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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  
Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue as performance obligations are satisfied and control of the promised goods and service is transferred to the customer. For Lump Sum and Unit Price contracts, revenue is ordinarily recognized over time as control is transferred to the customers by measuring the progress toward complete satisfaction of the performance obligation(s) using an input (i.e., “cost to cost”) method. For Cost Plus and Time and Material (“T&M”) contracts, revenue is ordinarily recognized over time as control is transferred to the customers by measuring the progress toward satisfaction of the performance obligation(s) using an output method.

The Company does have certain service and maintenance contracts in which each customer purchase order is considered its own performance obligation recognized over time and would be recognized depending on the type of contract mentioned above. The Company also does certain T&M service work that is generally completed in a short duration and is recognized at a point in time.

All contract costs, including those associated with affirmative claims, change orders and back charges, are recorded as incurred and revisions to estimated total costs are reflected as soon as the obligation to perform is determined. Contract costs consist of direct costs on contracts, including labor and materials, amounts payable to subcontractors and outside equipment providers, direct overhead costs and internal equipment expense (primarily depreciation, fuel, maintenance, and repairs).

The Company recognizes revenue, but not profit, on certain uninstalled materials. Revenue on these uninstalled materials is recognized when the cost is incurred (when control is transferred), but the associated profit is not recognized until the materials are installed. The costs of uninstalled materials are tracked separately within the Company’s accounting software.

Pre-contract and bond costs, if required, and mobilization costs on projects are generally immaterial to the total value of the Company’s contracts and are expensed when incurred. As a practical expedient, the Company recognizes these incremental costs as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset that the entity otherwise would have recognized is one year or less. For projects expected to last greater than one year, mobilization costs are capitalized as incurred and amortized over the expected duration of the project. For these projects, mobilization costs will be tracked separately in the Company’s accounting software. This includes costs associated with setting up a project lot or lay-down yard, equipment, tool and supply transportation, temporary facilities and utilities and worker qualification and safety training.

Contracts may require the Company to warranty that work is performed in accordance with the contract; however, the warranty is not priced separately, and the Company does not offer customers an option to purchase a warranty.
Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements of Energy Services include the accounts of Energy Services, its wholly owned subsidiaries West Virginia Pipeline, SQP, Ryan Construction, Tri-State Paving, Tribute and C.J. Hughes and its subsidiaries, Contractors Rental, Nitro, and Pinnacle. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidation. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to Energy Services include Energy Services, West Virginia Pipeline, SQP, Ryan Construction, Tri-State Paving, Tribute and C.J. Hughes and its subsidiaries.
Use of Estimates and Assumptions

Use of Estimates and Assumptions

The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S.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 income and loss during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Energy Services considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

The “Fair Value Measurement” Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with U.S. GAAP and specifies disclosures about fair value measurements.

Under the FASB’s authoritative guidance on fair value measurements, fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The “Fair Value Measurement” Topic establishes a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date.

The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The three levels are defined as follows:

Level 1 — Quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities traded in active exchange markets.

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than Level 1 including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in less active markets, or other observable inputs that can be corroborated by observable market data. Level 2 also includes derivative contracts whose value is determined using a pricing model with observable market inputs or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity for financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation; also includes observable inputs for nonbinding single dealer quotes not corroborated by observable market data.

A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The carrying amount for borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility approximates fair value because of the variable market interest rate charged to the Company for these borrowings. The fair value of the Company’s long term fixed-rate debt was estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis and a yield rate that was estimated based on the borrowing rates currently available

to the Company for bank loans with similar terms and maturities. The fair value of the aggregate principal amount of the Company’s fixed-rate debt of $43.8 million at September 30, 2025 was $42.8 million. The fair value of the aggregate principal amount of the Company’s fixed-rate debt of $25.6 million at September 30, 2024 was $24.7 million.

All other current assets and liabilities are carried at a net realizable value which approximates fair value because of their short duration to maturity.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company’s accounts receivable consists of amounts that have been billed to customers. Collateral is generally not required. A majority of the Company’s contracts have monthly billing terms and payment terms within 30 to 45 days after invoices have been issued. The Company attempts to negotiate two-week billing terms and 15-day payment terms on larger projects. The timing of billings to customers may generate contract assets or contract liabilities. Certain construction contracts include retention provisions to provide assurance to our customers that we will perform in accordance with the contract terms and are therefore not considered a financing benefit. The balances billed but not paid by customers pursuant to these provisions generally become due upon completion and acceptance of the project work or products by the customer. We have determined there are no significant financing components in our contracts as of and for the years ended September 30, 2025 and 2024.

Retainage billed but not paid pursuant to contract provisions will be due upon completion of the contracts. Based on the Company’s experience, management considers all amounts classified as retainage receivable to be collectible. A majority of retainage receivable amounts are expected to be collected within the next fiscal year.

The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts when collection of an account or note receivable is considered doubtful, and receivables are written off against the allowance when deemed uncollectible. Inherent in the assessment of the allowance for doubtful accounts are certain judgments and estimates including, among others, the customer’s access to capital, the customer’s willingness or ability to pay, general economic conditions and the ongoing relationship with the customer.
Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Costs which extend the useful lives or increase the productivity of the assets are capitalized, while normal repairs and maintenance that do not extend the useful life or increase productivity of the asset are expensed as incurred. Property and equipment are depreciated principally on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets: buildings 39 years; operating equipment and vehicles 5-7 years; and office equipment, furniture and fixtures 5-7 years.
Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets

Acquired intangible assets subject to amortization are amortized on a straight-line basis, which approximates the pattern in which the economic benefit of the respective intangible assets is realized, over their respective estimated useful lives. The definite-lived identifiable intangible assets recognized as part of the Company’s business combinations were initially recorded at their estimated fair value.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

A long-lived asset shall be tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. If an evaluation is required, the estimated future undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset would be compared to the asset’s carrying amount to determine if a write-down to market value is required.

Claims

Claims

Claims are amounts in excess of the agreed contract price that a contractor seeks to collect from customers or others for customer-caused delays, errors in specifications and designs, contract terminations, change orders in dispute or unapproved as to both scope and price, or other causes of unanticipated additional costs. The Company records revenue on claims that management believes are probable. Revenue from a claim is recorded only to the extent that contract costs relating to the claim have been incurred.
Self -Insurance

Self -Insurance

The Company has its workers compensation, general liability and auto insurance through a captive insurance company. While the Company believes that this arrangement has been very beneficial in reducing and stabilizing insurance costs, the Company has to maintain a surety deposit to guarantee payment of premiums. The surety deposit had a balance of $2.1 million and $2.0 million as of September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, which is in “Prepaid expenses and other” on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Should the captive experience severe losses over an extended period, it could increase the Company’s insurance expense or surety deposit required.
Advertising

Advertising

All advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Total advertising expenses were $294,000 and $279,000 for the years ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Stock Compensation Plans

Stock Compensation Plans

The Company accounts for its equity-based compensation as prescribed by U.S. GAAP for share-based payments. The Company has adopted a fair value-based method of accounting for employee equity-based plans, whereby compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized over the service period, which is usually the vesting period. As a result, compensation expense relating to stock compensation plans will be reflected in net income as part of “Selling and administrative expenses” on the consolidated statements of income.
Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company and all subsidiaries file a consolidated federal and various state income tax returns on a fiscal year basis. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state, or local income tax examinations for years ending prior to September 30, 2022. The Company follows the liability method of accounting for income taxes in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for future tax consequences of temporary differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the underlying assets or liabilities are recovered or settled. A valuation allowance is established to reduce deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

U.S. GAAP also prescribes a comprehensive model for how companies should recognize, measure, present and disclose in their financial statements uncertain tax positions taken or to be taken on a tax return. This evaluation is a two-step process. First, the recognition process determines if it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained based on the merits of the tax position upon examination by the appropriate taxing authority. Second, a measurement process is calculated to determine the amount of benefit/expense to recognize in the financial statements if a tax position meets the more likely than not recognition threshold. The tax position is measured at the greatest amount of benefit/expense that is more likely than not of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Any interest and penalty related to the unrecognized tax benefits, as the result of recognition of tax obligations resulting from uncertain tax positions, are included in general and administrative expenses. The Company had not recognized any uncertain tax positions at September 30, 2025 or 2024.
Earnings Per Common Share

Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year, and diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year adjusted for all potentially dilutive common stock equivalents, except in cases where the effect of the common stock equivalent would be anti-dilutive.
Collective Bargaining Agreements

Collective Bargaining Agreements

Certain Energy Services subsidiaries are party to collective bargaining agreements with unions representing members that are employed by the Company. The agreements require such subsidiaries to pay specified wages and provide certain benefits to the union employees. These agreements expire at various times and have typically been renegotiated and renewed on terms that are similar to the ones contained in the expiring agreements.

Under certain collective bargaining agreements, the applicable Energy Services subsidiary is required to make contributions to multi-employer pension plans. If the subsidiary were to cease participation in one or more of these plans, a liability could potentially be assessed related to any underfunding of these plans. The amount of such an assessment, were one to be made, cannot be reasonably estimated.
Litigation Costs

Litigation Costs

The Company recognizes reserves when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. Litigation costs are expensed as incurred.
Treasury Stock

Treasury Stock

When the Company’s stock is retired or repurchased for constructive retirement (with or without an intention to retire the stock formally in accordance with applicable laws), any excess of par or stated value over the cost of treasury shares is credited to additional paid-in capital.
New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2024, the FASB issued an update that requires incremental disclosures about specific expense categories. Entities are required to disclose in the notes to financial statements the amounts of purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation, intangible asset amortization and selling expenses included in each relevant expense caption of the statements of operations. The standard also requires disclosure of the amount, and a qualitative description of, other items remaining in relevant expense captions that are not separately disaggregated. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption and both prospective and retrospective application are permitted. The Company is currently assessing the effect of this update.

In December 2023, the FASB issued an update that expands disclosures for tax rate reconciliation tables, primarily by requiring disaggregation of income taxes paid by jurisdiction, as well as greater disaggregation within the rate reconciliation. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2025. Early adoption and retrospective application are permitted. The Company is currently assessing the effect of this update.