At September 30, 2021, none of Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline’s regulatory assets were earning a return. With the exception of certain items discussed above, the majority of these expenditures are expected to be recovered within the next year.
Note 6. Regulatory Matters
FERC regulates the transportation and sale for resale of natural gas in interstate commerce under the NGA and the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978, as amended. Under the NGA, FERC has authority over rates, terms and conditions of services performed by Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline. FERC also has jurisdiction over siting, construction and operation of interstate natural gas pipeline facilities.
There have been no significant developments regarding regulatory matters disclosed in Note 8 to Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline’s Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Note 7. Variable Interest Entities
There have been no significant changes regarding the entities Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline considers VIEs as described in Note 10 to Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline’s Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2020.
DEQPS, an affiliated VIE, provides marketing and operational services to certain Dominion Energy subsidiaries, including Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline, as a subsidiary service company. Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline purchased shared services from DEQPS of $8.3 million and $7.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, and 2020, respectively, and $21.7 million and $20.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 include amounts due to DEQPS for such services of $3.8 million and $31.9 million, respectively.
DES, an affiliated VIE, provides administrative, management and other services to Dominion Energy and its subsidiaries as a subsidiary service company. Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline purchased shared services from DES of $2.1 million and $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $5.6 million and $6.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021and 2020, respectively. The Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 include amounts due to DES for such services of $3.1 million and $2.9 million, respectively.
Note 8. Significant Financing Transactions
Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline’s debt instruments are reported at historical cost. At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the carrying amount of Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline’s outstanding debt was $425.7 million and $425.5 million, respectively. At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the fair value of Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline’s outstanding debt was $468.3 million and $461.4 million, respectively. The estimated fair values have been determined using available market information and valuation methodologies considered appropriate by management. The fair values were calculated using market interest rates currently available for issuance of debt with similar terms and remaining maturities. The fair value measurement is classified as Level 2.
Note 9. Commitments and Contingencies
As a result of issues generated in the ordinary course of business, Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline may be involved in legal proceedings before various courts and periodically subject to governmental examinations (including by FERC), inquiries and investigations. Certain legal proceedings and governmental examinations involve demands for unspecified amounts of damages, are in an initial procedural phase, involve uncertainty as to the outcome of pending appeals or motions, or involve significant factual issues that need to be resolved, such that it is not possible for Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline to estimate a range of possible loss. For such matters that Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline cannot estimate, a statement to this effect is made in the description of the matter. Other matters may have progressed sufficiently through the litigation or investigative processes such that Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline is able to estimate a range of possible loss. For legal proceedings and governmental examinations for which Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline is able to reasonably estimate a range of possible losses, an estimated range of possible loss is provided, in excess
12