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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended December 31, 20202021
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from____ to_____
Commission File Number 1-3880
NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New Jersey13-1086010
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
6363 Main Street 
Williamsville,New York14221
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

(716) 857-7000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each ClassTrading Symbol
Name of Each Exchange
on Which Registered
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per shareNFGNew York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes      No 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes    No 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.      
Large Accelerated FilerAccelerated Filer
Non-Accelerated FilerSmaller Reporting Company
Emerging Growth Company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  YES    NO 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: Common stock, par value $1.00 per share, outstanding at January 31, 2021: 91,163,4462022: 91,443,921 shares.


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GLOSSARY OF TERMS
 
Frequently used abbreviations, acronyms, or terms used in this report:
 
National Fuel Gas Companies
CompanyThe Registrant, the Registrant and its subsidiaries or the Registrant’s subsidiaries as appropriate in the context of the disclosure
Distribution CorporationNational Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation
EmpireEmpire Pipeline, Inc.
Midstream CompanyNational Fuel Gas Midstream Company, LLC
National FuelNational Fuel Gas Company
NFRNational Fuel Resources, Inc.
RegistrantNational Fuel Gas Company
SenecaSeneca Resources Company, LLC
Supply CorporationNational Fuel Gas Supply Corporation
Regulatory Agencies
CFTCCommodity Futures Trading Commission
EPAUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
FASBFinancial Accounting Standards Board
FERCFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
NYDECNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation
NYPSCState of New York Public Service Commission
PaDEPPennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
PaPUCPennsylvania Public Utility Commission
PHMSAPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
SECSecurities and Exchange Commission
Other
20202021 Form 10-KThe Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 20202021
2017 Tax Reform ActTax legislation referred to as the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act," enacted December 22, 2017.
BblBarrel (of oil)
BcfBillion cubic feet (of natural gas)
Bcfe (or Mcfe) –  represents Bcf (or Mcf) EquivalentThe total heat value (Btu) of natural gas and oil expressed as a volume of natural gas. The Company uses a conversion formula of 1 barrel of oil = 6 Mcf of natural gas.
BtuBritish thermal unit; the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit
Capital expenditureRepresents additions to property, plant, and equipment, or the amount of money a company spends to buy capital assets or upgrade its existing capital assets.
Cashout revenuesA cash resolution of a gas imbalance whereby a customer (e.g. a marketer) pays for gas the customer receives in excess of amounts delivered into pipeline/storage or distribution systems by the customer’s shipper.
CLCPALegislation referred to as the "Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act," enacted by the State of New York on July 18, 2019.
Degree dayA measure of the coldness of the weather experienced, based on the extent to which the daily average temperature falls below a reference temperature, usually 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
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DerivativeA financial instrument or other contract, the terms of which include an underlying variable (a price, interest rate, index rate, exchange rate, or other variable) and a notional amount (number of units, barrels, cubic feet, etc.).  The terms also permit for the instrument or contract to be settled net and no initial net investment is required to enter into the financial instrument or contract.  Examples include futures contracts, forward contracts, options, no cost collars and swaps.
Development costsCosts incurred to obtain access to proved oil and gas reserves and to provide facilities for extracting, treating, gathering and storing the oil and gas
Dodd-Frank ActDodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
DthDecatherm; one Dth of natural gas has a heating value of 1,000,000 British thermal units, approximately equal to the heating value of 1 Mcf of natural gas.
Exchange ActSecurities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
Expenditures for long-lived assetsIncludes capital expenditures, stock acquisitions and/or investments in partnerships.
Exploration costsCosts incurred in identifying areas that may warrant examination, as well as costs incurred in examining specific areas, including drilling exploratory wells.
Exploratory wellA well drilled in unproven or semi-proven territory for the purpose of ascertaining the presence underground of a commercial hydrocarbon deposit.
FERC 7(c) applicationAn application to the FERC under Section 7(c) of the federal Natural Gas Act for authority to construct, operate (and provide services through) facilities to transport or store natural gas in interstate commerce.
Firm transportation and/or storageThe transportation and/or storage service that a supplier of such service is obligated by contract to provide and for which the customer is obligated to pay whether or not the service is utilized.
GAAPAccounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
GoodwillAn intangible asset representing the difference between the fair value of a company and the price at which a company is purchased.
HedgingA method of minimizing the impact of price, interest rate, and/or foreign currency exchange rate changes, often times through the use of derivative financial instruments.
HubLocation where pipelines intersect enabling the trading, transportation, storage, exchange, lending and borrowing of natural gas.
ICEIntercontinental Exchange. An exchange which maintains a futures market for crude oil and natural gas.
Interruptible transportation and/or storageThe transportation and/or storage service that, in accordance with contractual arrangements, can be interrupted by the supplier of such service, and for which the customer does not pay unless utilized.
LDCLocal distribution company
LIBORLondon Interbank Offered Rate
LIFOLast-in, first-out
Marcellus ShaleA Middle Devonian-age geological shale formation that is present nearly a mile or more below the surface in the Appalachian region of the United States, including much of Pennsylvania and southern New York.
MbblThousand barrels (of oil)
McfThousand cubic feet (of natural gas)
MD&AManagement’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
MDthThousand decatherms (of natural gas)
MMBtuMillion British thermal units (heating value of one decatherm of natural gas)
MMcfMillion cubic feet (of natural gas)
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NGAThe Natural Gas Act of 1938, as amended; the federal law regulating interstate natural gas pipeline and storage companies, among other things, codified beginning at 15 U.S.C. Section 717.
NYMEXNew York Mercantile Exchange.  An exchange which maintains a futures market for crude oil and natural gas.
OPEBOther Post-Employment Benefit
Open SeasonA bidding procedure used by pipelines to allocate firm transportation or storage capacity among prospective shippers, in which all bids submitted during a defined time period are evaluated as if they had been submitted simultaneously.
Precedent AgreementAn agreement between a pipeline company and a potential customer to sign a service agreement after specified events (called “conditions precedent”) happen, usually within a specified time.
Proved developed reservesReserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods.
Proved undeveloped (PUD) reservesReserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required to make these reserves productive.
ReservesThe unproduced but recoverable oil and/or gas in place in a formation which has been proven by production.
Revenue decoupling mechanismA rate mechanism which adjusts customer rates to render a utility financially indifferent to throughput decreases resulting from conservation.
S&PStandard & Poor’s Rating Service
SARStock appreciation right
Service agreementThe binding agreement by which the pipeline company agrees to provide service and the shipper agrees to pay for the service.
Stock acquisitionsInvestments in corporations
Utica ShaleA Middle Ordovician-age geological formation lying several thousand feet below the Marcellus Shale in the Appalachian region of the United States, including much of Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and southern New York.
VEBAVoluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association
WNCWeather normalization clause; a clause in utility rates which adjusts customer rates to allow a utility to recover its normal operating costs calculated at normal temperatures.  If temperatures during the measured period are warmer than normal, customer rates are adjusted upward in order to recover projected operating costs.  If temperatures during the measured period are colder than normal, customer rates are adjusted downward so that only the projected operating costs will be recovered.



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INDEXPage
  
6 
  
  
 
Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities 
Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures 
Item 5.  Other Information 
 
• The Company has nothing to report under this item.
 
    All references to a certain year in this report are to the Company’s fiscal year ended September 30 of that year, unless otherwise noted.

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Part I.  Financial Information
 
Item 1. Financial Statements
National Fuel Gas Company
Consolidated Statements of Income and Earnings
Reinvested in the Business
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Three Months Ended
December 31,
(Thousands of U.S. Dollars, Except Per Common Share Amounts)(Thousands of U.S. Dollars, Except Per Common Share Amounts)20202019(Thousands of U.S. Dollars, Except Per Common Share Amounts)20212020
INCOMEINCOMEINCOME
Operating Revenues:Operating Revenues:Operating Revenues:
Utility and Energy Marketing RevenuesUtility and Energy Marketing Revenues$189,466 $228,026 Utility and Energy Marketing Revenues$236,684 $189,466 
Exploration and Production and Other RevenuesExploration and Production and Other Revenues192,035 167,193 Exploration and Production and Other Revenues244,281 192,035 
Pipeline and Storage and Gathering RevenuesPipeline and Storage and Gathering Revenues59,659 48,969 Pipeline and Storage and Gathering Revenues65,592 59,659 
441,160 444,188 546,557 441,160 
Operating Expenses:Operating Expenses:Operating Expenses:
Purchased GasPurchased Gas51,620 92,272 Purchased Gas101,628 51,620 
Operation and Maintenance:Operation and Maintenance:Operation and Maintenance:
Utility and Energy MarketingUtility and Energy Marketing44,886 43,256 Utility and Energy Marketing46,644 44,886 
Exploration and Production and OtherExploration and Production and Other42,027 36,693 Exploration and Production and Other45,619 42,027 
Pipeline and Storage and GatheringPipeline and Storage and Gathering28,098 25,885 Pipeline and Storage and Gathering29,928 28,098 
Property, Franchise and Other TaxesProperty, Franchise and Other Taxes22,781 23,144 Property, Franchise and Other Taxes24,501 22,781 
Depreciation, Depletion and AmortizationDepreciation, Depletion and Amortization83,120 74,918 Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization88,578 83,120 
Impairment of Oil and Gas Producing PropertiesImpairment of Oil and Gas Producing Properties76,152 Impairment of Oil and Gas Producing Properties— 76,152 
348,684 296,168  336,898 348,684 
Gain on Sale of Timber PropertiesGain on Sale of Timber Properties51,066 Gain on Sale of Timber Properties— 51,066 
Operating IncomeOperating Income143,542 148,020 Operating Income209,659 143,542 
Other Income (Expense):Other Income (Expense):Other Income (Expense):
Other Income (Deductions)Other Income (Deductions)(2,176)(3,040)Other Income (Deductions)(1,079)(2,176)
Interest Expense on Long-Term DebtInterest Expense on Long-Term Debt(32,256)(25,443)Interest Expense on Long-Term Debt(30,130)(32,256)
Other Interest ExpenseOther Interest Expense(1,919)(1,551)Other Interest Expense(1,161)(1,919)
Income Before Income TaxesIncome Before Income Taxes107,191 117,986 Income Before Income Taxes177,289 107,191 
Income Tax ExpenseIncome Tax Expense29,417 31,395 Income Tax Expense44,897 29,417 
Net Income Available for Common StockNet Income Available for Common Stock77,774 86,591 Net Income Available for Common Stock132,392 77,774 
EARNINGS REINVESTED IN THE BUSINESSEARNINGS REINVESTED IN THE BUSINESSEARNINGS REINVESTED IN THE BUSINESS
Balance at Beginning of PeriodBalance at Beginning of Period991,630 1,272,601 Balance at Beginning of Period1,191,175 991,630 
1,069,404 1,359,192  1,323,567 1,069,404 
Dividends on Common StockDividends on Common Stock(40,560)(37,650)Dividends on Common Stock(41,604)(40,560)
Cumulative Effect of Adoption of Authoritative Guidance for Hedging(950)
Balance at December 31Balance at December 31$1,028,844 $1,320,592 Balance at December 31$1,281,963 $1,028,844 
Earnings Per Common Share:Earnings Per Common Share:Earnings Per Common Share:
Basic:Basic:Basic:
Net Income Available for Common StockNet Income Available for Common Stock$0.85 $1.00 Net Income Available for Common Stock$1.45 $0.85 
Diluted:Diluted:Diluted:
Net Income Available for Common StockNet Income Available for Common Stock$0.85 $1.00 Net Income Available for Common Stock$1.44 $0.85 
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Used in Basic CalculationUsed in Basic Calculation91,007,657 86,378,450 Used in Basic Calculation91,266,300 91,007,657 
Used in Diluted CalculationUsed in Diluted Calculation91,508,259 86,883,152 Used in Diluted Calculation92,032,775 91,508,259 
Dividends Per Common Share:Dividends Per Common Share:Dividends Per Common Share:
Dividends DeclaredDividends Declared$0.445 $0.435 Dividends Declared$0.455 $0.445 
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
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National Fuel Gas Company
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Three Months Ended
December 31,
(Thousands of U.S. Dollars) (Thousands of U.S. Dollars) 20202019(Thousands of U.S. Dollars) 20212020
Net Income Available for Common StockNet Income Available for Common Stock$77,774 $86,591 Net Income Available for Common Stock$132,392 $77,774 
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Before Tax:
Other Comprehensive Income, Before Tax:Other Comprehensive Income, Before Tax:
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Financial Instruments Arising During the PeriodUnrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Financial Instruments Arising During the Period48,021 495 Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Financial Instruments Arising During the Period163,132 48,021 
Reclassification Adjustment for Realized (Gains) Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments in Net IncomeReclassification Adjustment for Realized (Gains) Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments in Net Income311 (7,352)Reclassification Adjustment for Realized (Gains) Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments in Net Income162,588 311 
Cumulative Effect of Adoption of Authoritative Guidance for Hedging1,313 
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Before Tax48,332 (5,544)
Other Comprehensive Income, Before TaxOther Comprehensive Income, Before Tax325,720 48,332 
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Related to Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Financial Instruments Arising During the PeriodIncome Tax Expense (Benefit) Related to Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Financial Instruments Arising During the Period13,230 119 Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Related to Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Financial Instruments Arising During the Period44,649 13,230 
Reclassification Adjustment for Income Tax Benefit (Expense) on Realized Losses (Gains) from Derivative Financial Instruments in Net IncomeReclassification Adjustment for Income Tax Benefit (Expense) on Realized Losses (Gains) from Derivative Financial Instruments in Net Income86 (2,031)Reclassification Adjustment for Income Tax Benefit (Expense) on Realized Losses (Gains) from Derivative Financial Instruments in Net Income44,500 86 
Income Tax Benefit (Expense) on Cumulative Effect of Adoption of Authoritative Guidance for Hedging363 
Income Taxes – NetIncome Taxes – Net13,316 (1,549)Income Taxes – Net89,149 13,316 
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)35,016 (3,995)
Other Comprehensive IncomeOther Comprehensive Income236,571 35,016 
Comprehensive IncomeComprehensive Income$112,790 $82,596 Comprehensive Income$368,963 $112,790 
 































See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
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National Fuel Gas Company
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
 
December 31,
2020
September 30, 2020December 31,
2021
September 30, 2021
(Thousands of U.S. Dollars)(Thousands of U.S. Dollars)  (Thousands of U.S. Dollars)  
ASSETSASSETS  ASSETS  
Property, Plant and EquipmentProperty, Plant and Equipment$12,495,227 $12,351,852 Property, Plant and Equipment$13,293,191 $13,103,639 
Less - Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and AmortizationLess - Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization6,503,561 6,353,785 Less - Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization6,802,436 6,719,356 
5,991,666 5,998,067  6,490,755 6,384,283 
Assets Held for Sale, Net53,424 
Current AssetsCurrent Assets  Current Assets  
Cash and Temporary Cash InvestmentsCash and Temporary Cash Investments109,413 20,541 Cash and Temporary Cash Investments79,065 31,528 
Receivables – Net of Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts of $26,221 and $22,810, Respectively178,584 143,583 
Hedging Collateral DepositsHedging Collateral Deposits— 88,610 
Receivables – Net of Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts of $35,599 and $31,639, RespectivelyReceivables – Net of Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts of $35,599 and $31,639, Respectively264,255 205,294 
Unbilled RevenueUnbilled Revenue45,829 17,302 Unbilled Revenue56,836 17,000 
Gas Stored UndergroundGas Stored Underground19,648 33,338 Gas Stored Underground22,767 33,669 
Materials, Supplies and Emission AllowancesMaterials, Supplies and Emission Allowances51,694 51,877 Materials, Supplies and Emission Allowances47,351 53,560 
Unrecovered Purchased Gas CostsUnrecovered Purchased Gas Costs367 Unrecovered Purchased Gas Costs32,602 33,128 
Other Current AssetsOther Current Assets47,904 47,557 Other Current Assets64,314 59,660 
453,439 314,198  567,190 522,449 
Other AssetsOther Assets  Other Assets  
Recoverable Future TaxesRecoverable Future Taxes117,431 118,310 Recoverable Future Taxes124,439 121,992 
Unamortized Debt ExpenseUnamortized Debt Expense11,870 12,297 Unamortized Debt Expense10,162 10,589 
Other Regulatory AssetsOther Regulatory Assets153,172 156,106 Other Regulatory Assets57,178 60,145 
Deferred ChargesDeferred Charges61,986 67,131 Deferred Charges69,981 59,939 
Other InvestmentsOther Investments145,921 154,502 Other Investments106,483 149,632 
GoodwillGoodwill5,476 5,476 Goodwill5,476 5,476 
Prepaid Post-Retirement Benefit Costs80,032 76,035 
Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments18,094 9,308 
Prepaid Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit CostsPrepaid Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Costs158,009 149,151 
OtherOther81 81 Other— 1,169 
594,063 599,246  531,728 558,093 
Total AssetsTotal Assets$7,039,168 $6,964,935 Total Assets$7,589,673 $7,464,825 












See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements


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National Fuel Gas Company
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
December 31,
2020
September 30, 2020 December 31,
2021
September 30, 2021
(Thousands of U.S. Dollars)(Thousands of U.S. Dollars)  (Thousands of U.S. Dollars)  
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIESCAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES  CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES  
Capitalization:Capitalization:  Capitalization:  
Comprehensive Shareholders’ EquityComprehensive Shareholders’ Equity  Comprehensive Shareholders’ Equity  
Common Stock, $1 Par ValueCommon Stock, $1 Par Value  Common Stock, $1 Par Value  
Authorized - 200,000,000 Shares; Issued And Outstanding – 91,152,710 Shares
and 90,954,696 Shares, Respectively
$91,153 $90,955 
Authorized - 200,000,000 Shares; Issued And Outstanding – 91,436,837 Shares
and 91,181,549 Shares, Respectively
Authorized - 200,000,000 Shares; Issued And Outstanding – 91,436,837 Shares
and 91,181,549 Shares, Respectively
$91,437 $91,182 
Paid in CapitalPaid in Capital1,004,369 1,004,158 Paid in Capital1,013,821 1,017,446 
Earnings Reinvested in the BusinessEarnings Reinvested in the Business1,028,844 991,630 Earnings Reinvested in the Business1,281,963 1,191,175 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive LossAccumulated Other Comprehensive Loss(79,741)(114,757)Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss(277,026)(513,597)
Total Comprehensive Shareholders’ EquityTotal Comprehensive Shareholders’ Equity2,044,625 1,971,986 Total Comprehensive Shareholders’ Equity2,110,195 1,786,206 
Long-Term Debt, Net of Current Portion and Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance CostsLong-Term Debt, Net of Current Portion and Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs2,130,473 2,629,576 Long-Term Debt, Net of Current Portion and Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs2,629,602 2,628,687 
Total CapitalizationTotal Capitalization4,175,098 4,601,562 Total Capitalization4,739,797 4,414,893 
Current and Accrued LiabilitiesCurrent and Accrued Liabilities  Current and Accrued Liabilities  
Notes Payable to Banks and Commercial PaperNotes Payable to Banks and Commercial Paper25,000 30,000 Notes Payable to Banks and Commercial Paper166,000 158,500 
Current Portion of Long-Term Debt500,000 
Accounts PayableAccounts Payable96,905 134,126 Accounts Payable129,934 171,655 
Amounts Payable to CustomersAmounts Payable to Customers5,823 10,788 Amounts Payable to Customers36 21 
Dividends PayableDividends Payable40,560 40,475 Dividends Payable41,604 41,487 
Interest Payable on Long-Term DebtInterest Payable on Long-Term Debt45,350 27,521 Interest Payable on Long-Term Debt45,017 17,376 
Customer AdvancesCustomer Advances16,032 15,319 Customer Advances14,620 17,223 
Customer Security DepositsCustomer Security Deposits17,623 17,199 Customer Security Deposits20,273 19,292 
Other Accruals and Current LiabilitiesOther Accruals and Current Liabilities154,377 140,176 Other Accruals and Current Liabilities187,965 194,169 
Fair Value of Derivative Financial InstrumentsFair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments4,513 43,969 Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments290,690 616,410 
906,183 459,573  896,139 1,236,133 
Deferred Credits  
Other LiabilitiesOther Liabilities  
Deferred Income TaxesDeferred Income Taxes735,236 696,054 Deferred Income Taxes799,599 660,420 
Taxes Refundable to CustomersTaxes Refundable to Customers357,354 357,508 Taxes Refundable to Customers350,628 354,089 
Cost of Removal Regulatory LiabilityCost of Removal Regulatory Liability234,641 230,079 Cost of Removal Regulatory Liability249,208 245,636 
Other Regulatory LiabilitiesOther Regulatory Liabilities168,188 161,573 Other Regulatory Liabilities204,476 200,643 
Pension and Other Post-Retirement LiabilitiesPension and Other Post-Retirement Liabilities124,097 127,181 Pension and Other Post-Retirement Liabilities4,775 7,526 
Asset Retirement ObligationsAsset Retirement Obligations192,682 192,228 Asset Retirement Obligations208,128 209,639 
Other Deferred Credits145,689 139,177 
Other LiabilitiesOther Liabilities136,923 135,846 
1,957,887 1,903,800  1,953,737 1,813,799 
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 8)Commitments and Contingencies (Note 8)Commitments and Contingencies (Note 8)— — 
Total Capitalization and LiabilitiesTotal Capitalization and Liabilities$7,039,168 $6,964,935 Total Capitalization and Liabilities$7,589,673 $7,464,825 
 
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
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National Fuel Gas Company
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Three Months Ended
 December 31,
(Thousands of U.S. Dollars)(Thousands of U.S. Dollars)20202019(Thousands of U.S. Dollars)20212020
OPERATING ACTIVITIESOPERATING ACTIVITIES  OPERATING ACTIVITIES  
Net Income Available for Common StockNet Income Available for Common Stock$77,774 $86,591 Net Income Available for Common Stock$132,392 $77,774 
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:  Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:  
Gain on Sale of Timber PropertiesGain on Sale of Timber Properties(51,066)Gain on Sale of Timber Properties— (51,066)
Impairment of Oil and Gas Producing PropertiesImpairment of Oil and Gas Producing Properties76,152 Impairment of Oil and Gas Producing Properties— 76,152 
Depreciation, Depletion and AmortizationDepreciation, Depletion and Amortization83,120 74,918 Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization88,578 83,120 
Deferred Income TaxesDeferred Income Taxes26,591 51,366 Deferred Income Taxes44,122 26,591 
Stock-Based CompensationStock-Based Compensation3,933 3,266 Stock-Based Compensation5,487 3,933 
OtherOther2,887 1,911 Other4,675 2,887 
Change in:Change in:  Change in:  
Receivables and Unbilled RevenueReceivables and Unbilled Revenue(63,606)(58,655)Receivables and Unbilled Revenue(98,688)(63,606)
Gas Stored Underground and Materials, Supplies and Emission AllowancesGas Stored Underground and Materials, Supplies and Emission Allowances13,873 6,985 Gas Stored Underground and Materials, Supplies and Emission Allowances17,111 13,873 
Unrecovered Purchased Gas CostsUnrecovered Purchased Gas Costs(367)627 Unrecovered Purchased Gas Costs526 (367)
Other Current AssetsOther Current Assets(251)14 Other Current Assets(4,654)(251)
Accounts PayableAccounts Payable(541)8,280 Accounts Payable(10,888)(541)
Amounts Payable to CustomersAmounts Payable to Customers(4,965)(573)Amounts Payable to Customers15 (4,965)
Customer AdvancesCustomer Advances713 683 Customer Advances(2,603)713 
Customer Security DepositsCustomer Security Deposits424 (700)Customer Security Deposits981 424 
Other Accruals and Current LiabilitiesOther Accruals and Current Liabilities27,615 15,438 Other Accruals and Current Liabilities5,044 27,615 
Other AssetsOther Assets10,066 (28,259)Other Assets(6,838)10,066 
Other LiabilitiesOther Liabilities2,391 5,857 Other Liabilities(3,777)2,391 
Net Cash Provided by Operating ActivitiesNet Cash Provided by Operating Activities204,743 167,749 Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities171,483 204,743 
INVESTING ACTIVITIESINVESTING ACTIVITIES  INVESTING ACTIVITIES  
Capital ExpendituresCapital Expenditures(183,301)(198,495)Capital Expenditures(213,491)(183,301)
Net Proceeds from Sale of Timber PropertiesNet Proceeds from Sale of Timber Properties104,582 Net Proceeds from Sale of Timber Properties— 104,582 
Sale of Fixed Income Mutual Fund Shares in Grantor TrustSale of Fixed Income Mutual Fund Shares in Grantor Trust30,000 — 
OtherOther11,849 5,212 Other13,781 11,849 
Net Cash Used in Investing ActivitiesNet Cash Used in Investing Activities(66,870)(193,283)Net Cash Used in Investing Activities(169,710)(66,870)
FINANCING ACTIVITIESFINANCING ACTIVITIES  FINANCING ACTIVITIES  
Changes in Notes Payable to Banks and Commercial PaperChanges in Notes Payable to Banks and Commercial Paper(5,000)84,600 Changes in Notes Payable to Banks and Commercial Paper7,500 (5,000)
Dividends Paid on Common StockDividends Paid on Common Stock(40,475)(37,547)Dividends Paid on Common Stock(41,487)(40,475)
Net Repurchases of Common StockNet Repurchases of Common Stock(3,526)(4,147)Net Repurchases of Common Stock(8,859)(3,526)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities(49,001)42,906 
Net Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash88,872 17,372 
Net Cash Used in Financing ActivitiesNet Cash Used in Financing Activities(42,846)(49,001)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted CashNet Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash(41,073)88,872 
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at October 1Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at October 120,541 27,260 Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at October 1120,138 20,541 
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at December 31Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at December 31$109,413 $44,632 Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at December 31$79,065 $109,413 
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow InformationSupplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow InformationSupplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
Non-Cash Investing Activities:Non-Cash Investing Activities:  Non-Cash Investing Activities:  
Non-Cash Capital ExpendituresNon-Cash Capital Expenditures$52,142 $93,838 Non-Cash Capital Expenditures$81,010 $52,142 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
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National Fuel Gas Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Principles of Consolidation. The Company consolidates all entities in which it has a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated. The Company uses proportionate consolidation when accounting for drilling arrangements related to oil and gas producing properties accounted for under the full cost method of accounting.
 
    The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with 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.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Earnings for Interim Periods.  The Company, in its opinion, has included all adjustments (which consist of only normally recurring adjustments, unless otherwise disclosed in this Form 10-Q) that are necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations for the reported periods. The consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, included herein, should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes for the years ended September 30, 2021, 2020 2019 and 20182019 that are included in the Company's 20202021 Form 10-K.  The consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 20212022 will be audited by the Company's independent registered public accounting firm after the end of the fiscal year.
 
    The earnings for the three months ended December 31, 20202021 should not be taken as a prediction of earnings for the entire fiscal year ending September 30, 2021.2022.  Most of the business of the Utility segment is seasonal in nature and is influenced by weather conditions.  Due to the seasonal nature of the heating business in the Utility segment, earnings during the winter months normally represent a substantial part of the earnings that this business is expected to achieve for the entire fiscal year.  The Company’s business segments are discussed more fully in Note 9 – Business Segment Information.
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.  The components, as reported on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, of the total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash presented on the Statement of Cash Flows are as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
December 31, 2020
Three Months Ended
December 31, 2019
Three Months Ended
 December 31, 2021
Three Months Ended
 December 31, 2020
Balance at
October 1, 2020
Balance at
December 31, 2020
Balance at
October 1, 2019
Balance at
December 31, 2019
Balance at October 1, 2021Balance at
December 31, 2021
Balance at October 1, 2020Balance at
December 31, 2020
Cash and Temporary Cash InvestmentsCash and Temporary Cash Investments$20,541 $109,413 $20,428 $34,966 Cash and Temporary Cash Investments$31,528 $79,065 $20,541 $109,413 
Hedging Collateral DepositsHedging Collateral Deposits6,832 9,666 Hedging Collateral Deposits88,610 — — — 
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted CashCash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash$20,541 $109,413 $27,260 $44,632 Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash$120,138 $79,065 $20,541 $109,413 

    The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with a maturity date of generally three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company’s restricted cash is composed entirely of amounts reported as Hedging Collateral Deposits on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Hedging Collateral Deposits is an account title for cash held in margin accounts funded by the Company to serve as collateral for hedging positions. In accordance with its accounting policy, the Company does not offset hedging collateral deposits paid or received against related derivative financial instruments liability or asset balances.

Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts. The allowance for uncollectible accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the existing accounts receivable. The allowance is determined based on historical experience, the age of customer accounts, other specific information about customer accounts, and the economic environment. Account balances are charged off against the allowance twelve months after the account is final billed or when it is anticipated that the receivable will not be recovered. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company has suspended collection and termination activity for non-payments in its Utility service territories. To date, despite the economic conditions that have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company has not experienced a significant reduction in the rate at which its customers pay their bills. However, as the winter heating season progresses, the Company is anticipating that customer non-payment may increase given higher natural gas usage and the resulting increase in costs for customers.

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Activity in the allowance for uncollectible accounts for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:follows (in thousands):

Balance at Beginning of PeriodAdditions Charged to Costs and ExpensesAdd:
Discounts on Purchased Receivables
Deduct:
Net Accounts Receivable Written-Off
Balance at End of PeriodBalance at Beginning of PeriodAdditions Charged to Costs and ExpensesDiscounts on Purchased ReceivablesNet Accounts Receivable Recovered (Written-Off)Balance at End of Period
Three Months Ended December 31, 2021Three Months Ended December 31, 2021
Allowance for Uncollectible AccountsAllowance for Uncollectible Accounts$31,639 $3,742 $161 $57 $35,599 
Three Months Ended December 31, 2020Three Months Ended December 31, 2020Three Months Ended December 31, 2020
Allowance for Uncollectible AccountsAllowance for Uncollectible Accounts$22,810 $4,679 $170 $1,438 $26,221 Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts$22,810 $4,679 $170 $(1,438)$26,221 

Gas Stored Underground.  In the Utility segment, gas stored underground is carried at lower of cost or net realizable value, on a LIFO method.  Gas stored underground normally declines during the first and second quarters of the year and is replenished during the third and fourth quarters.  In the Utility segment, the current cost of replacing gas withdrawn from storage is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income and a reserve for gas replacement is recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets under the caption “Other Accruals and Current Liabilities.”  Such reserve, which amounted to $1.8$2.7 million at December 31, 2020,2021, is reduced to 0zero by September 30 of each year as the inventory is replenished.

Materials, Supplies and Emission Allowances. The components of the Company's materials, supplies and emission allowances are as follows:follows (in thousands):
At December 31, 2020At September 30, 2020At December 31, 2021At September 30, 2021
Materials and Supplies - at average costMaterials and Supplies - at average cost$33,676 $33,859 Materials and Supplies - at average cost$36,233 $34,880 
Emission AllowancesEmission Allowances18,018 18,018 Emission Allowances11,118 18,680 
$51,694 $51,877 $47,351 $53,560 

Property, Plant and Equipment. In the Company’s Exploration and Production segment, oil and gas property acquisition, exploration and development costs are capitalized under the full cost method of accounting. Under this methodology, all costs associated with property acquisition, exploration and development activities are capitalized, including internal costs directly identified with acquisition, exploration and development activities. The internal costs that are capitalized do not include any costs related to production, general corporate overhead, or similar activities. The Company does not recognize any gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of oil and gas properties unless the gain or loss would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves of oil and gas attributable to a cost center. The Company's capitalized costs relating to oil and gas producing activities, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization, were $1.7$2.0 billion and $1.8$1.9 billion at December 31, 20202021 and September 30, 2020,2021, respectively.
 
    Capitalized costs include costs related to unproved properties, which are excluded from amortization until proved reserves are found or it is determined that the unproved properties are impaired.  Such costs amounted to $134.9$120.0 million and $148.1$103.8 million at December 31, 20202021 and September 30, 2020,2021, respectively.  All costs related to unproved properties are reviewed quarterly to determine if impairment has occurred. The amount of any impairment is transferred to the pool of capitalized costs being amortized.
 
    Capitalized costs are subject to the SEC full cost ceiling test. The ceiling test, which is performed each quarter, determines a limit, or ceiling, on the amount of property acquisition, exploration and development costs that can be capitalized. The ceiling under this test represents (a) the present value of estimated future net cash flows, excluding future cash outflows associated with settling asset retirement obligations that have been accrued on the balance sheet, using a discount factor of 10%, which is computed by applying prices of oil and gas (as adjusted for hedging) to estimated future production of proved oil and gas reserves as of the date of the latest balance sheet, less estimated future expenditures, plus (b) the cost of unevaluatedunproved properties not being depleted, less (c) income tax effects related to the differences between the book and tax basis of the properties. The gas and oil prices used to calculate the full cost ceiling are based on an unweighted arithmetic average of the first day of the month oil and gas prices for each month within the twelve-month period prior to the end of the reporting period. If capitalized costs, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization and related deferred income taxes, exceed the ceiling at the end of any quarter, a permanent non-cash impairment is required to be charged to earnings in that quarter. TheAt December 31, 2021, the ceiling exceeded the book value of the oil and gas properties exceeded the ceiling at December 31, 2020. As such, the Company recognized a non-cash, pre-tax impairment charge of $76.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020. A deferred income tax benefit of $21.0 million related to the non-cash impairment charge was also recognized for the quarter ended December 31, 2020.by approximately $1.3 billion.  In adjusting estimated
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adjusting estimated future net cash flows for hedging under the ceiling test at December 31, 2020,2021, estimated future net cash flows were increaseddecreased by $183.0$297.8 million.
    
    The principal assets of the Utility, Pipeline and Storage and Gathering segments, consisting primarily of gas distribution pipelines, transmission pipelines, storage facilities, gathering lines and compressor stations, are recorded at historical cost. Despite the economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, thereThere were no indications of any impairments to property, plant and equipment in the Utility, Pipeline and Storage and Gathering segments at December 31, 2020. Management will continue to monitor the situation on a quarterly basis.2021.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss).Loss. The components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)Loss and changes for the three months ended December 31, 20202021 and 2019,2020, net of related tax effect, are as follows (amounts in parentheses indicate debits) (in thousands): 
 Gains and Losses on Derivative Financial InstrumentsFunded Status of the Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit PlansTotal
Three Months Ended December 31, 2020
Balance at October 1, 2020$(24,865)$(89,892)$(114,757)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications34,791 34,791 
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)225 225 
Balance at December 31, 2020$10,151 $(89,892)$(79,741)
Three Months Ended December 31, 2019
Balance at October 1, 2019$34,675 $(86,830)$(52,155)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications376 376 
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)(5,321)(5,321)
Cumulative Effect of Adoption of Authoritative Guidance for Hedging950 950 
Balance at December 31, 2019$30,680 $(86,830)$(56,150)

 Gains and Losses on Derivative Financial InstrumentsFunded Status of the Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit PlansTotal
Three Months Ended December 31, 2021
Balance at October 1, 2021$(449,962)$(63,635)$(513,597)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications118,483 — 118,483 
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income118,088 — 118,088 
Balance at December 31, 2021$(213,391)$(63,635)$(277,026)
Three Months Ended December 31, 2020
Balance at October 1, 2020$(24,865)$(89,892)$(114,757)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications34,791 — 34,791 
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income225 — 225 
Balance at December 31, 2020$10,151 $(89,892)$(79,741)
    In August 2017, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which changed the financial reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity's risk management activities and to simplify the application of hedge accounting. The Company adopted this authoritative guidance effective October 1, 2019, recognizing a cumulative effect adjustment that decreased retained earnings by $1.0 million and increased accumulated other comprehensive income by the same amount.
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Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss).Loss. The details about the reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)loss for the three months ended December 31, 20202021 and 20192020 are as follows (amounts in parentheses indicate debits to the income statement) (in thousands):
Details About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) ComponentsAmount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Affected Line Item in the Statement Where Net Income is Presented
Three Months Ended
December 31,
20202019
Details About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss ComponentsDetails About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss ComponentsAmount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive LossAffected Line Item in the Statement Where Net Income is Presented
Three Months Ended
December 31,
20212020
Gains (Losses) on Derivative Financial Instrument Cash Flow Hedges:Gains (Losses) on Derivative Financial Instrument Cash Flow Hedges: Gains (Losses) on Derivative Financial Instrument Cash Flow Hedges: 
Commodity Contracts Commodity Contracts($310)$7,541 Operating Revenues Commodity Contracts($162,629)($310)Operating Revenues
Commodity ContractsPurchased Gas
Foreign Currency Contracts Foreign Currency Contracts(1)(191)Operating Revenues Foreign Currency Contracts41 (1)Operating Revenues
(311)7,352 Total Before Income Tax (162,588)(311)Total Before Income Tax
86 (2,031)Income Tax Expense 44,500 86 Income Tax Expense
($225)$5,321 Net of Tax ($118,088)($225)Net of Tax

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Other Current Assets.  The components of the Company’s Other Current Assets are as follows (in thousands):
At December 31, 2020At September 30, 2020 At December 31, 2021At September 30, 2021
PrepaymentsPrepayments$10,203 $12,851 Prepayments$12,997 $14,164 
Prepaid Property and Other TaxesPrepaid Property and Other Taxes14,821 14,269 Prepaid Property and Other Taxes15,366 14,788 
State Income Taxes ReceivableState Income Taxes Receivable1,439 3,828 State Income Taxes Receivable3,516 1,502 
Regulatory AssetsRegulatory Assets21,441 16,609 Regulatory Assets32,435 29,206 
$47,904 $47,557  $64,314 $59,660 
 
Other Accruals and Current Liabilities.  The components of the Company’s Other Accruals and Current Liabilities are as follows (in thousands):
At December 31, 2020At September 30, 2020 At December 31, 2021At September 30, 2021
Accrued Capital ExpendituresAccrued Capital Expenditures$34,840 $33,344 Accrued Capital Expenditures$51,685 $42,541 
Regulatory LiabilitiesRegulatory Liabilities41,402 44,890 Regulatory Liabilities22,937 60,860 
Reserve for Gas ReplacementReserve for Gas Replacement1,778 Reserve for Gas Replacement2,724 — 
Liability for Royalty and Working InterestsLiability for Royalty and Working Interests22,869 15,665 Liability for Royalty and Working Interests43,138 31,483 
Federal Income Taxes PayableFederal Income Taxes Payable79 154 
Non-Qualified Benefit Plan LiabilityNon-Qualified Benefit Plan Liability14,460 14,460 Non-Qualified Benefit Plan Liability15,408 15,408 
OtherOther39,028 31,817 Other51,994 43,723 
$154,377 $140,176  $187,965 $194,169 
 
Earnings Per Common Share.  Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing income or loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per common share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock.  For purposes of determining earnings per common share, the potentially dilutive securities the Company had outstanding were SARs, restricted stock units and performance shares. For the quarter ended December 31, 2020,2021, the diluted weighted average shares outstanding shown on the Consolidated Statements of Income reflects the potential dilution as a result of these securities as determined using the Treasury Stock Method. SARs, restricted stock units and performance shares that are antidilutive are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share. There were 373,3788,732 securities and 733,617373,378 securities excluded as being antidilutive for the quarters ended December 31, 20202021 and December 31, 2019,2020, respectively.

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Stock-Based Compensation. The Company granted 309,470195,397 performance shares during the quarter ended December 31, 2020.2021. The weighted average fair value of such performance shares was $39.19$65.39 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2020.2021. Performance shares are an award constituting units denominated in common stock of the Company, the number of which may be adjusted over a performance cycle based upon the extent to which performance goals have been satisfied.  Earned performance shares may be distributed in the form of shares of common stock of the Company, an equivalent value in cash or a combination of cash and shares of common stock of the Company, as determined by the Company. The performance shares do not entitle the participant to receive dividends during the vesting period.
 
    Half of theThe performance shares granted during the quarter ended December 31, 20202021 include awards that must meet a performance goal related to either relative return on capital over a three-year performance cycle.cycle ("ROC performance shares"), methane intensity and greenhouse gas emissions reductions over a three-year performance cycle ("ESG performance shares") or relative shareholder return over a three-year performance cycle ("TSR performance shares"). The performance goal related to the ROC performance shares over the three-year performance cycle is the Company’s total return on capital relative to the total return on capital of other companies in a group selected by the Compensation Committee (“Report Group”).  Total return on capital for a given company means the average of the Report Group companies’ returns on capital for each twelve month period corresponding to each of the Company’s fiscal years during the performance cycle, based on data reported for the Report Group companies in the Bloomberg database.  The number of these ROC performance shares that will vest and be paid will depend upon the Company’s performance relative to the Report Group and not upon the absolute level of return achieved by the Company.  The fair value of the ROC performance shares is calculated by multiplying the expected number of shares that will be issued by the average market price of Company common stock on the date of grant reduced by the present value of forgone
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dividends over the vesting term of the award.  The fair value is recorded as compensation expense over the vesting term of the award.

    The performance goal related to the ESG performance shares over the three-year performance cycle consists of two parts: reductions in the rates of intensity of methane emissions for each of the Company's operating segments, and reduction of the consolidated Company's total greenhouse gas emissions. The Company's Compensation Committee set specific target levels for methane intensity rates and total greenhouse gas emissions, and the performance goal is intended to incentivize and reward performance that helps position the Company to meet or exceed its 2030 methane intensity and greenhouse gas reduction targets. The number of these ESG performance shares that will vest and be paid out will depend upon the number of methane intensity segment targets achieved and whether the Company meets the total greenhouse gas emissions target. The fair value of these ESG performance shares is calculated by multiplying the expected number of shares that will be issued by the average market price of Company common stock on the date of grant reduced by the present value of forgone dividends over the vesting term of the award.  The fair value is recorded as compensation expense over the vesting term of the award.

    The other half of the performance shares granted during the quarter ended December 31, 2020 must meet a performance goal related to relative total shareholder returnthe TSR performance shares over athe three-year performance cycle.  The performance goal over the performance cycle is the Company’s three-year total shareholder return relative to the three-year total shareholder return of the other companies in the Report Group.  Three-year total shareholder return for a given company will be based on the data reported for that company (with the starting and ending stock prices over the performance cycle calculated as the average closing stock price for the prior calendar month and with dividends reinvested in that company’s securities at each ex-dividend date) in the Bloomberg database.  The number of these total shareholder returnTSR performance shares ("TSR performance shares") that will vest and be paid will depend upon the Company’s performance relative to the Report Group and not upon the absolute level of return achieved by the Company.  The fair value price at the date of grant for the TSR performance shares is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation technique, which includes a reduction in value for the present value of forgone dividends over the vesting term of the award.  This price is multiplied by the number of TSR performance shares awarded, the result of which is recorded as compensation expense over the vesting term of the award.
 
    The Company granted 170,113127,295 restricted stock units during the quarter ended December 31, 2020.2021.  The weighted average fair value of such restricted stock units was $38.00$54.06 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2020.2021.  Restricted stock units represent the right to receive shares of common stock of the Company (or the equivalent value in cash or a combination of cash and shares of common stock of the Company, as determined by the Company) at the end of a specified time period. These restricted stock units do not entitle the participant to receive dividends during the vesting period. The accounting for restricted stock units is the same as the accounting for restricted share awards, except that the fair value at the date of grant of the restricted stock units must be reduced by the present value of forgone dividends over the vesting term of the award.

New Authoritative Accounting and Financial Reporting Guidance. On October 1, 2020, the Company adopted authoritative guidance regarding the measurement of credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost. The new guidance requires financial assets measured at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected, which means that companies are required to recognize an allowance for credit losses for the difference between the amortized cost basis of the financial asset and the amount expected to be collected over the contractual life of the asset. Prior to adoption, the Company analyzed its financial assets measured at amortized cost, primarily trade receivables. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact to the Company’s financial statements.

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Note 2 – Asset Acquisitions and Divestitures

    On December 10, 2020, the Company completed the sale of substantially all timber properties in Pennsylvania to Lyme Emporium Highlands III LLC and Lyme Allegheny Land Company II LLC for net proceeds of $104.6 million. At September 30, 2020, these assets, amounting to $53.4 million, which previously were recorded as Net Property, Plant and Equipment, were presented as Assets Held for Sale, Net on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. TheThese assets were a component of the Company’s All Other category and did not have a major impact on the Company’s operations or financial results. After purchase price adjustments and transaction costs, a gain of $51.1 million was recognized on the sale of these assets. Since the sale did not represent a strategic shift in focus for the Company, the financial results associated with operating these assets as well as the gain on sale have not been reported as discontinued operations.

    The sale of the timber properties completed a reverse like-kind exchange pursuant to Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (“Reverse 1031 Exchange”). On July 31, 2020, the Company completed its acquisition of certain upstream assets and midstream gathering assets in Pennsylvania from SWEPI LP, a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc (“Shell”) for total consideration of $506.3 million. The purchase and sale agreement with Shell was structured, in part, as a Reverse 1031 Exchange. In connection with the Reverse 1031 Exchange, the Company, through a subsidiary, assigned the rights to acquire legal title to certain oil and natural gas properties to a Variable Interest Entity ("VIE") formed by an exchange accommodation titleholder. From July 31, 2020 to December 10, 2020, a subsidiary of the Company operated the properties pursuant to a lease agreement with the VIE. As the Company was deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE, the VIE was included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company. Upon completion of the sale of the timber properties on December 10, 2020, the affected properties were conveyed to the Company and the VIE structure was terminated. Refer to Note B – Asset Acquisitions and Divestitures of the Company’s 20202021 Form 10-K for additional information concerning the Company’s acquisition of certain upstream assets and midstream gathering assets from Shell.

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Note 3 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers
 
    The following tables provide a disaggregation of the Company's revenues for the three months ended December 31, 20202021 and 2019,2020, presented by type of service from each reportable segment.
Quarter Ended December 31, 2020 (Thousands)   
Revenues By Type of ServiceExploration and ProductionPipeline and StorageGatheringUtilityAll OtherCorporate and Intersegment EliminationsTotal Consolidated
Production of Natural Gas$166,442 $$$$$$166,442 
Production of Crude Oil24,499 24,499 
Natural Gas Processing553 553 
Natural Gas Gathering Service47,009 (46,658)351 
Natural Gas Transportation Service64,825 29,021 (19,590)74,256 
Natural Gas Storage Service20,517 (8,763)11,754 
Natural Gas Residential Sales137,881 137,881 
Natural Gas Commercial Sales17,195 17,195 
Natural Gas Industrial Sales922 922 
Natural Gas Marketing585 (20)565 
Other211 2,422 (1,612)545 (108)1,458 
Total Revenues from Contracts with Customers191,705 87,764 47,009 183,407 1,130 (75,139)435,876 
Alternative Revenue Programs5,594 5,594 
Derivative Financial Instruments(310)(310)
Total Revenues$191,395 $87,764 $47,009 $189,001 $1,130 $(75,139)$441,160 
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Quarter Ended December 31, 2021 (Thousands)   
Revenues By Type of ServiceExploration and ProductionPipeline and StorageGatheringUtilityAll OtherCorporate and Intersegment EliminationsTotal Consolidated
Production of Natural Gas$361,282 $— $— $— $— $— $361,282 
Production of Crude Oil42,371 — — — — — 42,371 
Natural Gas Processing1,029 — — — — — 1,029 
Natural Gas Gathering Service— — 52,225 — — (48,180)4,045 
Natural Gas Transportation Service— 66,269 — 27,775 — (17,625)76,419 
Natural Gas Storage Service— 20,800 — — — (9,024)11,776 
Natural Gas Residential Sales— — — 179,011 — — 179,011 
Natural Gas Commercial Sales— — — 23,998 — — 23,998 
Natural Gas Industrial Sales— — — 1,147 — — 1,147 
Other2,145 1,281 — (2,000)(152)1,280 
Total Revenues from Contracts with Customers406,827 88,350 52,225 229,931 (74,981)702,358 
Alternative Revenue Programs— — — 6,828 — — 6,828 
Derivative Financial Instruments(162,629)— — — — — (162,629)
Total Revenues$244,198 $88,350 $52,225 $236,759 $$(74,981)$546,557 
Quarter Ended December 31, 2019 (Thousands)   
Quarter Ended December 31, 2020 (Thousands)Quarter Ended December 31, 2020 (Thousands)   
Revenues By Type of ServiceRevenues By Type of ServiceExploration and ProductionPipeline and StorageGatheringUtilityAll OtherCorporate and Intersegment EliminationsTotal ConsolidatedRevenues By Type of ServiceExploration and ProductionPipeline and StorageGatheringUtilityAll OtherCorporate and Intersegment EliminationsTotal Consolidated
Production of Natural GasProduction of Natural Gas$119,874 $$$$$$119,874 Production of Natural Gas$166,442 $— $— $— $— $— $166,442 
Production of Crude OilProduction of Crude Oil37,664 37,664 Production of Crude Oil24,499 — — — — — 24,499 
Natural Gas ProcessingNatural Gas Processing688 688 Natural Gas Processing553 — — — — — 553 
Natural Gas Gathering ServiceNatural Gas Gathering Service34,788 (34,788)Natural Gas Gathering Service— — 47,009 — — (46,658)351 
Natural Gas Transportation ServiceNatural Gas Transportation Service53,452 32,808 (16,986)69,274 Natural Gas Transportation Service— 64,825 — 29,021 — (19,590)74,256 
Natural Gas Storage ServiceNatural Gas Storage Service18,426 (7,993)10,433 Natural Gas Storage Service— 20,517 — — — (8,763)11,754 
Natural Gas Residential SalesNatural Gas Residential Sales144,370 144,370 Natural Gas Residential Sales— — — 137,881 — — 137,881 
Natural Gas Commercial SalesNatural Gas Commercial Sales18,841 18,841 Natural Gas Commercial Sales— — — 17,195 — — 17,195 
Natural Gas Industrial SalesNatural Gas Industrial Sales1,270 1,270 Natural Gas Industrial Sales— — — 922 — — 922 
Natural Gas MarketingNatural Gas Marketing34,108 (177)33,931 Natural Gas Marketing— — — — 585 (20)565 
OtherOther172 342 (3,324)1,120 (52)(1,742)Other211 2,422 — (1,612)545 (108)1,458 
Total Revenues from Contracts with CustomersTotal Revenues from Contracts with Customers158,398 72,220 34,788 193,965 35,228 (59,996)434,603 Total Revenues from Contracts with Customers191,705 87,764 47,009 183,407 1,130 (75,139)435,876 
Alternative Revenue ProgramsAlternative Revenue Programs2,860 2,860 Alternative Revenue Programs— — — 5,594 — — 5,594 
Derivative Financial InstrumentsDerivative Financial Instruments7,541 (816)6,725 Derivative Financial Instruments(310)— — — — — (310)
Total RevenuesTotal Revenues$165,939 $72,220 $34,788 $196,825 $34,412 $(59,996)$444,188 Total Revenues$191,395 $87,764 $47,009 $189,001 $1,130 $(75,139)$441,160 
    
The Company records revenue related to its derivative financial instruments in the Exploration and Production segment as well as in its NFR operations (included in the All Other category). The Company discontinued use of derivative financial instruments in its NFR operations upon completing the sale of its commercial and industrial contracts and certain other assets on August 1, 2020. The Company has been winding down its NFR operations since August 1, 2020 which has resulted in a significant reduction in natural gas marketing revenues as shown in the tables above.segment. The Company also records revenue related to alternative revenue programs in its Utility segment. Revenue related to
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derivative financial instruments and alternative revenue programs are excluded from the scope of the new authoritative guidance regarding revenue recognition since they are accounted for under other existing accounting guidance.

    The Company’s Pipeline and Storage segment expects to recognize the following revenue amounts in future periods related to “fixed” charges associated with remaining performance obligations for transportation and storage contracts: $142.5$165.2 million for the remainder of fiscal 2021; $170.7 million for fiscal 2022; $134.7$184.1 million for fiscal 2023; $123.5$161.0 million for fiscal 2024; $117.0$153.4 million for fiscal 2025; $133.5 million for fiscal 2026; and $517.5$787.4 million thereafter.

Note 4 – Fair Value Measurements
 
    The FASB authoritative guidance regarding fair value measurements establishes a fair-value hierarchy and prioritizes the inputs used in valuation techniques that measure fair value. Those inputs are prioritized into three levels. Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for assets or liabilities that the Company can access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly at the measurement date. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability at the measurement date. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.
 
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    The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, the Company's financial assets and liabilities (as applicable) that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 20202021 and September 30, 2020.2021.  Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fair value presentation for over-the-counter swaps combines gas and oil swaps because a significant number of the counterparties enter into both gas and oil swap agreements with the Company.  
Recurring Fair Value MeasuresRecurring Fair Value MeasuresAt fair value as of December 31, 2020Recurring Fair Value MeasuresAt fair value as of December 31, 2021
(Thousands of Dollars) (Thousands of Dollars) Level 1Level 2Level 3
Netting
Adjustments(1)
Total(1)
(Thousands of Dollars) Level 1Level 2Level 3
Netting
Adjustments(1)
Total(1)
Assets:Assets:     Assets:     
Cash Equivalents – Money Market Mutual FundsCash Equivalents – Money Market Mutual Funds$89,114 $$$$89,114 Cash Equivalents – Money Market Mutual Funds$66,069 $— $— $— $66,069 
Derivative Financial Instruments:Derivative Financial Instruments:     Derivative Financial Instruments:     
Over the Counter Swaps – Gas and OilOver the Counter Swaps – Gas and Oil37,571 (19,204)18,367 Over the Counter Swaps – Gas and Oil— 2,849 — (2,849)— 
Over the Counter No Cost Collars – Gas(444)(444)
Foreign Currency ContractsForeign Currency Contracts1,027 (856)171 Foreign Currency Contracts— 884 — (884)— 
Other Investments:Other Investments:     Other Investments:     
Balanced Equity Mutual FundBalanced Equity Mutual Fund32,226 32,226 Balanced Equity Mutual Fund25,442 — — — 25,442 
Fixed Income Mutual FundFixed Income Mutual Fund70,223 70,223 Fixed Income Mutual Fund35,442 — — — 35,442 
Common Stock – Financial Services Industry819 819 
TotalTotal$192,382 $38,598 $$(20,504)$210,476 Total$126,953 $3,733 $— $(3,733)$126,953 
Liabilities:Liabilities:     Liabilities:     
Derivative Financial Instruments:Derivative Financial Instruments:     Derivative Financial Instruments:     
Over the Counter Swaps – Gas and OilOver the Counter Swaps – Gas and Oil22,966 (19,204)3,762 Over the Counter Swaps – Gas and Oil— 286,203 — (2,849)283,354 
Over the Counter No Cost Collars – GasOver the Counter No Cost Collars – Gas1,734 (444)1,290 Over the Counter No Cost Collars – Gas— 8,025 — — 8,025 
Foreign Currency ContractsForeign Currency Contracts317 (856)(539)Foreign Currency Contracts— 195 — (884)(689)
TotalTotal$$25,017 $$(20,504)$4,513 Total$— $294,423 $— $(3,733)$290,690 
Total Net Assets/(Liabilities)Total Net Assets/(Liabilities)$192,382 $13,581 $$$205,963 Total Net Assets/(Liabilities)$126,953 $(290,690)$— $— $(163,737)
 
Recurring Fair Value MeasuresAt fair value as of September 30, 2020
(Thousands of Dollars)   Level 1Level 2Level 3
Netting
Adjustments(1)
Total(1)
Assets:
Cash Equivalents – Money Market Mutual Funds$12,285 $$$$12,285 
Derivative Financial Instruments:
Over the Counter Swaps – Gas and Oil36,418 (26,400)10,018 
Over the Counter No Cost Collars – Gas(720)(720)
Foreign Currency Contracts259 (338)(79)
Other Investments:
Balanced Equity Mutual Fund39,618 39,618 
Fixed Income Mutual Fund72,253 72,253 
Common Stock – Financial Services Industry639 639 
Total$124,795 $36,677 $$(27,458)$134,014 
Liabilities:
Derivative Financial Instruments:
Over the Counter Swaps – Gas and Oil61,280 (26,400)34,880 
Over the Counter No Cost Collars – Gas8,171 (720)7,451 
Foreign Currency Contracts1,976 (338)1,638 
Total$$71,427 $$(27,458)$43,969 
Total Net Assets/(Liabilities)$124,795 $(34,750)$$$90,045 
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Recurring Fair Value MeasuresAt fair value as of September 30, 2021
(Thousands of Dollars)   Level 1Level 2Level 3
Netting
Adjustments(1)
Total(1)
Assets:
Cash Equivalents – Money Market Mutual Funds$22,269 $— $— $— $22,269 
Hedging Collateral Deposits88,610 — — — 88,610 
Derivative Financial Instruments:
Over the Counter Swaps – Gas and Oil— 1,802 — (1,802)— 
Foreign Currency Contracts— 938 — (938)— 
Other Investments:
Balanced Equity Mutual Fund34,433 — — — 34,433 
Fixed Income Mutual Fund70,639 — — — 70,639 
Total$215,951 $2,740 $— $(2,740)$215,951 
Liabilities:
Derivative Financial Instruments:
Over the Counter Swaps – Gas and Oil— 601,551 — (1,802)599,749 
Over the Counter No Cost Collars – Gas— 17,385 — — 17,385 
Foreign Currency Contracts— 214 — (938)(724)
Total$— $619,150 $— $(2,740)$616,410 
Total Net Assets/(Liabilities)$215,951 $(616,410)$— $— $(400,459)

(1)Netting Adjustments represent the impact of legally-enforceable master netting arrangements that allow the Company to net gain and loss positions held with the same counterparties. The net asset or net liability for each counterparty is recorded as an asset or liability on the Company’s balance sheet.
 
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Derivative Financial Instruments
 
    The derivative financial instruments reported in Level 2 at December 31, 20202021 and September 30, 20202021 consist of natural gas price swap agreements, natural gas no cost collars, crude oil price swap agreements, and foreign currency contracts, all of which are used in the Company’s Exploration and Production segment. Hedging collateral deposits of $88.6 million (at September 30, 2021), which were associated with the price swap agreements, no cost collars and foreign currency contracts, have been reported in Level 1 at September 30, 2021. There were 0 hedging collateral deposits at December 31, 2021. The fair value of the Level 2 price swap agreements and no cost collars is based on an internal, discounted cash flow model that uses observable inputs (i.e. LIBOR based discount rates and basis differential information, if applicable, at active natural gas and crude oil trading markets). The fair value of the Level 2 foreign currency contracts is determined using the market approach based on observable market transactions of forward Canadian currency rates. 
 
    The accounting rulesauthoritative guidance for fair value measurements and disclosures require consideration of the impact of nonperformance risk (including credit risk) from a market participant perspective in the measurement of the fair value of assets and liabilities.  At December 31, 2020,2021, the Company determined that nonperformance risk would have no material impact on its financial position or results of operation.  To assess nonperformance risk, the Company considered information such as any applicable collateral posted, master netting arrangements, and applied a market-based method by using the counterparty's (assuming the derivative is in a gain position) or the Company’s (assuming the derivative is in a loss position) credit default swaps rates.
 
    For the quarters ended December 31, 20202021 and December 31, 2019,2020, there were 0no assets or liabilities measured at fair value and classified as Level 3.

Note 5 – Financial Instruments
 
Long-Term Debt. The fair market value of the Company’s debt, as presented in the table below, was determined using a discounted cash flow model, which incorporates the Company’s credit ratings and current market conditions in determining the
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yield, and subsequently, the fair market value of the debt.  Based on these criteria, the fair market value of long-term debt, including current portion, was as follows (in thousands): 
 December 31, 2020September 30, 2020
 Carrying
Amount
Fair ValueCarrying
Amount
Fair Value
Long-Term Debt$2,630,473 $2,868,429 $2,629,576 $2,778,556 
 December 31, 2021September 30, 2021
 Carrying
Amount
Fair ValueCarrying
Amount
Fair Value
Long-Term Debt$2,629,602 $2,847,638 $2,628,687 $2,898,552 
 
    The fair value amounts are not intended to reflect principal amounts that the Company will ultimately be required to pay. Carrying amounts for other financial instruments recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets approximate fair value. The fair value of long-term debt was calculated using observable inputs (U.S. Treasuries/LIBORTreasuries for the risk free component and company specific credit spread information – generally obtained from recent trade activity in the debt).  As such, the Company considers the debt to be Level 2.
 
    Any temporary cash investments, notes payable to banks and commercial paper are stated at cost. Temporary cash investments are considered Level 1, while notes payable to banks and commercial paper are considered to be Level 2.  Given the short-term nature of the notes payable to banks and commercial paper, the Company believes cost is a reasonable approximation of fair value.

Other Investments. The components of the Company's Other Investments are as follows (in thousands):
At December 31, 2020At September 30, 2020At December 31, 2021At September 30, 2021
Life Insurance ContractsLife Insurance Contracts$42,653 $41,992 Life Insurance Contracts$45,599 $44,560 
Equity Mutual FundEquity Mutual Fund32,226 39,618 Equity Mutual Fund25,442 34,433 
Fixed Income Mutual FundFixed Income Mutual Fund70,223 72,253 Fixed Income Mutual Fund35,442 70,639 
Marketable Equity Securities819 639 
$145,921 $154,502 
$106,483 $149,632 
 
    Investments in life insurance contracts are stated at their cash surrender values or net present value. Investments in an equity mutual fund and a fixed income mutual fund and the stock of an insurance company (marketable equity securities) are stated
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at fair value based on quoted market prices with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The insurance contracts and marketable equity and fixed income securitiesmutual fund are primarily informal funding mechanisms for various benefit obligations the Company has to certain employees. The fixed income mutual fund is primarily an informal funding mechanism for certain regulatory obligations that the Company has to Utility segment customers in its Pennsylvania jurisdiction, as discussed in Note 11 — Regulatory Matters, and for various benefit obligations the Company has to certain employees.
 
Derivative Financial Instruments. The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage commodity price risk in the Exploration and Production segment. The Company enters into over-the-counter no cost collars and over-the-counter swap agreements for natural gas and crude oil to manage the price risk associated with forecasted sales of gas and oil. In addition, the Company also enters into foreign exchange forward contracts to manage the risk of currency fluctuations associated with transportation costs denominated in Canadian currency in the Exploration and Production segment. These instruments are accounted for as cash flow hedges. The duration of the Company’s cash flow hedges does not typically exceed 5 years while the foreign currency forward contracts do not exceed 109 years.

    The Company has presented its net derivative assets and liabilities as “Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments” on its Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 20202021 and September 30, 2020.2021.  Substantially all of the derivative financial instruments reported on those line items relate to commodity contracts and a small portion relates to foreign currency forward contracts.
 
Cash Flow Hedges
 
    For derivative financial instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassified into earnings in the period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.
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    As of December 31, 2020,2021, the Company had the following commodity derivative contracts (swaps and no cost collars) outstanding:
CommodityUnits
Natural Gas282.0371.2  Bcf
Crude Oil1,605,0001,692,000  Bbls
    
    As of December 31, 2020,2021, the Company was hedging a total of $73.7$56.7 million of forecasted transportation costs denominated in Canadian dollars with foreign currency forward contracts.

    As of December 31, 2020,2021, the Company had $13.6$290.7 million ($10.2213.4 million after-tax) of net hedging gainslosses included in the accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)loss balance. It is expected that $3.3$197.7 million ($2.4145.1 million after-tax) of such unrealized gainslosses will be reclassified into the Consolidated Statement of Income within the next 12 months as the underlying hedged transactions are recorded in earnings.
The Effect of Derivative Financial Instruments on the Statement of Financial Performance for theThe Effect of Derivative Financial Instruments on the Statement of Financial Performance for theThe Effect of Derivative Financial Instruments on the Statement of Financial Performance for the
Three Months Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 (Thousands of Dollars)
Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (Thousands of Dollars)Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (Thousands of Dollars)
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging RelationshipsDerivatives in Cash Flow Hedging RelationshipsAmount of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on
the Consolidated Statement of
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
for the
 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
Location of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheet into the Consolidated Statement of IncomeAmount of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheet into the Consolidated Statement of Income for the
 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging RelationshipsAmount of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on
the Consolidated Statement of
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
for the
 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
Location of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheet into the Consolidated Statement of IncomeAmount of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheet into the Consolidated Statement of Income for the
 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
20202019 20202019 20212020 20212020
Commodity ContractsCommodity Contracts$45,595 $(1,555)Operating Revenue$(310)$7,541 Commodity Contracts$163,126 $45,595 Operating Revenue$(162,629)$(310)
Commodity Contracts1,131 Purchased Gas
Foreign Currency ContractsForeign Currency Contracts2,426 919 Operating Revenue(1)(191)Foreign Currency Contracts2,426 Operating Revenue41 (1)
TotalTotal$48,021 $495  $(311)$7,352 Total$163,132 $48,021  $(162,588)$(311)
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Credit Risk
 
    The Company may be exposed to credit risk on any of the derivative financial instruments that are in a gain position. Credit risk relates to the risk of loss that the Company would incur as a result of nonperformance by counterparties pursuant to the terms of their contractual obligations. To mitigate such credit risk, management performs a credit check, and then on a quarterly basis monitors counterparty credit exposure. The majority of the Company’s counterparties are financial institutions and energy traders.    The Company has over-the-counter swap positions, no cost collars and applicable foreign currency forward contracts with 1617 counterparties. The majority of the Company’s counterparties of which 10 are in a net gain position. On average, the Company had $1.8 million of credit exposure per counterparty in a gain position at December 31, 2020. The maximum credit exposure per counterparty in a gain position at December 31, 2020 was $4.2 million.financial institutions and energy traders. As of December 31, 2020, 0 collateral was received from the counterparties by the Company. The Company's gain position on such derivative financial instruments had not exceeded the established thresholds at which the counterparties would be required to post collateral, nor had the counterparties' credit ratings declined to levels at which the counterparties were required to post collateral.
    As of December 31, 2020, 142021, 15 of the 1617 counterparties to the Company’s outstanding derivative financial instrument contracts (specifically the over-the-counter swaps, over-the-counter no cost collars and applicable foreign currency forward contracts) had a common credit-risk related contingency feature. In the event the Company’s credit rating increases or falls below a certain threshold (applicable debt ratings), the available credit extended to the Company would either increase or decrease. A decline in the Company’s credit rating, in and of itself, would not cause the Company to be required to post or increase the level of its hedging collateral deposits (in the form of cash deposits, letters of credit or treasury debt instruments). If the Company’s outstanding derivative financial instrument contracts with a credit-risk contingency feature were in a liability position (or if the liability were larger) and/or the Company’s credit rating declined, then additional hedging collateral deposits mayor an increase to such deposits could be required.  At December 31, 2020, the fair market value of the derivative financial instrument assets with a credit-risk related contingency feature was $14.4 million according to the Company’s internal model (discussed in Note 4 – Fair Value Measurements).  At December 31, 2020,2021, the fair market value of the derivative financial instrument liabilities with a credit-risk related contingency feature was $4.5$235.2 million according to the Company'sCompany’s internal model. For its over-the-counter swap agreementsmodel (discussed in Note 4 – Fair Value Measurements), and foreign currency forward contracts, 0no hedging collateral deposits were required to be posted by the Company at December 31, 2020.2021. Depending on the movement of commodity prices in the future, it is possible that these liability positions could swing into asset positions, at which point the Company would be exposed to credit risk on its derivative financial instruments. In that case, the Company's counterparties could be required to post hedging collateral deposits.
    
    The Company’s requirement to post hedging collateral deposits and the Company's right to receive hedging collateral deposits is based on the fair value determined by the Company’s counterparties, which may differ from the Company’s assessment of fair value.

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Note 6 – Income Taxes

    The effective tax rates for the quarters ended December 31, 20202021 and December 31, 20192020 were 27.4%25.3% and 26.6%27.4%, respectively. The increasedecrease in the effective tax rate is primarily the result of the valuation allowance recorded against certain state deferred tax assets, discussed below,due to differences between the book and tax treatment of stockequity compensation and a decrease in the allowance for funds used during construction (which is not taxable) as a resultutilization of certain ongoing projects in the Company's Pipeline and Storage segment being placed in serviceEnhanced Oil Recovery credit in fiscal 2020.

    A valuation allowance2022 that was phased out for deferred tax assets, including net operating losses and tax credits, is recognized when it is more likely than not that some or all of the benefit from the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company continually assesses the realizability of its deferred tax assets, including factors such as future taxable income, reversal of existing temporary differences, and tax planning strategies. The Company considers both positive and negative evidence related to the likelihood of the realization of the deferred tax assets. As of March 31, 2020, the Company recorded a valuation allowance against certain state deferred tax assets in the amount of $56.8 million based on its conclusion, considering all available objective evidence and the Company’s history of subsidiary state tax losses, that it was more likely than not that the deferred tax assets would not be realized. The valuation allowance increased to $63.6 million as of December 31, 2020 as a result of certain state net operating loss and tax credit activity. Changes in judgment regarding future realization of these deferred tax assets may result in a reversal of all or a portion of the valuation allowance. The Company will continue to re-assess this position each quarter.

    On March 27, 2020, the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act” was signed into law.The CARES Act, among other things, includes provisions relating to AMT credit refunds, refundable payroll tax credits, deferment of employer side social security payments, net operating loss carryback periods, and modifications to the net interest deduction limitation. The 2017 Tax Reform Act had repealed the corporate alternative minimum tax and provided that the Company’s existing AMT credit carryovers were refundable over a four year period. As of September 30, 2018, the Company had $85.0 million of AMT credit carryovers. The Company received the first installment for $42.5 million of AMT credit refunds related
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to fiscal 2019 in January 2020 and filed for the acceleration of the remaining AMT credit refunds of $42.5 million, which were received in June 2020.

    On December 27, 2020, the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA)” was signed into law. The CAA clarifies and expands the Paycheck Protection Program loans and the Employee Retention Credit as well as several other tax provisions first outlined in the CARES Act. The CAA is currently being evaluated, however, the Company does not anticipate a material impact as a result of this legislation.2021.

Note 7 – Capitalization

Summary of Changes in Common Stock Equity
Common StockPaid In
Capital
Earnings
Reinvested
in the
Business
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
SharesAmount
(Thousands, except per share amounts)
Balance at October 1, 2021Balance at October 1, 202191,182 $91,182 $1,017,446 $1,191,175 $(513,597)
Net Income Available for Common StockNet Income Available for Common Stock132,392 
Dividends Declared on Common Stock ($0.455 Per Share)Dividends Declared on Common Stock ($0.455 Per Share)(41,604)
Other Comprehensive Income, Net of TaxOther Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax236,571 
Share-Based Payment Expense (1)
Share-Based Payment Expense (1)
5,039 
Common Stock Issued (Repurchased) Under Stock and Benefit PlansCommon Stock Issued (Repurchased) Under Stock and Benefit Plans255 255 (8,664)
Balance at December 31, 2021Balance at December 31, 202191,437 $91,437 $1,013,821 $1,281,963 $(277,026)
Common StockPaid In
Capital
Earnings
Reinvested
in the
Business
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
SharesAmount
(Thousands, except per share amounts)
Balance at October 1, 2020Balance at October 1, 202090,955 $90,955 $1,004,158 $991,630 $(114,757)Balance at October 1, 202090,955 $90,955 $1,004,158 $991,630 $(114,757)
Net Income Available for Common StockNet Income Available for Common Stock77,774 Net Income Available for Common Stock77,774 
Dividends Declared on Common Stock ($0.445 Per Share)Dividends Declared on Common Stock ($0.445 Per Share)(40,560)Dividends Declared on Common Stock ($0.445 Per Share)(40,560)
Other Comprehensive Income, Net of TaxOther Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax35,016 Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax35,016 
Share-Based Payment Expense (1)
Share-Based Payment Expense (1)
3,496 
Share-Based Payment Expense (1)
3,496 
Common Stock Issued (Repurchased) Under Stock and Benefit PlansCommon Stock Issued (Repurchased) Under Stock and Benefit Plans198 198 (3,285)Common Stock Issued (Repurchased) Under Stock and Benefit Plans198 198 (3,285)
Balance at December 31, 2020Balance at December 31, 202091,153 $91,153 $1,004,369 $1,028,844 $(79,741)Balance at December 31, 202091,153 $91,153 $1,004,369 $1,028,844 $(79,741)
Balance at October 1, 201986,315 $86,315 $832,264 $1,272,601 $(52,155)
Net Income Available for Common Stock86,591 
Dividends Declared on Common Stock ($0.435 Per Share)(37,650)
Cumulative Effect of Adoption of Authoritative Guidance for Hedging(950)
Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax(3,995)
Share-Based Payment Expense (1)
2,828 
Common Stock Issued (Repurchased) Under Stock and Benefit Plans237 237 (3,946)
Balance at December 31, 201986,552 $86,552 $831,146 $1,320,592 $(56,150)

(1)Paid in Capital includes compensation costs associated with performance shares and/or restricted stock awards. The expense is included within Net Income Available For Common Stock, net of tax benefits.
 
Common Stock.  During the three months ended December 31, 2020,2021, the Company issued 104,76017,943 original issue shares of common stock as a result of SARs exercises, 110,339 original issue shares of common stock for restricted stock units that vested and 165,161265,607 original issue shares of common stock for performance shares that vested.  The Company also issued 10,8808,395 original issue shares of common stock to the non-employee directors of the Company who receive compensation under the Company’s 2009 Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Plan, as partial considerationincluding the reinvestment of dividends for certain non-employee directors who elected to defer their shares pursuant to the directors’ servicesdividend reinvestment feature of the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Officers during the three months ended December 31, 2020.2021.  Holders of stock-based compensation awards will often tender shares of common stock to the Company for payment of applicable withholding taxes.  During the three months ended December 31, 2020, 82,7872021, 146,996 shares of common stock were tendered to the Company for such purposes.  The Company considers all shares tendered as cancelled shares restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares, in accordance with New Jersey law.
 
Current Portion of Long-Term Debt. Current Portion of Long-Term Debt at December 31, 2020 consists of $500.0 million of 4.90% notes that mature in December 2021. NaNNone of the Company's long-term debt as of December 31, 2021 and September 30, 20202021 had a maturity date within the following twelve-month period.

Short-Term Borrowings. On February 3, 2021, the Company amended its existing 364-day credit facility agreement. The amendment extends the maturity date of the facility from May 3, 2021 to December 30, 2022, and increases the commitment provided under the facility from $200.0 million to $250.0 million of unsecured committed revolving credit access. The
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Company entered into the amendment with a syndicate of twelve banks, all of which are also lenders under the Company's existing $750.0 million multi-year credit facility.

Note 8 – Commitments and Contingencies
 
Environmental Matters. The Company is subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment.  The Company has established procedures for the ongoing evaluation of its operations to identify potential environmental exposures and to comply with regulatory requirements.  It is the Company’s policy to accrue estimated environmental clean-up costs (investigation and remediation) when such amounts can reasonably be estimated and it is probable that the Company will be required to incur such costs. 
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    At December 31, 2020,2021, the Company has estimated its remaining clean-up costs related to former manufactured gas plant sites will be approximately $6.0 million, which includes a $3.1 million estimated minimum liability to remediate a former manufactured gas plant site located in New York.  In March 2018, the NYDEC issued a Record of Decision for this New York site and the minimum liability reflects the remedy selected in the Record of Decision.million.  The Company's liability for such clean-up costs has been recorded in Other Deferred CreditsLiabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2020.2021. The Company expects to recover its environmental clean-up costs through rate recovery over a period of approximately 2 yearsone year and is currently not aware of any material additional exposure to environmental liabilities.  However, changes in environmental laws and regulations, new information or other factors could have an adverse financial impact on the Company.
    
Northern Access Project. On February 3, 2017, Supply Corporation and Empire received FERC approval of the Northern Access project described herein. Shortly thereafter, the NYDEC issued a Notice of Denial of the federal Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification and other state stream and wetland permits for the New York portion of the project (the Water Quality Certification for the Pennsylvania portion of the project was received in January of 2017). The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (the “Second Circuit Court of Appeals”) held in the Company’s favor in its appeal of this decision, vacating the NYDEC denial and remanding to the NYDEC. The NYDEC subsequently issued a second denial, which the Company has appealed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The court has held this appeal in abeyance pending the outcome of the FERC waiver appeal, described below. While the Company’s initial appeal was pending before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, theSubsequently, FERC issued an Order finding that the NYDEC exceeded the statutory time frame to take action under the Clean Water Act and, therefore, waived its opportunity to approve or deny the Water Quality Certification. FERC denied rehearing requests associated with its Order and FERC's decisions have been appealed and are pending in a separate action before thewere appealed. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals.Appeals issued an order upholding the FERC waiver orders. In addition, in the Company's state court litigation challenging the NYDEC's actions with regard to various state permits, the New York State Supreme Court issued a decision finding these permits to be preempted. The Company remains committed to the project.project and, on January 28, 2022, filed with FERC a request for an extension of time to construct the project .
 
Other.  The Company is involved in other litigation and regulatory matters arising in the normal course of business.  These other matters may include, for example, negligence claims and tax, regulatory or other governmental audits, inspections, investigations and other proceedings.  These matters may involve state and federal taxes, safety, compliance with regulations, rate base, cost of service and purchased gas cost issues, among other things.  While these other matters arising in the normal course of business could have a material effect on earnings and cash flows in the period in which they are resolved, an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss, if any, cannot be made at this time.
 
Note 9 – Business Segment Information    
 
    The Company reports financial results for 4 segments: Exploration and Production, Pipeline and Storage, Gathering and Utility.  The division of the Company’s operations into reportable segments is based upon a combination of factors including differences in products and services, regulatory environment and geographic factors.
 
    The data presented in the tables below reflect financial information for the segments and reconciliationsreconcile to consolidated amounts.  As stated in the 20202021 Form 10-K, the Company evaluates segment performance based on income before discontinued operations (when applicable).  When this is not applicable, the Company evaluates performance based on net income.  There have not been any changes in the basis of segmentation nor in the basis of measuring segment profit or loss from those used in the Company’s 20202021 Form 10-K.  A listing of segment assets at December 31, 20202021 and September 30, 20202021 is shown in the tables below.  
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Quarter Ended December 31, 2020 (Thousands) 
Quarter Ended December 31, 2021 (Thousands)Quarter Ended December 31, 2021 (Thousands) 
Exploration and ProductionPipeline and StorageGatheringUtilityTotal Reportable SegmentsAll OtherCorporate and Intersegment EliminationsTotal Consolidated Exploration and ProductionPipeline and StorageGatheringUtilityTotal Reportable SegmentsAll OtherCorporate and Intersegment EliminationsTotal Consolidated
Revenue from External CustomersRevenue from External Customers$191,395$59,308$351$188,901$439,955$1,110$95$441,160Revenue from External Customers$244,198$61,547$4,045$236,684$546,474$—$83$546,557
Intersegment RevenuesIntersegment Revenues$0$28,456$46,658$100$75,214$20$(75,234)$0Intersegment Revenues$—$26,803$48,180$75$75,058$6$(75,064)$—
Segment Profit: Net Income (Loss)Segment Profit: Net Income (Loss)$(29,623)$24,183$20,550$23,037$38,147$37,560$2,067$77,774Segment Profit: Net Income (Loss)$62,369$25,168$23,137$22,130$132,804$(7)$(405)$132,392
(Thousands)(Thousands)Exploration and ProductionPipeline and StorageGatheringUtilityTotal Reportable SegmentsAll OtherCorporate and Intersegment EliminationsTotal Consolidated(Thousands)Exploration and ProductionPipeline and StorageGatheringUtilityTotal Reportable SegmentsAll OtherCorporate and Intersegment EliminationsTotal Consolidated
Segment Assets:Segment Assets:  Segment Assets:  
At December 31, 2020$1,875,697$2,219,331$823,415$2,113,416$7,031,859$156,905$(149,596)$7,039,168
At September 30, 2020$1,979,028$2,204,971$945,199$2,067,852$7,197,050$113,571$(345,686)$6,964,935
At December 31, 2021At December 31, 2021$2,340,592$2,318,287$843,850$2,197,361$7,700,090$4,737$(115,154)$7,589,673
At September 30, 2021At September 30, 2021$2,286,058$2,296,030$837,729$2,148,267$7,568,084$4,146$(107,405)$7,464,825
Quarter Ended December 31, 2019 (Thousands)    
 Exploration and ProductionPipeline and StorageGatheringUtilityTotal Reportable SegmentsAll OtherCorporate and Intersegment EliminationsTotal Consolidated
Revenue from External Customers$165,939$48,969$0$194,910$409,818$34,235$135$444,188
Intersegment Revenues$0$23,251$34,788$1,915$59,954$177$(60,131)$0
Segment Profit: Net Income$23,977$18,105$15,944$26,583$84,609$371$1,611$86,591
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Quarter Ended December 31, 2020 (Thousands)    
 Exploration and ProductionPipeline and StorageGatheringUtilityTotal Reportable SegmentsAll OtherCorporate and Intersegment EliminationsTotal Consolidated
Revenue from External Customers$191,395$59,308$351$188,901$439,955$1,110$95$441,160
Intersegment Revenues$—$28,456$46,658$100$75,214$20$(75,234)$—
Segment Profit: Net Income (Loss)$(29,623)$24,183$20,550$23,037$38,147$37,560$2,067$77,774

Note 10 – Retirement Plan and Other Post-Retirement Benefits
 
    Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (in thousands):
 
Retirement PlanOther Post-Retirement Benefits Retirement PlanOther Post-Retirement Benefits
Three Months Ended December 31,Three Months Ended December 31,2020201920202019Three Months Ended December 31,2021202020212020
Service CostService Cost$2,466 $2,330 $400 $402 Service Cost$2,190 $2,466 $332 $400 
Interest CostInterest Cost5,422 7,483 2,326 3,228 Interest Cost5,707 5,422 2,267 2,326 
Expected Return on Plan AssetsExpected Return on Plan Assets(14,537)(15,016)(7,241)(7,308)Expected Return on Plan Assets(13,074)(14,537)(7,340)(7,241)
Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)158 182 (107)(107)Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)134 158 (107)(107)
Amortization of Losses9,203 9,846 212 134 
Amortization of (Gains) LossesAmortization of (Gains) Losses6,601 9,203 (1,903)212 
Net Amortization and Deferral for Regulatory Purposes (Including Volumetric Adjustments) (1)
Net Amortization and Deferral for Regulatory Purposes (Including Volumetric Adjustments) (1)
3,713 1,527 6,854 6,249 
Net Amortization and Deferral for Regulatory Purposes (Including Volumetric Adjustments) (1)
4,420 3,713 6,246 6,854 
Net Periodic Benefit Cost$6,425 $6,352 $2,444 $2,598 
Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Income)Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Income)$5,978 $6,425 $(505)$2,444 
(1)The Company’s policy is to record retirement plan and other post-retirement benefit costs in the Utility segment on a volumetric basis to reflect the fact that the Utility segment experiences higher throughput of natural gas in the winter months and lower throughput of natural gas in the summer months.
 
    The components of net periodic benefit cost other than service cost are presented in Other Income (Deductions) on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

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Employer Contributions.    During the three months ended December 31, 2020,2021, the Company contributed $5.2 million to its tax-qualified, noncontributory defined-benefit retirement plan (Retirement Plan) and $0.7 million to its VEBA trusts for its other post-retirement benefits.  In the remainder of 2021,2022, the Company expects its contributions to the Retirement Plan to be in the range of $10.0$15.0 million to $20.0 million. In the remainder of 2021,2022, the Company expects its contributions to its VEBA trusts to be in the range of $2.0 million to $2.5 million.

Note 11 – Regulatory Matters

New York Jurisdiction
    
    Distribution Corporation's current delivery rates in its New York jurisdiction were approved by the NYPSC in an order issued on April 20, 2017 with rates becoming effective May 1, 2017. The order provided for a return on equity of 8.7%. The order also directed the implementation of an earnings sharing mechanism to be in place beginning on April 1, 2018.

    On August 13, 2021, the NYPSC issued an order extending the date through which qualified pipeline replacement costs incurred by the Company can be recovered using the existing system modernization tracker for two years (until March 31, 2023). The extension is contingent on the Company not filing a base rate case that would result in new rates becoming effective prior to April 1, 2023.

In New York, on March 13, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company agreed to NYPSC Staff’s request that the Company suspend service terminations and disconnections. Thereafter, on June 17, 2020, New York enacted a new
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law that prohibitsprohibited utilities from terminating or disconnecting services to any residential customer for non-payment for the duration of the state disaster emergency. In addition, the law prohibits residentialWhile that legislation expired on March 31, 2021, new legislation was enacted in May 2021 that prohibited utility terminations for non-payment for a period of 180 days running from the end of the state disaster emergency forresidential and small commercial customers that havewho experienced a change in financial circumstances due to the COVID-19 state of emergency, with such prohibition running for a period of one hundred eighty days after either the New York State COVID-19 state of emergency is lifted or expires or December 31, 2021, whichever is earlier. On June 24, 2021, the New York State COVID-19 state of emergency expired. Updated guidance issued by the NYPSC on July 6, 2021 confirmed that qualified customers are protected from termination through December 21, 2021 and are eligible for a deferred payment agreement without the requirement of a down payment, late fees, penalties or interest on arrears incurred during the COVID-19 state of emergency. Governor Cuomo,On December 20, 2021, NYPSC Staff requested, and the Company agreed, to refrain from terminating residential customers with a pending application for arrears payments through the issuanceEmergency Rental Assistance Program administered by the Office of executive orders, has extended the declaration of the state disaster emergency through February 26, 2021. The law currently sunsets on March 31, 2021, but legislation extending the moratorium is anticipated. The duration of the aforementioned suspension in New York and its related impact on the Company is uncertain. The Company is anticipating that customer non-payment may increase given higher natural gas usage and the resulting increase in costs for customers. It is uncertain at this point as to whether there would be any regulatory relief for utilities with regard to an increase in costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is one of many issues currently being considered in a generic NYPSC proceeding entitled “Proceeding on Motion of the Commission Regarding the Effects of COVID-19 on Utility Service” (Case No. 20-M-0266). Correspondence from NYPSC Staff has recommended that utilities rely on existing avenues of relief for these costs, and has identified additional, more stringent requirements that must be met to achieve relief.Temporary Disability.

Pennsylvania Jurisdiction

    Distribution Corporation’s current delivery rates in its Pennsylvania jurisdiction were approved by the PaPUC on November 30, 2006 as part of a settlement agreement that became effective January 1, 2007. The rate settlement does not specify any requirement to file a future rate case.

    On March 26, 2020,July 22, 2021, Distribution Corporation filed a supplement to its current Pennsylvania tariff proposing to reduce base rates effective October 1, 2021 by $7.7 million in order to stop collecting other post-employment benefit (“OPEB”) expenses from customers at this time, to begin to refund to customers overcollected OPEB expenses in the PaPUC ratified an Emergency Order that established a Service Termination Moratorium intendedamount of $50.0 million, and to continue during the pendency of Governor Wolf’s March 6, 2020 Proclamation of Disaster Emergencymake certain other adjustments to further reduce Distribution Corporation’s regulatory liability associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 13, 2020, the Company (and other Pennsylvania local distribution companies) received a Secretarial Letter from theOPEB expenses. The PaPUC regarding COVID-19 pandemic cost tracking and regulatory assets. The Secretarial Letter directs utilities to track “extraordinary, nonrecurring incremental COVID-19 related expenses” so the Commission can understand the impact of these expenses on the utilities’ finances. It also authorizes the creation of a utility regulatory asset, but only for incremental uncollectible expenses incurred above those embedded in rates (and incurred since the issuance of the Emergency Order). The Company currently does not anticipate a need to create a regulatory asset for these expenses. On October 8, 2020, the Commission issued an order ending the moratorium effective November 9, 2020, imposing a list of enhanced customer protections that expireapproving this tariff supplement on March 31,September 15, 2021 and callingnew rates went into effect on October 1, 2021. On September 21, 2021, a complaint was filed in this proceeding. While new rates, including associated refunds, went into effect on October 1, 2021, certain other adjustments called for comments by February 16, 2021 regarding policies the Commission should adopt after March 31, 2021.tariff supplement that allow Distribution Corporation to reduce its regulatory liability and its OPEB expenses will not be recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements until the complaint is resolved. The order also appearsPaPUC assigned the matter to expandan Administrative Law Judge who, on January 6, 2022, issued a Recommended Decision approving a settlement reached by parties to the aforementioned potential utility regulatory asset to all incremental COVID-19 relatedcomplaint proceeding. The matter currently sits with the PaPUC for final determination. The refunds specified in the tariff supplement will be funded entirely by grantor trust assets held by the Company, most of which are included in a fixed income mutual fund that is a component of Other Investments on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. With the elimination of OPEB expenses incurred above those embedded in rates. The Company continues to monitor this item for potential deferral opportunity.base rates, Distribution Corporation will no longer fund the grantor trust or its VEBA trusts in its Pennsylvania jurisdiction.

FERC Jurisdiction

    Supply Corporation’s 2020 rate settlement approved June 1, 2020, provides that no party may make a rate filing for new rates to be effective before February 1, 2024, except that Supply Corporation may file an NGA general Section 4 rate case to change rates if the corporate federal income tax rate is increased. If no case has been filed, Supply Corporation must file for rates to be effective February 1, 2025. Supply has no rate case currently on file.

    Empire’s 2019 rate settlement provides that no party may make a filing for new rates before March 31, 2021. If no rate case has been filed, Empire must make a rate case filing no later than May 1, 2025.

Note 12 – Leases

    In October 2021, the Company executed two lease contracts for drilling rig services in Pennsylvania with lease terms of greater than one year. One of the new lease contracts commenced in December 2021 with estimated lease payments of $8.4 million over the lease term. This lease has been recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2021. A right-of-use operating lease asset of $8.1 million is recorded in Deferred Charges, the current portion of the operating lease liability ($7.2 million) is recorded in Other Accruals and Current Liabilities, and the noncurrent portion of the operating lease liability ($0.9 million) is recorded in Other Liabilities. The second lease contract, which is also an operating lease, commenced in January 2022 with estimated lease payments of $11.9 million over the lease term.

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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

OVERVIEW
 
    Please note that this overview is a high-level summary of items that are discussed in greater detail in subsequent sections of this report.

    The Company is a diversified energy company engaged principally in the production, gathering, transportation and distribution of natural gas. The Company operates an integrated business, with assets centered in western New York and Pennsylvania, being utilized for, and benefiting from, the production and transportation of natural gas from the Appalachian basin. Current development activities are focused primarily in the Marcellus and Utica shales. The common geographic footprint of the Company’s subsidiaries enables them to share management, labor, facilities and support services across various businesses and pursue coordinated projects designed to produce and transport natural gas from the Appalachian basin to markets in the eastern United States and Canada. The Company's efforts in this regard are not limited to affiliated projects. The Company has also been designing and building pipeline projects for the transportation of natural gas for non-affiliated natural gas producerscustomers in the Appalachian basin. The Company also develops and produces oil reserves, primarily in California. The Company reports financial results for four business segments. For a discussion of the Company's earnings, refer to the Results of Operations section below.

    The Company is closely monitoring and responding to developments related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and is taking steps to limit operational impacts and the potential exposure for our workforce and customers. Refer to Risk Factors in Item 1A of this Form 10-Q as well as Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, under Operational Risks in the Company's 20202021 Form 10-K for a more complete discussion of the risks to the Company associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for determining the book value of its oil and natural gas properties in the Exploration and Production segment and that book value is subject to a quarterly ceiling test. This is discussed in more detail in the Critical Accounting Estimates section that follows. In addition to the significant non-cash impairment charges under the ceiling test that the Company recorded during fiscal 2020, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge under the ceiling test for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 of $76.2 million ($55.2 million after-tax). Given the significant non-cash impairments recorded during fiscal 2020 and in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, under its existing indenture covenants contained in the Company's 1974 indenture, the Company is precluded from issuing incremental unsubordinated long-term indebtedness for a period beginning in January 2021 and expected to extend into the second half of fiscal 2021. However, the Company expects that it could borrow under its existing credit facilities. Additionally, the 1974 indenture would not preclude the Company from issuing new indebtedness to refund existing debt. Please refer to the Critical Accounting Estimates section below for a sensitivity analysis concerning commodity price changes.

    In advance of the expected late calendar 2021 online date for Seneca’s 330,000 decatherms per day of incremental capacity on the Leidy South Project, the Company's Exploration and Production segment added a second horizontal drilling rig in the Appalachian region in January 2021. Production from the first pad that will be drilled in connection with this additional activity is expected in early fiscal 2022, allowing Seneca to utilize its incremental capacity to reach premium markets during the winter heating season.

    On December 10, 2020, the Company completed the sale of substantially all timber properties in Pennsylvania to Lyme Emporium Highlands III LLC and Lyme Allegheny Land Company II LLC for net proceeds of $104.6 million. After purchase price adjustments and transaction costs, a gain of $51.1 million was recognized on the sale of these assets ($37.0 million after-tax). Refer to Note 2 – Asset Acquisitions and Divestitures for additional information concerning this sale.

    On February 3, 2021, the Company amended its existing 364-day credit facility agreement. The amendment extends the maturity date of the facility from May 3, 2021 to December 30, 2022, and increases the commitment provided under the facility from $200.0 million to $250.0 million of unsecured committed revolving credit access. The Company entered into the amendment with a syndicate of twelve banks, all of which are also lenders under the Company's existing $750.0 million multi-year credit facility.

    The sale of timber properties discussed above, combined with cash on hand, cash from operations and short-term borrowings, are expected to meet the Company’s financing needs for fiscal 2021. The Company plans to issue long-term debt during fiscal 2021 to replace all or a portion of its December 2021 debt maturity.

    The Company continueshas continued to pursue development projects to expand its Pipeline and Storage segment. The Company is monitoring the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on its supply chains and development projects in this segment. To date, the
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COVID-19 pandemic has not had a material impact on the target in-service dates of these development projects. However, the unpredictable extent and duration of the pandemic, and the government imposition of certain significant restrictions associated therewith, could delay receipt of necessary equipment or delay construction. The Company will continue to monitor this rapidly evolving situation and mitigate where possible. One project on Empire’s system, referred to as the Empire North Project, which allows for the transportation of 205,000 Dth per day of additional shale supplies from interconnections in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, to the TC Energy pipeline, and the TGP 200 Line, was placed in-service during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. Another project on Supply Corporation’sCorporation's system, referred to as the FM100 Project, will upgradeupgraded a 1950’s era pipeline in northwestern Pennsylvania and createcreated approximately 330,000 Dth per day of additional transportation capacity in Pennsylvania from a receipt point with NFG Midstream Clermont, LLC in McKean County, Pennsylvania to the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC ("Transco") system at Leidy, Pennsylvania. Construction activities on the expansion portion of the FM100 Project are complete and the project was placed in service in December 2021. The final project cost is estimated to be $230 million. This project is expected to provide incremental annual transportation revenues of approximately $50 million. The FM100 Project has a target in-service date of late calendar 2021 and a preliminary cost estimate of approximately $280 million. This project is discussed in more detail in the Capital Resources and Liquidity section that follows. For further discussion of the Pipeline and Storage segment's revenues and earnings, refer to the Results of Operations section below.

    Seneca’s 330,000 Dth per day of incremental pipeline capacity on the Leidy South Project, which is the companion project to the Company's FM100 Project, went in service in December 2021. The incremental pipeline capacity from this project and associated gathering system development by Midstream Company allows Seneca to increase its production and reach premium Transco Zone 6 (Non-New York) markets.

    From a legislationfinancing perspective, in July 2019, New York State enacted legislation knownthe Company expects to use cash on hand and cash from operations, as the Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA). This climate legislation mandates reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 60% of 1990 levels by 2030, and to 15% of 1990 levels by 2050, with the remaining emission reduction achieved by controlled offsets. The legislation also requires electric generatorswell as short-term borrowings, to meet 70% of demand with renewable energy by 2030 and 100% with zero emissions generation by 2040. The CLCPA established a climate action council and a series of advisory panels and working groups to study how the state will achieve the aggressive emission reduction targets. Thus far, the only regulations promulgated in connection with the CLCPA are greenhouse gas limits established by the NYDEC on December 30, 2020. For further discussion of the CLCPA, refer to the Environmental Matters section below.its financing needs for fiscal 2022.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
 
    For a complete discussion of critical accounting estimates, refer to "Critical Accounting Estimates" in Item 7 of the Company's 20202021 Form 10-K.  There have been no material changes to that disclosure other than as set forth below.  The information presented below updates and should be read in conjunction with the critical accounting estimates in that Form 10-K.
 
Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Costs.  The Company, in its Exploration and Production segment, follows the full cost method of accounting for determining the book value of its oil and natural gas properties.  In accordance with this methodology, the Company is required to perform a quarterly ceiling test.  Under the ceiling test, the present value of future revenues from the Company's oil and gas reserves based on an unweighted arithmetic average of the first day of the month oil and gas prices for each month within the twelve-month period prior to the end of the reporting period (the “ceiling”) is compared with the book value of the Company’s oil and gas properties at the balance sheet date. The present value of future revenues is calculated using a 10% discount factor.  If the book value of the oil and gas properties exceeds the ceiling, a non-cash impairment charge must be recorded to reduce the book value of the oil and gas properties to the calculated ceiling. TheAt December 31, 2021, the ceiling exceeded the book value of the oil and gas properties exceeded the ceiling at December 31, 2020, resulting in a non-cash impairment chargeby approximately $1.3 billion. The 12-
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Table of $76.2 million ($55.2 million after-tax) for the quarter ended December 31, 2020. The 12-monthContents

month average of the first day of the month price for crude oil for each month during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020,2021, based on posted Midway Sunset prices, was $38.31$65.70 per Bbl.  The 12-month average of the first day of the month price for natural gas for each month during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020,2021, based on the quoted Henry Hub spot price for natural gas, was $1.99$3.60 per MMBtu. (Note: Because actual pricing of the Company’s producing properties vary depending on their location and hedging, the prices used to calculate the ceiling may differ from the Midway Sunset and Henry Hub prices, which are only indicative of 12-month average prices for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020.2021. Actual realized pricing includes adjustments for regional market differentials, transportation fees and contractual arrangements.)  The following table illustrates the sensitivity of the ceiling test calculation to commodity price changes, specifically showing the additional non-cash impairment thatamounts the Companyceiling would have recordedexceeded the book value of the Company's oil and gas properties at December 31, 20202021 if natural gas prices were $0.25 per MMBtu lower than the average prices used at December 31, 2020, the additional non-cash impairment that the Company would have recorded at December 31, 20202021, if crude oil prices were $5 per Bbl lower than the average prices used at December 31, 2020,2021, and the additional non-cash impairment that the Company would have recorded at December 31, 2020 if both natural gas prices and crude oil prices were $0.25 per MMBtu and $5 per Bbl lower than the average prices used at December 31, 20202021 (all amounts are presented after-tax). In all cases, these price decreases would not have resulted in an impairment charge. These calculated amounts are based solely on price changes and do not take into account any other changes to the ceiling test calculation, including, among others, changes in reserve quantities and future cost estimates.   
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      Ceiling Testing Sensitivity to Commodity Price Changes
(Millions)$0.25/MMBtu
Decrease in
Natural Gas Prices
$5.00/Bbl
Decrease in
Crude Oil Prices
$0.25/MMBtu
Decrease in
Natural Gas Prices
and $5.00/Bbl
Decrease in
Crude Oil Prices
Calculated Impairment under Sensitivity Analysis$325.3 $91.0 $361.1 
Actual Impairment Recorded at December 31, 202055.2 55.2 55.2 
Additional Impairment$270.1 $35.8 $305.9 
      Ceiling Testing Sensitivity to Commodity Price Changes
(Millions)$0.25/MMBtu
Decrease in
Natural Gas Prices
$5.00/Bbl
Decrease in
Crude Oil Prices
$0.25/MMBtu
Decrease in
Natural Gas Prices
and $5.00/Bbl
Decrease in
Crude Oil Prices
Excess of Ceiling over Book Value under Sensitivity Analysis$1,004.0 $1,249.0 $968.4 

    It is difficult to predict what factors could lead to future non-cash impairments under the SEC's full cost ceiling test. Fluctuations in or subtractions from proved reserves, increases in development costs for undeveloped reserves and significant fluctuations in oil and gas prices have an impact on the amount of the ceiling at any point in time. For a more complete discussion of the full cost method of accounting, refer to "Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Costs" under "Critical Accounting Estimates" in Item 7 of the Company's 20202021 Form 10-K.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Earnings
 
    The Company's earnings were $132.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 compared to earnings of $77.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 compared to2020.  The increase in earnings of $86.6$54.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2019.  The decrease in earnings is primarily the result of a loss recognizedhigher earnings in the Exploration and Production segment, Gathering segment and Pipeline and Storage segment. Lower earnings in the Utility segment, also contributed to the decrease. Higher earningsas well as losses in the Pipeline and Storage segment, Gathering segment and Corporate and All Other categories, partially offset these decreases.increases.

    The Company's earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 includeincluded a non-cash impairment charge of $76.2 million impairment charge ($55.2 million after-tax) recorded during the quarter ended December 31, 2020 for the Exploration and Production segment's oil and gas producing properties, as discussed above.properties. The Company's earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 also includeincluded a gain recognized on the sale of timber properties of $51.1 million ($37.0 million after-tax) in the Company's All Other category, as discussed above.category. Additional discussion of earnings in each of the business segments can be found in the business segment information that follows. Note that all amounts used in the earnings discussions are after-tax amounts, unless otherwise noted.
    
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Earnings (Loss) by Segment
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Three Months Ended
December 31,
(Thousands)(Thousands)20202019Increase
(Decrease)
(Thousands)20212020Increase
(Decrease)
Exploration and ProductionExploration and Production$(29,623)$23,977 $(53,600)Exploration and Production$62,369 $(29,623)$91,992 
Pipeline and StoragePipeline and Storage24,183 18,105 6,078 Pipeline and Storage25,168 24,183 985 
GatheringGathering20,550 15,944 4,606 Gathering23,137 20,550 2,587 
UtilityUtility23,037 26,583 (3,546)Utility22,130 23,037 (907)
Total Reportable SegmentsTotal Reportable Segments38,147 84,609 (46,462)Total Reportable Segments132,804 38,147 94,657 
All OtherAll Other37,560 371 37,189 All Other(7)37,560 (37,567)
CorporateCorporate2,067 1,611 456 Corporate(405)2,067 (2,472)
Total ConsolidatedTotal Consolidated$77,774 $86,591 $(8,817)Total Consolidated$132,392 $77,774 $54,618 
 
Exploration and Production
Exploration and Production Operating Revenues
 Three Months Ended
December 31,
(Thousands)20212020Increase
(Decrease)
Gas (after Hedging)$205,801 $162,507 $43,294 
Oil (after Hedging)35,223 28,124 7,099 
Gas Processing Plant1,029 553 476 
Other2,145 211 1,934 
 $244,198 $191,395 $52,803 
Production Volumes
 Three Months Ended
December 31,
 20212020Increase
(Decrease)
Gas Production (MMcf)
Appalachia81,389 75,669 5,720 
West Coast408 441 (33)
Total Production81,797 76,110 5,687 
Oil Production (Mbbl)
Appalachia— — — 
West Coast548 563 (15)
Total Production548 563 (15)

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Average Prices
 Three Months Ended
December 31,
 20212020Increase
(Decrease)
Average Gas Price/Mcf
Appalachia$4.39 $2.17 $2.22 
West Coast$9.79 $5.03 $4.76 
Weighted Average$4.42 $2.19 $2.23 
Weighted Average After Hedging$2.52 $2.14 $0.38 
Average Oil Price/Bbl
Appalachia$70.86 $38.53 $32.33 
West Coast$77.34 $43.48 $33.86 
Weighted Average$77.34 $43.48 $33.86 
Weighted Average After Hedging$64.29 $49.91 $14.38 

2021 Compared with 2020
    Operating revenues for the Exploration and Production segment increased $52.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 as compared with the quarter ended December 31, 2020. Gas production revenue after hedging increased $43.3 million due to the impact of a 5.7 Bcf increase in natural gas production, together with a $0.38 per Mcf increase in the weighted average price of natural gas after hedging. Natural gas production increased largely due to additional production from the Company's new Marcellus and Utica wells in the Appalachian region. Oil production revenue after hedging increased $7.1 million due to an increase in the weighted average price of oil after hedging of $14.38 per Bbl, offset by the impact of a 15 Mbbl decrease in oil production. The decrease in oil production was largely due to natural production declines. In addition, other revenue increased $1.9 million and gas processing plant revenue increased $0.5 million. The increase in other revenue is primarily attributed to a temporary capacity release for a small portion of this segment's Leidy South transportation contract combined with operating revenue for the Highland Field Services water treatment plants acquired at the end of fiscal year 2021.

    The Exploration and Production segment's earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 were $62.4 million, an increase of $92.0 million when compared with a loss of $29.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020. The increase in earnings was due to a quarter ended December 31, 2020 non-cash impairment of oil and gas properties ($55.2 million), higher natural gas production ($9.6 million), higher natural gas prices after hedging ($24.6 million), higher oil prices after hedging ($6.2 million), higher other operating revenue ($1.5 million), lower interest expense ($2.7 million) and lower income tax expense ($0.9 million). The positive earnings impact of these items was partially offset by lower oil production ($0.6 million), higher lease operating and transportation expenses ($2.8 million), higher depletion expense ($3.3 million), higher other operating expenses ($1.3 million) and higher other taxes ($1.0 million). The decrease in interest expense can largely be attributed to lower intercompany long-term and short-term borrowings combined with lower rates. The increase in lease operating and transportation expenses was primarily the result of increased gathering and transportation costs in the Appalachian region due to increased production combined with higher steam fuel costs in the West Coast region due to higher nature gas prices. The increase in depletion expense was primarily due to the net increase in production. The increase in other operating expense was partially attributed to an increase in personnel costs combined with an increase in operating costs associated with the Highland Field Services water treatment plants acquired at the end of fiscal year 2021. The increase in other taxes was mainly attributed to increased Impact Fees in the Appalachian region. Impact Fees are variable fees that move based on calendar year NYMEX prices.

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Exploration and Production
Exploration and Production Operating Revenues
 Three Months Ended
December 31,
(Thousands)20202019Increase
(Decrease)
Gas (after Hedging)$162,507 $127,238 $35,269 
Oil (after Hedging)28,124 37,841 (9,717)
Gas Processing Plant553 688 (135)
Other211 172 39 
 $191,395 $165,939 $25,456 
Production Volumes
 Three Months Ended
December 31,
 20202019Increase
(Decrease)
Gas Production (MMcf)
Appalachia75,669 54,284 21,385 
West Coast441 487 (46)
Total Production76,110 54,771 21,339 
Oil Production (Mbbl)
Appalachia— — — 
West Coast563 601 (38)
Total Production563 601 (38)

Average Prices
 Three Months Ended
December 31,
 20202019Increase
(Decrease)
Average Gas Price/Mcf
Appalachia$2.17 $2.16 $0.01 
West Coast$5.03 $4.98 $0.05 
Weighted Average$2.19 $2.19 $— 
Weighted Average After Hedging$2.14 $2.32 $(0.18)
Average Oil Price/Bbl
Appalachia$38.53 $54.49 $(15.96)
West Coast$43.48 $62.63 $(19.15)
Weighted Average$43.48 $62.63 $(19.15)
Weighted Average After Hedging$49.91 $62.92 $(13.01)


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2020 Compared with 2019
    Operating revenues for the Exploration and Production segment increased $25.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 as compared with the quarter ended December 31, 2019. Gas production revenue after hedging increased $35.3 million due to the impact of a 21.3 Bcf increase in natural gas production, which was partially offset by a $0.18 per Mcf decrease in the weighted average price of natural gas after hedging. Natural gas production increased, despite approximately 4 Bcf of price-related curtailments, largely due to additional production from the Company's fourth quarter fiscal 2020 acquisition of Appalachian upstream assets from Shell coupled with new Marcellus and Utica wells in the Western and Eastern Development Area in the Appalachian region. Oil production revenue after hedging decreased $9.7 million due to a $13.01 per Bbl decrease in the weighted average price of oil after hedging, coupled with the impact of a 38 Mbbl decrease in oil production. The decrease in oil production was largely due to natural declines in the West Coast region.

    The Exploration and Production segment's loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 was $29.6 million, a decrease of $53.6 million when compared with earnings of $24.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2019. The loss can be attributed to a non-cash impairment of oil and gas properties ($55.2 million), lower natural gas prices after hedging ($11.3 million), lower oil production ($1.9 million), lower oil prices after hedging ($5.8 million), higher depletion expense ($0.9 million), higher lease operating and transportation expenses ($11.7 million), higher other operating expenses ($1.8 million), higher interest expense ($1.1 million) and a higher effective tax rate ($3.2 million). The earnings impact of these items was partially offset by higher natural gas production ($39.2 million), as discussed above. The increase in depletion expense was primarily due to the net increase in production offset by a $0.19 per Mcf decrease in the depletion rate due to prior year non-cash ceiling test impairments coupled with the impact of the asset acquisition from Shell. The increase in lease operating and transportation expenses was largely attributed to higher natural gas production. The increase in other operating expenses was largely due to increases in accretion costs associated with asset retirement obligations coupled with higher compensation and personnel costs. The increase in interest expense was primarily due to interest on additional intercompany long-term borrowings associated with the Company's June 2020 debt issuance.

Pipeline and Storage
 
Pipeline and Storage Operating Revenues
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Three Months Ended
December 31,
(Thousands)(Thousands)20202019Increase
(Decrease)
(Thousands)20212020Increase
(Decrease)
Firm TransportationFirm Transportation$64,599 $53,191 $11,408 Firm Transportation$65,825 $64,599 $1,226 
Interruptible TransportationInterruptible Transportation226 261 (35)Interruptible Transportation444 226 218 
64,825 53,452 11,373  66,269 64,825 1,444 
Firm Storage ServiceFirm Storage Service20,485 18,420 2,065 Firm Storage Service20,800 20,485 315 
Interruptible Storage ServiceInterruptible Storage Service32 26 Interruptible Storage Service— 32 (32)
OtherOther2,422 342 2,080 Other1,281 2,422 (1,141)
$87,764 $72,220 $15,544  $88,350 $87,764 $586 
 
Pipeline and Storage Throughput
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Three Months Ended
December 31,
(MMcf)(MMcf)20202019Increase
(Decrease)
(MMcf)20212020Increase
(Decrease)
Firm TransportationFirm Transportation203,028 208,648 (5,620)Firm Transportation193,594 203,028 (9,434)
Interruptible TransportationInterruptible Transportation590 714 (124)Interruptible Transportation767 590 177 
203,618 209,362 (5,744) 194,361 203,618 (9,257)
 
20202021 Compared with 20192020
 
    Operating revenues for the Pipeline and Storage segment increased $15.5$0.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 20202021 as compared with the quarter ended December 31, 2019.2020.  The increase in operating revenues was primarily due to an increase in transportation revenues of $11.4$1.4 million and an increase in storage revenues of $2.1$0.3 million, and an increasepartially offset by a decrease in other
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revenues of $2.1$1.1 million. The increase in transportation revenues was partiallyprimarily attributable to an increase in Supply Corporation's transportation and storage rates effective February 1, 2020 in accordance with Supply Corporation's rate case settlement. The settlement was approved by the FERC on June 1, 2020. Transportation revenues also increased due to new demand charges for transportation service from the Empire North project,Supply Corporation's FM100 Project, which was placed into service during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020in December 2021, partially offset by revenue decreases associated with miscellaneous contract terminations and Supply Corporation's Line N to Monaca Projectrevisions. In addition, a surcharge for Pipeline Safety and Greenhouse Gas Regulatory Costs (PS/GHG Regulatory Costs) that went into serviceeffect in November 2019. The2020 associated with Supply Corporation’s 2020 rate case settlement also contributed to the increase in transportation revenues and was partially offset by contract terminations and restructurings and also by a decrease in revenues from short-term seasonal contracts. Theprimarily responsible for the increase in storage revenues was also primarily attributable to the increase in Supply Corporation's rates related to its rate case settlement discussed above.revenues. The increasedecrease in other revenues wasrevenue primarily due to proceeds receivedreflects the non-recurrence of revenue associated with a contract buyout that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2020, as a result of a contract buyout.partially offset by higher revenues recorded under surcharge mechanisms to match higher purchased gas and electric power costs for Empire’s compressor stations.

    Transportation volume for the quarter ended December 31, 20202021 decreased by 5.79.3 Bcf from the prior year's quarter, primarily due to lower throughput related to warmer weather than the prior year, a decline in capacity utilization by certain contract shippers, as well as contract terminations and restructurings. These volume decreases were partially offset by an increase in volume from incremental transportation volume from the Empire North project.FM100 Project, which was brought online in December 2021. Volume fluctuations, other than those caused by the addition or termination of contracts, generally do not have a significant impact on revenues as a result of the straight fixed-variable rate design utilized by Supply Corporation and Empire.

    The Pipeline and Storage segment’s earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 20202021 were $24.2$25.2 million, an increase of $6.1$1.0 million when compared with earnings of $18.1$24.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2019.2020. The increase in earnings was primarily due to the earnings impact of higher operating revenues of $12.3$0.5 million, as discussed above, partially offset byand an increase in depreciation expense ($3.1 million), higher interest expense ($2.9 million) and a decrease in other income ($0.51.2 million). The increase in depreciation expense was primarily due to an increase in Supply Corporation's depreciation rates associated with its rate case settlement as well as incremental depreciation from the Empire North project going into service, both mentioned above. The increase in interest expense was primarily due to interest on additional intercompany long-term borrowings associated with the Company's June 2020 debt issuance. The decrease in other income was mainly due to a decreasean increase in allowance for funds used during construction (equity component) as a resultrelated to the construction of the Empire North project being placed in service during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020,FM100 Project. These earnings increases were partially offset by an increase in operating expenses ($0.8 million) primarily due to an increase in personnel costs and higher non-service pensionpower costs, related to Empire's electric motor drive compressor station. Empire also experienced higher purchased gas costs ($0.3 million) related to its natural gas driven compressor stations. The power costs and post-retirement benefitpurchased gas costs in the current quarter comparedare offset by an equal amount of revenue due to non-service pension and post-retirement income in the prior year's quarter.surcharge mechanisms.

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Gathering
 
Gathering Operating Revenues
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Three Months Ended
December 31,
(Thousands)(Thousands)20202019Increase
(Decrease)
(Thousands)20212020Increase
(Decrease)
Gathering RevenuesGathering Revenues$47,009 $34,788 $12,221 Gathering Revenues$52,225 $47,009 $5,216 

Gathering Volume
 Three Months Ended
December 31,
 20202019Increase
(Decrease)
Gathered Volume - (MMcf)87,135 64,392 22,743 
 Three Months Ended
December 31,
 20212020Increase
(Decrease)
Gathered Volume - (MMcf)101,094 88,345 12,749 
 
20202021 Compared with 20192020
 
    Operating revenues for the Gathering Gathering segment increased $12.2$5.2 million forfor the quarter ended December 31, 20202021 as compared with the quarter ended December 31, 2019,2020, which was driven primarily by a 22.712.7 Bcf increase in gathered volume. The July 31, 2020 acquisition of midstream gathering assets from Shell was the primary driver of this increase as the Tioga gathering system (the name given to the acquired assets) recorded 20.5 Bcf of gathered volume for the quarter ended December 31, 2020. Other contributorsContributors to the increase included the Trout Run, Clermont and Wellsboro gathering systems, which recorded increases of 11.3 Bcf, 4.0 Bcf and 1.3 Bcf, respectively, partially offset by the Covington gathering system, which experiencedrecorded a 4.2 Bcf increase in gathered volume and the Wellsboro gathering system, which experienced a 0.9 Bcf increase in gathered volume. These increases were partially offset by a 1.8 Bcf decrease in gathered volume at the Trout Run gathering system and a 1.0 Bcf decrease in volume at the Covington gathering system.of 3.9 Bcf. The net increase in gathered volume can be attributed primarily to an increase in non-affiliated natural gas production on the
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Trout Run gathering system in the Appalachian region and, to a lesser extent, an increase in Seneca's gross natural gas production in the Appalachian region, which increased despite price-related curtailments initiated by Seneca, as discussed above.region.

    The Gathering segment’s earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 20202021 were $20.6$23.1 million, an increase of $4.7$2.5 million when compared with earnings of $15.9$20.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2019.2020. The increase in earnings was primarily attributablemainly due to higher gathering revenues ($9.74.1 million) driven by the increase in gathered volume, (discussed above).as discussed above. This earnings increase was partially offset by higher depreciation expenseoperating expenses ($2.2 million), higher interest expense ($1.50.8 million) and higher depreciation expense ($0.4 million). The increase in operating expenses ($1.5 million),was largely attributable to higher outside services costs associated with each of these increases primarily being a result ofpreventative maintenance overhauls on the acquisition of midstreamTrout Run gathering assets from Shell on July 31, 2020.system. The increase in depreciation expense was largely due to a higher plant balance atbalances associated with the CovingtonClermont gathering system. The increase in interest expense was primarily driven by additional intercompany long-term borrowings from the Company's long-term debt issuance in June 2020. The increase in operating expenses was largelyEarnings also decreased due to higher lease compressionincome tax expense associated with the Tioga gathering system.($0.2 million).

Utility

Utility Operating Revenues
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Three Months Ended
December 31,
(Thousands)(Thousands)20202019Increase
(Decrease)
(Thousands)20212020Increase
(Decrease)
Retail Sales Revenues:Retail Sales Revenues:Retail Sales Revenues:
ResidentialResidential$140,844 $145,615 $(4,771)Residential$182,708 $140,844 $41,864 
CommercialCommercial18,207 19,661 (1,454)Commercial25,242 18,207 7,035 
Industrial Industrial 931 1,267 (336)Industrial 1,157 931 226 
159,982 166,543 (6,561) 209,107 159,982 49,125 
Transportation Transportation 30,631 33,606 (2,975)Transportation 29,652 30,631 (979)
OtherOther(1,612)(3,324)1,712 Other(2,000)(1,612)(388)
$189,001 $196,825 $(7,824) $236,759 $189,001 $47,758 

Utility Throughput
Three Months Ended
December 31,
(MMcf)20202019Increase
(Decrease)
Retail Sales:
Residential18,412 19,476 (1,064)
Commercial2,528 2,812 (284)
Industrial153 217 (64)
 21,093 22,505 (1,412)
Transportation17,935 20,556 (2,621)
 39,028 43,061 (4,033)
Degree Days
Three Months Ended December 31,   Percent Colder (Warmer) Than
Normal20202019
Normal(1)
Prior Year(1)
Buffalo, NY2,253 1,921 2,232 (14.7)%(13.9)%
Erie, PA2,044 1,697 1,906 (17.0)%(11.0)%
(1)Percents compare actual 2020 degree days to normal degree days and actual 2020 degree days to actual 2019 degree days.
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Utility Throughput
Three Months Ended
December 31,
(MMcf)20212020Increase
(Decrease)
Retail Sales:
Residential17,496 18,412 (916)
Commercial2,543 2,528 15 
Industrial123 153 (30)
 20,162 21,093 (931)
Transportation17,593 17,935 (342)
 37,755 39,028 (1,273)
Degree Days
Three Months Ended December 31,   Percent Colder (Warmer) Than
Normal20212020
Normal(1)
Prior Year(1)
Buffalo, NY2,253 1,704 1,921 (24.4)%(11.3)%
Erie, PA2,044 1,560 1,697 (23.7)%(8.1)%
(1)Percents compare actual 2021 degree days to normal degree days and actual 2021 degree days to actual 2020 degree days.
2021 Compared with 20192020
 
    Operating revenues for the Utility segment decreased $7.8segment increased $47.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 20202021 as compared with the quarter ended December 31, 2019.2020. The decrease primarilyincrease resulted from a $6.6$49.1 million decreaseincrease in retail gas sales revenue, and a $3.0 million decrease in transportation revenues. The reduction in retail gas sales revenuewhich was largelyprimarily due to a decreasesignificant increase in the cost of gas sold (per Mcf) coupled with lower throughput due. Under its purchased gas adjustment clauses in New York and Pennsylvania, Distribution Corporation is not allowed to warmer weather.profit from fluctuations in gas costs. This increase was partially offset by a $1.0 million decrease in transportation revenues and a $0.4 million decrease in other revenues. The decline in transportation revenues was primarily due tolargely the result of a 2.60.3 Bcf decrease in transportation throughput asdue to warmer weather and the migration of residential transportation customers switched from transportation service to retail service. These decreases wereretail. The decrease in other revenues was mainly the result of a regulatory adjustment ($0.9 million) and lower late payment charges billed to customers ($0.5 million), partially offset by a $1.7 million increase in other revenues. The increase in other revenues was largely due to a smaller estimated refund provision recorded during the quarter for the income tax benefits resulting from the 2017 Tax Reform Act ($1.30.7 million) that are required to be passed back to ratepayers.and an increase in capacity release revenues ($0.3 million).

    The Utility segment’s earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 2021 were $23.0$22.1 million, a decrease of $3.6$0.9 million when compared with earnings of $26.6$23.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2019. 2020. The decrease in earnings was largely attributable to a decrease in base rates that reflects the elimination of other post-employment benefit (“OPEB”) expenses from customer rates in Distribution Corporation's Pennsylvania service territory in accordance with a regulatory proceeding that became effective October 1, 2021 ($1.8 million) combined with higher operating expenses ($2.01.4 million), which were aprimarily the result of higher personnel costs and an increase tooutside services that were partially offset by a decrease in the allowance for uncollectible accounts, partially offset by lower legal and consultant fees. Higher income tax expenseaccounts. The impact of regulatory revenue adjustments ($1.40.9 million) and the impact of lower usage and weather on customer marginshigher depreciation expense ($1.20.7 million) due to higher plant balances also contributed to the decrease in earnings. The increase to the allowance for uncollectible accounts isThese decreases were partially offset by a lower effective tax rate ($2.0 million), lower other deductions ($1.7 million) largely related to the COVID-19 pandemicelimination of OPEB expenses from customer rates, as discussed above, and the Company recorded incremental expense due to the potential for customer non-payment, given the current economic environment. These decreases were slightly offset by the positive earnings impact related toof a system modernization tracker in New York ($0.90.8 million).

    The impact of weather variations on earnings in the Utility segment's New York rate jurisdiction is mitigated by that jurisdiction's weather normalization clause (WNC). The WNC in New York, which covers the eight-month period from October through May, has had a stabilizing effect on earnings for the New York rate jurisdiction. In addition, in periods of colder than normal weather, the WNC benefits the Utility segment's New York customers. For the quarter ended December 31, 2021, the WNC increased earnings by approximately $2.6 million, as the weather was warmer than normal. For the quarter ended December 31, 2020, the WNC increased earnings by approximately $1.6 million, as the weather was warmer than normal. For the quarter ended December 31, 2019, the WNC decreased earnings by approximately $0.1 million, as the weather was colder than normal.

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Corporate and All Other
 
20202021 Compared with 20192020
 
    Corporate and All Other operations had earningsa loss of $39.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, an increase of $37.6 million when compared with earnings of $2.0$0.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2019. 2021, a decrease of $40.0 million when compared with earnings of $39.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020. The increasedecrease in earnings was primarily attributable to the non-recurrence of a $51.1 million gain recognized($37.0 million gain after-tax) on the sale of timber properties recorded by Seneca's Northeast Division during the quarter ended December 31, 2020. The decrease can also be attributed to changes in unrealized losses on investments in equity securities. During the quarter ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded unrealized losses of $3.5 million. During the quarter ended December 31, 2020, the Company recorded unrealized losses of $1.0 million.

Other Income (Deductions)

    Net other deductions on the Consolidated Statement of Income were $1.1 million for $51.1the quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared to net other deductions of $2.2 million ($37.0for the quarter ended December 31, 2020. This change is primarily attributable to a decrease in the pension and post-retirement non-service benefit cost expense of $3.0 million after-tax) as discussedlargely relating to the elimination of OPEB expenses from customer rates in Itemthe Utility segment's Pennsylvania service territory in accordance with a tariff supplement that became effective October 1, at Note 2 – Asset Acquisitions2021. Also contributing to the decrease in other deductions is an increase in allowance for funds used during construction (equity component) of $1.1 million. These were partially offset by changes in realized and Divestitures.unrealized gains and losses on investments in equity securities. During the quarter ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded pre-tax realized gains of $4.4 million and pre-tax unrealized losses of $5.2 million. During the quarter ended December 31, 2020, the Company recorded pre-tax realized gains of $3.3 million and pre-tax unrealized losses of $1.1 million.

Interest Expense on Long-Term Debt
 
    Interest expense on long-term debt increased $6.8on the Consolidated Statement of Income decreased $2.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020,2021 as compared to the quarter ended December 31, 20192020 primarily due in large part to a lower weighted average interest rate on long-term debt, stemming from the Company's issuance of $500.0 million of 5.50%2.95% notes on June 3, 2020.in February 2021, which replaced $500.0 million of 4.90% notes that were retired in March 2021.

CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY
 
    The Company’s primary sources of cash during the three-month period ended December 31, 2021 consisted of cash provided by operating activities and proceeds from the sale of a fixed income mutual fund in a grantor trust. The Company’s primary sources of cash during the three-month period ended December 31, 2020 consisted of cash provided by operating activities and net proceeds from the sale of timber properties.

    The Company's primary sourcesCompany expects to have adequate amounts of cash duringto meet both its short-term and long-term cash requirements. During the three-month period ended December 31, 2019 consistedremainder of 2022, cash provided by operating activities is expected to increase over the amount of cash provided by operating activities during 2021 and net proceeds fromwill be used to meet the Company's dividend requirements and reduce short-term borrowings. Capital expenditures for 2022 are expected to be lower than 2021. There are no scheduled repayments of long-term debt in the remainder of 2022. Looking at 2023 through 2024, based on current commodity prices, cash provided by operating activities is expected to exceed capital expenditures in each of those years, which could lead to further capital investments in the business or reductions in short-term borrowings and a net reduction in long-term debt in 2023 while still allowing the Company to meet its dividend requirements. These cash flow projections do not reflect the impact of acquisitions or divestitures that may arise in the future.

Operating Cash Flow

    Internally generated cash from operating activities consists of net income available for common stock, adjusted for non-cash expenses, non-cash income, gains and losses associated with investing and financing activities, and changes in operating assets and liabilities. Non-cash items include depreciation, depletion and amortization, impairment of oil and gas producing properties, gain on sale of timber properties, deferred income taxes and stock-based compensation.

    Cash provided by operating activities in the Utility and Pipeline and Storage segments may vary substantially from period to period because of the impact of rate cases. In the Utility segment, supplier refunds, over- or under-recovered
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purchased gas costs and weather may also significantly impact cash flow. The impact of weather on cash flow is tempered in the Utility segment’s New York rate jurisdiction by its WNC and in the Pipeline and Storage segment by the straight fixed-variable rate design used by Supply Corporation and Empire.

    Because of the seasonal nature of the heating business in the Utility segment, revenues in this business are relatively high during the heating season, primarily the first and second quarters of the fiscal year, and receivable balances historically increase during these periods from the receivable balances at September 30.

    The storage gas inventory normally declines during the first and second quarters of the fiscal year and is replenished during the third and fourth quarters.  For storage gas inventory accounted for under the LIFO method, the current cost of replacing gas withdrawn from storage is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income and a reserve for gas replacement is recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets under the caption "Other Accruals and Current Liabilities." Such reserve is reduced as the inventory is replenished.

    Cash provided by operating activities in the Exploration and Production segment may vary from period to period as a result of changes in the commodity prices of natural gas and crude oil as well as changes in production.  The Company uses various derivative financial instruments, including price swap agreements and no cost collars, in an attempt to manage this energy commodity price risk.

    Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $204.7$171.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020, an increase2021, a decrease of $37.0$33.2 million compared with $167.7$204.7 million provided by operating activities for the three months ended December 31, 2019.2020. The increasedecrease in cash provided by operating activities primarily reflects lower cash provided by operating activities in the Utility segment, slightly offset by higher cash provided by operating activities in the Pipeline and Storage segment, the Exploration and Production segment, and the Gathering segment. The increasedecrease in the Pipeline and StorageUtility segment wasis primarily due to higher cash receipts from transportationlower rates in the Utility segment's Pennsylvania service territory that went into effect October 1, 2021 combined with the timing of gas cost recovery and storage service, which largely reflects an increaseother regulatory true-ups. The rates that went into effect included a one-time customer bill credit of $25 million in Supply Corporation's transportation and storage rates effective February 1, 2020 and an increase in demand chargesOctober 2021 for transportation services from the Empire North project that was placed in service during September 2020previously overcollected OPEB expenses and the Line Nbeginning of a 5-year pass back of an additional $25 million in previously overcollected OPEB expenses. Please refer to Monaca Projectthe Rate Matters section that was placed in service in November 2019.follows for additional discussion of this matter. The increase in the Exploration and Production segment and the Gathering segment was primarily due to higher cash receipts from natural gas production and gathering services in the Appalachian region, largely stemming from the July 31, 2020 acquisition of upstream assets and midstream gathering assets from Shell.production.

Investing Cash Flow
 
Expenditures for Long-Lived Assets
 
    The Company’s expenditures for long-lived assets totaled $191.8 million during the three months ended December 31, 2021 and $150.9 million during the three months ended December 31, 2020 and $211.2 million during the three months ended December 31, 2019.2020.  The table below presents these expenditures:
Total Expenditures for Long-Lived AssetsTotal Expenditures for Long-Lived Assets  Total Expenditures for Long-Lived Assets  
Three Months Ended December 31,Three Months Ended December 31,2020 2019 Increase (Decrease)Three Months Ended December 31,2021 2020 Increase (Decrease)
(Millions)(Millions) (Millions) 
Exploration and Production:Exploration and Production:    Exploration and Production:    
Capital ExpendituresCapital Expenditures$81.3 (1)$126.9 (2)$(45.6)Capital Expenditures$139.2 (1)$81.3 (2)$57.9 
Pipeline and Storage:Pipeline and Storage:    Pipeline and Storage:    
Capital ExpendituresCapital Expenditures43.7 (1)57.1 (2)(13.4)Capital Expenditures24.1 (1)43.7 (2)(19.6)
Gathering:Gathering:    Gathering:    
Capital ExpendituresCapital Expenditures8.3 (1)9.8 (2)(1.5)Capital Expenditures8.9 (1)8.3 (2)0.6 
Utility:Utility:    Utility:    
Capital ExpendituresCapital Expenditures17.3 (1)17.2 (2)0.1 Capital Expenditures19.4 (1)17.3 (2)2.1 
All Other:All Other:All Other:
Capital ExpendituresCapital Expenditures0.1 0.2 (0.1)Capital Expenditures0.2 0.1 0.1 
EliminationsEliminations0.2 — 0.2 Eliminations— 0.2 (0.2)
$150.9  $211.2  $(60.3) $191.8  $150.9  $40.9 
 
(1)At December 31, 2021, capital expenditures for the Exploration and Production segment, the Pipeline and Storage segment, the Gathering segment and the Utility segment include $69.9 million, $5.4 million, $2.6 million and $3.1 million, respectively, of non-cash capital expenditures. At September 30,
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2021, capital expenditures for the Exploration and Production segment, the Pipeline and Storage segment, the Gathering segment and the Utility segment included $47.9 million, $39.4 million, $4.8 million and $10.6 million, respectively, of non-cash capital expenditures. 
(2)At December 31, 2020, capital expenditures for the Exploration and Production segment, the Pipeline and Storage segment, the Gathering segment and the Utility segment includeincluded $35.1 million, $11.2 million, $2.3 million and $3.5 million, respectively, of non-cash capital expenditures.  At September 30,
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2020, capital expenditures for the Exploration and Production segment, the Pipeline and Storage segment, the Gathering segment and the Utility segment included $45.8 million, $17.3 million, $13.5 million and $10.7 million, respectively, of non-cash capital expenditures.  
(2)At December 31, 2019, capital expenditures for the Exploration and Production segment, the Pipeline and Storage segment, the Gathering segment and the Utility segment included $62.3 million, $22.7 million, $5.3 million and $3.5 million, respectively, of non-cash capital expenditures.  At September 30, 2019, capital expenditures for the Exploration and Production segment, the Pipeline and Storage segment, the Gathering segment and the Utility segment included $38.0 million, $23.8 million, $6.6 million and $12.7 million, respectively, of non-cash capital expenditures.  
 
Exploration and Production 
 
    The Exploration and Production segment capital expenditures for the three months ended December 31, 2021 were primarily well drilling and completion expenditures and included approximately $132.1 million for the Appalachian region (including $45.1 million in the Marcellus Shale area and $83.3 million in the Utica Shale area) and $7.1 million for the West Coast region.  These amounts included approximately $54.2 million spent to develop proved undeveloped reserves. 

    The Exploration and Production segment capital expenditures for the three months ended December 31, 2020 were primarily well drilling and completion expenditures and included approximately $79.9 million for the Appalachian region (including $30.5 million in the Marcellus Shale area and $43.9 million in the Utica Shale area) and $1.4 million for the West Coast region. These amounts included approximately $34.3 million spent to develop proved undeveloped reserves.

Pipeline and Storage
    The ExplorationPipeline and ProductionStorage segment capital expenditures for the three months ended December 31, 20192021 were primarily well drillingfor expenditures related to Supply Corporation's FM100 Project ($15.7 million), which is discussed below. In addition, the Pipeline and completionStorage segment capital expenditures and included approximately $119.0 million for the Appalachian region (including $53.7 million in the Marcellus Shale areathree months ended December 31, 2021 included additions, improvements and $63.8 million in the Utica Shale area)replacements to this segment’s transmission and $7.9 million for the West Coast region. These amounts included approximately $86.2 million spent to develop proved undeveloped reserves.

Pipeline and Storage
gas storage systems. The Pipeline and Storage segment capital expenditures for the three months ended December 31, 2020 were primarily for expenditures related to Supply Corporation's FM100 Project ($30.4 million), which is discussed below.. In addition, the Pipeline and Storage segment capital expenditures for the three months ended December 31, 2020 included additions, improvements and replacements to this segment’s transmission and gas storage systems. The Pipeline and Storage segment capital expenditures for the three months ended December 31, 2019 were primarily for expenditures related to the Empire North Project ($29.1 million) and Supply Corporation's Line N to Monaca Project ($3.3 million). In addition, the Pipeline and Storage segment capital expenditures for the three months ended December 31, 2019 included additions, improvements and replacements to this segment’s transmission and gas storage systems.
 
    In light of the continuing demand for pipeline capacity to move natural gas from new wells being drilled in Appalachia, specifically in the Marcellus and Utica Shale producing areas, Supply Corporation and Empire have completed and continue to pursue expansion projects designed to move anticipated Marcellus and Utica production gas to other interstate pipelines and to on-system markets, and markets beyond the Supply Corporation and Empire pipeline systems. Preliminary survey and investigation costs for expansion, routine replacement or modernization projects are initially recorded as Deferred Charges on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Management may reserve for preliminary survey and investigation costs associated with large projects by reducing the Deferred Charges balance and increasing Operation and Maintenance Expense on the Consolidated Statement of Income. If it is determined that it is highly probable that a project for which a reserve has been established will be built, the reserve is reversed. This reversal reduces Operation and Maintenance Expense and reestablishes the original balance in Deferred Charges. The amounts remain in Deferred Charges until such time as capital expenditures for the project have been incurred and activities that are necessary to get the construction project ready for its intended use are in progress. At that point, the balance is transferred from Deferred Charges to Construction Work in Progress, a component of Property, Plant and Equipment on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.  

    Supply Corporation has developed its FM100 Project, which will upgradeupgraded a 1950's era pipeline in northwestern Pennsylvania and createcreated approximately 330,000 Dth per day of additional transportation capacity in Pennsylvania from a receipt point with NFG Midstream Clermont, LLC in McKean County to the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (“Transco”) system at Leidy, Pennsylvania. A precedent agreement has been executed by Supply Corporation and Transco executed a precedent agreement whereby Transco has leased this additional capacity is expected to be leased by Transco and become("Lease") as part of a Transco expansion project ("Leidy South") that will create, creating incremental transportation capacity to Transco Zone 6 markets. Seneca is an anchor shipper on Leidy South, which provides it with an outlet to premium markets from both its Eastern and Western development areas. FERC issuedConstruction activities on the Section 7(c) certificateexpansion portion of the FM100 project are complete and the project commenced partial in-service on July 17, 2020 and Supply Corporation accepted itDecember 1, 2021, with full in-service on August 14, 2020.December 19, 2021. Abandonment activities on the project will continue in calendar year 2022. The FM100 Project has a target in-service dateestimated capital cost of late calendar 2021 and a preliminary cost estimate ofthe project is approximately $280$230 million. As of December 31, 2020,2021, approximately $34.3$201.8 million has been capitalized as Construction Workspent on the FM100 project, all of which is included in Progress for this project.Property, Plant and Equipment on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2021.

    Supply Corporation and Empire have developed a project which would move significant prospective Marcellus and Utica production from Seneca's Western Development Area at Clermont to an Empire interconnection with the TC Energy pipeline at Chippawa and an interconnection with TGP's 200 Line in East Aurora, New York (the “Northern Access project”). The Northern Access project would provide an outlet to Dawn-indexed markets in Canada and to the TGP line serving the U.S.
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Northeast. The Northern Access project involves the construction of approximately 99 miles of largely 24” pipeline and approximately 27,500 horsepower of compression on the two systems. Supply Corporation, Empire and Seneca executed anchor shipper agreements for 350,000 Dth per day of firm transportation delivery capacity to Chippawa and 140,000 Dth per day of firm transportation capacity to a new interconnection with TGP's 200 Line on this project. On February 3, 2017, the Company received FERC approval of the project. Shortly thereafter, the NYDEC issued a Notice of Denial of the federal Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification and other state stream and wetland permits for the New York portion of the project (the Water Quality Certification for the Pennsylvania portion of the project was received in January of 2017). The United States Court
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Table of Appeals for the Second Circuit (the “Second Circuit Court of Appeals”) held in the Company’s favor in its appeal of this decision, vacating the NYDEC denial and remanding to the NYDEC. The NYDEC subsequently issued a second denial, which the Company has appealed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The court has held this appeal in abeyance pending the outcome of the FERC waiver appeal, described below. While the Company’s initial appeal was pending before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, theContents

Subsequently, FERC issued an Order finding that the NYDEC exceeded the statutory time frame to take action under the Clean Water Act and, therefore, waived its opportunity to approve or deny the Water Quality Certification. FERC denied rehearing requests associated with its Order, and FERC's decisions have been appealed and are pending in a separate action before thewere appealed. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals.Appeals issued an order upholding the FERC waiver orders. In addition, in the Company's state court litigation challenging the NYDEC's actions with regard to various state permits, the New York State Supreme Court issued a decision finding these permits to be preempted. The Company remains committed to the project and, on January 28, 2022, filed with FERC a request for an extension of time to construct the project. The Company will update the $500 million preliminary cost estimate and expected in-service date for the project when there is further clarity on the pending legal actions.timing of receipt of necessary regulatory approvals. As of December 31, 2020,2021, approximately $58.7$55.7 million has been spent on the Northern Access project, including $24.0$24.1 million that has been spent to study the project, for which no reserve has been established.project. The remaining $34.7$31.6 million spent on the project has been capitalized as Construction Workis included in Progress.Property, Plant and Equipment on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2021.
 
Gathering
 
    The majority of the Gathering segment capital expenditures for the three months ended December 31, 20202021 included expenditures related to the continued expansion of Midstream Company's Clermont and WellsboroCovington gathering systems, as discussed below. Midstream Company spent $4.0 million and $4.5 million, respectively, during the three months ended December 31, 2021 on the development of the Clermont and Covington gathering systems. These expenditures were largely attributable to new Clermont gathering pipelines, as well as the development of new gathering facilities, including new gathering pipelines and upgrades to existing stations, in the Tioga gathering system, which is part of Midstream Covington.

    The majority of the Gathering segment capital expenditures for the three months ended December 31, 2020 were for the continued expansion of Midstream Company's Clermont and Wellsboro gathering systems. Midstream Company spent $4.5 million and $3.1 million, respectively, during the three months ended December 31, 2020 on the development of the Clermont and Wellsboro gathering systems. These expenditures were largely attributable to the continued development of centralized station facilities, including increased compression horsepower at the Clermont and Wellsboro gathering systems and additional dehydration on the Clermont gathering system.

    The majority of the Gathering segment capital expenditures for the three months ended December 31, 2019 were for the continued expansion of Midstream Company's Trout Run, Clermont and Wellsboro gathering systems. Midstream Company spent $5.5 million, $3.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively, during the three months ended December 31, 2019 on the development of the Trout Run, Clermont and Wellsboro gathering systems. These expenditures were largely attributable to new gathering pipelines and the continued development of centralized station facilities, including increased compression horsepower at the Trout Run gathering system.

NFG Midstream Clermont, LLC, a wholly ownedwholly-owned subsidiary of Midstream Company, continues to develop an extensive gathering system with compression in the Pennsylvania counties of McKean, Elk and Cameron. The Clermont gathering system was initially placed in service in July 2014. The current system consists of three compressor stations and backbone and in-field gathering pipelines. The total cost estimate for the continued buildout will be dependent on the nature and timing of Seneca's long-term plans.

    NFG Midstream Covington, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Midstream Company, operates its Covington gathering system as well as the Tioga gathering system acquired from Shell on July 31, 2020, both in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. The current Covington gathering system consists of two compressor stations and backbone and in-field gathering pipelines. The Tioga gathering system consists of 13 compressor stations and backbone and in-field gathering pipelines.

    NFG Midstream Wellsboro, LLC, a wholly ownedwholly-owned subsidiary of Midstream Company, continues to develop its Wellsboro gathering system in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. The current system consists of one compressor station and backbone and in-field gathering pipelines.
    NFG Midstream Trout Run, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Midstream Company, continues to develop its Trout Run gathering system in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. The Trout Run gathering system was initially placed in service in May 2012. The current system consists of three compressor stations and backbone and in-field gathering pipelines.

Utility 
 
    The majority of the Utility segment capital expenditures for the three months ended December 31, 20202021 and December 31, 20192020 were made for main and service line improvements and replacements that enhance the reliability and safety of the system and reduce emissions. Expenditures were also made for main extensions.

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Other Investing Activities
 
    On December 10, 2020, the Company completed the sale of substantially all timber properties in Pennsylvania to Lyme Emporium Highlands III LLC and Lyme Allegheny Land Company II LLC for net proceeds of $104.6 million. After purchase price adjustments and transaction costs, a gain of $51.1 million was recognized on the sale of these assets ($37.0 million after-tax). The sale of the timber properties completed a reverse like-kind exchange pursuant to Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (“Reverse 1031 Exchange”). On July 31, 2020, the Company completed its acquisition of certain upstream assets and midstream gathering assets in Pennsylvania from Shell for total consideration of $506.3 million. The purchase and sale agreement with Shell was structured, in part, as a Reverse 1031 Exchange. Refer to Item 8, Note B –
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Asset Acquisitions and Divestitures, of the Company’s 20202021 Form 10-K for additional information concerning the Company’s acquisition of certain upstream assets and midstream gathering assets from Shell.

    In October 2021, the Company sold fixed income mutual fund shares held in a grantor trust for proceeds of $30 million. The proceeds were used in the Utility segment’s Pennsylvania service territory to fund a one-time customer bill credit of $25 million in October 2021 for previously overcollected OPEB expenses and the first year installment of a 5-year pass back of an additional $25 million in previously overcollected OPEB expenses in accordance with new rates that went into effect on October 1, 2021. Please refer to the Rate Matters section that follows for additional discussion of this matter.

Project Funding
 
     Over the past two years, the Company has been financing capital expenditures with cash from operations, short-term and long-term debt, common stock, and proceeds from the sale of timber properties. During the quarters ended December 31, 20202021 and December 31, 2019,2020, capital expenditures were funded with cash from operations and short-term debt.operations. The Company issued long-term debt and common stock in June 2020 to help finance the acquisition of upstream assets and midstream gathering assets from Shell. The financing of the asset acquisition from Shell was completed in December 2020 when the Company completed the sale of substantially all of its timber properties, through the completion of the Reverse 1031 Exchange discussed above. Going forward, the Company expects to use cash on hand, cash from operations and short-term borrowings to finance capital expenditures. The level of short-term borrowings will depend upon the amount of cash provided by operations, which, in turn, will likely be most impacted by the timing of gas cost recovery in the Utility segment and by natural gas and crude oil prices combined with production, from existing wells. As disclosed above,and the Company is precluded from issuing incremental long-term debt beginningassociated commodity price realizations, in January 2021 as a means of financing these projects. The Company expects this restriction to extend into the second half of fiscal 2021.Exploration and Production segment.

    The Company continuously evaluates capital expenditures and potential investments in corporations, partnerships, and other business entities. The amounts are subject to modification for opportunities such as the acquisition of attractive oil and gas properties, quicker development of existing oil and gas properties, natural gas storage and transmission facilities, natural gas gathering and compression facilities and the expansion of natural gas transmission line capacities, regulated utility assets and other opportunities as they may arise. While the majority of capital expenditures in the Utility segment are necessitated by the continued need for replacement and upgrading of mains and service lines, the magnitude of future capital expenditures or other investments in the Company’s other business segments depends, to a large degree, upon market and regulatory conditions.
 
Financing Cash Flow
 
    Consolidated short-term debt decreased $5.0increased $7.5 million when comparing the balance sheet at December 31, 20202021 to the balance sheet at September 30, 2020.2021. The maximum amount of short-term debt outstanding during the quarter ended December 31, 20202021 was $145.8$288.3 million. The Company continues to consider short-term debt (consisting of short-term notes payable to banks and commercial paper) an important source of cash for temporarily financing capital expenditures, gas-in-storage inventory, unrecovered purchased gas costs, margin calls on derivative financial instruments, exploration and development expenditures, other working capital needs and repayment of long-term debt. Fluctuations in these items can have a significant impact on the amount and timing of short-term debt. Given the significant rise in gas prices toward the end of fiscal 2021, the Company was required to post margin on some of its outstanding derivative financial instruments. At December 31, 2020,September 30, 2021, the Company had outstanding commercial paper of $25.0 million.$158.5 million, approximately half of which was related to the aforementioned margin requirements. At December 31, 2021, the Company had outstanding commercial paper of $166.0 million, all of which was related to actual operating cash requirements. The Company was not required to post margin on its outstanding derivative financial instruments at December 31, 2021. The Company did not have any outstanding short-term notes payable to banks at December 31, 2020.2021.

    The Company maintains $1.0 billion of unsecured committed revolving credit access across two facilities. On October 25, 2018, the Company entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement ("Credit Agreement") with a syndicate of twelve banks. This Credit Agreement provides a $750.0 million multi-year unsecured committed revolving credit facility through October 25, 2023. In addition to the Credit Agreement, on February 3, 2021, the Company amended its existing 364-Day Credit Agreement to extend the maturity date thereof from May 3, 2021 to December 30, 2022, and to increase the lenders' commitments thereunder from $200.0 million to $250.0 million, among other changes (as amended, the "Amended 364-Day Credit Agreement"). Twelve banks are parties to the Amended 364-Day Credit Agreement, all of which are also lenders under the Credit Agreement. The Company also has uncommitted lines of credit with financial institutions for general corporate purposes. Borrowings under these uncommitted lines of credit would be made at competitive market rates. The uncommitted credit lines are revocable at the option of the financial institution and are reviewed on an annual basis. The Company anticipates that its uncommitted lines of credit generally will be renewed or substantially replaced by similar lines. Other financial institutions may also provide the Company with uncommitted or discretionary lines of credit in the future.

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    The total amount available to be issued under the Company’s commercial paper program is $500.0 million. The commercial paper program is backed by the Credit Agreement, which provides that the Company's debt to capitalization ratio will not exceed .65 at the last day of any fiscal quarter. For purposes of calculating the debt to capitalization ratio, the Company's total capitalization will be increased by adding back 50% of the aggregate after-tax amount of non-cash charges directly arising from any ceiling test impairment occurring on or after July 1, 2018, not to exceed $250 million. This provision also applies to the Amended 364-Day Credit Agreement. Since July 1, 2018, the Company recorded non-cash, after-tax ceiling test impairments totaling $381.4 million. As a result, at December 31, 2020,2021, $190.7 million was added back to the Company's total capitalization for purposes of the facility, and the Company’s debt to capitalization ratio, as calculated under the facility, was .54..55. The constraints specified in both the Credit Agreement and Amended 364-Day Credit Agreement would have permitted an additional $1.49$1.47 billion in short-term and/or long-term debt to be outstanding at December 31, 2020 (further limited by the indenture covenants discussed below)2021 before the Company’s debt to capitalization ratio exceeded .65.

     A downgrade in the Company’s credit ratings could increase borrowing costs, negatively impact the availability of capital from banks, commercial paper purchasers and other sources, and require the Company's subsidiaries to post letters of credit, cash or other assets as collateral with certain counterparties. If the Company is not able to maintain investment-grade credit ratings, it may not be able to access commercial paper markets. However, the Company expects that it could borrow under its credit facilities or rely upon other liquidity sources.

    The Credit Agreement and Amended 364-Day Credit Agreement contain a cross-default provision whereby the failure by the Company or its significant subsidiaries to make payments under other borrowing arrangements, or the occurrence of certain events affecting those other borrowing arrangements, could trigger an obligation to repay any amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement and the Amended 364-Day Credit Agreement. In particular, a repayment obligation could be triggered if (i) the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries fails to make a payment when due of any principal or interest on any other indebtedness aggregating $40.0 million or more or (ii) an event occurs that causes, or would permit the holders of any other indebtedness aggregating $40.0 million or more to cause, such indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity.

    The Current Portion of Long-Term Debt at December 31, 2020 consists of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.90% notes that mature in December 2021. None of the Company's long-term debt as of December 31, 2021 and September 30, 20202021 had a maturity date within the following twelve-month period.

    The Company’s embedded cost of long-term debt was 4.85%4.48% and 4.69%4.85% at December 31, 20202021 and December 31, 2019,2020, respectively.

    Under the Company’s existing indenture covenants at December 31, 2021, the Company would have been permitted to issue up to a maximum of approximately $2.16 billion in additional unsubordinated long-term indebtedness at then current market interest rates, in addition to being able to issue new indebtedness to replace existing debt (further limited by debt to capitalization ratio constraints under the Company’s Credit Agreement and Amended 364-Day Credit Agreement, as discussed above). The Company's present liquidity position is believed to be adequate to satisfy known demands. UnderIt is possible, depending on amounts reported in various income statement and balance sheet line items, that the Company’s existing indenture covenants at December 31, 2020,could, for a period of time, prevent the Company is precluded from issuing incremental unsubordinated long-term indebtedness beginning in January 2021debt, or significantly limit the amount of such debt that could be issued. Losses incurred as a result of non-cashsignificant impairments of its oil and gas properties recognized during fiscal 2020 andhave in the quarter ended December 31, 2020, as discussed above.past resulted in such temporary restrictions. The Company expects this restriction to extend into the second half of fiscal 2021. Theindenture covenants would not preclude the Company from issuing new long-term debt to refundreplace existing long-term debt. In this regard, the Company plans to issue long-term debt, during fiscal 2021 to refund its 4.90% notes, in the principal amount of $500 million, that are scheduled to mature in December 2021.or from issuing additional short-term debt. Please refer to the Critical Accounting Estimates section above for a sensitivity analysis concerning commodity price changes and their impact on the ceiling test.

    The Company’s 1974 indenture pursuant to which $99.0 million (or 3.7%) of the Company’s long-term debt (as of December 31, 2020)2021) was issued, contains a cross-default provision whereby the failure by the Company to perform certain obligations under other borrowing arrangements could trigger an obligation to repay the debt outstanding under the indenture. In particular, a repayment obligation could be triggered if the Company fails (i) to pay any scheduled principal or interest on any debt under any other indenture or agreement or (ii) to perform any other term in any other such indenture or agreement, and the effect of the failure causes, or would permit the holders of the debt to cause, the debt under such indenture or agreement to become due prior to its stated maturity, unless cured or waived.

OTHER MATTERS
 
    In addition to the legal proceedings disclosed in Part II, Item 1 of this report, the Company is involved in other litigation and regulatory matters arising in the normal course of business. These other matters may include, for example, negligence claims and tax, regulatory or other governmental audits, inspections, investigations or other proceedings. These
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matters may involve state and federal taxes, safety, compliance with regulations, rate base, cost of service and purchased gas cost issues, among other things. While these normal-course matters could have a material effect on earnings and cash flows in
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the period in which they are resolved, they are not expected to change materially the Company’s present liquidity position, nor are they expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company.
 
    During the three months ended December 31, 2020,2021, the Company contributed $5.2 million to its tax-qualified, noncontributory defined-benefit retirement plan (Retirement Plan) and $0.7 million to its VEBA trusts for its other post-retirement benefits.  In the remainder of 2021,2022, the Company expects its contributions to the Retirement Plan to be in the range of $10.0$15.0 million to $20.0 million. In the remainder of 2021,2022, the Company expects its contributions to its VEBA trusts to be in the range of $2.0 million to $2.5 million.

    The Company, in its Exploration and Production segment, has extended the term of a contractual obligation related to hydraulic fracturing during the quarter ended December 31, 2020. This extension is valued at approximately $82.3 million and extends the contractual obligation through December 31, 2022.

Market Risk Sensitive Instruments
 
    On July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act was signed into law. The Dodd-Frank Act required the CFTC, SEC and other regulatory agencies to promulgate rules and regulations implementing the legislation, and includes provisions related to the swaps and over-the-counter derivatives markets that are designed to promote transparency, mitigate systemic risk and protect against market abuse. Although regulators have issued certain regulations, other rules that may impact the Company have yet to be finalized.

    The CFTC’s Dodd-Frank regulations continue to preserve the ability of non-financial end users to hedge their risks using swaps without being subject to mandatory clearing.  In 2015, legislation was enacted to exempt from margin requirements swaps used by non-financial end users to hedge or mitigate commercial risk.  In 2016, the CFTC issued a reproposal to its position limit rules that would impose speculative position limits on positions in 28 core physical commodity contracts as well as economically equivalent futures, options and swaps.  While the Company does not intend to enter into positions on a speculative basis, such rules could nevertheless impact the ability of the Company to enter into certain derivative hedging transactions with respect to such commodities.  If the Company reduces its use of hedging transactions as a result of final regulations to be issued by the CFTC, results of operations may become more volatile and cash flows may be less predictable.  There may be other rules Rules developed by the CFTC and other regulators that could impact the Company. While many of those rules place specific conditions on the operations of swap dealers and major swap participants, concern remains that swap dealers and major swap participants will pass along their increased costs stemming from final rules through higher transaction costs and prices or other direct or indirect costs.

    Finally, Additionally, given the additionalenforcement authority granted to the CFTC on anti-market manipulation, anti-fraud and disruptive trading practices, it is difficult to predict how the evolving enforcement priorities of the CFTC will impact our business. Should the Company violate any laws or regulations applicable to our hedging activities, it could be subject to CFTC enforcement action and material penalties and sanctions. The Company continues to monitor these enforcement and other regulatory developments, but cannot predict the impact that evolving application of the Dodd-Frank Act may have on its operations.
 
    The accounting rulesauthoritative guidance for fair value measurements and disclosures require consideration of the impact of nonperformance risk (including credit risk) from a market participant perspective in the measurement of the fair value of assets and liabilities.  At December 31, 2020,2021, the Company determined that nonperformance risk would have no material impact on its financial position or results of operation.  To assess nonperformance risk, the Company considered information such as any applicable collateral posted, master netting arrangements, and applied a market-based method by using the counterparty's (assuming the derivative is in a gain position) or the Company’s (assuming the derivative is in a loss position) credit default swaps rates.

    For a complete discussion of all other market risk sensitive instruments used by the Company, refer to “Market Risk Sensitive Instruments” in Item 7 of the Company’s 20202021 Form 10-K.

Rate Matters
 
Utility Operation
 
    Delivery rates for both the New York and Pennsylvania divisions are regulated by the states’ respective public utility commissions and typically are changed only when approved through a procedure known as a “rate case.” Neither the New York or Pennsylvania divisions currently have a rate case on file. In both jurisdictions, delivery rates do not reflect the recovery of
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purchased gas costs. Prudently-incurred gas costs are recovered through operation of automatic adjustment clauses, and are collected primarily through a separately-stated “supply charge” on the customer bill.
 
New York Jurisdiction
 
    Distribution Corporation's current delivery rates in its New York jurisdiction were approved by the NYPSC in an order issued on April 20, 2017 with rates becoming effective May 1, 2017. The order provided for a return on equity of 8.7%. The order also directed the implementation of an earnings sharing mechanism to be in place beginning on April 1, 2018.

    On August 13, 2021, the NYPSC issued an order extending the date through which qualified pipeline replacement costs incurred by the Company can be recovered using the existing system modernization tracker for two years (until March 31, 2023). The extension is contingent on the Company not filing a base rate case that would result in new rates becoming effective prior to April 1, 2023.
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    In New York, on March 13, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company agreed to NYPSC Staff’s request that the Company suspend service terminations and disconnections. Thereafter, on June 17, 2020, New York enacted a new law that prohibitsprohibited utilities from terminating or disconnecting services to any residential customer for non-payment for the duration of the state disaster emergency. In addition, the law prohibits residentialWhile that legislation expired on March 31, 2021, new legislation was enacted in May 2021 that prohibited utility terminations for non-payment for a period of 180 days running from the end of the state disaster emergency forresidential and small commercial customers that havewho experienced a change in financial circumstances due to the COVID-19 state of emergency, with such prohibition running for a period of one hundred eighty days after either the New York State COVID-19 state of emergency is lifted or expires or December 31, 2021, whichever is earlier. On June 24, 2021, the New York State COVID-19 state of emergency expired. Updated guidance issued by the NYPSC on July 6, 2021 confirmed that qualified customers are protected from termination through December 21, 2021 and are eligible for a deferred payment agreement without the requirement of a down payment, late fees, penalties or interest on arrears incurred during the COVID-19 state of emergency. Governor Cuomo,On December 20, 2021, NYPSC Staff requested, and the Company agreed, to refrain from terminating residential customers with a pending application for arrears payments through the issuanceEmergency Rental Assistance Program administered by the Office of executive orders, has extended the declaration of the state disaster emergency through February 26, 2021. The law currently sunsets on March 31, 2021, but legislation extending the moratorium is anticipated. The duration of the aforementioned suspension in New York and its related impact on the Company is uncertain. The Company is anticipating that customer non-payment may increase given higher natural gas usage and the resulting increase in costs for customers. It is uncertain at this point as to whether there would be any regulatory relief for utilities with regard to an increase in costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is one of many issues currently being considered in a generic NYPSC proceeding entitled “Proceeding on Motion of the Commission Regarding the Effects of COVID-19 on Utility Service” (Case No. 20-M-0266). Correspondence from NYPSC Staff has recommended that utilities rely on existing avenues of relief for these costs, and has identified additional, more stringent requirements that must be met to achieve relief.Temporary Disability.

Pennsylvania Jurisdiction
 
    Distribution Corporation’s current delivery rates in its Pennsylvania jurisdiction were approved by the PaPUC on November 30, 2006 as part of a settlement agreement that became effective January 1, 2007. The rate settlement does not specify any requirement to file a future rate case.

    On March 26, 2020,July 22, 2021, Distribution Corporation filed a supplement to its current Pennsylvania tariff proposing to reduce base rates effective October 1, 2021 by $7.7 million in order to stop collecting other post-employment benefit (“OPEB”) expenses from customers at this time, to begin to refund to customers overcollected OPEB expenses in the PaPUC ratified an Emergency Order that established a Service Termination Moratorium intendedamount of $50.0 million, and to continue during the pendency of Governor Wolf’s March 6, 2020 Proclamation of Disaster Emergencymake certain other adjustments to further reduce Distribution Corporation’s regulatory liability associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 13, 2020, the Company (and other Pennsylvania local distribution companies) received a Secretarial Letter from theOPEB expenses. The PaPUC regarding COVID-19 pandemic cost tracking and regulatory assets. The Secretarial Letter directs utilities to track “extraordinary, nonrecurring incremental COVID-19 related expenses” so the Commission can understand the impact of these expenses on the utilities’ finances. It also authorizes the creation of a utility regulatory asset, but only for incremental uncollectible expenses incurred above those embedded in rates (and incurred since the issuance of the Emergency Order). The Company currently does not anticipate a need to create a regulatory asset for these expenses. On October 8, 2020, the Commission issued an order ending the moratorium effective November 9, 2020, imposing a list of enhanced customer protections that expireapproving this tariff supplement on March 31,September 15, 2021 and callingnew rates went into effect on October 1, 2021. On September 21, 2021, a complaint was filed in this proceeding. While new rates, including associated refunds, went into effect on October 1, 2021, certain other adjustments called for comments by February 16, 2021 regarding policies the Commission should adopt after March 31, 2021.tariff supplement that allow Distribution Corporation to reduce its regulatory liability and its OPEB expenses will not be recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements until the complaint is resolved. The order also appearsPaPUC assigned the matter to expandan Administrative Law Judge who, on January 6, 2022, issued a Recommended Decision approving a settlement reached by parties to the aforementioned potential utility regulatory asset to all incremental COVID-19 relatedcomplaint proceeding. The matter currently sits with the PaPUC for final determination. The refunds specified in the tariff supplement will be funded entirely by grantor trust assets held by the Company, most of which are included in a fixed income mutual fund that is a component of Other Investments on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. With the elimination of OPEB expenses incurred above those embedded in rates. The Company continues to monitor this item for potential deferral opportunity.base rates, Distribution Corporation will no longer fund the grantor trust or its VEBA trusts in its Pennsylvania jurisdiction.    
         
Pipeline and Storage
 
    Supply Corporation’s 2020 rate settlement approved June 1, 2020, provides that no party may make a rate filing for new rates to be effective before February 1, 2024, except that Supply Corporation may file an NGA general Section 4 rate case to change rates if the corporate federal income tax rate is increased. If no case has been filed, Supply Corporation must file for rates to be effective February 1, 2025. Supply has no rate case currently on file.

    Empire’s 2019 rate settlement provides that no party may make a filing for new rates before March 31, 2021. If no rate case has been filed, Empire must make a rate case filing no later than May 1, 2025.

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Environmental Matters
 
    The Company is subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. The Company has established procedures for the ongoing evaluation of its operations to identify potential environmental exposures and comply with regulatory requirements. In March 2021, the Company set greenhouse gas reduction targets associated with the Company's utility delivery system. To further our ongoing efforts to lower the Company's emissions profile, in September 2021 the Company also established methane intensity reduction targets at each of its businesses, as well as an absolute greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for the consolidated Company. The Company's ability to estimate accurately the time, costs and resources necessary to meet emissions targets may change as environmental exposures and opportunities change and regulatory updates are issued.

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    For further discussion of the Company's environmental exposures, refer to Item 1 at Note 8 — Commitments and Contingencies under the heading “Environmental Matters.”

    Legislative and regulatory measures to address climate change and greenhouse gas emissions are in various phases of discussion or implementation in the United States. These efforts include legislation, legislative proposals and new regulations at the state and federal level, and private party litigation related to greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Congress has not yet passed any federal climate change legislation and we cannot predict when or if Congress will pass such legislation and in what form. In the absence of such legislation, the EPA regulates greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to the Clean Air Act. The regulations implemented by EPA impose more stringent leak detection and repair requirements, and further address reporting and control of methane and volatile organic compound emissions. The Company must continue to comply with all applicable regulations. Additionally, other federal regulatory agencies are beginning to address greenhouse gas emissions through changes in their regulatory oversight approach and policies. A number of states have adopted energy strategies or plans with aggressive goals for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Pennsylvania has a methane reduction framework withIn New York, the stated goal of reducing methane emissions from well sites, compressor stations and pipelines and is in the process of evaluating cap-and-trade programs (e.g., Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative). In California, the Company currently complies with California cap-and-trade rules, which increases the Company's cost of environmental compliance in its Exploration and Production segment. Legislation or regulation that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions could also include emissions limits, reporting requirements, carbon taxes, restrictive permitting, increased efficiency standards, and incentives or mandates to conserve energy or use renewable energy sources. Federal, state or local governments may provide tax advantages and other subsidies to support alternative energy sources, mandate the use of specific fuels or technologies, or promote research into new technologies to reduce the cost and increase the scalability of alternative energy sources. The NYPSC, for example, initiated a proceeding to consider climate-related financial disclosures at the utility operating company level, and the NYNew York State legislature passed the CLCPA that mandates reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 60% ofby 40% from 1990 levels by 2030, and to 15% ofby 85% from 1990 levels by 2050, with the remaining emission reduction achieved by controlled offsets. The CLCPA also requires electric generators to meet 70% of demand with renewable energy by 2030 and 100% with zero emissions generation by 2040. These climate change and greenhouse gas initiatives could impact the Company's customer base and assets depending on the promulgation of final regulations and on regulatory treatment afforded in the process. Thus far, the only regulations promulgated in connection with the CLCPA are greenhouse gas emissions limits established by the NYDEC in 6 NYCRR Part 496, effective December 30, 2020. The NYDEC has until January 1, 2024 to issue further rules and regulations implementing the statute. Pennsylvania has a methane reduction framework with the stated goal of reducing methane emissions from well sites, compressor stations and pipelines and is in the process of evaluating cap-and-trade programs (e.g., Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative). In California, the Company currently complies with California cap-and-trade rules, which increases the Company's cost of environmental compliance in its Exploration and Production segment. On April 23, 2021, California's Governor issued an executive order directing California Geologic Energy Management Division to stop issuing hydraulic fracturing permits by 2024, which does not have a direct impact on the plans of the Exploration and Production segment as those plans do not involve fracking. The executive order also directed the California Air Resources Board to investigate phasing out oil extraction by 2045, which may result in permitting delays and new legislative action in support of the directive. Legislation or regulation that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions could also include emissions limits, reporting requirements, carbon taxes, restrictive permitting, increased efficiency standards, and incentives or mandates to conserve energy or use renewable energy sources. The above-enumerated initiatives could also increase the Company’s cost of environmental compliance by increasing reporting requirements, requiring retrofitting of existing equipment, requiring installation of new equipment, and/or requiring the purchase of emission allowances. They could also delay or otherwise negatively affect efforts to obtain permits and other regulatory approvals. Changing market conditions and new regulatory requirements, as well as unanticipated or inconsistent application of existing laws and regulations by administrative agencies, make it difficult to predict a long-term business impact across twenty or more years. Federal, state or local governments may provide tax advantages and other subsidies to support alternative energy sources, mandate the use of specific fuels or technologies, or promote research into new technologies to reduce the cost and increase the scalability of alternative energy sources.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
 
    The Company is including the following cautionary statement in this Form 10-Q to make applicable and take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, projections, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements which are other than statements of historical facts. From time to time, the Company may publish or otherwise make available forward-looking statements of this nature. All such subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral and whether made by or on behalf of the Company, are also expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. Certain statements contained in this report, including, without limitation, statements regarding future prospects, plans, objectives, goals, projections, estimates of oil and gas quantities, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions, capital structure, anticipated capital expenditures, completion of construction projects, projections for pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations, impacts of the adoption of new authoritative accounting rules,and reporting guidance, and possible outcomes of litigation or regulatory proceedings, as well as statements that are identified by the use of the words “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “believes,” “seeks,” “will,” “may,” and similar expressions, are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and accordingly involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The Company’s expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and are believed by the Company to have a reasonable basis,
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to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that management’s expectations, beliefs or projections will result or be achieved or accomplished. In addition to other factors and matters discussed elsewhere herein, the following are important factors that, in the view of the Company, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements:
1.Changes in laws, regulations or judicial interpretations to which the Company is subject, including those involving derivatives, taxes, safety, employment, climate change, other environmental matters, real property, and exploration and production activities such as hydraulic fracturing;
2.Governmental/regulatory actions, initiatives and proceedings, including those involving rate cases (which address, among other things, target rates of return, rate design, retained natural gas and system modernization), environmental/safety requirements, affiliate relationships, industry structure, and franchise renewal;
3.The Company’s ability to estimate accurately the time and resources necessary to meet emissions targets;
4.Governmental/regulatory actions and/or market pressures to reduce or eliminate reliance on natural gas;
5.The length and severity of the recentongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including its impacts across our businesses on demand, operations, global supply chains and liquidity;
2.6.Changes in economic conditions, including inflationary pressures and global, national or regional recessions, and their effect on the demand for, and customers’ ability to pay for, the Company’s products and services;
3.7.Changes in the price of natural gas or oil;
4.Impairments under the SEC’s full cost ceiling test for natural gas and oil reserves;
5.8.The creditworthiness or performance of the Company’s key suppliers, customers and counterparties;
6.9.Financial and economic conditions, including the availability of credit, and occurrences affecting the Company’s ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms for working capital, capital expenditures and other investments, including any downgrades in the Company’s credit ratings and changes in interest rates and other capital market conditions;
7.10.Changes in laws, regulations or judicial interpretations to whichImpairments under the Company is subject, including those involving derivatives, taxes, safety, employment, climate change, other environmental matters, real property,SEC’s full cost ceiling test for natural gas and exploration and production activities such as hydraulic fracturing;oil reserves;
8.11.DelaysIncreased costs or delays or changes in costs or plans with respect to Company projects or related projects of other companies, including disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as difficulties or delays in obtaining necessary governmental approvals, permits or orders or in obtaining the cooperation of interconnecting facility operators;
9.12.The Company's ability to complete planned strategic transactions;
10.13.The Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets and achieve expected cost synergies;
11.Governmental/regulatory actions, initiatives and proceedings, including those involving rate cases (which address, among other things, target rates of return, rate design and retained natural gas), environmental/safety requirements, affiliate relationships, industry structure, and franchise renewal;
12.14.Changes in price differentials between similar quantities of natural gas or oil at different geographic locations, and the effect of such changes on commodity production, revenues and demand for pipeline transportation capacity to or from such locations;
13.15.The impact of information technology disruptions, cybersecurity or data security breaches;
14.16.Factors affecting the Company’s ability to successfully identify, drill for and produce economically viable natural gas and oil reserves, including among others geology, lease availability, title disputes, weather conditions, shortages, delays or unavailability of equipment and services required in drilling operations, insufficient gathering, processing and transportation capacity, the need to obtain governmental approvals and permits, and compliance with environmental laws and regulations;
15.17.Increasing health care costs and the resulting effect on health insurance premiums and on the obligation to provide other post-retirement benefits; 
16.18.Other changes in price differentials between similar quantities of natural gas or oil having different quality, heating value, hydrocarbon mix or delivery date;
17.19.The cost and effects of legal and administrative claims against the Company or activist shareholder campaigns to effect changes at the Company;
18.20.Uncertainty of oil and gas reserve estimates;
19.21.Significant differences between the Company’s projected and actual production levels for natural gas or oil;
20.22.Changes in demographic patterns and weather conditions;
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23.Changes in the availability, price or accounting treatment of derivative financial instruments;
22.24.Changes in laws, actuarial assumptions, the interest rate environment and the return on plan/trust assets related to the Company’s pension and other post-retirement benefits, which can affect future funding obligations and costs and plan liabilities;
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23.25.Economic disruptions or uninsured losses resulting from major accidents, fires, severe weather, natural disasters, terrorist activities or acts of war;
24.26.Significant differences between the Company’s projected and actual capital expenditures and operating expenses; or
25.27.Increasing costs of insurance, changes in coverage and the ability to obtain insurance.
    The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
    Refer to the "Market Risk Sensitive Instruments" section in Item 2 – MD&A.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
    The term “disclosure controls and procedures” is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. These rules refer to the controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2020.2021.   
 
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
    There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 20202021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Part II.  Other Information
 
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
 
    For a discussion of various environmental and other matters, refer to Part I, Item 1 at Note 8 – Commitments and Contingencies, and Part I, Item 2 - MD&A of this report under the heading “Other Matters – Environmental Matters.”
 
    For a discussion of certain rate matters involving the NYPSC, refer to Part I, Item 1 of this report at Note 11 – Regulatory Matters.
     
Item 1A. Risk Factors

    The risk factors in Item 1A of the Company’s 20202021 Form 10-K have not materially changed other than as set forth below. The risk factors presented below supersede the risk factors having the same caption in the 2020 Form 10-K and should otherwise be read in conjunction with all of the risk factors disclosed in the 2020 Form 10-K. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may also exacerbate other risks discussed in Item 1A of the Company’s 2020 Form 10-K, any of which could have a material effect on us. This situation is changing rapidly and additional impacts may arise that we are not aware of currently.

Climate change, and the regulatory, legislative and capital access developments related to climate change, may adversely affect operations and financial results.

changed.
    Climate change could create physical risks, which may adversely affect the Company’s operations. Physical risks include changes in weather conditions, which could cause demand for gas to increase or decrease. If there were to be any impacts from climate change to the Company’s operations and financial results, the Company expects that they would likely
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occur over a long period of time and thus are difficult to quantify with any degree of specificity. Extreme weather events may result in adverse physical effects on portions of the country’s gas infrastructure, which could disrupt the Company’s supply chain and ultimately its operations. Disruption of production activities, and transportation and distribution systems could result in reduced operational efficiency, and customer service interruption.

    Climate change, and the laws, regulations and other initiatives to address climate change, may impact the Company’s financial results. On January 20, 2021, the federal administration executed the instrument stating the country's intent to rejoin the Paris Agreement, the international effort to establish emissions reduction goals for signatory countries, thus allowing for the U.S. to reenter the Paris Agreement as an official party thirty days later. Under the Paris Agreement, signatory countries are expected to submit their nationally determined contributions to curb greenhouse gas emissions and meet the agreed temperature objectives every five years. In addition to the recent federal intent to reenter the Paris Agreement, state and local governments, non-governmental organizations, and financial institutions have made, and will likely continue to make, more aggressive efforts to reduce emissions and advance the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Recent executive orders from the new federal administration, in addition to federal, state and local legislative and regulatory initiatives proposed or adopted in an attempt to limit the effects of climate change, including greenhouse gas emissions, could have significant impacts on the energy industry including government-imposed limitations, prohibitions or moratoriums on the use and development and production of gas and oil, establishment of a carbon tax, as well as accelerated depreciation of assets and/or stranded assets. For example, the U.S. Congress has from time to time considered bills that would establish a cap-and-trade program to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. A number of states have adopted energy strategies or plans with goals that include the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. For example, Pennsylvania has a methane reduction framework for the oil and gas industry which has resulted in permitting changes with the stated goal of reducing methane emissions from well sites, compressor stations and pipelines. With respect to its operations in California, the Company currently complies with California cap-and-trade guidelines, which increases the Company’s cost of environmental compliance in its Exploration and Production segment operation. In addition, the NYPSC initiated a proceeding to consider climate-related financial disclosures at the utility operating level, and the NY State legislature passed the CLCPA, which created emission reduction and electric generation mandates, and could ultimately impact the Utility segment’s customer base and the Utility segment’s business. Legislation or regulation that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions could also include greenhouse gas emissions limits and reporting requirements, carbon taxes, restrictive permitting, increased efficiency standards, and incentives or mandates to conserve energy or use renewable energy sources. Additionally, the trend toward increased conservation, competition from renewable energy sources, and technological advances to address climate change may reduce the demand for natural gas. For further discussion of the risks associated with environmental regulation to address climate change, refer to Item 7, MD&A under the heading “Environmental Matters” and subheading “Environmental Regulation.”

    Further, recent trends directed toward a low-carbon economy could shift funding away from, or limit or restrict certain sources of funding for, companies focused on fossil fuel-related development or carbon-intensive investments. To the extent financial markets view climate change and greenhouse gas emissions as a financial risk, the Company’s cost of and access to capital could be negatively impacted.

The Company may be adversely affected by economic conditions and their impact on our suppliers and customers.

    Periods of slowed economic activity generally result in decreased energy consumption, particularly by industrial and large commercial companies. As a consequence, national or regional recessions or other downturns in economic activity, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, could adversely affect the Company’s revenues and cash flows or restrict its future growth. The Company is monitoring and responding to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic across its businesses. To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has not had a material impact on the Company. However, the Company cannot predict the extent or duration of the outbreak or whether this rapidly evolving situation will have a material impact on the Company’s workforce, supply chain, operations or financial results, including potential regulatory responses to the financial impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company and its customers. Economic conditions in the Company’s utility service territories, along with legislative and regulatory prohibitions and/or limitations on terminations of service, also impact its collections of accounts receivable. For instance, New York enacted legislation that prohibits residential utility terminations for non-payment for the duration of the New York State COVID Disaster Emergency. All of the Company’s segments are exposed to risks associated with the creditworthiness or performance of key suppliers and customers, many of which may be adversely affected by volatile conditions in the financial markets, including volatility caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These conditions could result in financial instability or other adverse effects at any of our suppliers or customers. For example, counterparties to the Company’s commodity hedging arrangements or commodity sales contracts might not be able to perform their obligations under these arrangements or contracts. Customers of the Company’s Utility segment may have particular trouble paying their bills during periods of declining economic activity or high commodity prices, potentially resulting in increased bad debt expense and reduced earnings; the PaPUC has directed utilities to track extraordinary, nonrecurring incremental COVID-19 related expenses, and has authorized the creation of a utility regulatory asset but only for incremental
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COVID-19 related expenses incurred above those embedded in rates, therefore it is unclear at this time to what extent the PaPUC will, and whether the NYPSC will at all, allow rate recovery for COVID-19 pandemic related expenses. Similarly, if reductions were to occur in funding of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, bad debt expense could increase and earnings could decrease. In addition, oil and gas exploration and production companies that are customers of the Company’s Pipeline and Storage segment may decide not to renew contracts for the same transportation capacity during periods of reduced production due to persistent low commodity prices. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

Financial accounting requirements regarding exploration and production activities may affect the Company's profitability.

    The Company accounts for its exploration and production activities under the full cost method of accounting. Each quarter, the Company must perform a "ceiling test" calculation, comparing the level of its unamortized investment in oil and gas properties to the present value of the future net revenue projected to be recovered from those properties according to methods prescribed by the SEC. In determining present value, the Company uses a 12-month historical average price for oil and gas (based on first day of the month prices and adjusted for hedging) as well as the SEC mandated discount rate. If, at the end of any quarter, the amount of the unamortized investment exceeds the net present value of the projected future cash flows, such investment may be considered to be "impaired," and the full cost accounting rules require that the investment must be written down to the calculated net present value. Such an instance would require the Company to recognize an immediate expense in that quarter, and its earnings would be reduced. Depending on the magnitude of any decrease in average prices, that charge could be material. Under the Company's existing indenture covenants, an impairment could restrict the Company's ability to issue incremental long-term unsecured indebtedness for a period of time, beginning with the fourth calendar month following the impairment. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 and the quarter ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized non-cash, pre-tax impairment charges on its oil and natural gas properties of $449.4 million and $76.2 million, respectively, and the Company is precluded from issuing incremental unsubordinated long-term indebtedness for a period beginning in January 2021 and expected to extend into the second half of fiscal 2021.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
    On October 1, 2020,2021, the Company issued a total of 10,8808,210 unregistered shares of Company common stock to ten non-employee directors of the Company then serving on the Board of Directors of the Company (or, in the case of non-employee directors who elected to defer receipt of such shares pursuant to the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and
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Officers (the “DCP”), to the DCP trustee), consisting of 1,088821 shares to each suchper director. All of these unregistered shares were issued under the Company’s 2009 Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Plan (the “2009 Plan”) as partial consideration for such directors’ services during the quarter ended December 31, 2020.2021. On October 15, 2021, the Company issued to the DCP trustee an additional 185 unregistered shares pursuant to the dividend reinvestment feature of the DCP, consisting of approximately 31 shares for each of the six directors who made a deferral election.  These transactions were exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as transactions not involving a public offering.
 
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Period
 Total Number of Shares Purchased (a)
Average Price Paid per ShareTotal Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Share Repurchase Plans or Programs
Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under Share Repurchase Plans or Programs (b)
Oct. 1 - 31, 202013,724 $41.266,971,019
Nov. 1 - 30, 202018,919 $41.186,971,019
Dec. 1 - 31, 202091,113 $42.716,971,019
Total123,756 $42.316,971,019
Period
 Total Number of Shares Purchased (a)
Average Price Paid per ShareTotal Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Share Repurchase Plans or Programs
Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under Share Repurchase Plans or Programs (b)
Oct. 1 - 31, 202110,583 $57.786,971,019
Nov. 1 - 30, 202114,328 $59.116,971,019
Dec. 1 - 31, 2021152,833 $60.376,971,019
Total177,744 $60.136,971,019
(a)Represents (i) shares of common stock of the Company purchased with Company “matching contributions” for the accounts of participants in the Company’s 401(k) plans, and (ii) shares of common stock of the Company tendered to the Company by holders of stock-based compensation awards for the payment of applicable withholding taxes. During the quarter ended December 31, 2020,2021, the Company did not purchase any shares of its common stock pursuant to its publicly announced share repurchase program. Of the 123,756177,744 shares purchased other than through a publicly announced share repurchase program, 40,96930,748 were purchased for the Company's 401(k) plans and 82,787146,996 were purchased as a result of shares tendered to the Company by holders of stock-based compensation awards.
(b)In September 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of eight million shares of the Company’s common stock. The repurchase program has no expiration date.  The Company has not repurchased any shares since September 17, 2008 and2008. The repurchase program has no plans to make further purchases inexpiration date and management would discuss with the near future.Company's Board of Directors any future repurchases under this program.
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Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibit
Number
 
Description of Exhibit
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4
10.5
10.6
31.1
31.2
32••
99
101Interactive data files submitted pursuant to Regulation S-T, formatted in Inline XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Statements of Income and Earnings Reinvested in the Business for the three months ended December 31, 20202021 and 2019,2020, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended December 31, 20202021 and 2019,2020, (iii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 20202021 and September 30, 2020,2021, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended December 31, 20202021 and 20192020 and (v) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Exhibit
Number
 
Description of Exhibit
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
Incorporated herein by reference as indicated.
••In accordance with Item 601(b)(32)(ii) of Regulation S-K and SEC Release Nos. 33-8238 and 34-47986, Final Rule: Management’s Reports on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and Certification of Disclosure in Exchange Act Periodic Reports, the material contained in Exhibit 32 is “furnished” and not deemed “filed” with the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing, except to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.

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SIGNATURES
 
 
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ K. M. Camiolo
K. M. Camiolo
Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ E. G. Mendel
E. G. Mendel
Controller and Principal Accounting Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:  February 5, 20214, 2022

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