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Commitments and Contingencies | 3 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | Note 8 — Commitments and Contingencies Environmental Matters UGI Utilities CPG is party to a Consent Order and Agreement (“CPG-COA”) with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) requiring CPG to perform a specified level of activities associated with environmental investigation and remediation work at certain properties in Pennsylvania on which manufactured gas plant (“MGP”) related facilities were operated (“CPG MGP Properties”) and to plug a minimum number of non-producing natural gas wells per year. In addition, PNG is a party to a Multi-Site Remediation Consent Order and Agreement (“PNG-COA”) with the DEP. The PNG-COA requires PNG to perform annually a specified level of activities associated with environmental investigation and remediation work at certain properties on which MGP-related facilities were operated (“PNG MGP Properties”). Under these agreements, environmental expenditures relating to the CPG MGP Properties and the PNG MGP Properties are capped at $1.8 and $1.1, respectively, in any calendar year. The CPG-COA is scheduled to terminate at the end of 2018. The PNG-COA terminates in 2019 but may be terminated by either party effective at the end of any two-year period beginning with the original effective date in March 2004. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, our accrued liabilities for environmental investigation and remediation costs related to the CPG-COA and the PNG-COA totaled $11.2 and $12.1, respectively. We have recorded associated regulatory assets in equal amounts because recovery of these costs from CPG customers is probable. From the late 1800s through the mid-1900s, UGI Utilities and its former subsidiaries owned and operated a number of MGPs prior to the general availability of natural gas. Some constituents of coal tars and other residues of the manufactured gas process are today considered hazardous substances under the Superfund Law and may be present on the sites of former MGPs. Between 1882 and 1953, UGI Utilities owned the stock of subsidiary gas companies in Pennsylvania and elsewhere and also operated the businesses of some gas companies under agreement. Pursuant to the requirements of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, by the early 1950s UGI Utilities divested all of its utility operations other than certain Pennsylvania operations, including those which now constitute UGI Gas and Electric Utility. UGI Utilities does not expect its costs for investigation and remediation of hazardous substances at Pennsylvania MGP sites to be material to its results of operations because (1) UGI Gas is currently permitted to include in rates, through future base rate proceedings, a five-year average of such prudently incurred remediation costs and (2) CPG and PNG are currently receiving regulatory recovery of estimated environmental investigation and remediation costs associated with Pennsylvania sites. At December 31, 2014, neither the undiscounted nor the accrued liability for environmental investigation and cleanup costs for UGI Gas was material. From time to time, UGI Utilities is notified of sites outside Pennsylvania on which private parties allege MGPs were formerly owned or operated by UGI Utilities or owned or operated by its former subsidiaries. Such parties generally investigate the extent of environmental contamination or perform environmental remediation. Management believes that under applicable law UGI Utilities should not be liable in those instances in which a former subsidiary owned or operated an MGP. There could be, however, significant future costs of an uncertain amount associated with environmental damage caused by MGPs outside Pennsylvania that UGI Utilities directly operated, or that were owned or operated by former subsidiaries of UGI Utilities if a court were to conclude that (1) the subsidiary’s separate corporate form should be disregarded or (2) UGI Utilities should be considered to have been an operator because of its conduct with respect to its subsidiary’s MGP. Other Matters Federal Trade Commission Investigation of Propane Grill Cylinder Filling Practices. On or about November 4, 2011, the General Partner received notice that the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) had initiated an antitrust and consumer protection investigation into certain practices of the Partnership relating to the filling of portable propane cylinders. On February 2, 2012, the Partnership received a Civil Investigative Demand from the FTC that requested documents and information concerning, among other things, (i) the Partnership’s decision, in 2008, to reduce the volume of propane in cylinders it sells to consumers from 17 pounds to 15 pounds, and (ii) cross-filling, related service arrangements and communications regarding the foregoing with competitors. The Partnership responded to that subpoena and cooperated with subsequent requests for information. On March 27, 2014, the FTC issued an administrative complaint against the Partnership and UGI alleging that the General Partner and one of its competitors colluded in 2008 to persuade its common customer, Walmart Stores, Inc., to accept the cylinder fill reduction from 17 pounds to 15 pounds. The complaint does not seek monetary remedies. The Partnership and UGI filed their answer to the complaint on April 18, 2014. On August 25, 2014, the parties entered into an Agreement Containing Consent Orders, and on August 27, 2014, the FTC issued an Order Withdrawing Matter from Adjudication for the Purpose of Considering a Proposed Consent Agreement. The consent agreement was accepted by the FTC on October 31, 2014. Following a public comment period, the FTC on January 7, 2015 approved a final order settling the charges. The order sets forth the conditions of settlement between the parties and concludes the FTC’s investigation. Purported Class Action Lawsuits. Following the issuance of the FTC’s administrative complaint described above, more than 35 class action lawsuits were filed in multiple jurisdictions against the Partnership/UGI Corporation and a competitor by certain of their direct and indirect customers. The class action lawsuits allege, among other things, that the Partnership and its competitor colluded beginning in 2008 to reduce the fill level and combined to persuade its common customer, Walmart Stores, Inc., to accept that fill reduction, resulting in increased cylinder costs to retailers and end-user customers in violation of federal and certain state antitrust laws. The claims seek treble damages, injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees and costs on behalf of the putative classes. On October 16, 2014, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation transferred all of these purported class action cases to the Western Division of the Western District of Missouri. We are unable to reasonably estimate the impact, if any, arising from such litigation. We believe we have strong defenses to the claims and intend to vigorously defend against them. In addition to the matters described above, there are other pending claims and legal actions arising in the normal course of our businesses. Although we cannot predict the final results of these pending claims and legal actions, we believe, after consultation with counsel, that the final outcome of these matters will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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