertaking various hedge transactions, and methods for assessing and testing correlation and hedge effectiveness. We specifically identify the forecasted transaction that has been designated as the hedged item in a cash flow hedge relationship. We assess hedging relationships at the inception of the hedge, and periodically thereafter, to determine whether the hedging relationship is, and is expected to remain, highly effective. We also document our normal purchases and normal sales transactions that we expect to result in physical delivery and that we elect to exempt from derivative accounting treatment.

The realized revenues and purchase costs of our derivative instruments not considered held for trading purposes and derivatives that qualify as normal purchases or normal sales that are expected to result in physical delivery are reported on a gross basis.

Cash flows from futures, forwards, options and swaps that are accounted for as hedges are included in the same category as the cash flows from the related hedged items in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment - Our properties are stated at cost, including AFUDC and capitalized interest. In some cases, the cost of regulated property retired or sold, plus removal costs, less salvage, is charged to accumulated depreciation. Gains and losses from sales or transfers of nonregulated properties or an entire operating unit or system of our regulated properties are recognized in income. Maintenance and repairs are charged directly to expense.

The interest portion of AFUDC and capitalized interest represent the cost of borrowed funds used to finance construction activities for regulated and nonregulated projects, respectively. We capitalize interest costs during the construction or upgrade of qualifying assets. These costs are recorded as a reduction to interest expense. The equity portion of AFUDC represents the capitalization of the estimated average cost of equity used during the construction of major projects and is recorded in the cost of our regulated properties and as a credit to the allowance for equity funds used during construction.

Our properties are depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. Generally, we estimate the useful lives of individual assets or apply depreciation rates to functional groups of property having similar economic lives. We periodically conduct depreciation studies to assess the economic lives of our assets. For our regulated assets, these depreciation studies are completed as a part of our rate proceedings or tariff filings, and the changes in economic lives, if applicable, are implemented prospectively as of the approved effective date. For our nonregulated assets, if it is determined that the estimated economic life changes, the changes are made prospectively. Changes in the estimated economic lives of our property, plant and equipment could have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.

Property, plant and equipment on our Consolidated Balance Sheets includes construction work in process for capital projects that have not yet been placed in service and therefore are not being depreciated. Assets are transferred out of construction work in process when they are substantially complete and ready for their intended use.

Impairment of Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets, including Intangible Assets

Impairment of Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets, Including Intangible Assets and Equity Method Investments - We assess our goodwill for impairment at least annually as of July 1, unless events or changes in circumstances indicate an impairment may have occurred before that time. Our qualitative goodwill impairment analysis performed as of July 1, 2024, did not result in an impairment charge nor did our analysis reflect any reporting units at risk, and subsequent to that date, no event has occurred indicating that the implied fair value of our reporting units are less than the carrying value of their net assets.

Goodwill - As part of our goodwill impairment test, we assess qualitative factors (including macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors and overall financial performance) to determine whether it was more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting units are less than their carrying amount. If further testing is necessary, or a quantitative test is elected, we perform a Step 1 analysis. In a Step 1 analysis, an assessment is made by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

To estimate the fair value of our reporting units, we use two generally accepted valuation approaches, an income approach and a market approach, using assumptions consistent with a market participant’s perspective. Under the income approach, we use anticipated cash flows over a period of years plus a terminal value and discount these amounts to their present value using appropriate discount rates. The forecasted cash flows are based on probability weighted-average possible future cash flows for a reporting unit over a period of years. Under the market approach, we apply EBITDA multiples to forecasted EBITDA. The multiples used are consistent with recent market transactions.

Long-lived assets - We assess our long-lived asset groups for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset group’s carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment is indicated if the carrying amount of a long-lived asset group exceeds the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset group. If an impairment is indicated, we record an impairment loss equal to the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the long-lived asset group.

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates - The impairment test for equity-method investments considers whether the fair value of the equity investment as a whole, not the underlying net assets, has declined and whether that decline is other than temporary. Therefore, we periodically evaluate the amount at which we carry our equity-method investments to determine whether current events or circumstances warrant adjustments to our carrying values.

Leases

Leases - We lease certain buildings, warehouses, office space, land and equipment, including pipeline equipment, pipeline capacity, rail cars and information technology equipment. In addition, as a result of the EnLink Controlling Interest Acquisition, we acquired lessee arrangements that primarily include office space, compression, field equipment and land. Acquired office space lease arrangements typically include variable lease cost related to utility expenses, which are determined based on our pro-rata share of building expenses each month and are expensed as incurred. Our lease payments are generally straight-line and the exercise of lease renewal options, which vary in term, is at our sole discretion. We include renewal periods in a lease term if we are reasonably certain to exercise available renewal options. Our lease agreements do not include any residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. We apply the short-term policy election, which allows us to exclude from recognition leases with an initial term of 12 months or less. Our weighted-average discount rates represent the rate implicit in the lease or our incremental borrowing rate for a term equal to the remaining term of the lease. Our finance lease assets and liabilities are not material.

Leases

We have made an accounting policy election for both our lessee and lessor arrangements to combine lease and non-lease components. This election is applied to all of our lease arrangements as our non-lease components do not result in significant timing differences in the recognition of rental expenses or income.

Regulation

Regulation - Depending on the specific service provided, our natural gas transmission pipelines, NGL, Refined Products and crude oil pipelines and certain natural gas storage facilities are subject to rate regulation and/or accounting requirements by one or more of the FERC, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Kansas Corporation Commission, Louisiana Public Service Commission, Railroad Commission of Texas, Wyoming Public Service Commission and Colorado Public Utilities Commission. Accordingly, portions of our Natural Gas Liquids and Natural Gas Pipelines segments follow the accounting and reporting guidance for regulated operations as defined pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification 980, Regulated Operations. During the rate-making process for certain of our assets, regulatory

authorities set the framework for what we can charge customers for our services and establish the manner that our costs are accounted for, including allowing us to defer recognition of certain costs and permitting recovery of the amounts through rates over time as opposed to expensing such costs as incurred. Certain examples of types of regulatory guidance include costs for fuel and losses, acquisition costs, contributions in aid of construction, charges for depreciation, and gains or losses on disposition of assets. This allows us to stabilize rates over time rather than passing such costs on to the customer for immediate recovery. Actions by regulatory authorities could have an effect on the amounts we may charge our customers. Any difference in the amount recoverable and the amount deferred is recorded as income or expense at the time of the regulatory action. A write-off of regulatory assets and costs not recovered may be required if all or a portion of the regulated operations have rates that are no longer (i) established by independent, third-party regulators and (ii) set at levels that will recover our costs when considering the demand and competition for our services.

Retirement and Other Postretirement Employee Benefits

Retirement and Other Postretirement Employee Benefits - We have a legacy ONEOK defined benefit retirement plan covering certain employees and former employees, as well as two defined benefit pension plans for non-union and union legacy Magellan employees. We sponsor legacy ONEOK welfare plans that provide postretirement medical and life insurance benefits to certain employees hired prior to 2017 who retire with at least five years of service of full-time consecutive service. We also sponsor the postretirement benefit obligations, which cover certain legacy Magellan employees. The expense and liability related to these plans is calculated using statistical and other factors that attempt to anticipate future events. These factors include assumptions about the discount rate, expected return on plan assets, rate of future compensation increases, interest credit rating, mortality and employment length. In determining the projected benefit obligations and costs, assumptions can change from period to period and may result in changes in the costs and liabilities we recognize.

We determine our discount rates annually utilizing portfolios of high-quality bonds matched to the estimated benefit cash flows of our retirement and other postretirement benefit plans. Bonds selected to be included in the portfolios are only those rated by S&P or Moody’s as an AA or Aa2 rating or better and exclude callable bonds, bonds with less than a minimum issue size, yield outliers and other filtering criteria to remove unsuitable bonds.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes - Deferred income taxes are provided for the difference between the financial statement and income tax basis of assets and liabilities and carryforward items based on income tax laws and rates existing at the time the temporary differences are expected to reverse. Generally, the effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date of the rate change.

We utilize a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position that is taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. We reflect penalties and interest as part of income tax expense as they become applicable for tax provisions that do not meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold and measurement attribute. For all periods presented, we had no uncertain tax positions that required the establishment of a material reserve.

We utilize the “with-and-without” approach for intra-period tax allocation for purposes of allocating total tax expense (or benefit) for the year among the various financial statement components.

We file numerous consolidated and separate income tax returns with federal tax authorities of the United States along with the tax authorities of several states. EnLink Midstream Operating, LP and EnLink Partners are both under federal audit by the Internal Revenue Service for the calendar years ended Dec. 31, 2019, and Dec. 31, 2020, and statute waivers are in place for these years. At this time, we believe the audits will close without a material impact. No other ONEOK entity is under any United States federal audits or statute waivers at this time.

Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset Retirement Obligations - Asset retirement obligations represent legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or normal use of the asset. Certain of our gathering and processing and pipeline facilities are subject to agreements or regulations that give rise to our asset retirement obligations for removal or other disposition costs associated with retiring the assets in place upon the discontinued use of the assets. We recognize the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period when it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of the fair value can be made. We are not able to estimate reasonably the fair value of the asset retirement obligations for portions of our assets, primarily certain pipeline assets, because the settlement dates are indeterminable given our expected continued use of the assets with proper maintenance. We expect our pipeline assets, for which we are unable to estimate reasonably the fair value of the asset retirement obligation, will continue in operation as long as supply and demand for natural gas, NGLs, Refined Products and crude oil exist. Based on the widespread use of these products in the medical, transportation, synthetics and agriculture industries, as well as for residential and industrial customers and electric generation, we expect supply and demand to exist for the foreseeable future.

For assets in which we are able to make an estimate, the fair value of the liability is added to the carrying amount of the associated asset, and this additional carrying amount is depreciated over the life of the asset. The liability is accreted at the end of each period through charges to operating expense. If the obligation is settled for an amount other than the carrying amount of the liability, we will recognize a gain or loss on settlement. The depreciation and accretion expense are immaterial to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Contingencies

Contingencies - Our accounting for contingencies covers a variety of business activities, including contingencies for legal and environmental exposures. We accrue these contingencies when our assessments indicate that it is probable that a liability has been incurred or an asset will not be recovered, and an amount can be estimated reasonably. We expense legal fees as incurred and base our legal liability estimates on currently available facts and our estimates of the ultimate outcome or resolution. Accruals for estimated losses from environmental remediation obligations generally are recognized no later than completion of a remediation feasibility study. Our expenditures for environmental evaluation, mitigation, remediation and compliance to date have not been material in relation to our financial position or results of operations, and our expenditures related to environmental matters did not have a material effect on earnings or cash flows during 2024, 2023 and 2022. Actual results may differ from our estimates resulting in an impact, positive or negative, on earnings.

Share-Based Payments

Share-Based Payments - We expense the fair value of share-based payments net of estimated forfeitures. We estimate forfeiture rates based on historical forfeitures under our share-based payment plans.

Earnings per Common Share

Earnings per Common Share - Basic EPS is calculated based on the daily weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, vested restricted and performance units that have been deferred and share awards deferred under the compensation plan for non-employee directors. Diluted EPS is calculated based on the daily weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period plus potentially dilutive components. The dilutive components are calculated based on the dilutive effect for each quarter. For fiscal-year periods, the dilutive components for each quarter are averaged to arrive at the fiscal year-to-date dilutive component.

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting - In accordance with the “Segment Reporting” Topic 280, our chief operating decision-maker has been identified as the chief executive officer, who reviews the financial performance of each of our four segments to make decisions about allocating resources and assessing our financial performance as a whole, on a regular basis. Adjusted EBITDA by segment is the single measure of profit and loss utilized in this evaluation by our chief executive officer and is provided through monthly and quarterly review packages. Forecasted and actual adjusted EBITDA is used in the evaluation and approval of capital projects. We believe this financial measure is useful because it and similar measures are used by many companies in our industry as a measurement of financial performance and are commonly employed by financial analysts and others to evaluate our financial performance and to compare financial performance among companies in our industry. Adjusted EBITDA for each segment is defined as net income adjusted for interest expense, depreciation and amortization, noncash impairment charges, income taxes, noncash compensation expense, and certain other noncash items. Following the Magellan Acquisition, we performed a review of our calculation methodology of adjusted EBITDA, and beginning in 2023, we updated our calculation to include adjusted EBITDA related to our unconsolidated affiliates using the same recognition and measurement methods used to record equity in net earnings from investments. In prior periods, our calculation included equity in net earnings from investments. This change resulted in an additional $62 million of adjusted EBITDA in 2023, and we have not restated prior periods. Adjusted EBITDA from our unconsolidated affiliates is calculated consistently with the definition above and excludes items such as interest, depreciation, income taxes and other noncash items. Although the amounts related to our unconsolidated affiliates are included in the calculation of adjusted EBITDA, such inclusion should not be understood to imply that we have control over the operations and resulting revenues, expenses or cash flows of such unconsolidated affiliates. This calculation may not be comparable with similarly titled measures of other companies.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Update

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Update - Changes to GAAP are established by the FASB in the form of Accounting Standards Update (ASUs) to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. We consider the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not discussed herein were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or clarifications of ASUs previously issued. Except as discussed below, there have been no new accounting pronouncements that have become effective or have been issued that are of significance or potential significance to us.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which requires public entities to disclose significant expense categories and amounts for each reportable segment on both an interim and annual basis, consisting of expenses regularly reported to the chief operating decision maker and included in a segment's reported measure of segment profit or loss. The standard also requires disclosing an amount of other segment items as well as all annual disclosures in interim periods. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after Dec. 15, 2023, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after Dec. 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard did not materially impact us.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which requires public entities, on an annual basis, to provide disclosure of specific disaggregated information about the reporting entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation as well as information on income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after Dec. 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to materially impact us.

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40), which requires public entities to provide disaggregated information for certain types of costs and expenses included in each income statement caption, such as inventory purchases, employee compensation, depreciation, intangible asset amortization and depletion. ASU 2024-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after Dec. 15, 2026, and interim periods beginning after Dec. 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this standard on us.

Debt

We amortize premiums, discounts and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of long-term debt consistent with the terms of the respective debt instrument.

Employee Benefit Plans

Plan Assets - Our investment strategy is to invest plan assets in accordance with sound investment practices that emphasize long-term fundamentals. The goal of this strategy is to maximize investment returns while managing risk in order to meet the plan’s current and projected financial obligations. The investment allocation for our ONEOK legacy defined benefit pension plan follows a glide path approach of liability-driven investing that shifts a higher portfolio weighting to fixed income as the plan’s funded status increases. A majority of the legacy Magellan pension assets are allocated to fixed income securities and invested to match the duration of the plans’ short, intermediate and long-term liabilities, with the remaining amount allocated to equity securities. Our pension plans utilize a diversified mix of investments that may include domestic and international equities, short, intermediate and long term corporate and government obligations, real estate and hedge funds. The combined target allocation for the assets of our pension plans as of Dec. 31, 2024, is as follows:


Domestic and international equities	32	%
Long duration fixed income	55	%
Return-seeking credit	5	%
Hedge funds	5	%
Real estate funds	3	%
Total	100	%

As part of our risk management for the plans, minimums and maximums have been set for each of the asset classes listed above.