Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline is a limited liability company owned by Dominion Energy Questar (effective November 2020) which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dominion Energy. Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline owns and operates interstate natural gas pipeline and storage facilities in the western U.S., including a 50% noncontrolling partnership interest in White River Hub. Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline’s operations are primarily regulated by FERC.
In July 2020, Dominion Energy entered into an agreement to sell substantially all of its gas transmission and storage operations, including Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline, to BHE. In October 2020, pursuant to a provision in the agreement with BHE, Dominion Energy elected to exclude Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline from the transaction as approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act had not been obtained by mid-September 2020. Concurrently in October 2020, Dominion Energy entered into an agreement with BHE for the sale of Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline once receipt of approval is obtained under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, which is currently anticipated in the first half of 2021. Upon closing, Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline will become an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of BHE.
NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
General
Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline makes certain estimates and assumptions in preparing its Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues, expenses, and cash flows for the periods presented. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline’s Consolidated Financial Statements include, after eliminating intercompany transactions and balances, the accounts of its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline reports certain investments using the equity method of accounting.
Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline reports certain contracts and instruments at fair value. The carrying values of customer and other receivables, affiliated receivables, accounts payable and payables to affiliates are estimated to be substantially the same as their fair values at December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Certain amounts in Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline’s historical Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation for comparative purposes. The reclassifications did not affect Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline’s net income, total assets, liabilities, equity or cash flows.
Operating Revenue
Operating revenue is recorded on the basis of services rendered, commodities delivered or contracts settled and includes amounts yet to be billed to customers. Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline is currently generating significant revenue and earnings from annual reservation payments under firm peaking storage and firm transportation contracts. Straight-fixed-variable rate designs are used to allow for recovery of substantially all fixed costs in demand or reservation charges, thereby reducing the earnings impact of volume changes on gas transportation and storage operations. Customer and other and affiliated receivables at December 31, 2020 and 2019 included $20.2 million and $22.1 million, respectively, of accrued unbilled revenue based on estimated amounts of services provided but not yet billed to its customers. See Note 14 for amounts related to affiliates.
Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline receives upfront payment for certain storage services it provides to customers, which are considered to be contract liabilities. These payments are amortized to revenue over the term of the contract.
The primary types of sales and service activities reported as operating revenue for Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline are as follows:
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
| • | | Regulated gas transportation and storage revenue consists primarily of FERC-regulated sales of transmission and storage services; |
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