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Basis of Presentation (Policies) | 3 Months Ended
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Dec. 28, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] |
Principles of Consolidation | Principles of Consolidation. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated. The Partnership consolidates the results of operations, financial condition and cash flows of the Operating Partnership as a result of the Partnership’s 100% limited partner interest in the Operating Partnership. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). They include all adjustments that the Partnership considers necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the interim periods presented. Such adjustments consist only of normal recurring items, unless otherwise disclosed. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2024. Due to the seasonal nature of the Partnership’s operations, the results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full year.
Fiscal Period | Fiscal Period. The Partnership uses a 52/53-week fiscal year which ends on the last Saturday in September. The Partnership’s fiscal quarters are generally thirteen weeks in duration. When the Partnership’s fiscal year is 53 weeks long, the corresponding fourth quarter is fourteen weeks in duration.
Revenue Recognition | Revenue Recognition. The Partnership recognizes revenue pursuant to the requirements of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Topic 606 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“Topic 606”) and all related amendments. Topic 606 provides a five-step model to be applied to all contracts with customers. The five steps are to identify the contract(s) with the customer, identify the performance obligations in the contract, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. Revenue is recognized by the Partnership when goods or services promised in a contract with a customer have been transferred, and no further performance obligation on that transfer is required, in an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received. Performance obligations are determined and evaluated based on the specific terms of the arrangements and the distinct products and services offered. Due to the nature of the retail business of the Partnership, there are no remaining or unsatisfied performance obligations as of the end of the reporting period, except for tank rental agreements, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs, as described below. The performance obligation associated with sales of propane, fuel oil and refined fuels is met at the time product is delivered to the customer. Revenue from the sale of appliances and equipment is recognized at the time of sale or when installation is complete, as defined by the performance obligations included within the related customer contract. Revenue from repairs, maintenance and other service activities is recognized upon completion of the service. Revenue from the sale of natural gas and electricity is recognized based on customer usage as determined by meter readings for amounts delivered, an immaterial amount of which may be unbilled at the end of each accounting period. The Partnership defers the recognition of revenue for annually billed tank rent, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs where customer consideration is received at the start of the contract period, establishing contract liabilities which are disclosed as customer deposits and advances on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Deliveries to customers enrolled in budgetary programs that exceed billings to those customers establish contract assets which are included in accounts receivable on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Partnership ratably recognizes revenue over the applicable term for tank rent and maintenance service agreements, which is generally one year, and at the time of delivery for fixed price contracts and budgetary programs. The Partnership incurs incremental direct costs, such as commissions to its salesforce, to obtain certain contracts. These costs are expensed as incurred, consistent with the practical expedients issued by the FASB, since the expected amortization period is one year or less. The Partnership generally determines selling prices based on, among other things, the current weighted average cost and the current replacement cost of the product at the time of delivery, plus an applicable margin. Except for tank rental agreements, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs, customer payments for the satisfaction of a performance obligation are due upon receipt. Revenues from the Partnership’s renewable energy platform, as described further in Note 4, “Investments in and Acquisitions of Businesses,” consist of in-take and off-take revenues. In-take revenues are generated from tipping fees charged to third parties who deliver feedstocks, including food and beverage waste, to the Partnership’s facilities. These feedstocks, as well as manure from dairy cattle, are then anaerobically digested and converted into RNG and fertilizer. Off-take revenues are generated through the sale of RNG and the related environmental attributes, including renewable identification numbers (“RINs”) and low carbon fuel standard (“LCFS”) credits that are generated from the production and distribution of RNG, and revenues generated from the sales of fertilizers and other byproducts produced in the RNG production process. Revenues from the Partnership’s renewable energy platform are reported within the “all other” segment (refer to Note 18, “Segment Information” for more information). In-take revenues are recognized at the point in time when the feedstocks are delivered to the Partnership because that is when the performance obligations have been satisfied. Off-take revenues are recognized at the point in time when the Partnership delivers the RNG to the customer because that is when the performance obligations have been satisfied.
Fair Value Measurements | Fair Value Measurements. The Partnership measures certain of its assets and liabilities at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants – in either the principal market or the most advantageous market. The principal market is the market with the greatest level of activity and volume for the asset or liability. The common framework for measuring fair value utilizes a three-level hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used in the valuation techniques to derive fair values. The basis for fair value measurements for each level within the hierarchy is described below with Level 1 having the highest priority and Level 3 having the lowest. • Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. • Level 2: Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets. • Level 3: Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable.
Business Combinations | Business Combinations. The Partnership accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method and accordingly, the assets and liabilities of the acquired entities are recorded at their estimated fair values at the acquisition date. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired, including the amount assigned to identifiable intangible assets. The primary drivers that generate goodwill are the value of synergies between the acquired entities and the Partnership, and the acquired assembled workforce, neither of which qualifies as an identifiable intangible asset. Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their useful lives. The results of operations of acquired businesses are included in the condensed consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date. The Partnership expenses all acquisition-related costs as incurred.
Use of Estimates | Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities 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. Estimates have been made by management in the areas of RNG revenue recognition, self-insurance and litigation reserves, pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities and costs, valuation of derivative instruments, depreciation and amortization of long-lived assets, asset impairment assessments, tax valuation allowances, allowances for doubtful accounts, and purchase price allocation for acquired businesses. The Partnership uses Society of Actuaries life expectancy information when developing the annual mortality assumptions for the pension and postretirement benefit plans, which are used to measure net periodic benefit costs and the obligation under these plans. Actual results could differ from those estimates, making it reasonably possible that a material change in these estimates could occur in the near term.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements | Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements. In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, “Segment Reporting: Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“Topic 280”). This update will require public entities to disclose significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and included within segment profit and loss. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. Topic 280 will first be effective for the Partnership’s fiscal 2025 annual report and should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Partnership is assessing the effect of this update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes: Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“Topic 740”). This update requires disclosure of specific categories and disaggregation of information in the income tax rate reconciliation table. Topic 740 also requires disclosure of disaggregated information related to income taxes paid, income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit, and income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations. The requirements of Topic 740 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, which will be the Partnership’s fiscal 2026 annual report. Early adoption is permitted and the amendments should be applied on a prospective basis with retrospective application also being permitted. The Partnership is assessing the effect of this update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, “Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses” (“Subtopic 220-40”). This update requires enhanced disclosure of income statement expense categories to improve transparency and provide financial statement users with more detailed information about the nature, amount and timing of expenses impacting financial performance. Subtopic 220-40 may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027. Subtopic 220-40 will first be effective for the Partnership’s 2028 annual report. The Partnership is assessing the effect of this update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. SEC Climate Disclosures. In March 2024, the SEC issued final rules to require disclosures about certain climate-related information in registration statements and annual reports. In April 2024, the SEC issued an order to stay the rules pending the completion of judicial review of multiple petitions challenging the rules. The rules will, if implemented as issued by the SEC, require disclosure of, among other things, material climate-related risks, how the Partnership’s Board of Supervisors and management oversee and manage such risks, and the actual and potential material impacts of such risks to the Partnership. The rules would also require disclosure about material climate-related targets and goals, greenhouse gas emissions (“GHG”) from operations owned or controlled (Scope 1) and purchased energy used in owned or controlled operations (Scope 2), and the financial impacts of severe weather events and other natural conditions. Currently, it is uncertain whether the SEC’s new climate-related disclosure rules will withstand pending and future legal challenges. If the rules are ultimately implemented, the Partnership will apply them prospectively with certain disclosures beginning in its fiscal 2026 annual report, or at such other time as provided by the SEC. The Partnership is assessing the effect of these rules on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

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