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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
   
 FORM 10-Q 
   

xQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended: SeptemberJune 30, 20172018
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: 001-11590 
   
CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
   

Delaware 51-0064146
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
909 Silver Lake Boulevard, Dover, Delaware 19904
(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)
(302) 734-6799
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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  x    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company”company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer x  Accelerated filer ¨
    
Non-accelerated filer ¨  Smaller reporting company ¨
Emerging growth company¨




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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  x
Common Stock, par value $0.486716,344,44216,378,545 shares outstanding as of OctoberJuly 31, 2017.2018.


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Table of Contents
 
   
   
    ITEM 1.
   
    ITEM 2.
   
    ITEM 3.
   
    ITEM 4.
  
   
    ITEM 1.
   
    ITEM 1A.
   
    ITEM 2.
   
    ITEM 3.
   
    ITEM 5.
   
    ITEM 6.
  



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GLOSSARY OF DEFINITIONS

ARM: ARM Energy Management, LLC, a natural gas supply and supply management company servicing commercial and industrial customers in Western Pennsylvania, which sold certain natural gas marketing assets to PESCO in August 2017
ASC: Accounting Standards Codification
ASU: Accounting Standards Update issued by the FASB
Aspire Energy: Aspire Energy of Ohio, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chesapeake Utilities
ASU: Accounting Standards Update issued by the FASB
AutoGas: Alliance AutoGas, a national consortium of companies, of which Sharp is a member, providing an industry-leading complete program for fleets interested in shifting from gasoline to clean-burning propane
CDD: Cooling degree-day, which is a measure of the variation in weather based on the extent to which the daily average temperature (from 10:00 am to 10:00 am) is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit
Central Gas: Central Gas Company of Okeechobee, Incorporated, a propane distribution provider in Southeast Florida, which sold certain assets to Flo-gas in December 2017
CGC: Consumer Gas Cooperative, an Ohio natural gas cooperative
CGS: Community Gas Systems
Chesapeake or Chesapeake Utilities: Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, as appropriate in the context of the disclosure
Chesapeake Pension Plan: A defined benefit pension plan sponsored by Chesapeake Utilities
Chesapeake Postretirement Plan: An unfunded postretirement health care and life insurance plan sponsored by Chesapeake Utilities
Chesapeake SERP: An unfunded supplemental executive retirement pension plan sponsored by Chesapeake Utilities
Chipola: Chipola Propane Gas Company, Inc., a propane distribution service provider in Northwest Florida, which sold certain assets to Flo-gas in August 2017
CHP: Combined heat and power plant
CIAC: Contributions from customers that are used to construct facilities
CGC: Consumer Gas Cooperative, an Ohio natural gas cooperative
CHP: Combined heat and power plant
Columbia Gas: Columbia Gas of Ohio, an unaffiliated local distribution company based in Ohio
Company: Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, as appropriate in the context of the disclosure
CP: Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
Credit Agreement: The Credit Agreement dated October 8, 2015, among Chesapeake Utilities and the Lenders related to the Revolver
Deferred Compensation Plan: A non-qualified, deferred compensation arrangement under which certain of our executives and members of the Board of Directors are able to defer payment of all or a part of certain specified types of compensation, including executive salaries and cash bonuses, executive performance shares, and directors’ retainers
Degree-Day: A degree-day is the measure of the variation in the weather based on the extent to which the average daily temperature (from 10:00 am to 10:00 am) falls above or below 65 degrees Fahrenheit
Delaware Division: Chesapeake Utilities' natural gas distribution operation serving customers in Delaware
Delmarva Peninsula: A peninsula on the east coast of the United States of America occupied by Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia
DNREC: Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
DSR: Delivery Service Rate


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Dt(s): Dekatherm(s), which is a natural gas unit of measurement that includes a standard measure for heating value
Dts/d: Dekatherms per day
Eastern Shore: Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company, a wholly-owned natural gas transmission subsidiary of Chesapeake Utilities
EGWIC: Eastern Gas & Water Investment Company, LLC, an affiliate of ESG


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Eight Flags: Eight Flags Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of Chesapeake OnSight Services, LLC, which owns and operates a CHP plant on Amelia Island, Florida, that supplies electricity to FPU and industrial steam to Rayonier
EPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency
ESG: Eastern Shore Gas Company and its affiliates
FASB: Financial Accounting Standards Board
FDEP: Florida Department of Environmental Protection
FERC: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, an independent agency of the United States government that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil
FDEP: Florida Department of Environmental Protection
FGT: Florida Gas Transmission Company
Flo-gas: Flo-gas Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of FPU
FPL: Florida Power & Light Company, an unaffiliated electric company that supplies electricity to FPU
FPU: Florida Public Utilities Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chesapeake Utilities
FPU Medical Plan: A separate unfunded postretirement medical plan for FPU sponsored by Chesapeake Utilities
FPU Pension Plan: A separate defined benefit pension plan for FPU sponsored by Chesapeake Utilities
GAAP: Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
GRIP: The Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program, a natural gas pipeline replacement program in Florida pursuant to which we collect a surcharge from certain of our customers to recover capital and other program-related costs associated with the replacement of qualifying distribution mains and services
Gulf Power: Gulf Power Company, an unaffiliated electric company that supplies electricity to FPU
Gulfstream: Gulfstream Natural Gas System, LLC, an unaffiliated pipeline network that supplies natural gas to FPU
HDD: Heating degree-day, which is a measure of the variation in weather based on the extent to which the daily average temperature (from 10:00 am to 10:00 am) is below 65 degrees Fahrenheit
JEA: The unaffiliated community-owned utility located in Jacksonville, Florida, formerly known as Jacksonville Electric Authority
Lenders: PNC, Bank of America N.A., Citizens Bank N.A., Royal Bank of Canada, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, which are collectively the lenders that entered into the Credit Agreement with Chesapeake Utilities
MDE: Maryland Department of Environment
MetLife: MetLife Investment Advisors, an institutional debt investment management firm, with which we entered into the MetLife Shelf Agreement
MetLife Shelf Agreement: An agreement entered into by Chesapeake Utilities and MetLife in March 2017 pursuant to which Chesapeake Utilities may request that MetLife purchase, through March 2, 2020, up to $150.0 million of unsecured senior debt at a fixed interest rate and with a maturity date not to exceed 20 years from the date of issuance
MetLife Shelf Notes: Unsecured senior promissory notes issuable under the MetLife Shelf Agreement
MGP: Manufactured gas plant, which is a site where coal was previously used to manufacture gaseous fuel for industrial, commercial and residential use


Table of ContentsMWH:

MTM:Megawatt hour, Fair value (mark-to-market) accounting required for derivatives in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging
MW: Megawatts, which is a unit of measurement for electricityelectric base load power and capacity
NYL: New York Life Investors LLC, an institutional debt investment management firm, with which we entered into the NYL Shelf Agreement
NYL Shelf Agreement: An agreement entered into by Chesapeake Utilities and NYL in March 2017 pursuant to which Chesapeake Utilities may request that NYL purchase, through March 2, 2020, up to $100.0 million of unsecured senior debt at a fixed interest rate and with a maturity date not to exceed 20 years from the date of issuance


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NYL Shelf Notes:

Unsecured senior promissory notes issuable under the NYL Shelf Agreement
OPT ≤ 90 Service: Off Peak ≤ 30 or ≤ 90 Firm Transportation Service, a tariff associated with Eastern Shore's firm transportation service that enablesallows Eastern Shore to forgo schedulingnot schedule service for up to 30 or 90 days during the peak months of November through April each year
OTC: Over-the-counter
Peninsula Pipeline: Peninsula Pipeline Company, Inc., Chesapeake Utilities' wholly-owned Florida intrastate pipeline subsidiary
PESCO: Peninsula Energy Services Company, Inc., Chesapeake Utilities' wholly-owned natural gas marketing subsidiary
PNC: PNC Bank, National Association, the administrative agent and primary lender for our Revolver
Prudential: Prudential Investment Management Inc., an institutional investment management firm, with which we have entered into the Prudential Shelf Agreement
Prudential Shelf Agreement: An agreement entered into by Chesapeake Utilities and Prudential pursuant to which Chesapeake Utilities may request that Prudential purchase, through October 7, 2018, up to $150.0 million of Prudential Shelf Notes at a fixed interest rate and with a maturity date not to exceed 20 years from the date of issuance
Prudential Shelf Notes: Unsecured senior promissory notes that we may request Prudential to purchaseissuable under the Prudential Shelf Agreement
PSC: Public Service Commission, which is the state agency that regulates the rates and services provided by Chesapeake Utilities’ natural gas and electric distribution operations in Delaware, Maryland and Florida and Peninsula Pipeline in Florida
RAP: Remedial Action Plan, which is a plan that outlines the procedures taken or being considered in removing contaminants from a MGP formerly owned by Chesapeake Utilities or FPU
Rayonier: Rayonier Performance Fibers, LLC, the company that owns the property on which Eight Flags' CHP plant is located, and a customer of the steam generated by the CHP plant
Retirement Savings Plan: Chesapeake Utilities' qualified 401(k) retirement savings plan
Revolver: Our unsecured revolving credit facility with the Lenders
Rights Plan: A plan designed to protect against abusive or coercive takeover attempts or tactics that are contrary to the best interests of Chesapeake Utilities' stockholders
Sandpiper: Sandpiper Energy, Inc., Chesapeake Utilities' wholly-owned subsidiary, which provides a tariff-based distribution service to customers in Worcester County, Maryland
Sanford Group: FPU and other responsible parties involved with the Sanford MGP site
SEC: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Senior Notes: Our unsecured long-term debt issued primarily to insurance companies on various dates
Sharp: Sharp Energy, Inc., Chesapeake Utilities' wholly-owned propane distribution subsidiary
SICP: 2013 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan
SIR: A system improvement rate adder designed to fund system expansion costs within the city limits of Ocean City, Maryland
TCJA: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which is legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by the President on December 22, 2017, and which, among other things, reduced the corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, effective January 1, 2018


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TETLP: Texas Eastern Transmission, LP, an interstate pipeline interconnected with Eastern Shore's pipeline
Xeron: Xeron, Inc., an inactive subsidiary of Chesapeake Utilities, which previously engaged in propane and crude oil trading


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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended  Three Months Ended Six Months Ended 
 September 30, September 30,  June 30, June 30, 
 2017 2016 2017 2016  2018 2017 2018 2017 
(in thousands, except shares and per share data)                  
Operating Revenues                  
Regulated Energy $69,703
 $70,019
 $238,353
 $226,630
  $70,504
 $70,996
 $179,897
 $168,650
 
Unregulated Energy and other 57,233
 38,329
 198,827
 130,356
  66,160
 54,088
 196,123
 141,594
 
Total Operating Revenues 126,936
 108,348
 437,180
 356,986
  136,664
 125,084
 376,020
 310,244
 
Operating Expenses                  
Regulated Energy cost of sales 22,794
 24,644
 87,206
 81,184
  20,010
 24,167
 68,241
 64,411
 
Unregulated Energy and other cost of sales 44,066
 28,183
 145,325
 85,142
  49,393
 40,505
 149,219
 101,260
 
Operations 29,667
 30,126
 92,990
 85,370
  36,281
 30,013
 68,983
 62,502
 
Maintenance 2,737
 3,542
 9,370
 8,925
  3,619
 3,403
 7,211
 6,634
 
Gain from a settlement 
 
 (130) (130)  (130) (130) (130) (130) 
Depreciation and amortization 9,362
 8,209
 27,267
 23,493
  9,839
 9,094
 19,543
 17,906
 
Other taxes 4,071
 3,488
 12,572
 10,725
  4,404
 3,971
 9,299
 8,501
 
Total Operating Expenses 112,697
 98,192
 374,600
 294,709
  123,416
 111,023
 322,366
 261,084
 
Operating Income 14,239
 10,156
 62,580
 62,277
  13,248
 14,061
 53,654
 49,160
 
Other income (expense), net 239
 (28) (643) (68) 
Other expense, net (262) (1,002) (194) (1,703) 
Interest charges 3,321
 2,722
 9,133
 7,996
  3,881
 3,073
 7,545
 5,811
 
Income Before Income Taxes 11,157
 7,406
 52,804

54,213
  9,105
 9,986
 45,915

41,646
 
Income taxes 4,324
 2,990
 20,781
 21,401
  2,718
 3,940
 12,674
 16,456
 
Net Income $6,833
 $4,416
 $32,023

$32,812
  $6,387
 $6,046
 $33,241

$25,190
 
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:                  
Basic 16,344,442
 15,372,413
 16,334,210
 15,324,932
  16,369,641
 16,340,665
 16,360,540
 16,329,009
 
Diluted 16,389,635
 15,412,783
 16,378,633
 15,365,955
  16,417,082
 16,382,207
 16,410,061
 16,373,038
 
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock:                  
Basic $0.42
 $0.29
 $1.96
 $2.14
  $0.39
 $0.37
 $2.03
 $1.54
 
Diluted $0.42
 $0.29
 $1.96
 $2.14
  $0.39
 $0.37
 $2.03
 $1.54
 
Cash Dividends Declared Per Share of Common Stock $0.3250
 $0.3050
 $0.9550
 $0.8975
  $0.3700
 $0.3250
 $0.6950
 $0.6300
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


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Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
 September 30, September 30, June 30, June 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016 2018 2017 2018 2017
(in thousands)                
Net Income $6,833
 $4,416
 $32,023
 $32,812
 $6,387
 $6,046
 $33,241
 $25,190
Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income, net of tax:        
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax:        
Employee Benefits, net of tax:                
Amortization of prior service cost, net of tax of $(8), $(8), $(23) and $(23), respectively (11) (12) (35) (37)
Net gain, net of tax of $69, $66, $212 and $200, respectively 102
 100
 297
 300
Amortization of prior service cost, net of tax of $(5), $(8), $(11) and $(16), respectively (14) (12) (28) (23)
Net gain, net of tax of $41, $69, $80 and $145, respectively 108
 101
 217
 194
Cash Flow Hedges, net of tax:                
Unrealized (loss)/gain on commodity contract cash flow hedges, net of tax of $(15), $38, $(376) and $360, respectively (104) 51
 (643) 548
Total Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income (13) 139
 (381) 811
Unrealized gain (loss) on commodity contract cash flow hedges, net of tax of $429, $(554), $(327) and $(362), respectively 1,061
 (875) (728) (537)
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax 1,155
 (786) (539) (366)
Comprehensive Income $6,820
 $4,555
 $31,642
 $33,623
 $7,542
 $5,260
 $32,702
 $24,824
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
 
Assets September 30,
2017
 December 31,
2016
 June 30,
2018
 December 31,
2017
(in thousands, except shares and per share data)        
Property, Plant and Equipment        
Regulated Energy $1,050,332
 $957,681
 $1,174,407
 $1,073,736
Unregulated Energy 207,331
 196,800
 216,125
 210,682
Other businesses and eliminations 26,061
 21,114
 30,170
 27,699
Total property, plant and equipment 1,283,724
 1,175,595
 1,420,702
 1,312,117
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization (267,138) (245,207) (287,942) (270,599)
Plus: Construction work in progress 69,053
 56,276
 101,904
 84,509
Net property, plant and equipment 1,085,639
 986,664
 1,234,664
 1,126,027
Current Assets        
Cash and cash equivalents 3,386
 4,178
 4,512
 5,614
Accounts receivable (less allowance for uncollectible accounts of $912 and $909, respectively) 52,775
 62,803
Trade and other receivables (less allowance for uncollectible accounts of $1,076 and $936, respectively) 53,419
 77,223
Accrued revenue 14,307
 16,986
 12,353
 22,279
Propane inventory, at average cost 5,226
 6,457
 6,597
 8,324
Other inventory, at average cost 12,711
 4,576
 4,791
 12,022
Regulatory assets 9,761
 7,694
 13,330
 10,930
Storage gas prepayments 6,876
 5,484
 4,365
 5,250
Income taxes receivable 26,741
 22,888
 6,420
 14,778
Prepaid expenses 10,899
 6,792
 5,162
 13,621
Derivative assets, at fair value 1,526
 823
 534
 1,286
Other current assets 4,797
 2,470
 4,560
 7,260
Total current assets 149,005
 141,151
 116,043
 178,587
Deferred Charges and Other Assets        
Goodwill 21,944
 15,070
 19,604
 19,604
Other intangible assets, net 4,608
 1,843
 4,277
 4,686
Investments, at fair value 6,380
 4,902
 7,486
 6,756
Regulatory assets 75,793
 76,803
 76,427
 75,575
Receivables and other deferred charges 3,381
 2,786
Other assets 4,440
 3,699
Total deferred charges and other assets 112,106
 101,404
 112,234
 110,320
Total Assets $1,346,750
 $1,229,219
 $1,462,941
 $1,414,934
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
 
Capitalization and Liabilities September 30,
2017
 December 31,
2016
 June 30,
2018
 December 31,
2017
(in thousands, except shares and per share data)        
Capitalization        
Stockholders’ equity        
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (authorized 2,000,000 shares), no shares issued and outstanding $
 $
 $
 $
Common stock, par value $0.4867 per share (authorized 25,000,000 shares) 7,955
 7,935
Common stock, par value $0.4867 per share (authorized 50,000,000 shares) 7,971
 7,955
Additional paid-in capital 252,722
 250,967
 255,356
 253,470
Retained earnings 208,402
 192,062
 250,377
 229,141
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (5,259) (4,878) (5,718) (4,272)
Deferred compensation obligation 3,366
 2,416
 3,782
 3,395
Treasury stock (3,366) (2,416) (3,782) (3,395)
Total stockholders’ equity 463,820
 446,086
 507,986
 486,294
Long-term debt, net of current maturities 201,248
 136,954
 241,596
 197,395
Total capitalization 665,068
 583,040
 749,582
 683,689
Current Liabilities        
Current portion of long-term debt 12,136
 12,099
 9,977
 9,421
Short-term borrowing 203,098
 209,871
 235,288
 250,969
Accounts payable 53,284
 56,935
 60,769
 74,688
Customer deposits and refunds 32,493
 29,238
 32,018
 34,751
Accrued interest 3,361
 1,312
 1,891
 1,742
Dividends payable 5,312
 4,973
 6,060
 5,312
Accrued compensation 8,544
 10,496
 7,953
 13,112
Regulatory liabilities 5,338
 1,291
 22,194
 6,485
Derivative liabilities, at fair value 1,732
 773
 886
 6,247
Other accrued liabilities 13,972
 7,063
 11,495
 10,273
Total current liabilities 339,270
 334,051
 388,531
 413,000
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities        
Deferred income taxes 252,273
 222,894
 143,147
 135,850
Regulatory liabilities 42,915
 43,064
 141,499
 140,978
Environmental liabilities 8,382
 8,592
 8,090
 8,263
Other pension and benefit costs 32,059
 32,828
 28,996
 29,699
Deferred investment tax credits and other liabilities 6,783
 4,750
 3,096
 3,455
Total deferred credits and other liabilities 342,412
 312,128
 324,828
 318,245
Environmental and other commitments and contingencies (Note 4 and 5) 
 
Environmental and other commitments and contingencies (Note 5 and 6) 
 
Total Capitalization and Liabilities $1,346,750
 $1,229,219
 $1,462,941
 $1,414,934
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
 Nine Months Ended Six Months Ended
 September 30, June 30,
 2017 2016 2018 2017
(in thousands)        
Operating Activities        
Net income $32,023
 $32,812
 $33,241
 $25,190
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:        
Depreciation and amortization 27,267
 23,493
 19,543
 17,906
Depreciation and accretion included in other costs 5,989
 5,357
 4,428
 3,939
Deferred income taxes 29,520
 12,004
 7,668
 12,034
Realized gain on commodity contracts/sale of assets/investments (2,817) (405)
Unrealized gain on investments/commodity contracts (695) (243)
Realized loss on commodity contracts/sale of assets/investments 3,857
 2,223
Unrealized (gain) loss on investments/commodity contracts (114) 184
Employee benefits and compensation 1,212
 1,217
 456
 819
Share-based compensation 1,608
 1,887
 2,247
 812
Other, net (39) 42
 (23) (17)
Changes in assets and liabilities:        
Accounts receivable and accrued revenue 12,912
 (3,835) 32,230
 26,862
Propane inventory, storage gas and other inventory (8,256) (2,179) 9,844
 (2,543)
Regulatory assets/liabilities, net 927
 (3,326) 11,035
 4,255
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (2,860) 485
 11,523
 2,129
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities 4,515
 7,187
 (26,152) (280)
Income taxes (payable) receivable (3,810) 14,897
Income taxes receivable 8,358
 8,500
Customer deposits and refunds 3,255
 (314) (2,733) 1,487
Accrued compensation (2,030) (2,293) (5,196) (3,876)
Other assets and liabilities, net (349) (1,053) (1,860) (3,254)
Net cash provided by operating activities 98,372
 85,733
 108,352
 96,370
Investing Activities        
Property, plant and equipment expenditures (130,137) (109,589) (126,811) (88,627)
Proceeds from sales of assets 601
 119
 323
 185
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (11,707) 
Environmental expenditures (210) (260) (173) (135)
Net cash used in investing activities (141,453) (109,730) (126,661) (88,577)
Financing Activities        
Common stock dividends (14,780) (12,964) (10,301) (9,636)
Issuance of stock for Dividend Reinvestment Plan 254
 600
Stock issuance (10) 57,306
(Purchase) issuance of stock under the Dividend Reinvestment Plan (328) 421
Tax withholding payments related to net settled stock compensation (692) (770) (1,210) (692)
Change in cash overdrafts due to outstanding checks (3,013) 2,466
 632
 (2,370)
Net repayment under line of credit agreements (3,760) (21,379)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 69,800
 
Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligation (5,510) (2,581)
Net cash provided by financing activities 42,289
 22,678
Net repayment under line of credit agreements and short-term borrowing under the Revolver (16,313) (61,910)
Proceeds from long-term debt and long-term borrowing under the Revolver 74,916
 69,800
Repayment of long-term debt, long-term borrowing under the Revolver and capital lease obligation (30,189) (5,165)
Net cash provided (used) in financing activities 17,207
 (9,552)
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents (792) (1,319) (1,102) (1,759)
Cash and Cash Equivalents—Beginning of Period 4,178
 2,855
 5,614
 4,178
Cash and Cash Equivalents—End of Period $3,386
 $1,536
 $4,512
 $2,419
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited)
 
Common Stock (1)
            
Common Stock (1)
            
(in thousands, except shares and per share data)
Number  of
Shares(2)
 
Par
Value
 
Additional  Paid-In
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated  Other Comprehensive
Loss
 
Deferred
Compensation
 
Treasury
Stock
 
Total (2)
Number  of
Shares(2)
 
Par
Value
 
Additional  Paid-In
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated  Other Comprehensive
Loss
 
Deferred
Compensation
 
Treasury
Stock
 Total
Balance at December 31, 201515,270,659
 $7,432
 $190,311
 $166,235
 $(5,840) $1,883
 $(1,883) $358,138
Balance at December 31, 201616,303,499
 $7,935
 $250,967
 $192,062
 $(4,878) $2,416
 $(2,416) $446,086
Net income
 
 
 44,675
 
 
 
 44,675

 
 
 58,124
 
 
 
 58,124
Other comprehensive income
 
 
 
 962
 
 
 962

 
 
 
 606
 
 
 606
Dividend declared ($1.2025 per share)
 
 
 (18,848) 
 
 
 (18,848)
Retirement savings plan and dividend reinvestment plan36,253
 17
 2,225
 
 
 
 
 2,242
Dividend declared ($1.28 per share)
 
 
 (21,045) 
 
 
 (21,045)
Dividend reinvestment plan10,771
 5
 730
 
 
 
 
 735
Stock issuance (3)
960,488
 467
 56,893
 
 
 
 
 57,360

 
 (10) 
 
 
 
 (10)
Share-based compensation and tax benefit (4) (5)
36,099
 19
 1,538
 
 
 
 
 1,557
Share-based compensation and tax benefit (3)(4)
30,172
 15
 1,783
 
 
 
 
 1,798
Treasury stock activities
 
 
 
 
 533
 (533) 

 
 
 
 
 979
 (979) 
Balance at December 31, 201616,303,499
 7,935
 250,967
 192,062
 (4,878) 2,416
 (2,416) 446,086
Balance at December 31, 201716,344,442
 7,955
 253,470
 229,141
 (4,272) 3,395
 (3,395) 486,294
Net income
 
 
 32,023
 
 
 
 32,023

 
 
 33,241
 
 
 
 33,241
Cumulative effect of the adoption of ASU 2014-09
 
 
 (1,498) 
 
 
 (1,498)
Reclassification upon the adoption of ASU 2018-02
 
 
 907
 (907) 
 
 
Other comprehensive loss
 
 
 
 (381) 
 
 (381)
 
 
 
 (539) 
 
 (539)
Dividend declared ($0.9550 per share)
 
 
 (15,683) 
 
 
 (15,683)
Dividend declared ($0.6950 per share)
 
 
 (11,414) 
 
 
 (11,414)
Dividend reinvestment plan10,771
 5
 731
 
 
 
 
 736

 
 (2) 
 
 
 
 (2)
Stock issuance
 
 (10) 
 
 
 
 (10)
Share-based compensation and tax benefit (4) (5)
30,172
 15
 1,034
 
 
 
 
 1,049
Share-based compensation and tax benefit (3) (4)
34,103
 16
 1,888
 
 
 
 
 1,904
Treasury stock activities
 
 
 
 
 950
 (950) 

 
 
 
 
 387
 (387) 
Balance at September 30, 201716,344,442
 $7,955
 $252,722
 $208,402
 $(5,259) $3,366
 $(3,366) $463,820
Balance at June 30, 201816,378,545
 $7,971
 $255,356
 $250,377
 $(5,718) $3,782
 $(3,782) $507,986
 

(1) 
2,000,000 shares of preferred stock at $0.01 par value have been authorized. None has been issued or is outstanding; accordingly, no information has been included in the statements of stockholders’ equity.
(2) 
Includes 90,58896,204 and 76,74590,961 shares at SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and December 31, 2016,2017, respectively, held in a Rabbi Trust related to our Deferred Compensation Plan.
(3) 
On September 22, 2016, we completed a public offering of 960,488Includes amounts for shares of our common stock at a price per share of $62.26. The net proceeds from the sale of common stock, after deducting underwriting commissions and expenses, were approximately $57.4 million.issued for directors’ compensation.
(4) 
Includes amounts for shares issued for Directors’ compensation.
(5)
The shares issued under the SICP are net of shares withheld for employee taxes. For the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, and for the year ended December 31, 2016,2017, we withheld 10,26916,918 and 12,03110,269 shares, respectively, for taxes.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
1.    Summary of Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
References in this document to the “Company,” “Chesapeake Utilities,” “we,” “us” and “our” are intended to mean Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, its divisions and/or its subsidiaries, as appropriate in the context of the disclosure.
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in compliance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and GAAP. In accordance with these rules and regulations, certain information and disclosures normally required for audited financial statements have been condensed or omitted. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, included in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.2017. In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect normal recurring adjustments that are necessary for a fair presentation of our results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the interim periods presented.
Due to the seasonality of our business, results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal year. Revenue and earnings are typically greater during the first and fourth quarters, when consumption of energy is highest due to colder temperatures.
We reclassified certain amounts in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 to conform to the current year’s presentation. These reclassifications are considered immaterial to the overall presentation of our condensed consolidated financial statements.
ARM, Chipola and Central Gas Asset Acquisitions

In August 2017, PESCO acquired certain natural gas marketing assets of ARM. We have accounted for the purchase of these assets as a business combination. The acquired assets complement PESCO’s currentexisting asset portfolio and will expandexpanded our regional footprint and retail demand in a market where we havehad existing pipeline capacity and wholesale liquidity.  We accounted for the purchase of these assets as a business combination and initially recorded goodwill of $6.8 million, within our Unregulated Energy segment. In connection with the acquisition, we initially recorded a contingent consideration liability of $2.5 million, which represents the expected payment of contingent consideration to ARM. The payment, which is expected to be paid in 2019, is contingent upon the achievement of certain gross margin targets during the 2018 calendar year. The recorded liability is based upon our most recent gross margin projections foron the acquired business and is subject to change based on actual performance or changesachieving a gross margin target in 2018. During the second quarter of 2018, we identified certain known information as of the acquisition date that was not considered in our gross margin projections.original assessment and would have resulted in no contingent consideration liability being initially recorded. Therefore, we reversed the originally-recorded contingent liability and reduced goodwill by $2.5 million. We have similarly revised the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017. These revisions are considered immaterial to our condensed consolidated financial statements. The contingent liability will be re-evaluated each reporting period in 2018. However, our current assessment is that no contingent consideration will be paid.

In August 2017, Flo-gas acquired certain operating assets of Chipola, which provides propane distribution service to approximately 800 residential and commercial customers in Jackson,Bay, Calhoun, Gadsden, Jackson, Liberty, Bay and Washington Counties, Florida.

In December 2017, Flo-gas acquired certain operating assets of Central Gas, which provides propane distribution service to approximately 325 residential and commercial customers in Glades, Highlands, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie Counties, Florida.
The revenue and net income from these acquisitions that wewere included in our condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, were not material. The amounts recorded in conjunction with our acquisitions are preliminary and subject to adjustment based on additional valuations performed during the measurement period.

FASB Statements and Other Authoritative Pronouncements
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
Inventory (ASC 330) - In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. Under this guidance, inventories are required to be measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value represents the estimated selling price less costs associated with completion, disposal and transportation. We adopted ASU 2015-11 on January 1, 2017, on a prospective basis. Adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.
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Recent Accounting Standards Yet to be Adopted
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606) - In May 2014, the FASB issuedOn January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers,. and all the related amendments using the modified retrospective method. We recognized the cumulative effect of initially applying the new revenue standard to all of our contracts as an adjustment to the beginning balance of retained earnings. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. We expect the impact of the adoption of the new revenue standard to be immaterial to our net income on an ongoing basis.

This standard provides a single comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customersrequires entities to improve comparability within industries, as well as across industries and capital markets. The standard contains principles that entities will apply to determine the measurement of revenue and when it is recognized. The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depictwhen control of the transfer ofpromised goods or services is transferred to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration that the entity expects to be entitled toreceive in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance also requires a number of disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and the related cash flows. In March 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-08,See Note 3, Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)Recognition, , to clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. For public entities, this standard is effective for interim and annual financial statements issued beginning January 1, 2018.additional information.
We have completed our evaluation
Table of our revenue sources and will continue assessingContents


The following highlights the impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows during the fourth quarter of 2017. In tandem, we have developed and documented accounting policies and position papers, which are intended to meet the requirements of this new revenue recognition standard. We have also completed our plan to update our internal controls. In the third quarter of 2017, we began providing additional training to our employees and implementing system and process changes that are associated with the adoption of ASC 606 on our condensed consolidated income statements for the standard. We plan to utilizethree and six months ended June 30, 2018 and condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2018:
  Three months ended June 30, 2018 Six months ended June 30, 2018
Income statement As Reported Without Adoption of ASC 606 Effect of Change Higher (Lower) As Reported Without Adoption of ASC 606 Effect of Change Higher (Lower)
(in thousands)            
Regulated Energy operating revenues $70,504
 $70,728
 $(224) $179,897
 $180,780
 $(883)
Regulated Energy cost of sales 20,010
 20,139
 (129) 68,241
 68,942
 (701)
Depreciation and amortization 9,839
 9,832
 7
 19,543
 19,521
 22
Income before income taxes 9,105
 9,207
 (102) 45,915
 46,119
 (204)
Income taxes 2,718
 2,746
 (28) 12,674
 12,733
 (59)
Net income 6,387
 6,461
 (74) 33,241
 33,386
 (145)
  As of June 30, 2018
Balance sheet As Reported Without Adoption of ASC 606 Effect of Change Higher (Lower)
(in thousands)      
Assets      
Accrued revenues $12,353
 $13,659
 $(1,306)
Other assets $4,440
 $4,777
 $(337)
      
Capitalization     
Retained earnings $250,377
 $248,734
 $1,643
       
The primary impact of the modified retrospective transition method upon adoption of this standard.
BasedASC 606 on our current assessment, we believe thatincome statement was the implementation of this new standard will not have a material impact on the amount and timing of revenue recognition except for one long-term contract for which we will delay thedelayed recognition of approximately $204,000 in revenue in the first six months of approximately $407,000 in 2018. Since we have not yet finalized our assessment, we will continue2018 to monitor and subsequently disclose future identified material impacts, if any, in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. In addition, the AICPA Power and Utilities Industry Task Force is addressing issues specific to our industry, including CIAC, and has concluded that CIAC is outside of the scope of this standard; accordingly, our Regulated Energy segment accounting for CIAC will not change as a result of ASC 606.
Leases (ASC 842) - In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which provides updated guidance regarding accounting for leases. This update requires a lessee to recognize a lease liabilityyears and a lease asset for all leases, including operating leases,cumulative adjustment that decreased retained earnings and other assets by $1.6 million at June 30, 2018, associated with a term greater than 12 months on its balance sheet. The update also expands the required quantitative and qualitative disclosures surrounding leases. ASU 2016-02 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginning January 1, 2019, although early adoption is permitted.
We have assessed all of our leases and have concluded that a majority of our operating leases would continue to fall within the category of operating leases; however, we may have some leases that qualify for the short-term lease exception. We will record the right to use of assets and the lease liability related to the operating leases, but we do not believe that this will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. During the fourth quarter of 2017, we intend to quantify the overall impact that may result from early adoption of the standard and implementation of the overall process. This guidance will be applied using the modified retrospective transition method for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements.
Statement of Cash Flows (ASC 230) - In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which clarifies how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginning January 1, 2018, although early adoption is permitted. We believe that the implementation of this new standard will not have a material impact on our statement of cash flows.
Intangibles-Goodwill (ASC 350) - In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which simplifies howlong-term firm transmission contract with an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. ASU 2017-04 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginning January 1, 2020, although early adoption is permitted. The amendments included in this ASU are to be applied prospectively. We believe that the implementation of this new standard will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.industrial customer.
Compensation-Retirement Benefits (ASC 715) - In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Post Retirement Benefit Cost. Under this guidance, employers are required to report the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit costs are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations. The update allows for capitalization of the service cost component when applicable. We adopted ASU 2017-07 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginningon January 1, 2018 although early adoption is permitted. Theand applied the changes in the presentation of the service cost and other components in this update are to be applied retrospectively, and the
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capitalization of the service cost is to be applied prospectively on or after the effective date.net benefit costs, retrospectively. Aside from changes in presentation, we believe that the implementation of this new standard willdid not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.
Statement of Cash Flows (ASC 230) - In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which clarifies how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. We adopted ASU 2016-15 on January 1, 2018. Implementation of this new standard did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.
Compensation - Stock Compensation (ASC 718) - In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Scope of Modification Accounting, to clarify when to account for a change in the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification. Under this guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, the vesting conditions or the award classification (equity or liability) changes as a resultbecause of a change in the terms or conditions of the award. We adopted ASU 2017-09, prospectively, on January 1, 2018. Implementation of this new standard did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.
Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (ASC 220) - In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which allows a reclassification
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from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the TCJA. We adopted ASU 2018-02 on January 1, 2018 and reclassified stranded tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive loss related to our employee benefit plans and commodity contract cash flows hedges. Implementation of this new standard did not have a material impact on our financial position and results of operations. See Note 8, Stockholders' Equity, for additional information.
Recent Accounting Standards Yet to be Adopted
Leases (ASC 842) - In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which provides updated guidance regarding accounting for leases. This update requires a lessee to recognize a lease liability and a lease asset for all leases, including operating leases, with a term greater than 12 months on its balance sheet. The guidance isupdate also expands the required quantitative and qualitative disclosures surrounding leases. ASU 2016-02 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginning January 1, 2019, although early adoption is permitted.
The FASB allows companies to elect several practical expedients, in order to simplify the transition to the new standard. The following three expedients must all be elected together:
An entity need not reassess whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases.
An entity need not reassess the lease classification for any expired or existing leases (that is, all existing leases that were classified as operating leases in accordance with Topic 840 will continue to be classified as operating leases, and all existing leases that were classified as capital leases in accordance with Topic 840 will continue to be classified as capital leases).
An entity need not reassess initial direct costs for any existing leases.
Other practical expedients that can be elected individually are:
An entity may elect to use hindsight in determining the lease term and in assessing impairment of the entity’s right-of-use assets.
An entity may elect to apply the provisions of the new lease guidance at the effective date, without adjusting the comparative periods presented.
We expect to use the practical expedients to assist in implementation of this standard. We have assessed all of our leases and have concluded that we may have some operating leases that qualify for the short-term lease exception. Upon adoption, we will record the right-of-use assets and the lease liabilities related to our operating leases with a lease term in excess of one year. We do not believe that this will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In January 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842, which provides a practical expedient under Topic 842 to not evaluate existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases. We plan to utilize the provided practical expedient for existing and expired land easements and will assess all new or modified land easements and right-of-way agreements, under the guidance of ASU 2016-02, following its adoption.
Intangibles-Goodwill (ASC 350) - In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. ASU 2017-04 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginning January 1, 2020, although early adoption is permitted. The amendments included in this standardASU are to be applied prospectively. We believe that the implementation of this new standard will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.
Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815) - In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, to better align an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. Among other changes to hedge designation, ASU 2017-12 expands the risks that can be designated as hedged risks in cash flow hedges to include cash flow variability from contractually specified components of forecasted purchases or sales of non-financial assets. ASU 2017-12 requires the entire change in fair value of a hedging instrument included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness to be presented in the same income statement line that is used to present the earnings effects of the hedged item for fair value hedges and in other comprehensive income for cash flow hedges. For disclosures, ASU 2017-12 requires a tabular presentation of the income statement effect of fair value and cash flow hedges, and it eliminates the requirement to disclose the ineffective portion of the change in fair value of hedging instruments. ASU 2017-12 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginning January 1, 2019, although early adoption is permitted. We are evaluatingintend to adopt the effectupdated hedge accounting standard in 2018, which we expect will reduce the MTM volatility in PESCO’s results due to better alignment of risk management activities and financial reporting, risk component hedging and certain other simplifications of hedge accounting guidance.
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Compensation - Stock Compensation (ASC 718) - In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. ASU 2018-07 will be effective for our annual and interim financial statements beginning January 1, 2019, although early adoption is permitted. We believe that implementation of this new standard will not have a material impact on our future financial position andor results of operations.

2.Calculation of Earnings Per Share

 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
 September 30, September 30, June 30, June 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016 2018 2017 2018 2017
(in thousands, except shares and per share data)                
Calculation of Basic Earnings Per Share:                
                
Net Income $6,833
 $4,416
 $32,023
 $32,812
 $6,387
 $6,046
 $33,241
 $25,190
Weighted average shares outstanding 16,344,442
 15,372,413
 16,334,210
 15,324,932
 16,369,641
 16,340,665
 16,360,540
 16,329,009
Basic Earnings Per Share $0.42
 $0.29
 $1.96
 $2.14
 $0.39
 $0.37
 $2.03
 $1.54
                
Calculation of Diluted Earnings Per Share:                
Reconciliation of Numerator:                
Net Income $6,833
 $4,416
 $32,023
 $32,812
 $6,387
 $6,046
 $33,241
 $25,190
Reconciliation of Denominator:                
Weighted shares outstanding—Basic 16,344,442
 15,372,413
 16,334,210
 15,324,932
 16,369,641
 16,340,665
 16,360,540
 16,329,009
Effect of dilutive securities—Share-based compensation 45,193
 40,370
 44,423
 41,023
 47,441
 41,542
 49,521
 44,029
Adjusted denominator—Diluted 16,389,635
 15,412,783
 16,378,633
 15,365,955
 16,417,082
 16,382,207
 16,410,061
 16,373,038
Diluted Earnings Per Share $0.42
 $0.29
 $1.96
 $2.14
 $0.39
 $0.37
 $2.03
 $1.54
 

3.     Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue when our performance obligations under contracts with customers have been satisfied, which generally occurs when our businesses have delivered or transported natural gas, electricity or propane to customers. We exclude sales taxes and other similar taxes from the transaction price. Typically, our customers pay for the goods and/or services we provide in the month following the satisfaction of our performance obligation.

The following table displays our revenue by major source based on product and service type for the three months ended June 30, 2018:
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  Regulated Energy Unregulated Energy Other and Eliminations Total
Energy distribution        
Florida natural gas division $6,317
 $
 $
 $6,317
Delaware natural gas division 11,882
 
 
 11,882
FPU electric distribution 18,362
 
 
 18,362
FPU natural gas distribution 18,281
 
 
 18,281
Maryland natural gas division 4,001
 
 
 4,001
Sandpiper 4,367
 
 
 4,367
Total energy distribution 63,210
 
 
 63,210
        
Energy transmission       
Aspire Energy 
 5,854
 
 5,854
Eastern Shore 14,502
 
 
 14,502
Peninsula Pipeline 2,968
 
 
 2,968
Total energy transmission 17,470
 5,854
 
 23,324
         
Energy generation       
Eight Flags 
 4,230
 
 4,230
        
Propane delivery        
Delmarva Peninsula propane delivery 
 15,264
 
 15,264
Florida propane delivery 
 4,942
 
 4,942
Total propane delivery 
 20,206
 
 20,206
         
Energy services        
PESCO 
 48,798
 
 48,798
         
Other and eliminations       
Eliminations (10,176) (3,248) (10,379) (23,803)
Other 
 505
 194
 699
Total other and eliminations (10,176) (2,743) (10,185) (23,104)
         
Total operating revenues (1)
 $70,504

$76,345

$(10,185)
$136,664
(1) Includes other revenue (revenues from sources other than contracts with customers) of $(356,000) and $82,000 for our Regulated and Unregulated Energy segments, respectively. The sources of other revenues include revenue from alternative revenue programs related to weather normalization for Maryland division and Sandpiper and late fees.














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The following table displays our revenue by major source based on product and service type for the six months ended June 30, 2018:
  Regulated Energy Unregulated Energy Other and Eliminations Total
Energy distribution        
Florida natural gas division $12,180
 $
 $
 $12,180
Delaware natural gas division 43,954
 
 
 43,954
FPU electric distribution 37,103
 
 
 37,103
FPU natural gas distribution 41,494
 
 
 41,494
Maryland natural gas division 14,673
 
 
 14,673
Sandpiper 13,331
 
 
 13,331
Total energy distribution 162,735
 
 
 162,735
         
Energy transmission        
Aspire Energy 
 17,931
 
 17,931
Eastern Shore 30,100
 
 
 30,100
Peninsula Pipeline 5,065
 
 
 5,065
Total energy transmission 35,165
 17,931
 
 53,096
         
Energy generation        
Eight Flags 
 8,608
 
 8,608
         
Propane delivery        
Delmarva Peninsula propane delivery 
 60,735
 
 60,735
Florida propane delivery 
 11,576
 
 11,576
Total propane delivery 
 72,311
 
 72,311
         
Energy services        
PESCO 
 130,357
 
 130,357
         
Other and eliminations       
Eliminations (18,003) (8,494) (25,976) (52,473)
Other 
 999
 387
 1,386
Total other and eliminations (18,003) (7,495) (25,589) (51,087)
         
Total operating revenues (1)
 $179,897

$221,712

$(25,589)
$376,020
(1) Includes other revenue (revenues from sources other than contracts with customers) of $(945,000) and $155,000 for our Regulated and Unregulated Energy segments, respectively. The sources of other revenues include revenue from alternative revenue programs related to weather normalization for Maryland division and Sandpiper and late fees.

Regulated Energy segment
The businesses within our Regulated Energy segment are regulated utilities whose operations and customer contracts are subject to rates approved by the state PSC or the FERC.
Our energy distribution operations deliver natural gas or electricity to customers and we bill the customers for both the delivery of natural gas or electricity and the related commodity, where applicable. In most jurisdictions, our customers are also required to purchase the commodity from us, although certain customers in some jurisdictions may purchase the commodity from a third-party retailer (in which case we provide delivery service only). We consider the delivery of natural gas or electricity and/or the related commodity sale as one performance obligation because the commodity and its delivery are highly interrelated with two-way dependency on one another. Our performance obligation is satisfied over time as natural gas or electricity is delivered and consumed by the customer. We recognize revenues based on monthly meter readings, which are based on the quantity of natural gas or electricity used and the approved rates. We accrue
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unbilled revenues for natural gas and electricity that have been delivered, but not yet billed, at the end of an accounting period to the extent that billing and delivery do not coincide.

Revenues for Eastern Shore are based on rates approved by the FERC. The FERC has also authorized Eastern Shore to negotiate rates above or below the FERC-approved maximum rates, which customers can elect as an alternative to the FERC-approved maximum rates. Eastern Shore's services can be firm or interruptible. Firm services are offered on a guaranteed basis and are available at all times unless prevented by force majeure or other permitted curtailments. Interruptible customers receive service only when there is available capacity or supply. Our performance obligation is satisfied over time as we deliver natural gas to the customers' locations. We recognize revenues based on meter readings at the end of the month, which are based on capacity used or reserved and the fixed monthly charge.

Peninsula Pipeline is engaged in natural gas intrastate transmission to third-party customers and certain affiliates in the State of Florida. Our performance obligation is satisfied over time as the natural gas is transported to customers. We recognize revenue based on rates approved by the Florida PSC and the capacity used or reserved. Since we bill customers at the end of each month, we do not have any unbilled revenue.

Unregulated Energy segment
Revenues generated from the Unregulated Energy segment are not subject to any federal, state, or local pricing regulations. Aspire Energy primarily sources gas from hundreds of conventional producers and performs gathering and processing functions to maintain the quality and reliability of its gas for its wholesale customers. Aspire Energy's performance obligation is satisfied over time as natural gas is delivered to its customers. Aspire Energy recognizes revenue based on the deliveries of natural gas at contractually agreed upon rates (which are based upon an established monthly index price and a monthly operating fee, as applicable). For natural gas customers, we accrue unbilled revenues for natural gas that has been delivered, but not yet billed, at the end of an accounting period to the extent that billing and delivery do not coincide with the end of the accounting period.
Eight Flags' CHP plant, which is located on land leased from Rayonier, produces three sources of energy: electricity, steam and heated water. Rayonier purchases the steam (unfired and fired) and heated water, which is used in Rayonier’s production facility. Our electric distribution operation purchases the electricity generated by the CHP plant for distribution to its customers. Eight Flags' performance obligation is satisfied over time as deliveries of heated water, steam and electricity occur. Eight Flags recognizes revenues over time based on the amount of heated water, steam and electricity generated and delivered to its customers.
For our propane delivery operations, we recognize revenue based upon customer type and service offered. Generally, for propane bulk delivery customers (customers without meters) and wholesale sales, our performance obligation is satisfied when we deliver propane to the customers' locations (point-in-time basis). We recognize revenue from these customers based on the number of gallons delivered and the price per gallon at the point-in-time of delivery. For our propane delivery customers with meters, we satisfy our performance obligation over time when we deliver propane to customers. We recognize revenue over time based on the amount of propane consumed and the applicable price per unit. For propane delivery metered customers, we accrue unbilled revenues for propane that has been delivered, but not yet billed, at the end of an accounting period to the extent that billing and delivery do not coincide with the end of the accounting period.
PESCO provides natural gas supply and asset management services to customers (including affiliates of Chesapeake Utilities) located primarily in Florida, the Delmarva Peninsula, and the Appalachian Basin. PESCO's performance obligation is satisfied over time as natural gas is delivered to its customers. PESCO recognizes revenue over time based on customer meter readings, on a monthly basis. We accrue unbilled revenues for natural gas that has been delivered, but not yet billed, at the end of an accounting period to the extent that billing and delivery do not coincide with the end of the accounting period.
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Contract balances
The timing of revenue recognition, customer billings and cash collections results in trade receivables, unbilled receivables (contract assets), and customer advances (contract liabilities) in our consolidated balance sheets. The opening and closing balances of our trade receivables, contract assets, and contract liabilities are as follows:
       
  Trade Receivables Contract Assets (Non-current) Contract Liabilities (Current)
in thousands      
Balance at 12/31/2017 $74,962
 $1,270
 $407
Balance at 6/30/2018 51,511
 1,967
 175
Increase (decrease) $(23,451) $697
 $(232)

Our trade receivables are included in trade and other receivables in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Our non-current contract assets are included in other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheet and relate to operations and maintenance costs incurred by Eight Flags that have not yet been recovered through rates for the sale of electricity to our electric distribution operation pursuant to a long-term service agreement.

At times, we receive advances or deposits from our customers before we satisfy our performance obligation, resulting in contract liabilities. At June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had a contract liability, which was included in other accrued liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheet, of $175,000 and $407,000, respectively, and which relates to non-refundable prepaid fixed fees for our Delmarva Peninsula propane delivery operation's retail offerings. Our performance obligation is satisfied over the term of the respective retail offering plan on a ratable basis. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, we recognized revenue of $84,000 and $336,000, respectively.

Practical expedients
For our businesses with agreements that contain variable consideration, we use the invoice practical expedient method. We determined that the amounts invoiced to customers correspond directly with the value to our customers and our performance to date.

For our long-term contracts, the revenue we recognize corresponds directly to the amount we have the right to invoice, which corresponds directly to our performance obligation. Our performance obligations under our long-term contracts are satisfied over time. As a practical expedient, we do not disclose information about remaining, or unsatisfied, performance obligations for these long-term contracts since the revenue recognized corresponds to the amount we have the right to invoice.


3.4.Rates and Other Regulatory Activities
Our natural gas and electric distribution operations in Delaware, Maryland and Florida are subject to regulation by their respective PSC; Eastern Shore, our natural gas transmission subsidiary, is subject to regulation by the FERC; and Peninsula Pipeline, our intrastate pipeline subsidiary, is subject to regulation by the Florida PSC. Chesapeake Utilities' Florida natural gas distribution division and FPU’s natural gas and electric distribution operations continue to be subject to regulation, as separate entities, by the Florida PSC.
Delaware
Effect of the TCJA on rate payers: As a result of the enactment of the TCJA, the Delaware PSC issued an order requiring all rate-regulated utilities to file estimates of the impact of the TCJA on their cost of service for the most recent test year available (including new rate schedules). The order also required utilities to propose procedures for changing rates to reflect those impacts on or before March 31, 2018. Our Delaware Division filed the requisite reports with the Delaware PSC on March 30, 2018. Subsequently, the Delaware Division filed an updated report reflecting the impact of the TCJA on May 31, 2018. If, after reviewing the required filing, the Delaware PSC determines to reduce our rates, it will open a new docket and establish a procedural schedule for conducting an evidentiary hearing regarding the impacts of the TCJA on our operations and existing rates.
In addition, on February 1, 2018, the Delaware PSC issued an order requiring Delaware rate-regulated public utilities to accrue regulatory liabilities reflecting the jurisdictional revenue requirement impacts of changes in the federal corporate
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Delaware
Rate Case Filing:income tax laws. In December 2015,compliance with this order, we have established a regulatory liability to reflect the estimated impacts of the changes in the federal corporate income tax rate. We believe that the ultimate impact of the TCJA on rates charged by our Delaware Division will not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.
Underserved Area Rates: In December 2017, we filed an application for approval of natural gas expansion service offerings. We requested authorization to utilize existing expansion area tariff rates to serve customers located outside of the current Sussex County, Delaware expansion area boundaries that cannot be economically served under the regular tariff rates. In June 2018, we reached a settlement agreement with the relevant parties, which allows us to utilize higher rates for areas outside of our existing expansion area. The settlement agreement was presented before the Delaware PSC at its public meeting on July 10, 2018, where it was unanimously passed.
CGS: In June 2018, we filed with the Delaware PSC an application requesting approval of the acquisition and subsequent conversion of propane CGS to natural gas located within our territory. We requested the establishment of regulatory accounting treatment and valuation of the acquisition of certain CGS, approval of a methodology to set new distribution rates for CGS customers and approval of a basenew system-wide tariff rate increase and certain other changes to its tariff.that will recover CGS conversion costs. The Delaware Division, Delaware PSC Staff, the Divisionhas not reached a decision as of the Public Advocatedate of this filing.
Maryland Division and other intervenors met and reached a settlement agreement in November 2016. The termsSandpiper
Effect of the settlement agreement includedTCJA on rate payers: The Maryland PSC issued an annual increaseorder requiring all Maryland public utilities whose rates are explicitly grossed-up for income taxes to track the impacts of $2.3 million in base rates.the TCJA beginning January 1, 2018. The order became final in December 2016,required utilities to: (a) apply regulatory accounting treatment, which includes the use of regulatory assets and the new rates became effective January 1, 2017. Amounts collected through interim rates in excessliabilities, for all impacts of the respective portionTCJA; (b) file an explanation of the $2.3 million increase through December 31, 2016 were accrued asexpected effects of that date. In January 2017, we filed our proposed refund planthe TCJA on their expenses and revenues; and (c) explain when and how they expect to pass on to their customers the net results of those effects. We established a regulatory liability to reflect the impacts of the changes in the federal corporate income tax rate in compliance with the DelawareMaryland PSC’s order. In addition, our Maryland Division and Sandpiper made compliance filings that included preliminary estimates of the annual impact of the change in the statutory federal income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. In April 2018, the Maryland PSC ordered both the Maryland Division and subsequentlySandpiper to implement reduced rates effective May 1, 2018 reflecting the impact of the TCJA. We implemented a one-time bill credit for the regulatory liability established for the refunds and issued the refunds to customers in March 2017.
June. We must also submit an informational filing to the Maryland
There were no material PSC within 60 days of the refund payment date. Additionally, pursuant to the Maryland PSC’s order, if in the future the Maryland Division or Sandpiper identify any additional tax savings, we must submit an additional filing to the Maryland PSC in order to return those savings to customers as soon as possible. We believe that the ultimate impact of the TCJA on rates and other regulatory activities forcharged by our Maryland division during the period.
Division and Sandpiper
There were no will not have a material rates and other regulatory activities for Sandpiper during the period.effect on our financial position or results of operations.
Florida
Cost Recovery for theFlorida Electric Interconnect Project: In September 2015, FPU’s electric division filed to recover the cost of the proposed Florida Power & Light Company interconnect project through FPU's annual Fuel and Purchased Power Cost Recovery Clause filing. The interconnect project would enable FPU's electric division to negotiate a new power purchase agreement to mitigate fuel costs for its Northeast division. FPU's proposal was approved by the Florida PSC at its Agenda Conference held in December 2015. In January 2016, however, the Office of Public Counsel filed an appeal of the Florida PSC's decision with the Florida Supreme Court. The Florida Supreme Court reversed the Florida PSC decision in March 2017, after consideration of the parties' legal briefs and oral arguments. As a result, FPU excluded the recovery of these costs from its 2018 Fuel and Purchased Power Cost Recovery Clause and included the costs for recovery in the limited proceeding filing described below.
Surcharge Associated with Reliability/Modernization of Electric Distribution System Project: In February 2017, FPU’s electric division filed a petition with the Florida PSC requesting a temporary surcharge mechanism to recover costs and generate an appropriate return on investment associated with an essential reliability and modernization project for its electric distribution system. We requested approval to invest approximately $59.8 million, over a five-year period, associated with the modernization project. In February 2017, the Office of Public Counsel intervened in this petition. The Florida PSC requested that FPU file a limited proceeding to include these investments in base rates instead of seeking approval of a temporary surcharge. In April 2017, FPU voluntarily withdrew its petition and subsequently filed the limited proceeding described in the next paragraph.
Electric Limited Proceeding:Pilot Program: In July 2017, FPU’s electric division filed a petition with the Florida PSC requesting approval to include $15.2 million of certain capital project expenditures in its rate base and to adjust its base rates accordingly. These expenditures are designed to improve the stability and safety of the electric system, while enhancing the capability of FPU’s electrical grid. Included in the $15.2 million is theAn interconnection project with Florida Power & Light Company,FPL, which enables FPU to mitigate fuel costs for its electric customers. This petition is scheduled forcustomers, was included in the $15.2 million capital project expenditures. In December 2017, the Florida PSC's December 2017 Agenda.PSC approved this petition, effective January 1, 2018. The settlement agreement prescribed the methodology for adjusting the new rates based on the lower federal income tax rate and the process and methodology regarding the refund of deferred income taxes, reclassified as a regulatory liability, as a result of the TCJA. We have established a regulatory liability to reflect the impacts of the changes in the federal corporate income tax rate in compliance with the settlement agreement.
NorthwestElectric Limited Proceeding-Storm Recovery: In February 2018, FPU’s electric division filed a petition with the Florida Expansion ProjectPSC, requesting recovery of incremental storm restoration costs related to several hurricanes and tropical storms, along with the replenishment of FPU’s storm reserve to its pre-storm level of $1.5 million. As a result of these hurricanes and tropical storms, FPU’s storm reserve was depleted and is currently at a deficit of $779,000. FPU is requesting approval of a surcharge of $1.82 per kilowatt per hour for two years to recover and replenish storm-related costs. At this time, no date for approval of this petition has been scheduled by the Florida PSC.
Effect of the TCJA on ratepayers: : Peninsula PipelineThe Office of Public Counsel filed a petition requesting that the Florida PSC establish a general docket to investigate and FPU's natural gas division are constructing a pipeline in Escambia County, Florida that will interconnect with FGT's pipeline. The project consists of 33 miles of 12-inch transmission line from the FGT interconnect that will be operated by Peninsula Pipeline and 8 miles of 8-inch lateral distribution lines that will be operated by Chesapeake Utilities' Florida natural gas division. We have entered into agreements to serve two large customers and are marketing to other customers closeadjust rates for all investor-owned utilities related to the facilities.

New Smyrna Beach,passage of the TCJA. The Florida Project: Peninsula Pipeline is constructingPSC issued a pipeline in Volusia County,Memorandum with a recommendation that, if utilities do not agree to a January 1, 2018 effective date, then the effective date should be February 6, 2018. On January 30, 2018, the Florida that will interconnect with FGT's pipeline. The project consistsPSC scheduled informal meetings between its staff and interested persons to discuss the impact of 14 miles of transmission line from the FGT interconnect that will be operated by Peninsula Pipeline and will serve FPU natural gas distribution customers.
Eastern Shore
White Oak Mainline Expansion Project: In July 2016, Eastern Shore received FERC authorization to construct, own and operate certain expansion facilities designed to provide 45,000 Dts/d of firm transportation service to anTCJA. Hearings for Florida’s electric power generator in Kent County, Delaware ("White Oak Mainline Project"). Eastern Shore constructed approximately 5.4 miles of 16-inch diameter pipeline looping in Chester County, Pennsylvania and increased compression capability at Eastern Shore’s existing Delaware City compressor station in New Castle County, Delaware. At the end of March 2017, the entire project was placed into service. The total cost to complete the project was approximately $42.0 million.utilities
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System Reliability Project: are tentatively scheduled for the first quarter of 2019 and hearings for the natural gas utilities are tentatively scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2018.

In September 2016, the FERC approved Eastern Shore's application to construct, own and operate approximately 10.1 miles of 16-inch pipeline looping and auxiliary facilities in New Castle and Kent Counties, Delaware, and a new compressor at its existing Bridgeville compressor station in Sussex County, Delaware. Eastern Shore further proposed to reinforce critical points on its pipeline system. Previously, in July 2016, the FERC granted Eastern Shore’s pre-determination of rolled-in rate treatment absent any significant change in circumstances.
As of JuneDecember 2017, the entire project was placed into service. The total cost to completeFlorida PSC issued an order regarding the project was approximately $38.0 million. We began to recoverlimited proceeding for FPU's electric division, which prescribes the project's costs in August 2017, coinciding with the proposed effectiveness of new rates, subject to refund, pending final resolutionapplicability, timing and treatment of the base rate case described below.implications of the TCJA, as discussed above. In June, each of our Florida natural gas operations filed a petition and testimony in support of the disposition of the impacts created by the TCJA. We believe that the ultimate impact of the TCJA on rates charged by FPU's electric division and our Florida natural gas operations will not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.
Eastern Shore
2017 Expansion Project: In May 2016, Eastern Shore submitted a request to the FERC approved Eastern Shore's request to initiate the pre-filing review proceduresprocess for Eastern Shore'sits 2017 expansion project (the “2017 Expansion Project”).Project. The 2017 Expansion Project's facilities include approximately 23 miles of pipeline looping in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware; upgrades to existing metering facilities in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; installation of an additional compressor unit at Eastern Shore’s existing Daleville compressor station in Chester County, Pennsylvania; and approximately 17 miles of new mainline extension and two pressure control stations in Sussex County, Delaware. In May 2016, the FERC approved Eastern Shore’s request to commence the pre-filing review process. Eastern Shore entered into Precedent Agreementsprecedent agreements with seven existing customers, including three affiliates of Chesapeake Utilities, for a total of 61,162 Dts/d of additional firm natural gas transportation service on Eastern Shore’s pipeline system with an additional 52,500 Dts/d of firm transportation service at certain Eastern Shore receipt facilities.
In December 2016, Eastern Shore submitted an application for a CP seeking authorization to construct the expansion facilities. Six of Eastern Shore's existing customers timely intervened to become parties. In February and March 2017, Eastern Shore submitted responses to the FERC staff's data requests.
In October 2017, the FERC issued a CP authorizing Eastern Shore to construct and operate the proposed 2017 Expansion Project.expansion facilities. The estimated cost of the 2017 Expansion Project is approximately $115.0 million
$117.0 million. Eastern Shore is preparingsubmitted its implementation plan, which will be filed with the FERC,Implementation Plan in October 2017, addressing the actions Eastern Shore will undertake to meet the Environmental Conditionsenvironmental conditions set forth in the FERC's order. Eastern Shore anticipates placing certain
In December 2017, the TETLP interconnect upgrade was placed into service. In June 2018, the Fair Hill Loop in Chester County, Pennsylvania and Cecil County, Maryland was placed into service. With the exception of some minor facilities, the remaining segments of the 2017 Expansion Project are expected to be placed into service byin various phases during the endremainder of the year and completing the entire project in 2018.
2017 Rate Case Filing: In January 2017, Eastern Shore filed a base rate proceeding with the FERC, as required by the terms of its 2012 rate case settlement agreement. Eastern Shore'sShore based its proposed rates were based on the mainline cost of service of approximately $60.0 million resulting in an overall requested revenue increase of approximately $18.9 million and a requested rate of return on common equity of 13.75 percent. The filing includes incremental rates for the White Oak Lateral Project and White Oak Mainline Expansion Project, which benefits a single customer. Eastern Shore also proposed to revise its depreciation rates and negative salvage rate based on the results of independent, third-party depreciation and negative salvage value studies. In March 2017, the FERC issued an order suspending the tariff rates for the usual five-month period.
OnIn August 1, 2017, Eastern Shore implemented new rates, subject to refund, based uponon the outcome of the rate proceeding.  Eastern Shore recorded incremental revenue of approximately $1.0$3.7 million for the three and nine monthsyear ended September 30,December 31, 2017, and established a regulatory liability to reserve a portion of the total incremental revenues generated by the new rates until the rate case settlement is resolved. Settlement discussions continue amongapproved by the other partiesFERC and customers receive refunds according to the case.terms of the settlement agreement. Eastern Shore filed an uncontested settlement agreement and a motion to place interim settlement rates into effect beginning on January 1, 2018. The FERC approved the settlement agreement in February 2018, and it became final in March 2018. Exclusive of the TCJA impact, base rates would have increased, on an annual basis, by approximately $9.8 million.
Effect of the TCJA on ratepayers: In March 2018, Eastern Shore filed with the FERC its revised base rates, reflecting the change in its federal corporate income tax rate. These adjusted base rates became effective April 1, 2018 and will generate approximately $6.6 million, on an annual basis. Any excess accumulated deferred income tax balances will flow back to customers over the period determined in the next rate case, absent any transition rule included in the TCJA or other statutes or rules that would govern the flow-back period. In April 2018, Eastern Shore refunded to its customers, with interest, the difference between the proposed rates and the settlement rates. The refund to customers also reflected the difference in rates due to the impact of the TCJA.
In March 2018, the FERC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposed a process to determine which jurisdictional natural gas pipelines may be collecting unjust and unreasonable rates in light of the recent reduction in the corporate income tax rate in the TCJA and changes to the FERC’s income tax allowance policies following the United Airlines, Inc. v. FERC decision. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposed requiring interstate natural gas pipelines to provide an informational filing to allow the FERC to evaluate the impact of the TCJA on the pipelines’ revenue requirement. In April 2018, Eastern Shore filed comments in this proceeding requesting confirmation that Eastern Shore is not required to provide an informational filing because it has already implemented lower rates in accordance with the settlement agreement in its 2017 rate case approved by the FERC. In July 2018, the FERC issued a final rule, which largely adopted the process proposed in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requiring all interstate natural gas companies
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to file an informational filing for the purpose of evaluating the impact of the TCJA and the United Airlines, Inc. v. FERC decision on interstate natural gas pipelines’ revenue requirements. The final rule provides that an individual pipeline has the option to request a waiver if the pre-March 2018 settlement justifies not adjusting its rates at this time. We plan to file such a request. We believe that the ultimate resolution of this matter will not have a material effect on Eastern Shore’s financial position or results of operations.

4.5. Environmental Commitments and Contingencies
We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations governing environmental quality and pollution control. These laws and regulations require us to remove or remediate, at current and former operating sites, the effect on the environment of the disposal or release of specified substances.
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MGP Sites
We have participated in the investigation, assessment or remediation of, and have exposures at, seven former MGP sites. Those sites are located in Salisbury, Maryland,Maryland; Seaford, DelawareDelaware; and Winter Haven, Key West, Pensacola, Sanford and West Palm Beach, Florida. We have also been in discussions with the MDE regarding another former MGP site located in Cambridge, Maryland.
As of SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, we had approximately $9.7$9.5 million in environmental liabilities related to FPU’s MGP sites in Florida, which include the Key West, Pensacola, Sanford and West Palm Beach, sites.Florida. FPU has approval to recover, from insurance and from customers through rates, up to $14.0 million of its environmental costs related to its MGP sites. Approximately $10.9$11.3 million has been recovered as of SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, leaving approximately $3.1$2.7 million in regulatory assets for future recovery of environmental costs from FPU’s customers.
Environmental liabilities for our MGP sites are recorded on an undiscounted basis based on the estimate of future costs provided by independent consultants. We continue to expect that all costs related to environmental remediation and related activities, including any potential future remediation costs for which we do not currently have approval for regulatory recovery, will be recoverable from customers through rates.
The following is a summary of our remediation status and estimated costs to implement clean-up of our key MGP sites:
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JurisdictionMGP SiteStatusCost to Clean upRecovery through Rates
FloridaWest Palm BeachRemedial actions approved by the FDEP have been implemented on the east parcel of the site. SimilarWe expect to implement similar remedial actions expected to be implemented on other remaining portions.portions, including the anticipated demolition of buildings on the site's west parcel in 2018.Between $4.5 million to $15.4 million, including costs associated with the relocation of FPU’s operations at this site, which is necessary to implement the remedial plan, and any potential costs associated with future redevelopment of the propertiesproperties.Yes
FloridaSanford
In January 2007, FPU andMarch 2018, the Sanford group signedEPA approved a Third Participation Agreement. FPU's share of remediation costs under"site-wide ready for anticipated use" status, which is the Third Participation Agreement is set at five percent offinal step before delisting a maximum of $13.0 million, or $650,000, whichsite. Construction has been paid to an escrow account.

The EPA issued a preliminary close-out reportcompleted and restrictive covenants are in December 2014. Groundwater monitoring and statutory five-year reviewsplace to ensure performanceprotection of human health. The only remaining activity is long-term groundwater monitoring. It is unlikely that FPU will incur any significant future costs associated with the approved remedy will continue on this site.
FPU's remaining remediation expenses, including attorneys' fees and costs, are estimatedanticipated to be approximately $24,000less than $10,000.Yes
FloridaWinter HavenRemediation is ongoing.Not expected to exceed $425,000, which includes costs of implementing institutional controls at the sitesite.Yes
DelawareSeafordProposed plan for implementation approved by the DNREC in July 2017. Site assessment is ongoing.$273,000 to $465,000Between $273,000 and $465,000.Yes
MarylandCambridgeCurrently in discussions with MDEthe MDE.Unable to estimateestimate.N/A
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5.6.Other Commitments and Contingencies
Natural Gas, Electric and Propane Supply
We have entered into contractual commitments, with various expiration dates, to purchase natural gas, electricity and propane from various suppliers. The contracts have various expiration dates. In 2017, our Delmarva Peninsula natural gas distribution operations entered into asset management agreements with PESCO to manage a portion of their natural gas transportation and storage capacity. The agreements were effective as of April 1, 2017, and each has a three-year term, expiring on March 31, 2020. Previously, the Delaware PSC approved PESCO to serve as an asset manager.manager with respect to our Delaware Division.
In May 2013, Sandpiper entered into a capacity, supply and operating agreement with EGWIC to purchase propane over a six-year term ending in May 2019. Sandpiper's current annual commitment is estimated at approximately 2.82.2 million gallons. Sandpiper has the option to enter into either a fixed per-gallon price for some or all of the propane purchases or a market-based price utilizing one of two local propane pricing indices.
Also in May 2013, Sharp entered into a separate supply and operating agreement with EGWIC. Under this agreement, Sharp has a commitment to supply propane to EGWIC over a six-year term ending in May 2019. Sharp's current annual commitment is estimated at approximately 2.82.2 million gallons. The agreement between Sharp and EGWIC is separate from the agreement between Sandpiper and EGWIC, and neither agreement permits the parties to set off the rights and obligations specified in one agreement against those specified in the other agreement.
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Chesapeake Utilities' Florida natural gas distribution divisionDivision has firm transportation service contracts with FGT and Gulfstream. Pursuant to a capacity release program approved by the Florida PSC, all of the capacity under these agreements has been released to various third parties, including PESCO. Under the terms of these capacity release agreements, Chesapeake Utilities is contingently liable to FGT and Gulfstream should any party that acquired the capacity through release fail to pay the capacity charge.
FPU’s electric fuel supply contracts require FPU to maintain an acceptable standard of creditworthiness based on specific financial ratios. FPU’s agreement with JEAFPL requires FPU to comply with the following ratiosmeet or exceed a debt service coverage ratio of 1.25 times based on the results of the prior 12 months: (a) total liabilitiesmonths. If FPU fails to tangible net worth less than 3.75 times and (b) a fixed charge coveragemeet this ratio, greater than 1.5 times. If either ratio is not met by FPU, it has 30 days to cure the default ormust provide an irrevocable letter of credit ifor pay all amounts outstanding under the default is not cured.agreement within five business days. FPU’s electric fuel supply agreement with Gulf Power requires FPU to meet the following ratios based on the average of the prior six quarters: (a) funds from operations interest coverage ratio (minimum of 2 times), and (b) total debt to total capital (maximum of 65 percent). If FPU fails to meet the requirements, it has to provide the supplier a written explanation of actions taken, or proposed to be taken, to become compliant. Failure to comply with the ratios specified in the Gulf Power agreement could also result in FPU having to provide an irrevocable letter of credit. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, FPU was in compliance with all of the requirements of its fuel supply contracts.
Eight Flags provides electricity and steam generation services through its CHP plant located on Amelia Island, Florida. In June 2016, Eight Flags began selling power generated from the CHP plant to FPU pursuant to a 20-year power purchase agreement for distribution to its retail electric customers. In July 2016, Eight Flags also started selling steam, an industrial customer that ownspursuant to a separate 20-year contract, to Rayonier, the propertylandowner on which the CHP plant is located pursuant to a separate 20-year contract.located. The CHP plant is powered by natural gas transported by FPU through its distribution system and Peninsula Pipeline through its intrastate pipeline.
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Corporate Guarantees
We have issued corporate guarantees to certain vendors of our subsidiaries, primarily PESCO. These corporate guarantees provide for the payment of propane and natural gas purchases in the event that PESCO defaults. PESCO has never defaulted on its obligations to pay its suppliers. The liabilities for these purchases are recorded when incurred. The aggregate amount guaranteed at SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 was approximately $71.9$72.5 million, with the guarantees expiring on various dates through September 2018.June 2019.
Chesapeake Utilities also guarantees the payment of FPU’s first mortgage bonds. The maximum exposure under this guarantee is the outstanding principal plus accrued interest balances. The outstanding principal balances of FPU’s first mortgage bonds approximate their carrying values (see Note 1314, Long-Term Debt, for further details).
Letters of Credit
As of SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, we have issued letters of credit totaling approximately $5.8$5.0 million related to the electric transmission services for FPU's electric division, the firm transportation service agreement between TETLP and our Delaware and Maryland divisions, the payment of natural gas purchases for PESCO, and to our current and previous primary insurance carriers. These letters of credit have various expiration dates through June 2018.December 2019. There have been no draws on these letters of credit as of SeptemberJune 30, 2017.2018. We do not anticipate that the counterparties will draw upon these letters of credit, will be drawn upon by the counterparties, and we expect that the letters of credit will be renewed to the extent necessary in the future.
Other
We are involved in certain other legal actions and claims arising in the normal course of business. We are also involved in certain legal and administrative proceedings before various governmental agencies concerning rates. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these proceedings will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

6.7.Segment Information
We use the management approach to identify operating segments. We organize our business around differences in regulatory environment and/or products or services, and the operating results of each segment are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker (our Chief Executive Officer) in order to make decisions about resources and to assess performance. The segments are evaluated based on their pre-tax operating income.
Our operations are comprised of two reportable segments:
Regulated Energy. The Regulated Energy segment includes naturalIncludes energy distribution and transmission services (natural gas distribution, natural gas transmission and electric distribution operations.operations). All operations in this segment are regulated, as to their rates
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and services, by the PSC having jurisdiction in each operating territory or by the FERC in the case of Eastern Shore.
Unregulated Energy. The Unregulated Energy segment includesIncludes energy transmission, energy generation, propane delivery, and other energy services (propane distribution, the operations of our Eight Flags' CHP plant, as well as natural gas marketing, gathering, processing, transportation and supply.supply). These operations are unregulated as to their rates and services. Effective June 2016, this segment includes electricity and steam generation through Eight Flags' CHP plant. Through March 2017, this segment also included the operations of Xeron, our propane and crude oil trading subsidiary that began windingwound down its operations at the end ofshortly after the first quarter of 2017. Also included in this segment are other unregulated energy services, such as energy-related merchandise sales and heating, ventilation and air conditioning, plumbing and electrical services.
OtherThe remainder of our operations areis presented as “Other businesses and eliminations,”eliminations”, which consistconsists of unregulated subsidiaries that own real estate leased to Chesapeake Utilities, as well as certain corporate costs not allocated to other operations.

Our operations are entirely domestic.

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The following table presents financial information about our reportable segments:
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
 September 30, September 30, June 30, June 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016 2018 2017 2018 2017
(in thousands)                
Operating Revenues, Unaffiliated Customers                
Regulated Energy segment $67,257
 $68,899
 $232,519
 $224,382
 $67,731
 $68,815
 $173,685
 $165,261
Unregulated Energy segment and other businesses 59,679
 39,449
 204,661
 132,604
 68,933
 56,269
 202,335
 144,983
Total operating revenues, unaffiliated customers $126,936
 $108,348
 $437,180
 $356,986
 $136,664
 $125,084
 $376,020
 $310,244
Intersegment Revenues (1)
                
Regulated Energy segment $2,446
 $1,120
 $5,834
 $2,248
 $2,773
 $2,181
 $6,212
 $3,389
Unregulated Energy segment 5,009
 2,593
 15,801
 3,759
 7,412
 6,780
 19,377
 10,791
Other businesses 194
 240
 581
 705
 194
 159
 387
 387
Total intersegment revenues $7,649
 $3,953
 $22,216
 $6,712
 $10,379
 $9,120
 $25,976
 $14,567
Operating Income                
Regulated Energy segment $15,168
 $13,115
 $51,915
 $52,660
 $14,304
 $14,086
 $41,015
 $37,481
Unregulated Energy segment (989) (3,080) 10,504
 9,267
 490
 2
 14,174
 11,577
Other businesses and eliminations 60
 121
 161
 350
 (1,546) (27) (1,535) 102
Total operating income 14,239
 10,156
 62,580
 62,277
 13,248
 14,061
 53,654
 49,160
Other income (expense), net 239
 (28) (643) (68)
Other expense, net (262) (1,002) (194) (1,703)
Interest charges 3,321
 2,722
 9,133
 7,996
 3,881
 3,073
 7,545
 5,811
Income before Income Taxes 11,157
 7,406
 52,804

54,213
 9,105
 9,986
 45,915

41,646
Income taxes 4,324
 2,990
 20,781
 21,401
 2,718
 3,940
 12,674
 16,456
Net Income $6,833
 $4,416
 $32,023

$32,812
 $6,387
 $6,046
 $33,241

$25,190
 
(1) 
All significant intersegment revenues are billed at market rates and have been eliminated from consolidated operating revenues.
(in thousands) September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
Identifiable Assets        
Regulated Energy segment $1,084,961
 $986,752
 $1,199,672
 $1,121,673
Unregulated Energy segment 233,785
 226,368
 227,191
 259,041
Other businesses and eliminations 28,004
 16,099
 36,078
 34,220
Total identifiable assets $1,346,750
 $1,229,219
 $1,462,941
 $1,414,934

Our operations are entirely domestic.

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7.8.Stockholder's Equity
Preferred Stock
We had 2,000,000 authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, as of SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and December 31, 2016.2017. Shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to time, by authorization of our Board of Directors and without the necessity of further action or authorization by stockholders, in one or more series and with such voting powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications as the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, determine.

Common Stock Public Offering
In September 2016, we completed a public offering of 960,488 shares of our common stock at a public offering priceper share of $62.26. The net proceeds from the sale of common stock, after deducting underwriting commissions and expenses, were approximately $57.4 million, which were added to our general funds and used primarily to repay a portion of our short-term debt under unsecured lines of credit.
Stockholders' Rights
Pursuant to authority granted under Delaware law and our Certificate of Incorporation, our Board of Directors previously declared a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right (each, a "Right," and, collectively, the "Rights") for each outstanding share of our common stock held of record on September 3, 1999, as adjusted for our stock split in September of 2014, and for additional shares of common stock issued since that time. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in the Rights Plan. Unless exercised, the Rights trade with our common stock and are evidenced by the common stock certificate. In general, each Right will become exercisable and trade independently from our common stock upon a person or entity acquiring a beneficial ownership of 15 percent or more of our outstanding common stock.
Each Right, if it becomes exercisable, initially entitles the holder to purchase one fiftieth of a share of our Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a price of $70 per unit, subject to anti-dilution adjustments. Upon a person or entity becoming an "acquiring person," each Right (other than the Rights held by the acquiring person) will become exercisable to purchase a number of shares of our common stock having a market value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. The Rights expire on August 20, 2019, unless they are redeemed earlier by us at the redemption price of $0.01 per Right. We may redeem the Rights at any time before they become exercisable and thereafter only in limited circumstances.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Defined benefit pension and postretirement plan items, unrealized gains (losses) of our propane swap agreements, call options and natural gas futures contracts, designated as commodity contracts cash flow hedges, are the components of our accumulated other comprehensive loss. During the first quarter of 2018, we elected early adoption of ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. Accordingly, we reclassified stranded tax effects resulting from the TCJA from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings, related to our employee benefit plans and commodity contracts cash flow hedges.
The following tables present the changes in the balance of accumulated other comprehensive loss for(loss)/income as of June 30, 2018 and 2017. All amounts except the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. All amountsstranded tax reclassification are presented net of tax.

  Defined Benefit Commodity  
  Pension and Contracts  
  Postretirement Cash Flow  
  Plan Items Hedges Total
(in thousands)      
As of December 31, 2016 $(5,360) $482
 $(4,878)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications (9) 322
 313
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) 271
 (965) (694)
Net current-period other comprehensive income/(loss) 262
 (643) (381)
As of September 30, 2017 $(5,098) $(161) $(5,259)
  Defined Benefit Commodity  
  Pension and Contracts  
  Postretirement Cash Flow  
  Plan Items Hedges Total
(in thousands)      
As of December 31, 2017 $(4,743) $471
 $(4,272)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications 
 (1,440) (1,440)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income 189
 712
 901
Net current-period other comprehensive income/(loss) 189
 (728) (539)
Stranded tax reclassification to retained earnings (1,022) 115
 (907)
As of June 30, 2018 $(5,576) $(142) $(5,718)

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  Defined Benefit Commodity  
  Pension and Contracts  
  Postretirement Cash Flow  
  Plan Items Hedges Total
(in thousands)      
As of December 31, 2015 $(5,580) $(260) $(5,840)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications 
 641
 641
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) 263
 (93) 170
Net prior-period other comprehensive income 263
 548
 811
As of September 30, 2016 $(5,317) $288
 $(5,029)
  Defined Benefit Commodity  
  Pension and Contracts  
  Postretirement Cash Flow  
  Plan Items Hedges Total
(in thousands)      
As of December 31, 2016 $(5,360) $482
 $(4,878)
Other comprehensive (loss)/income before reclassifications (9) 837
 828
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) 180
 (1,374) (1,194)
Net prior-period other comprehensive income/(loss) 171
 (537) (366)
As of June 30, 2017 $(5,189) $(55) $(5,244)
The following table presents amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 2016.2017. Deferred gains or losses for our commodity contracts cash flow hedges are recognized in earnings upon settlement.
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
 September 30, September 30, June 30, June 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016 2018 2017 2018 2017
(in thousands)                
Amortization of defined benefit pension and postretirement plan items:                
Prior service credit (1)
 $19
 $20
 $58
 $60
 $19
 $20
 $39
 $39
Net loss(1)
 (171) (166) (509) (500) (149) (170) (297) (339)
Total before income taxes (152)
(146) (451)
(440) (130)
(150) (258)
(300)
Income tax benefit 61
 58
 180
 177
 36
 61
 69
 120
Net of tax $(91) $(88) $(271)
$(263) $(94) $(89) $(189)
$(180)
                
Gains and losses on commodity contracts cash flow hedges        
Gains and losses on commodity contracts cash flow hedges:        
Propane swap agreements (2)
 $198
 $
 $663
 $(322) $(181) $77
 $(645) $465
Natural gas swaps (2)
 1
 
 1
 
 (31) 
 (481) 
Natural gas futures (2)
 (852) 105
 929
 464
 (161) 631
 137
 1,781
Total before income taxes (653) 105
 1,593

142
 (373) 708
 (989)
2,246
Income tax benefit (expense) 248
 (41) (628) (49) 105
 (273) 277
 (872)
Net of tax (405) 64

965
 93
 (268) 435

(712) 1,374
Total reclassifications for the period $(496) $(24)
$694
 $(170) $(362) $346

$(901) $1,194
 
(1) These amounts are included in the computation of net periodic costs (benefits). See Note 89, Employee Benefit Plans, for additional details.
(2) These amounts are included in the effects of gains and losses from derivative instruments. See Note 11,12, Derivative Instruments, for additional details.
Amortization of defined benefit pension and postretirement plan items is included in operations expense, and gains and losses on propane swap agreements, and call options and natural gas futures contracts are included in cost of sales in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income. The income tax benefit is included in income tax income (expense)expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income.

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8.9.Employee Benefit Plans
Net periodic benefit costs for our pension and post-retirement benefits plans for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 20162017 are set forth in the following tables:
 Chesapeake
Pension Plan
 FPU
Pension Plan
 Chesapeake SERP Chesapeake
Postretirement
Plan
 FPU
Medical
Plan
 Chesapeake
Pension Plan
 FPU
Pension Plan
 Chesapeake SERP Chesapeake
Postretirement
Plan
 FPU
Medical
Plan
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017
(in thousands)                                        
Interest cost $103
 $105
 $623
 $635
 $22
 $23
 $11
 $11
 $13
 $14
 $98
 $103
 $592
 $624
 $21
 $22
 $9
 $11
 $13
 $13
Expected return on plan assets (127) (131) (699) (625) 
 
 
 
 
 
 (138) (127) (774) (700) 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of prior service credit 
 
 
 
 
 
 (19) (20) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (19) (20) 
 
Amortization of net loss 107
 103
 131
 133
 22
 22
 17
 16
 
 
 88
 106
 108
 131
 25
 22
 15
 17
 
 
Net periodic cost (benefit)(1) 83
 77
 55
 143
 44
 45
 9
 7
 13
 14
 48
 82
 (74) 55
 46
 44
 5
 8
 13
 13
Amortization of pre-merger regulatory asset 
 
 191
 191
 
 
 
 
 2
 2
 
 
 191
 191
 
 
 
 
 2
 2
Total periodic cost $83
 $77
 $246
 $334
 $44
 $45
 $9
 $7

$15
 $16
 $48
 $82
 $117
 $246
 $46
 $44
 $5
 $8

$15
 $15

 
Chesapeake
Pension Plan
 
FPU
Pension Plan
 Chesapeake SERP 
Chesapeake
Postretirement
Plan
 
FPU
Medical
Plan
 
Chesapeake
Pension Plan
 
FPU
Pension Plan
 Chesapeake SERP 
Chesapeake
Postretirement
Plan
 
FPU
Medical
Plan
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017
(in thousands)      
                                  
Interest cost $309
 $315
 $1,870
 $1,894
 $66
 $68
 $31
 $32
 $38
 $41
 $195
 $206
 $1,184
 $1,247
 $42
 $44
 $19
 $21
 $26
 $26
Expected return on plan assets (381) (392) (2,098) (2,027) 
 
 
 
 
 
 (276) (254) (1,549) (1,399) 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of prior service credit 
 
 
 
 
 
 (58) (60) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (39) (39) 
 
Amortization of net loss 319
 309
 392
 389
 65
 66
 50
 51
 
 
 176
 213
 217
 262
 50
 44
 30
 32
 
 
Net periodic cost (benefit)(1) 247
 232
 164
 256
 131
 134
 23
 23
 38
 41
 95
 165
 (148) 110
 92
 88
 10
 14
 26
 26
Amortization of pre-merger regulatory asset 
 
 571
 571
 
 
 
 
 6
 6
 
 
 381
 381
 
 
 
 
 4
 4
Total periodic cost $247
 $232
 $735
 $827
 $131
 $134
 $23
 $23
 $44
 $47
 $95
 $165
 $233
 $491
 $92
 $88
 $10
 $14
 $30
 $30

(1)As a result of our adoption of ASU 2017-07 on January 1, 2018, the "other than service" cost components of net periodic costs have been recorded or reclassified to other income (expense), net in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

We expect to record pension and postretirement benefit costs of approximately $1.6 million$913,000 for 2017.2018. Included in these costs is approximately $769,000 related to continued amortization of the FPU pension regulatory asset, which represents the portion attributable to FPU’s regulated energy operations for the changes in funded status that occurred, but were not recognized, as part of net periodic benefit costs prior to the FPU merger in 2009. This was deferred as a regulatory asset by FPU prior to the merger, to be recovered through rates pursuant to a previous order by the Florida PSC. The unamortized balance of this regulatory asset was approximately $1.5 million$942,000 and approximately $2.1$1.3 million at SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and December 31, 2016,2017, respectively.
Pursuant to a Florida PSC order, FPU continues to record, as a regulatory asset, a portion of the unrecognized pension and postretirement benefit costs related to its regulated operations after the FPU merger. The portion of the unrecognized pension and postretirement benefit costs related to FPU’s unregulated operations and Chesapeake Utilities' operations is recorded to accumulated other comprehensive loss.
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The following tables present the amounts included in the regulatory asset and accumulated other comprehensive loss that were recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost during the three and nine months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 2016:2017:
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 Chesapeake
Pension
Plan
 FPU
Pension
Plan
 Chesapeake SERP Chesapeake
Postretirement
Plan
 FPU
Medical
Plan
 Total
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 Chesapeake
Pension
Plan
 FPU
Pension
Plan
 Chesapeake SERP Chesapeake
Postretirement
Plan
 FPU
Medical
Plan
 Total
(in thousands)                        
Prior service credit $
 $
 $
 $(19) $
 $(19) $
 $
 $
 $(19) $
 $(19)
Net loss 107
 131
 22
 17
 
 277
 88
 108
 25
 15
 
 236
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost 107
 131
 22
 (2) 
 258
 88
 108
 25
 (4) 
 217
Recognized from accumulated other comprehensive loss (1)
 107
 25
 22
 (2) 
 152
 88
 21
 25
 (4) 
 130
Recognized from regulatory asset 
 106
 
 
 
 106
 
 87
 
 
 
 87
Total $107
 $131
 $22
 $(2) $
 $258
 $88
 $108
 $25
 $(4) $
 $217

    
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 Chesapeake
Pension
Plan
 FPU
Pension
Plan
 Chesapeake SERP Chesapeake
Postretirement
Plan
 FPU
Medical
Plan
 Total
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 Chesapeake
Pension
Plan
 FPU
Pension
Plan
 Chesapeake SERP Chesapeake
Postretirement
Plan
 FPU
Medical
Plan
 Total
(in thousands)                        
Prior service credit $
 $
 $
 $(20) $
 $(20) $
 $
 $
 $(20) $
 $(20)
Net loss 103
 133
 22
 16
 
 274
 106
 131
 22
 17
 
 276
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost 103
 133
 22
 (4) 
 254
 106
 131
 22
 (3) 
 256
Recognized from accumulated other comprehensive loss (1)
 103
 25
 22
 (4) 
 146
 106
 25
 22
 (3) 
 150
Recognized from regulatory asset 
 108
 
 
 
 108
 
 106
 
 
 
 106
Total $103
 $133
 $22

$(4)
$

$254
 $106
 $131
 $22

$(3)
$

$256

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 
Chesapeake
Pension
Plan
 
FPU
Pension
Plan
 Chesapeake SERP 
Chesapeake
Postretirement
Plan
 
FPU
Medical
Plan
 Total
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 
Chesapeake
Pension
Plan
 
FPU
Pension
Plan
 Chesapeake SERP 
Chesapeake
Postretirement
Plan
 
FPU
Medical
Plan
 Total
(in thousands)                        
Prior service credit $
 $
 $
 $(58) $
 $(58) $
 $
 $
 $(39) $
 $(39)
Net loss 319
 392
 65
 50
 
 826
 176
 217
 50
 30
 
 473
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost 319
 392
 65
 (8) 
 768
 176
 217
 50
 (9) 
 434
Recognized from accumulated other comprehensive loss (1)
 319
 75
 65
 (8) 
 451
 176
 41
 50
 (9) 
 258
Recognized from regulatory asset 
 317
 
 
 
 317
 
 176
 
 
 
 176
Total $319
 $392
 $65
 $(8) $
 $768
 $176
 $217
 $50
 $(9) $
 $434

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For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 
Chesapeake
Pension
Plan
 
FPU
Pension
Plan
 Chesapeake SERP 
Chesapeake
Postretirement
Plan
 
FPU
Medical
Plan
 Total
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 
Chesapeake
Pension
Plan
 
FPU
Pension
Plan
 Chesapeake SERP 
Chesapeake
Postretirement
Plan
 
FPU
Medical
Plan
 Total
(in thousands)                        
Prior service credit $
 $
 $
 $(60) $
 $(60) $
 $
 $
 $(39) $
 $(39)
Net loss 309
 389
 66
 51
 
 815
 213
 262
 44
 32
 
 551
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost 309
 389
 66
 (9) 
 755
 213
 262
 44
 (7) 
 512
Recognized from accumulated other comprehensive loss (1)
 309
 74
 66
 (9) 
 440
 213
 50
 44
 (7) 
 300
Recognized from regulatory asset 
 315
 
 
 
 315
 
 212
 
 
 
 212
Total $309
 $389
 $66
 $(9) $
 $755
 $213
 $262
 $44
 $(7) $
 $512

(1) See Note 78, Stockholder's Equity.
During the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, we contributed approximately $67,000$126,000 and $234,000,$198,000, respectively, to the Chesapeake Pension Plan and approximately $110,000$539,000 and $1.6 million,$848,000, respectively, to the FPU Pension Plan. We expect to contribute a total of approximately $746,000$359,000 and approximately $3.0$1.5 million to the Chesapeake Pension Plan and FPU Pension Plan, respectively, during 2017,2018, which represents the minimum annual contribution payments required.
The Chesapeake SERP, the Chesapeake Postretirement Plan and the FPU Medical Plan are unfunded and are expected to be paid out of our general funds. Cash benefits paid under the Chesapeake SERP for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, were approximately $38,000 and $114,000,$76,000, respectively. We expect to pay total cash benefits of approximately $151,000 under the Chesapeake SERP in 2017.2018. Cash benefits paid under the Chesapeake Postretirement Plan, primarily for medical claims for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, were approximately $30,000$7,000 and $94,000,$18,000, respectively. We estimate that approximately $83,000$97,000 will be paid for such benefits under the Chesapeake Postretirement Plan in 2017.2018. Cash benefits paid under the FPU Medical Plan, primarily for medical claims for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, were approximately $13,000 and $48,000,$24,000, respectively. We estimate that approximately $129,000$88,000 will be paid for such benefits under the FPU Medical Plan in 2017.2018.

9.10.Investments
The investment balances at SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and December 31, 2016,2017, consisted of the following:
    
(in thousands)September 30,
2017
 December 31,
2016
June 30,
2018
 December 31,
2017
Rabbi trust (associated with the Deferred Compensation Plan)$6,358
 $4,881
$7,465
 $6,734
Investments in equity securities22
 21
21
 22
Total$6,380
 4,902
$7,486
 6,756
We classify these investments as trading securities and report them at their fair value. For the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 2016,2017, we recorded a net unrealized loss of approximately $158,000 and a net unrealized gain of approximately $261,000 and $193,000,$181,000, respectively, in other income (expense),expense, net in the condensed consolidated statements of income related to these investments. For the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 2016,2017, we recorded ana net unrealized loss of approximately $113,000 and a net unrealized gain of approximately $694,000 and $246,000,$433,000, respectively, in other income (expense),expense, net in the condensed consolidated statements of income related to these investments. For the investment in the Rabbi Trust, we also have recorded an associated liability, which is included in other pension and benefit costs in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and is adjusted each monthperiod for the gains and losses incurred by the investments in the Rabbi Trust.
 
10.11.Share-Based Compensation
Our non-employee directors and key employees are granted share-based awards through our SICP. We record these share-based awards as compensation costs over the respective service period for which services are received in exchange for an award of equity or equity-based compensation. The compensation cost is based primarily on the fair value of the shares
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awarded, using the estimated fair value of each share on the date it was granted and the number of shares to be issued at the end of the service period.
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The table below presents the amounts included in net income related to share-based compensation expense for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 2016:2017:
    
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
 September 30, September 30, June 30, June 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016 2018 2017 2018 2017
(in thousands)                
Awards to non-employee directors $134
 $135
 $406
 $445
 $135
 $136
 $269
 $271
Awards to key employees 662
 488
 1,202
 1,442
 1,190
 37
 2,575
 541
Total compensation expense 796
 623
 1,608
 1,887
 1,325
 173
 2,844
 812
Less: tax benefit (320) (251) (647) (760) (363) (70) (779) (327)
Share-based compensation amounts included in net income $476
 $372
 $961
 $1,127
 $962
 $103
 $2,065
 $485
Non-employee Directors
Shares granted to non-employee directors are issued in advance of the directors’ service periods and are fully vested as of the grant date. We record a prepaid expense equal to the fair value of the shares issued and amortize the expense equally over a one-year service period of one year.period. In May 2017,2018, each of our non-employee directors received an annual retainer of 835792 shares of common stock under the SICP for service as a director through the 20182019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
A The table below presents the summary of the stock activity for ourawards to non-employee directors duringfor the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017 is presented below:2018:
 Number of Shares 
Weighted Average
Fair Value
 Number of Shares 
Weighted Average
Fair Value
Outstanding— December 31, 2016 
 $
Outstanding—December 31, 2017 
 $
Granted 7,515
 $71.80
 7,128
 $75.70
Vested (7,515) $71.80
 (7,128) $75.70
Outstanding— September 30, 2017 
 $
Outstanding—June 30, 2018 
 $
At SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, there was approximately $314,000$450,000 of unrecognized compensation expense related to these awards. This expense will be recognized over the directors' remaining service periods ending April 30, 2018.2019. See Note 1, Summary of Accounting Policies, for additional information regarding ASU 2018-07 and its impact on the accounting for non-employee share-based payments.
Key Employees
The table below presents the summary of the stock activity for awards to key employees for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017:
2018: 
 Number of Shares 
Weighted Average
Fair Value
 Number of Shares 
Weighted Average
Fair Value
Outstanding— December 31, 2016 115,091
 $51.85
Outstanding—December 31, 2017 132,642
 $59.31
Granted 52,355
 $63.42
 49,494
 $67.76
Vested (32,926) $38.88
 (29,786) $47.39
Vested - Accelerated pursuant to separation agreement (1)
 (16,676) $75.78
Expired (1,878) $39.97
 (3,933) $49.66
Outstanding— September 30, 2017 132,642
 $52.42
Outstanding—June 30, 2018 131,741
 $67.46

(1)Includes 2,569 shares that were forfeited.
In February and May 2017,2018, our Board of Directors granted awards of 52,35549,494 shares of common stock to key employees under the SICP. The shares granted in February and May 2017 are multi-year awards that will vest at the end of the three-year service period ending December 31, 2019.2020. All of these stock awards are earned based upon the successful achievement of long-term goals, growth and financial results, which comprise both market-based and performance-based conditions or targets. The fair value of each performance-basedperformance-
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based condition or target is equal to the market price of our common stock on the grant date of each award. For the market-based conditions, we used the Black-Scholes pricing model to estimate the fair value of each market-based award granted.
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AtIn March 2018, upon the election of certain of our executives, in March 2017, for shares that were awarded for the performance period ending December 31, 2016,executive officers, we withheld shares with a value at least equivalent to each such executive’sexecutive officer’s minimum statutory obligation for applicable income and other employment taxes related to shares that we awarded for the performance period ended December 31, 2017, remitted the cash to the appropriate taxing authorities, and paid the balance of such awarded shares to each such executive.executive officer. We withheld 10,26910,436 shares, based on the value of the shares on their award date, determined by the average of the high and low prices of our common stock. Total combined payments for the employees’ tax obligations to the taxing authorities were approximately $692,000.$719,000.
In June 2018, the Company and a former executive officer entered into a separation agreement and release (the "Separation Agreement"). Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, three awards, representing a total of 14,107 shares of common stock previously granted to the executive officer under the SICP, immediately vested at the time of separation, and an additional 2,569 shares were forfeited. We settled the awards that vested in cash and recognized $1.1 million as share-based compensation expense.
At SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, the aggregate intrinsic value of the SICP awards granted to key employees was approximately $10.4$10.5 million. At SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, there was approximately $2.7$3.2 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to these awards, which is expected to be recognized from 20172018 through 2019.2020.
Stock Options
We did not have any stock options outstanding at SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 or 2016,2017, nor were any stock options issued during these periods.

11.12.Derivative Instruments

We use derivative and non-derivative contracts to engage in trading activities and manage risks related to obtaining adequate supplies and the price fluctuations of natural gas, electricity and propane. Our natural gas, electric and propane distribution operations have entered into agreements with suppliers to purchase natural gas, electricity and propane for resale to our customers. Aspire Energy has entered into contracts with producers to secure natural gas to meet its obligations. Purchases under these contracts typically either do not meet the definition of derivatives or are considered “normal purchases and normal sales” and are accounted for on an accrual basis. Our propane distribution and natural gas marketing operations may also enter into fair value hedges of their inventory or cash flow hedges of their future purchase commitments in order to mitigate the impact of wholesale price fluctuations. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, our natural gas and electric distribution operations did not have any outstanding derivative contracts.
Hedging Activities in 20172018
PESCO enters into natural gas futures contracts associated with the purchase and sale of natural gas to specific customers. These contracts are effective through March 2022, and we designate and account for them as cash flow hedges. There is no ineffective portion of these hedges. At June 30, 2018, PESCO had a total of 16.9 million Dts hedged under natural gas futures contracts, with a liability fair value of approximately $779,000. The change in fair value of the natural gas futures contracts is recorded as unrealized gain (loss) in other comprehensive income (loss).
In 2017,June 2018, Sharp entered into severalfutures and swap agreements to mitigate the risk of fluctuations in wholesale propane index prices associated with 11.11.4 million gallons of propane expected to be purchased from October 2017August 2018 through September 2018.June 2021. Under the futures and swap agreements, Sharp will receive the difference between the index prices (Mont Belvieu prices in October 2017August 2018 through September 2018)June 2021) and the swap prices of $0.5900 and $0.6750$0.76 to $0.875 per gallon, to the extent the index prices exceedprice exceeds the swapcontracted prices. If the index prices are lower than the swap price,prices, Sharp will pay the difference. We accounted for these swap agreements as cash flow hedges,At June 30, 2018, the futures and there is no ineffective portion of these hedges. At September 30, 2017, the swap agreements had a fair value asset of approximately $1.5 million.$18,000 and a fair value liability of $30,000. The change in the fair value of the swap agreements is recorded as unrealized gain (loss) in other comprehensive income (loss).

Hedging Activities in 2017
PESCO entersIn 2017, Sharp entered into natural gas futures contractsand swap agreements to mitigate the risk of fluctuations in wholesale propane index prices associated with 7.7 million gallons of propane expected to be purchased from October 2017 through March 2019, of which positions covering 1.4 million gallons of forecasted future purchases were outstanding as of June 30, 2018. Under the purchasefutures and saleswap agreements, Sharp will receive the difference between the index prices (Mont Belvieu prices in October 2017 through March 2019) and the swap prices of natural gas$0.59 per gallon, to other specific customers. These contracts have a two-year term,the extent the index price exceeds the contracted price. If the index prices are lower than the swap prices, Sharp will pay the difference. Sharp received
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approximately $645,000, which represented the difference between the index prices and we accountedthe contracted prices in 2018 related to hedging activities originated in 2017 and received $11,000, which represented the mark-to-market activities for them as cash flow hedges. There is no ineffective portion of these hedges.the three months ended June 30, 2018. At SeptemberJune 30, 2017, PESCO2018, the futures and swap agreements had a total of 4.0 million Dts hedged under natural gas futures contracts, with a liability fair value asset of approximately $1.3 million accounted for as a cash flow hedge.$306,000. The change in the fair value of the natural gas futures contractsswap agreements is recorded as unrealized gain (loss) in other comprehensive income (loss).
In August 2017, PESCO entered into natural gas swap agreements associated with ARM's financial contracts acquired in the ARM acquisition to mitigate the risk of fluctuations in wholesale natural gas prices associated with 12.0 million844,000 Dts of natural gas PESCO expects to purchase through January 2020. We accounted for these swap agreements as cash flow hedges, withwhich have a liability fair value liability of approximately $412,000.$120,000 at June 30, 2018. The change in fair value of the natural gas swap agreements is recorded as unrealized gain (loss) in other comprehensive income (loss).
The impact of PESCO's financial instruments that were not designated as hedges in our condensed consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended Septemberas of June 30, 20172018 was $13,000,a fair value asset of $90,000 and fair value liability of $77,000, respectively, which was recorded as an increase in gas costs and isduring the six months ended June 30, 2018 associated with 1.41.1 million and 512,500 Dts of natural gas. This presentation does not reflect the expected gains or losses arising from the underlying physical transactions associated with these financial instruments.gas, respectively.
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Balance Sheet Offsetting

Hedging Activities in 2016
In 2016, SharpPESCO has entered into swapmaster netting agreements with counterparties that enable it to mitigatenet the risk of fluctuations in wholesale propane index prices associated with 4.8 million gallons expected to be purchased through September 2017. Under the swap agreements, Sharp would receive the difference between the index prices (Mont Belvieu prices in October 2016 through September 2017)counterparties' outstanding accounts receivable and the swap prices of $0.5225 and $0.5650 per gallon, to the extent the index prices exceeded the swap prices. If the index prices were lower than the swap price, Sharp would pay the difference. Sharp receivedpayable, which are presented on a total of approximately $193,000, which represented the difference between the index prices and swap prices during the months of October 2016 through September 2017. We had accounted for these swap agreements as cash flow hedges.
In December 2016, Sharp paid a total of $33,000 to purchase a put option to protect against a decline in propane prices and related potential inventory losses associated with 630,000 gallons for its propane price cap programnet basis in the 2016-2017 heating season.consolidated balance sheets. The put option expired without being exercised becausefollowing table summarizes the propane prices did not fall below the strike price of $0.5650 per gallon inaccounts receivable and payable on a gross and net basis at June 30, 2018 and December 2016, January 2017, or February 2017. We accounted for the put option as a fair value hedge, and there was no ineffective portion of this hedge.31, 2017:
In January 2016, PESCO entered into a supplier agreement with Columbia Gas to provide natural gas supply for one of its local distribution customer pools. PESCO also assumed the obligation to store natural gas inventory to satisfy its obligations under the supplier agreement, which terminated on March 31, 2017. In conjunction with the supplier agreement, PESCO entered into natural gas futures contracts during the second quarter of 2016 in order to protect its natural gas inventory against market price fluctuations. We had previously accounted for these contracts as fair value hedges, with any ineffective portion being reported directly in earnings and offset by any associated gain (loss) on the inventory value being hedged. During the third quarter of 2016, we discontinued hedge accounting as the hedges were no longer highly effective. As of September 30, 2017, these contracts have all expired and are no longer reported on the balance sheet.
  At June 30, 2018
(in thousands) Gross amounts Amounts offset Net amounts
Accounts receivable $5,723
 $1,288
 $4,435
Accounts payable $10,326
 $1,288
 $9,038
  At December 31, 2017
(in thousands) Gross amounts Amounts offset Net amounts
Accounts receivable $8,283
 $2,391
 $5,892
Accounts payable $16,643
 $2,391
 $14,252

Commodity Contracts for Trading Activities
Shortly after the first quarter of 2017, Xeron wound down its operations. Xeron was previously engaged in trading activities using forward and futures contracts for propane and crude oil. These contracts were considered derivatives and were accounted for using the mark-to-market method of accounting. As of September 30, 2017, Xeron had no outstanding contracts that were accounted for as derivatives.
The following tables present information about the fair value and related gains and losses of our derivative contracts. We did not have any derivative contracts with a credit risk-related contingency.

The fair values of the derivative contracts recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and December 31, 2016,2017, are as follows: 
 
 Asset Derivatives
   Fair Value As Of   Fair Value As Of
(in thousands) Balance Sheet Location September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 Balance Sheet Location June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments        
Propane swap agreements Derivative assets, at fair value $15
 $8
 Derivative assets, at fair value $
 $13
Put options Derivative assets, at fair value 
 9
Natural gas swap contracts Derivative assets, at fair value 1
 
Natural gas futures contracts Derivative assets, at fair value 90
 
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges        
Natural gas futures contracts Derivative assets, at fair value 
 113
 Derivative assets, at fair value 120
 92
Propane swap agreements Derivative assets, at fair value 1,510
 693
 Derivative assets, at fair value 324
 1,181
Total asset derivatives $1,526
 $823
 $534
 $1,286

 
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 Liability Derivatives Liability Derivatives
   Fair Value As Of   Fair Value As Of
(in thousands) Balance Sheet Location September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 Balance Sheet Location June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments        
Natural gas futures contracts Derivative liabilities, at fair value $13
 $773 Derivative liabilities, at fair value $77
 $5,776
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges        
Natural gas futures contracts Derivative liabilities, at fair value 779
 469
Natural gas swap contracts Derivative liabilities, at fair value 412
 
 Derivative liabilities, at fair value 
 2
Natural gas futures contracts Derivative liabilities, at fair value 1,307
 
Propane swap agreements Derivative liabilities, at fair value 30
 
Total liability derivatives $1,732
 $773
 $886
 $6,247
The effects of gains and losses from derivative instruments on the condensed consolidated financial statements are as follows: 
   Amount of Gain (Loss) on Derivatives:   Amount of Gain (Loss) on Derivatives:
 Location of Gain For the Three Months Ended September 30, For the Nine Months Ended September 30, Location of Gain For the Three Months Ended June 30, For the Six Months Ended June 30,
(in thousands) (Loss) on Derivatives 2017 2016 2017 2016 (Loss) on Derivatives 2018 2017 2018 2017
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments                    
Realized gain on forward contracts and options (1)
 Revenue $
 $(231) $112
 $44
 Revenue $
 $
 $
 $112
Unrealized gain (loss) on forward contracts (1)
 Revenue 
 (2) 
 
Natural gas futures contracts Cost of sales 286
 205
 907
 205
 Cost of sales (128) 497
 (2,963) 621
Propane swap agreements Cost of sales 15
 
 11
 
 Cost of sales (4) 
 (13) (4)
Natural gas swap contracts Cost of sales 1
 
 1
 
Derivatives designated as fair value hedges                
Put /Call option (2)
 Cost of sales 
 
 (9) 73
 Cost of sales 
 
 
 (9)
Natural gas futures contracts Natural gas inventory 
 
 
 (233)
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges                
Propane swap agreements Cost of sales 198
 
 663
 (364) Cost of sales (181) 77
 (645) 465
Propane swap agreements Other comprehensive income 1,590
 213
 814
 559
 Other comprehensive loss 106
 (218) (886) (775)
Natural gas futures contracts Cost of sales (852) 105
 929
 464
 Cost of sales (161) 631
 137
 1,781
Natural gas swap contracts Cost of sales (31) 
 (481) 
Natural gas swap contracts Other comprehensive income 523
 
 588
 
Natural gas futures contracts Other comprehensive income (loss) (1,296) (123) (1,420) 349
 Other comprehensive loss 861
 (1,211) (871) (124)
Natural gas swap agreements Cost of sales 1
 
 1
 
Natural gas swap agreements Other comprehensive loss (413) 
 (413) 
Total $(470) $167
 $1,596
 $1,097
 $985
 $(224) $(5,134) $2,067

(1) 
All of the realized and unrealized gain (loss) on forward contracts represents the effect of trading activities on our condensed consolidated statements of income.
(2) 
As a fair value hedge with no ineffective portion, the unrealized gains and losses associated with this call option are recorded in cost of sales, offset by the corresponding change in the value of propane inventory (hedged item), which is also recorded in cost of sales. The amounts in cost of sales offset to zero, and the unrealized gains and losses of this put option effectively changed the value of propane inventory on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
 
12.13.Fair Value of Financial Instruments
GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation methods used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are the following:
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Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
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Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and
Level 3: Prices or valuation techniques requiring inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e. supported by little or no market activity).

Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value
The following table summarizes our financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the fair value measurements, by level, within the fair value hierarchy as of SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and December 31, 2016:2017:
   Fair Value Measurements Using:   Fair Value Measurements Using:
As of September 30, 2017 Fair Value 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
As of June 30, 2018 Fair Value 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
(in thousands)                
Assets:                
Investments—equity securities $22
 $22
 $
 $
 $21
 $21
 $
 $
Investments—guaranteed income fund 642
 
 
 642
 671
 
 
 671
Investments—mutual funds and other 5,716
 5,716
 
 
 6,794
 6,794
 
 
Total investments 6,380
 5,738



642
 7,486
 6,815



671
Derivative assets 1,526
 
 1,526
 
 534
 
 534
 
Total assets $7,906

$5,738

$1,526

$642
 $8,020

$6,815

$534

$671
Liabilities:                
Derivative liabilities $1,732
 $
 $1,732
 $
 $886
 $
 $886
 $
 
   Fair Value Measurements Using:   Fair Value Measurements Using:
As of December 31, 2016 Fair Value 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
As of December 31, 2017 Fair Value 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
(in thousands)                
Assets:                
Investments—equity securities $21
 $21
 $
 $
 $22
 $22
 $
 $
Investments—guaranteed income fund 561
 
 
 561
 648
 
 
 648
Investments—mutual funds and other 4,320
 4,320
 
 
 6,086
 6,086
 
 
Total investments 4,902
 4,341



561
 6,756
 6,108



648
Derivative assets 823
 
 823
 
 1,286
 
 1,286
 
Total assets $5,725

$4,341

$823

$561
 $8,042

$6,108

$1,286

$648
Liabilities:                
Derivative liabilities $773
 $
 $773
 $
 $6,247
 $
 $6,247
 $

The following valuation techniques were used to measure the fair value of assets and liabilities in the tables above:
Level 1 Fair Value Measurements:
Investments - equity securities — The fair values of these trading securities are recorded at fair value based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.
Investments - mutual funds and other — The fair values of these investments, comprised of money market and mutual funds, are recorded at fair value based on quoted net asset values of the shares.
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Level 2 Fair Value Measurements:
Derivative assets and liabilities — The fair values of forward contracts are measured using market transactions in either the listed or OTC markets. The fair value of the propane put/call options, swap agreements and natural gas futures contracts are measured using market transactions for similar assets and liabilities in either the listed or OTC markets.
Level 3 Fair Value Measurements:
Investments - guaranteed income fund — The fair values of these investments are recorded at the contract value, which approximates their fair value.
The following table sets forth the summary of the changes in the fair value of Level 3 investments for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 2016:2017:
     
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
2017 20162018 2017
(in thousands)      
Beginning Balance$561
 $279
$648
 $561
Purchases and adjustments76
 120
54
 65
Transfers
 88
(24) 
Distribution(2) (8)(12) 
Investment income7
 6
5
 4
Ending Balance$642
 $485
$671
 $630

Investment income from the Level 3 investments is reflected in other expense, (net) in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income.

At SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, there were no non-financial assets or liabilities required to be reported at fair value. We review our non-financial assets for impairment at least on an annual basis, as required.
Other Financial Assets and Liabilities
Financial assets with carrying values approximating fair value include cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. Financial liabilities with carrying values approximating fair value include accounts payable and other accrued liabilities and short-term debt. The fair value of cash and cash equivalents is measured using the comparable value in the active market and approximates its carrying value (Level 1 measurement). The fair value of short-term debt approximates the carrying value due to its short maturities and because interest rates approximate current market rates (Level 3 measurement). At SeptemberJune 30, 20172018, long-term debt, including current maturities but excluding a capital lease obligation, had a carrying value of approximately $211.4$250.7 million. This compares to a fair value of approximately $224.2$250.3 million, using a discounted cash flow methodology that incorporates a market interest rate based on published corporate borrowing rates for debt instruments with similar terms and average maturities, and with adjustments for duration, optionality, and risk profile. At December 31, 2016,2017, long-term debt, including the current maturities but excluding a capital lease obligation, had a carrying value of approximately $145.9$205.2 million, compared to the estimated fair value of approximately $161.5$215.4 million. The valuation technique used to estimate the fair value of long-term debt would be considered a Level 3 measurement.


13.14.Long-Term Debt
Our outstanding long-term debt is shown below: 
 September 30, December 31, June 30, December 31,
(in thousands) 2017 2016 2018 2017
FPU secured first mortgage bonds (1) :
        
9.08% bond, due June 1, 2022 $7,981
 $7,978
 $7,984
 $7,982
Uncollateralized senior notes:        
6.64% note, due October 31, 2017 2,727
 2,727
5.50% note, due October 12, 2020 8,000
 8,000
 6,000
 6,000
5.93% note, due October 31, 2023 19,500
 21,000
 16,500
 18,000
5.68% note, due June 30, 2026 26,100
 29,000
 23,200
 26,100
6.43% note, due May 2, 2028 7,000
 7,000
 7,000
 7,000
3.73% note, due December 16, 2028 20,000
 20,000
 20,000
 20,000
3.88% note, due May 15, 2029 50,000
 50,000
 50,000
 50,000
3.25% note, due April 30, 2032 70,000
 
 70,000
 70,000
3.48% note, due May 31, 2038 50,000
 
Promissory notes 97
 168
 26
 97
Capital lease obligation 2,425
 3,471
 1,351
 2,070
Less: debt issuance costs (446) (291) (488) (433)
Total long-term debt 213,384
 149,053
 251,573
 206,816
Less: current maturities (12,136) (12,099) (9,977) (9,421)
Total long-term debt, net of current maturities $201,248

$136,954
 $241,596

$197,395
(1) FPU secured first mortgage bonds are guaranteed by Chesapeake Utilities.

In January 2018, we borrowed an additional $25.0 million under the Revolver, which we classified as long-term debt due to the stated maturity date of October 8, 2020. In May 2018, we utilized a portion of the proceeds from the issuance of $50.0 million of 3.48% Series A notes to repay the $25.0 million of long-term debt borrowed under the Revolver. For additional information regarding the issuance of the Series A notes, see "Shelf Agreements" below.
Shelf Agreements
In October 2015, we entered into the $150.0 million Prudential Shelf Agreement, under which we may request that Prudential purchase through October 8, 2018, up to $150.0 million of Prudential Shelf Notes. The Prudential Shelf Notesour unsecured senior debt. As of June 30, 2018, we have a fixed interest rate and a maturity date not to exceed 20 years from the date of issuance. Prudential is under no obligation to purchase any of the Prudential Shelf Notes. The interest rate and terms of payment of any series of the Prudential Shelf Notes will be determined at the time of purchase.
In May 2016, Prudential confirmed and accepted our request that Prudential purchaseissued $70.0 million of 3.25 percent3.25% Prudential Shelf Notes, which were issued on April 21, 2017. The proceeds received from this issuance of Prudential Shelf Notes were used to reduce short-term borrowings under the Revolver. The balance under the Revolver had accumulated over time as capital expenditures were temporarily financed.
The Prudential Shelf Agreement sets forth certain business covenants to which we are subject when any Prudential Shelf Note is outstanding, including covenants that limit or restrict our ability, and the ability of our subsidiaries, to incur indebtedness, or place or permit liens and encumbrances on any of our property or the property of our subsidiaries.Notes.
In March 2017, we entered into the MetLife Shelf Agreement and the NYL Shelf Agreement, under which we may request that MetLife and NYL, through March 2, 2020, purchase up to $150.0 million of Met Life Shelf Notes and $100.0 million respectively, of our unsecured senior debt.NYL Shelf Notes, respectively. The unsecured senior debt would have a fixed interest rate and a maturity date not to exceed 20 years from the date of issuance. MetLife and NYL are under no obligation to purchase any unsecured senior debt. The interest rate and terms of payment of any series of unsecured senior debt will be determined at the time of purchase.
In November 2017, NYL agreed to purchase $50.0 million of 3.48% Series A notes and $50.0 million of 3.58% Series B notes. The Series A notes were issued in May 2018 and the Series B notes will be issued on or before November 20, 2018. The proceeds received from the issuances of these NYL Shelf Notes will be used to reduce borrowings under the Revolver and/or lines of credit and/or to fund capital expenditures. The NYL Shelf Agreement has been fully utilized.
As of SeptemberJune 30, 2017, no unsecured senior debt has been issued2018, we have $230.0 million of additional potential borrowing capacity under the Prudential and MetLife Shelf Agreements. The Prudential Shelf Agreement and the NYL Shelf Agreements.Agreement set forth certain business covenants to which we are subject when any note is outstanding, including covenants that limit or restrict our ability, and the ability of our subsidiaries, to incur indebtedness, or place or permit liens and encumbrances on any of our property or the property of our subsidiaries.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is designed to provide a reader of the financial statements with a narrative report on our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the attached unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016,2017, including the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
We make statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. Such statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. One can typically identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking words, such as “project,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “continue,” “potential,” “forecast” or other similar words, or future or conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would” or “could.” These statements represent our intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future financial performance, business strategy, projected plans and objectives of the Company. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made or as of the date indicated and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future eventevents or otherwise. These statements are subject to many risks, uncertainties and uncertainties.other important factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. In addition to the risk factors described under Item 1A, Risk Factors in our 20162017 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the following importantsuch factors among others, could cause actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements:include, but are not limited to:
state and federal legislative and regulatory initiatives (including deregulation) that affect cost and investment recovery, have an impact on rate structures, and affect the speed and the degree ofto which competition enteringenters the electric and natural gas industries;
the outcomes of regulatory, tax, environmental and legal matters, including whether pending matters are resolved within current estimates and whether the costs associated with such matters are adequately covered by insurance or recoverable in rates;
the impact of significant changes to current tax regulations and rates;
the timing of certificatecertification authorizations associated with new capital projects;
the ability to construct facilities at or below estimated costs;
changes in environmental and other laws and regulations to which we are subject and environmental conditions of property that we now, or may in the future, own or operate;
possible increased federal, state and local regulation of the safety of our operations;
general economic conditions, including any potential effects arising from terrorist attacks and any hostilities or other external factors over which we have no control;
industrial, commercial and residential growthlong-term global climate change, which could adversely affect customer demand or contraction in our markets or service territories;cause extreme weather conditions that disrupt the Company's operations;
the weather and other natural phenomena, including the economic, operational and other effects of hurricanes, ice storms and other damaging weather events;
customers' preferred energy sources;
industrial, commercial and residential growth or contraction in our markets or service territories;
the effect of competition on our businesses;
the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices and interest rates;
the ability to establish new, and maintain key, supply sources;
the effect of spot, forward and future market prices on our various energy businesses;
the effect of competition on our businesses;
the capital-intensive nature of our regulated energy businesses;
the extent of our success in connecting natural gas and electric supplies to transmission systems and in expanding natural gas and electric markets;
the ability to construct facilities at or below estimated costs and within projected time frames;
the creditworthiness of counterparties with which we are engaged in transactions;
the capital-intensive nature of our regulated energy businesses;
the results of financing efforts, including our ability to obtain financing on favorable terms, which can be affected by various factors, including credit ratings and general economic conditions;
the ability to successfully execute, manage and integrate merger, acquisition or divestiture plans,plans; regulatory or other limitations imposed as a result of a merger, acquisition or divestiture,divestiture; and the success of the business following a merger, acquisition or divestiture;
the impact on our costcosts and funding obligations, under our pension and other post-retirement benefit plans, of potential downturns in the financial markets, lower discount rates, and costs associated with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act;
the ability to continue to hire, train and retain appropriately qualified personnel;
the effect of accounting pronouncements issued periodically by accounting standard-setting bodies;
the timing and success of technological improvements; and

risks related to cyber-attacks or cyber-terrorism that could disrupt our business operations or result in failure of information technology systems;
the impact of significant changes to current tax regulations and rates; and
systems.

the impact of future rate case proceedings.
Introduction
We are a diversified energy company engaged, directly or through our operating divisions and subsidiaries, in regulated and unregulated energy businesses. These businesses center around energy distribution, energy transmission, energy generation, propane delivery and other energy services.
Our strategy is focused on growing earnings from a stable utility foundation and investing in related businesses and services that provide opportunities for returns greater than traditional utility returns. We are focused on identifying and developing opportunities across the energy value chain, with emphasis on midstream and downstream investments that are accretive to earnings per share and consistent with our long-term growth strategy.
The key elements of this strategy include:
executing a capital investment program in pursuit of growth opportunities that generate returns equal to or greater than our cost of capital;
expanding our energy distribution and transmission businesses organically as well as into new geographic areas;
providing new services in our current service territories;
expanding our footprint in potential growth markets through strategic acquisitions;
entering new unregulated energy markets and business lines that will complement our existing operating units and growth strategy while capitalizing on opportunities across the energy value chain; and
differentiating the Company as a full-service energy supplier/partner/provider through a customer-centric model.
Due to the seasonality of our business, results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal year. Revenue and earnings are typically greater during the first and fourth quarters, when consumption of energy is normally highest due to colder temperatures.
The following discussions and those elsewherelater in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Qthe document on operating income and segment results include the use of the term “gross margin",margin," which is determined by deducting the cost of sales from operating revenue. Cost of sales includes the purchased cost of natural gas, electricity and propane and the cost of labor spent on direct revenue-producing activities, and excludes depreciation, amortization and accretion. Gross margin should not be considered an alternative to operating income or net income, which are determined in accordance with GAAP. We believe that gross margin, although a non-GAAP measure, is useful and meaningful to investors as a basis for making investment decisions. It provides investors with information that demonstrates the profitability achieved by us under our allowed rates for regulated energy operations and under our competitive pricing structurestructures for non-regulated segments.unregulated energy operations. Our management uses gross margin in measuring itsour business units’ performance and has historically analyzed and reported gross margin information publicly. Other companies may calculate gross margin in a different manner.

Unless otherwise noted, earnings per share information is presented on a diluted basis.



Results of Operations for the Three and NineSix Months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018
Overview
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a Delaware corporation formed in 1947. We are a diversified energy company engaged, through our operating divisions and subsidiaries, in regulated energy, unregulated energy and other businesses. We operate primarily on the Delmarva Peninsula and in Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio and provide services centered on energy distribution, energy transmission, energy generation, propane delivery and other energy services. These services include: natural gas distribution, transmission, supply, gathering, processing and marketing; electric distribution and generation; propane distribution; steam generation; and other energy-related services.
Operational Highlights
Our net income for the quarter ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 was $6.8$6.4 million, or $0.42$0.39 per share. This represents an increase of $2.4 million,$341,000, or $0.13$0.02 per share, compared to net income of $4.4$6.0 million, or $0.29$0.37 per share, reported for the same quarter in 2016.2017. Operating income increased $4.1 milliondecreased by $813,000 for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017.2018, compared to the same period in the prior year, as margin increased by $6.9 million, or 11.3 percent, but was offset by a $1.0 million increase in depreciation, amortization and property taxes and a $6.6 million increase in other operating expenses. The decrease in operating income primarily reflected the impact of the TCJA on margins generated by our regulated energy businesses. During the second quarter, we refunded or reserved for future refunds $2.3 million in margin, which represents a pass-through to regulated energy customers of the $2.3 million benefit from lower Federal income taxes during the quarter. Excluding the estimated customer refunds reserved or refunded during the second quarter of 2018 associated with the TCJA, gross margin and operating income increased by $9.1 million, or 15.1 percent, and $1.5 million, or 10.5 percent, respectively, compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease in the Federal income tax rate positively impacted earnings in our unregulated energy businesses.
 Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended  
 September 30, Increase June 30, Increase
 2017 2016 (decrease) 2018 2017 (decrease)
(in thousands except per share)            
Business Segment:            
Regulated Energy segment $15,168
 $13,115
 $2,053
 $14,304
 $14,086
 $218
Unregulated Energy segment (989) (3,080) 2,091
 490
 2
 488
Other businesses and eliminations 60
 121
 (61) (1,546) (27) (1,519)
Operating Income $14,239
 $10,156
 $4,083
 $13,248
 $14,061
 $(813)
Other income (expense), net 239
 (28) 267
Other expense, net (262) (1,002) 740
Interest charges 3,321
 2,722
 599
 3,881
 3,073
 808
Pre-tax Income 11,157
 7,406
 3,751
 9,105
 9,986
 (881)
Income taxes 4,324
 2,990
 1,334
 2,718
 3,940
 (1,222)
Net Income $6,833
 $4,416
 $2,417
 $6,387
 $6,046
 $341
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock            
Basic $0.42
 $0.29
 $0.13
 $0.39
 $0.37
 $0.02
Diluted $0.42
 $0.29
 $0.13
 $0.39
 $0.37
 $0.02

Key variances, between the thirdsecond quarter of 2018 and the second quarter of 2017, and the third quarter of 2016, included: 

(in thousands, except per share data) Pre-tax
Income
 Net
Income
 Earnings
Per Share
Third Quarter of 2016 Reported Results $7,406
 $4,416
 $0.29
       
Adjusting for unusual items:      
Absence of Xeron's third quarter 2016 loss 545
 334
 0.02
Weather impact (333) (204) (0.01)
  212

130

0.01
Increased Gross Margins:      
Customer consumption (non-weather) 1,166
 714
 0.05
Implementation of new rates for Eastern Shore* 1,020
 625
 0.04
Retail propane margins 440
 270
 0.02
GRIP* 406
 249
 0.02
Natural gas growth (excluding service expansions) 347
 213
 0.01
Eight Flags' CHP plant 304
 186
 0.01
Pricing amendments to Aspire Energy's long-term agreements 291
 178
 0.01
Higher wholesale propane volumes and margins 271
 166
 0.01
  4,245

2,601

0.17
 Decreased (Increased) Other Operating Expenses:      
Higher depreciation, asset removal and property tax costs due to new capital investments (1,710) (1,047) (0.07)
Lower outside services and facilities maintenance costs 1,678
 1,028
 0.07
Higher payroll expense (913) (559) (0.04)
Lower benefit and other employee-related expenses 295
 181
 0.01
Eight Flags' operating expenses 293
 179
 0.01
  (357)
(218)
(0.02)
       
Net other changes (349)
(96) (0.01)
  (349) (96) (0.01)
       
EPS impact of increase in outstanding shares due to September 2016 offering 
 
 (0.02)
Third Quarter of 2017 Reported Results $11,157

$6,833

$0.42
(in thousands, except per share data) Pre-tax
Income
 Net
Income
 Earnings
Per Share
Second Quarter of 2017 Reported Results $9,986
 $6,046
 $0.37
Adjusting for unusual items:      
One-time separation expenses associated with a former executive (1,548) (1,421) (0.09)
Absence of Xeron expenses, including 2017 wind-down expenses 173
 122
 0.01
  (1,375) (1,299) (0.08)
       
Increased Gross Margins:      
Implementation of Eastern Shore settled rates* (1)
 2,365
 1,659
 0.10
TCJA impact - refunds and reserves for future refunds to ratepayers(2)
 (2,284) (1,602) (0.10)
Service expansions* 1,652
 1,158
 0.07
Natural gas growth (including customer and consumption growth but excluding service expansions) 1,575
 1,105
 0.07
Return to normal weather 1,108
 778
 0.05
Nonrecurring margin increase at PESCO 1,092
 766
 0.05
Incremental margin from PESCO operations 592
 415
 0.03
Unregulated Energy growth excluding PESCO 503
 353
 0.02
Florida electric reliability/modernization program* 352
 247
 0.02
GRIP* 306
 215
 0.01
  7,261
 5,094
 0.32
       
 Decreased (Increased) Other Operating Expenses:      
Higher outside services and facilities maintenance costs (3)
 (1,602) (1,124) (0.07)
Higher payroll expense (increased staffing and annual salary increases) (3)
 (1,534) (1,076) (0.07)
Higher depreciation, asset removal and property tax costs due to new capital investments (3)
 (848) (595) (0.04)
Higher incentive compensation costs (based on period-over-period results) (3)
 (811) (569) (0.03)
Incremental operating expenses for PESCO (764) (536) (0.03)
Higher benefit and other employee-related expenses (3)
 (365) (256) (0.02)
  (5,924) (4,156) (0.26)
       
Interest charges (808) (567) (0.03)
Income taxes - including TCJA impact - decreased effective tax rate 
 1,295
 0.08
Net other changes (35) (26) (0.01)
  (843) 702
 0.04
       
Second Quarter of 2018 Reported Results $9,105
 $6,387
 $0.39
(1) Excluding amounts refunded to customers associated with the TCJA, which are broken out separately and discussed in footnote 2.
(2)"TCJA impact - refunds and reserves for future refunds to ratepayers" represents the amounts that have already been refunded to customers or reserves established for future refunds to customers in the second quarter of 2018 as a result of lower taxes due to the TCJA. Refunds made to customers are offset by the corresponding decrease in federal income taxes and are expected to have no net impact on net income.
(3) Excluding incremental operating expenses at PESCO.

*See the Major Projects and Initiatives table.tabl


e.


Our net income for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 was $32.0$33.2 million, or $1.96$2.03 per share. This represents a decreasean increase of $789,000,$8.0 million, or $0.18$0.49 per share, compared to net income of $32.8$25.2 million, or $2.14$1.54 per share, reported for the same period in 2016.2017. Operating income increased $303,000by $4.5 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017.2018, compared to the same period in the prior year. This increase was driven by a $14.0 million, or 9.7 percent, increase in gross margin, which was partially offset by a $2.2 million increase in depreciation, amortization and property taxes and a $5.7 million increase in other operating expenses. Excluding the estimated customer refunds reserved or refunded to customers for the six months ended June 30, 2018 associated with the TCJA, gross margin and operating income increased by $19.4 million, or 13.4 percent, and $9.9 million, or 20.2 percent, respectively, compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease in the Federal income tax rate positively impacted earnings in our unregulated energy businesses.
  Nine Months Ended  
  September 30, Increase
  2017 2016 (decrease)
(in thousands except per share)      
Business Segment:      
Regulated Energy segment $51,915
 $52,660
 $(745)
Unregulated Energy segment 10,504
 9,267
 1,237
Other businesses and eliminations 161
 350
 (189)
Operating Income $62,580
 $62,277
 $303
Other expense, net (643) (68) (575)
Interest charges 9,133
 7,996
 1,137
Pre-tax Income 52,804
 54,213
 (1,409)
Income taxes 20,781
 21,401
 (620)
Net Income $32,023
 $32,812
 $(789)
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock      
Basic $1.96
 $2.14
 $(0.18)
Diluted $1.96
 $2.14
 $(0.18)





























  Six Months Ended  
  June 30, Increase
  2018 2017 (decrease)
(in thousands except per share)      
Business Segment:      
Regulated Energy segment $41,015
 $37,481
 $3,534
Unregulated Energy segment 14,174
 11,577
 2,597
Other businesses and eliminations (1,535) 102
 (1,637)
Operating Income $53,654
 $49,160
 $4,494
Other expense, net (194) (1,703) 1,509
Interest charges 7,545
 5,811
 1,734
Pre-tax Income 45,915
 41,646
 4,269
Income taxes 12,674
 16,456
 (3,782)
Net Income $33,241
 $25,190
 $8,051
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock      
Basic $2.03
 $1.54
 $0.49
Diluted $2.03
 $1.54
 $0.49

Key variances, between the ninesix months ended 2018 and the six months ended 2017, and the nine months ended 2016, included: 

(in thousands, except per share data) Pre-tax
Income
 Net
Income
 Earnings
Per Share
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 Reported Results $54,213
 $32,812
 $2.14
       
Adjusting for unusual items:      
Weather impact (1,782) (1,081) (0.07)
Wind-down and absence of loss from Xeron operations (341) (207) (0.01)
  (2,123) (1,288) (0.08)
Increased Gross Margins:      
Eight Flags' CHP plant 4,721
 2,863
 0.19
Natural gas marketing 1,760
 1,067
 0.07
GRIP* 1,619
 982
 0.06
Natural gas growth (excluding service expansions) 1,574
 955
 0.06
Service expansions* 1,371
 831
 0.05
Pricing amendments to Aspire Energy's long-term agreements 1,143
 693
 0.04
Implementation of new rates for Eastern Shore* 1,020
 619
 0.04
Wholesale propane margins 728
 441
 0.03
Customer consumption (non-weather) 700
 425
 0.03
Implementation of Delaware Division settled rates 249
 151
 0.01
  14,885
 9,027
 0.58
Increased Other Operating Expenses:      
Higher depreciation, asset removal and property tax costs due to new capital investments (4,251) (2,578) (0.17)
Higher payroll expense (3,074) (1,864) (0.12)
Eight Flags' operating expenses (2,821) (1,711) (0.11)
Higher benefit and other employee-related expenses (1,669) (1,012) (0.07)
Higher regulatory expenses associated with rate filings (855) (519) (0.03)
Higher outside services and facilities maintenance costs (318) (193) (0.01)
  (12,988) (7,877) (0.51)
       
Interest charges (1,136) (689) (0.04)
Net other changes (47) 38
 (0.01)
  (1,183) (651) (0.05)
       
EPS impact of increase in outstanding shares due to September 2016 offering 
 
 (0.12)
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 Reported Results $52,804

$32,023

$1.96
(in thousands, except per share data) Pre-tax
Income
 Net
Income
 Earnings
Per Share
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 Reported Results $41,646
 $25,190
 $1.54
Adjusting for unusual items:      
One-time separation expenses associated with a former executive (1,548) (1,421) (0.09)
Absence of Xeron expenses, including 2017 wind-down expenses 870
 630
 0.04
  (678) (791) (0.05)
       
Increased Gross Margins:      
TCJA impact - refunds and reserves for future refunds to ratepayers(2)
 (5,421) (3,925) (0.24)
Return to normal weather 5,159
 3,735
 0.23
Implementation of Eastern Shore settled rates* (1)
 5,095
 3,689
 0.22
Natural gas growth (including customer and consumption growth but excluding service expansions) 3,342
 2,420
 0.15
Service expansions* 2,316
 1,677
 0.10
Unregulated Energy growth excluding PESCO 2,044
 1,480
 0.09
Nonrecurring margin decrease at PESCO (863) (625) (0.04)
Florida electric reliability/modernization program* 767
 555
 0.03
GRIP* 602
 436
 0.03
Incremental margin from PESCO operations 255
 185
 0.01
  13,296
 9,627
 0.58
       
 Decreased (Increased) Other Operating Expenses:      
Higher payroll expense (increased staffing and annual salary increases) (3)
 (2,395) (1,734) (0.11)
Higher depreciation, asset removal and property tax costs due to new capital investments (3)
 (1,949) (1,411) (0.09)
Incremental operating expenses for PESCO (1,715) (1,242) (0.08)
Higher facilities maintenance costs (3)
 (1,554) (1,125) (0.07)
Lower regulatory and outside services costs (3)
 1,298
 940
 0.06
Higher incentive compensation costs (based on period-over-period results) (3)
 (1,187) (859) (0.05)
  (7,502) (5,431) (0.34)
       
Interest charges (1,734) (1,255) (0.08)
Income taxes - including TCJA impact - decreased effective tax rate 
 5,262
 0.32
Net other changes 887
 639
 0.06
  (847) 4,646
 0.30
       
Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 Reported Results $45,915
 $33,241
 $2.03
(1) Excluding amounts refunded to customers associated with the TCJA, which are broken out separately and discussed in footnote 2.
(2) "TCJA impact - refunds and reserves for future refunds to ratepayers" represents amounts that have already been refunded to customers or reserves established for future refunds to customers in the first six months of 2018 as a result of lower taxes due to the TCJA. Refunds made to customers are offset by the corresponding decrease in federal income taxes and are expected to have no net impact on net income.
(3) Excluding incremental operating expenses at PESCO.


*See the Major Projects and Initiatives table.table.




Summary of Key Factors
Recently Completed and Ongoing Major Projects and Initiatives
We constantly seek and develop additional projects and initiatives in order to increase shareholder value and serve our customers. The following table summarizes gross margin for ourrepresents the major projects and initiatives recently completed and initiatives currently underway, but whichunderway. In the future, we will be completed in the future. Gross margin reflects operating revenue less cost of sales, excluding depreciation, amortization and accretion (dollars in thousands):add new projects to this table as projects are initiated.
 Gross Margin for the Period
 Three Months EndedNine Months Ended Year Ended      
 September 30,September 30, December 31, Estimate for
 2017 2016 Variance2017 2016 Variance 2016 2017 2018 2019
Major Projects and Initiatives Recently Completed                  
Capital Investment Projects$9,807
 $8,963
 $844
$29,533
 $21,822
 $7,711
 $29,819
 $35,346
 $31,814
 $32,724
     Eastern Shore Rate Case (1)
1,020
 
 1,020
1,020
 
 1,020
 
 TBD
 TBD
 TBD
Settled Delaware Division Rate Case431
 469
 (38)1,596
 1,347
 249
 1,487
 2,250
 2,250
 2,250
Total Major Projects and Initiatives Recently Completed11,258
 9,432
 1,826
32,149
 23,169
 8,980
 31,306
 37,596
 34,064
 34,974
Future Major Projects and Initiatives                  
Capital Investment Projects                  
2017 Eastern Shore System Expansion
 
 

 
 
  126
 9,313
 15,799
Northwest Florida Expansion
 
 

 
 
  
 3,484
 5,127
Other Florida Pipeline Expansions
 
 

 
 
  
 2,044
 2,542
Total Future Major Projects and Initiatives
 
 

 
 
  126
 14,841
 23,468
Total$11,258
 $9,432
 $1,826
$32,149
 $23,169
 $8,980
 $31,306
 $37,722
 $48,905
 $58,442
 Gross Margin for the Period
 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended Year Ended Estimate for
 June 30, June 30, December 31, Fiscal
in thousands2018 2017 2018 2017 2017 2018 2019
Florida GRIP$3,647
 $3,341
 $7,211
 $6,609
 $13,454
 $14,287
 $14,370
Eastern Shore Rate Case (1)
2,365
 
 5,095
 
 3,693
 9,800
 9,800
Florida Electric Reliability/Modernization Pilot Program (1)
352
 
 767
 
 94
 1,558
 1,558
New Smyrna Beach, Florida Project (1)
352
 
 704
 
 235
 1,409
 1,409
2017 Eastern Shore System Expansion Project - including interim services (1)
859
 
 1,995
 
 433
 8,101
 15,799
Northwest Florida Expansion Project (1)
870
 
 870
 
 
 3,484
 6,500
(Palm Beach County) Belvedere, Florida Project (1)

 
 
 
 
 635
 1,131
Total$8,445
 $3,341
 $16,642
 $6,609
 $17,909
 $39,274
 $50,567
(1)(1 ) In January 2017, Eastern Shore filed a rate case withGross margin amount included in this table has not been adjusted to reflect the FERC to recover the costsimpact of the 2016 System Reliability ProjectTCJA. The refunds and other investments and expenses associated with the expansion, reliability and safety initiatives completed by ESNG since its last rate settlement in 2012. Settlement discussions among Eastern Shore, intervenors and the FERC Staff are ongoing and future margin contributionsreductions implemented have been or will be provided once a settlement is finalized. Foroffset by lower federal income taxes due to the third quarter of 2017, a portion of the increase in rates, implemented subject to refund in August 2017, has been recorded as revenue and the remainder has been reserved pending the settlement. See Note 3, Rates and Other Regulatory Activities, for additional information.TCJA.

Major Projects andOngoing Growth Initiatives Recently Completed
The following table summarizes gross margin generated by our major projects and initiatives recently completed (dollars in thousands):
 Gross Margin for the Period
 Three Months EndedNine Months EndedYear Ended      
 September 30,September 30,December 31, Estimate for
 2017 2016 Variance2017 2016 Variance2016 2017 2018 2019
Capital Investment Projects:                 
Service Expansions:                 
Short-term contracts (Delaware)$1,283
 $3,080
 $(1,797)$5,140
 $8,271
 $(3,131)$11,454
 $5,642
 $1,096
 $1,096
Long-term contracts (Delaware)2,793
 862
 1,931
7,089
 2,587
 4,502
1,815
 7,611
 7,605
 7,583
Total Service Expansions4,076
 3,942
 134
12,229
 10,858
 1,371
13,269
 13,253
 8,701
 8,679
Florida GRIP3,393
 2,987
 406
10,002
 8,383
 1,619
11,552
 13,727
 14,407
 15,085
Eight Flags' CHP Plant2,338
 2,034
 304
7,302
 2,581
 4,721
4,998
 8,366
 8,706
 8,960
Total Capital Investment Projects9,807
 8,963
 844
29,533
 21,822

7,711
29,819
 35,346
 31,814
 32,724
Eastern Shore Rate Case (1)
1,020
 
 1,020
1,020
 
 1,020

 TBD TBD TBD
Settled Delaware Division Rate Case431
 469
 (38)1,596
 1,347
 249
1,487
 2,250
 2,250
 2,250
Total Major Projects and Initiatives Recently Completed$11,258
 $9,432
 $1,826
$32,149
 $23,169
 $8,980
$31,306
 $37,596
 $34,064
 $34,974

(1) In January 2017, Eastern Shore filed a rate case with the FERC to recover the costs of the 2016 System Reliability Project and other investments and expenses associated with the expansion, reliability and safety initiatives completed by ESNG since its last rate settlement in 2012. Settlement discussions among Eastern Shore, intervenors and the FERC Staff are ongoing and future margin contributions will be provided once a settlement is finalized. For the third quarter of 2017, a portion of the increase in rates, implemented subject to refund in August 2017, has been recorded as revenue and the remainder has been reserved pending the settlement. See Note 3, Rates and Other Regulatory Activities, for additional information.

Service Expansions
In August 2014, Eastern Shore entered into a precedent agreement with an electric power generator in Kent County, Delaware, to provide a 20-year OPT 90 ≤ natural gas transmission service for 45,000 Dts/d deliverable to the lateral serving the customer's facility. In July 2016, the FERC authorized Eastern Shore to construct and operate the project, which consists of 5.4 miles of 16-inch pipeline looping and new compression capability in Delaware. Eastern Shore provided interim services to this customer pending construction of facilities. Construction of the project was completed, and long-term service commenced in March 2017. This service generated an additional gross margin of $106,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. There was no incremental margin change during the third quarter as the margin generated from the permanent services equated to the margin generated from providing interim services during the third quarter of 2016. This service is expected to generate gross margin of $7.0 million for 2017 and between $5.8 million and $7.8 million annually through the remaining term of the agreement.
In December 2015, the FERC approved Eastern Shore's application to make certain meter tube and control valve replacements and related improvements at its TETLP interconnect facilities to increase natural gas receipts from TETLP by 53,000 Dts/d, for a total capacity of 160,000 Dts/d. The project was completed and placed in service in March 2016. Approximately 35 percent of the increased capacity has been subscribed on a short-term firm service basis through October 2017. This service generated additional gross margin of $80,000 and $1.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2016. The remaining capacity is available for firm or interruptible service.
GRIP
GRIP is a natural gas pipe replacement program approved by the Florida PSC designed to expedite the replacement of qualifying distribution mains and services (any material other than coated steel or plastic) to enhance the reliability and integrity of the Florida natural gas distribution systems. This programthat allows automatic recovery, through regulated rates, of capital and other program-related costs, inclusive of a return on investment, associated with the replacement of the mains and services. Since the program's inception in August 2012, we have invested $110.5$120.1 million to replace 240250 miles of qualifying distribution mains, including $7.6$6.4 million during the first ninesix months of 2017.2018. The increased investmentinvestments in GRIP generated additional gross margin of $406,000$306,000 and $1.6 million$602,000 for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2016.2017.
Eight Flags' CHP plantRegulatory Proceedings
In June 2016, Eight Flags completed construction of a CHP plantEastern Shore Rate Case
Eastern Shore's rate case settlement agreement became final on Amelia Island, Florida. This CHP plant,April 1, 2018. The final agreement increases Eastern Shore's operating income by $6.6 million, which consists of a natural-gas-fired turbine and associated electric generator, produces approximately 20 MWH of$9.8 million in additional margin from base load power and includes a heat recovery steam generator capable of providing approximately 75,000 pounds per hour of residual steam. In June 2016, Eight Flags began selling power generatedrates offset by $3.2 million in lower Federal income taxes resulting from the CHP plant to FPU, pursuant to a 20-year power purchase agreement for distribution to its retail electric customers. In July 2016, it also started selling steam to the industrial customer that owns the property on which Eight Flags' CHP plant is located, pursuant to a separate 20-year contract.
The CHP plant is powered by natural gas transported by FPU through its distribution system and by Peninsula Pipeline.TCJA. For the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017, Eight Flags2018, Eastern Shore recognized incremental gross margin of approximately $2.4 million and other affiliates$5.1 million, respectively. As of Chesapeake Utilities generated $304,000 and $4.7June 30, 2018, Eastern Shore refunded its customers a total of $1.7 million related to the decrease in additional gross marginfederal income taxes as a result of these services that beganthe TCJA. The settlement rates were effective January 1, 2018.

Florida Electric Reliability/Modernization Pilot Program
In December 2017, the Florida PSC approved a $1.6 million annualized rate increase, effective January 2018, for the recovery of a limited number of investments and costs related to reliability, safety and modernization for FPU's electric distribution system. This increase will continue through at least the last billing cycle of December 2019. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, additional margin of $352,000 and $767,000, respectively, was generated.
Major Projects and Initiatives Currently Underway
New Smyrna Beach, Florida Project
In the fourth quarter of 2017, we commenced construction of a 14-mile gas transmission pipeline to provide additional capacity to serve current and planned customer growth in the New Smyrna Beach service area. The project was partially placed into service at the end of 2017 and is expected to be fully in service in September 2018. For the three and six months ended June 2016. This amount includes30, 2018, the project generated incremental gross margin of $7,000approximately $352,000 and $534,000, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, attributable to natural gas distribution and transportation services provided to the CHP plant by Chesapeake Utilities' regulated affiliates.
System Reliability Project
In July 2016, the FERC authorized Eastern Shore to construct and operate the System Reliability Project, which consisted of approximately 10.1 miles of 16-inch pipeline looping and auxiliary facilities in New Castle and Kent Counties, Delaware, and a new compressor at its existing Bridgeville compressor station in Sussex County, Delaware. A 2.5 mile looping segment was completed and placed into service in December 2016. The remaining looping and the new compressor were completed and placed into service in the second quarter of 2017. This project was included in Eastern Shore's January 2017 base rate case filing with the FERC. We began to recover the project's costs in August 2017, coinciding with the proposed effectiveness of new rates, subject to refund pending final resolution of the base rate case.

$704,000, respectively.

Major Projects2017 Eastern Shore System Expansion Project
In November 2017, Eastern Shore began construction of a $117.0 million system expansion that will increase its capacity by 26 percent once completed. We have invested $89.6 million through June 30, 2018 and Initiatives Currently Underwayexpect to invest approximately $24.8 million during the remainder of 2018 to substantially complete the project. The first phase of the project was placed into service in December 2017, and generated $859,000 and $2.0 million in incremental gross margin, including margin from interim services, during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively. With the exception of some minor facilities, the remaining segments are scheduled to be completed and begin generating margin during the second half of 2018. The project is expected to produce approximately $15.8 million in gross margin in its first full year of service.

Northwest Florida Expansion Project
Peninsula Pipeline has completed construction of transmission lines and FPU'sthe Florida natural gas division are constructing a pipeline in Escambia County, Florida that will interconnect with FGT's pipeline. The project consistshas completed construction of 33 miles of 12-inch transmission line from the FGT interconnect that will be operated by Peninsula Pipeline and 8 miles of 8-inch lateral distribution lines that will be operated by Chesapeake Utilities' Florida natural gas division. We entered into agreements to serve two industriallarge customers and are currently marketing to other potential customers located close to these facilities. This is our first expansion of natural gas service into Northwest Florida. The project was placed into service in May 2018 and generated incremental gross margin of $870,000 for the facilities.three and six months ended June 30, 2018. The estimated annual gross margin associated withfrom this project once in service, is approximately $5.1$6.5 million.

New Smyrna(Palm Beach County) Belvedere, Florida Project
Peninsula Pipeline is constructing a pipeline in Volusia County, Florida that will interconnect with FGT's pipeline. The project consists of 14 miles of transmission line from the FGT interconnect that will be operated by Peninsula Pipeline and will serve FPUto bring gas directly to our natural gas distribution customers. The estimatedsystem in West Palm Beach, Florida. We expect to complete this project by the end of the third quarter of 2018. Estimated annual gross margin associated with thisthe project once in service, is approximately $1.4$1.1 million.
2017 Expansion Project
In May 2016, Eastern Shore submitted a request to the FERC to initiate the FERC's pre-filing process for its proposed 2017 Expansion Project. This project, which will expand Eastern Shore's firm service capacity by 26 percent, will provide 61,162 Dts/d of additional firm natural gas transportation service on Eastern Shore's pipeline system with an additional 52,500 Dts/d of firm transportation service at certain Eastern Shore receipt facilities pursuant to precedent agreements Eastern Shore entered into with existing customers. We expect to invest approximately $115.0 million in this expansion project, and for the project to generate approximately $15.8 million of gross margin in the first full year after the new transportation services go into effect. On October 4, 2017, the FERC issued a CP authorizing Eastern Shore to construct and operate the proposed 2017 expansion project.

Other major factors influencing gross margin

Weather and Consumption
Temperature variationGross margin increased by $1.1 million and $5.2 million in 2017 negatively impacted our earnings. Comparedthe three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, as a result of colder temperatures, compared to the prior year, coolerextremely warm temperatures in Floridaexperienced during the third quarter of 2017, reduced gross margin by $333,000, and warmersame period in 2017. While temperatures in all of our service territories during the first nine monthshalf of 2018 were colder than 2017, reducedthey were still warmer than normal, as shown in the table below. We estimate that we would have generated an additional $2.4 million in gross margin by $1.8 million, respectively. Warmer than normalif temperatures for the quarter and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017 reduced gross margin by $193,000 and $4.3 million, respectively.2018 had been normal. The following table summarizes HDD and CDD variances from the 10-year average HDD/CDD ("Normal") for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 2016.2017.

HDD and CDD Information
 Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended  
 June 30,   June 30,  
 2018 2017 Variance 2018 2017 Variance
Delmarva           
Actual HDD424
 288
 136
 2,719
 2,246
 473
10-Year Average HDD ("Delmarva Normal")423
 429
 (6) 2,785
 2,783
 2
Variance from Delmarva Normal1
 (141)   (66) (537)  
Florida           
Actual HDD17
 13
 4
 507
 298
 209
10-Year Average HDD ("Florida Normal")16
 19
 (3) 533
 555
 (22)
Variance from Florida Normal1
 (6) 
 (26) (257) 
Ohio    
     
Actual HDD 
662
 508
 154
 3,652
 2,992
 660
10-Year Average HDD ("Ohio Normal")614
 637
 (23) 3,683
 3,774
 (91)
Variance from Ohio Normal48
 (129)   (31) (782)  
Florida           
Actual CDD952
 935
 17
 1,091
 1,080
 11
10-Year Average CDD ("Florida CDD Normal")969
 955
 14
 1,058
 1,037
 21
Variance from Florida CDD Normal(17) (20)   33
 43
  


HDDNatural Gas Distribution Customer and CDD InformationConsumption Growth
The Company's natural gas distribution operations generated $1.6 million and $3.3 million of additional margin for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively. The breakdown of the increased margin is as follows:
 Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended  
 September 30,   September 30,  
 2017 2016 Variance 2017 2016 Variance
Delmarva           
Actual HDD16
 11
 5
 2,262
 2,590
 (328)
10-Year Average HDD ("Delmarva Normal")62
 65
 (3) 2,845
 2,919
 (74)
Variance from Delmarva Normal(46) (54)   (583) (329)  
Florida           
Actual HDD
 
 
 298
 514
 (216)
10-Year Average HDD ("Florida Normal")
 
 
 602
 553
 49
Variance from Florida Normal
 
 
 (304) (39) 
Ohio    
     
Actual HDD 
80
 39
 41
 3,072
 3,596
 (524)
10-Year Average HDD ("Ohio Normal")92
 103
 (11) 3,866
 3,865
 1
Variance from Ohio Normal(12) (64)   (794) (269)  
Florida           
Actual CDD1,526
 1,679
 (153) 2,606
 2,792
 (186)
10-Year Average CDD ("Florida CDD Normal")1,542
 1,523
 19
 2,579
 2,548
 31
Variance from Florida CDD Normal(16) 156
   27
 244
  
  Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
In thousands June 30, 2018 June 30, 2018
Customer growth:    
Residential $351
 $864
Commercial and industrial excluding new service in Northwest Florida 303
 604
New service in Northwest Florida 276
 305
Total customer growth 930
 1,773
     
Volume growth:    
Residential 151
 855
Commercial and industrial 387
 1,026
Other - including unbilled revenue 107
 (312)
Total volume growth 645
 1,569
     
Total natural gas distribution growth $1,575
 $3,342
Customer growth for the Company's Delmarva Peninsula and Florida natural gas distribution operations generated $930,000 and $1.8 million in additional gross margin for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017.The additional margin was generated from an approximately 3.8 percent increase in the average number of residential customers as well as growth in commercial and industrial customers on the Delmarva Peninsula in the second quarter and first six months of 2018, compared to the corresponding periods in 2017. Residential customer growth on the Delaware Peninsula has averaged 3.0 percent over the past five years. The Company's Florida natural gas distribution operations generated additional gross margin for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, due to growth in all customer classes and new service to customers in Northwest Florida.

The Company's Delmarva Peninsula and Florida natural gas distribution operations generated $645,000 and $1.6 million in additional gross margin for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017 from higher sales to residential and commercial customers.
Propane Operations
OurThe Company’s Florida and Delmarva Peninsula propane distribution operations added $2.0generated $1.6 million and $1.4$5.7 million in incremental margin for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2016. Higher volumes sold2017. A return to retail customersmore normal temperatures accounted for $806,000 and improved margins due to effective supply management activities generated $905,000 and $440,000, in incremental$2.9 million of the margin forincrease during the three and six months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, respectively. The balance of the increase reflects increased customer consumption driven by growth and other factors, higher sales and revenues from service contracts and increased wholesale sales activities.

PESCO
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, PESCO recorded a series of adjustments, MTM gains and recognized extraordinary costs, which impacted reported results. Excluding the impact of these items, PESCO's gross margin increased by $592,000 and $255,000, during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, compared to the same periodperiods in 20162017. The total of the adjustments increased gross margin by $1.1 million and higher service revenue added $187,000 in additionalreduced gross margin duringby $863,000 for the quarter.

For the ninethree and six months ended September 2017, higher volumes sold to retail customers and improved margins due to effective supply management activities generated $142,000 and $121,000, in incremental margin,June 30, 2018, respectively, compared to the same periodperiods in 2016 and higher service revenue added $244,000,2017. The following table summarizes the changes in additionalPESCO’S year-over-year margin during the period.

Wholesale propane margins increased, generating additional gross margin of $271,000 and $728,000 for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017, respectively, due primarily to higher volumes sold and improved margins resulting from supply management activities.

PESCO
PESCO provides natural gas supply and supply management services to residential, commercial, industrial and wholesale customers. PESCO operates primarily in Florida, on the Delmarva Peninsula, in Ohio, and, as a result of the recent acquisition of certain operating assets of ARM, in western Pennsylvania. PESCO competes with regulated utilities and other unregulated third-party marketers to sell natural gas supplies directly to residential, commercial and industrial customers through competitively-priced contracts. PESCO does not currently own or operate any natural gas transmission or distribution assets but sells gas that is delivered to retail, commercial or wholesale customers through affiliated and non-affiliated local distribution company systems and transmission pipelines.
In 2017, our Delmarva natural gas distribution operations entered into asset management agreements with PESCO to manage a portion of their natural gas transportation and storage capacity. The asset management agreements were effective April 1, 2017, and each has a three-year term, expiring on March 31, 2020. As a result of these agreements, PESCO manages capacity on regional pipelines as well as third-party storage contracts for our Delmarva natural gas distribution operations in conjunction with PESCO's asset management services.
For the three months ended September 30, 2017, PESCO's gross margin increased by $56,000. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, PESCO generated additional gross margin of $1.8 million compared to the same period in 2016, as a result2018:

of revenues
 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
 June 30, 2018 June 30, 2018
(in thousands)   
Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 Reported Results$921
 $4,389
Incremental Margin from Growth and ARM Acquisition in 2017592
 255
Nonrecurring Margin factors - non-renewal of Supply Agreement, MTM and Other Adjustments1,092
 (863)
2018 Margin$2,605
 $3,781

The following table compares the margin, operating expenses and operating income from PESCO for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:
 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
 June 30, June 30,
in thousands2018 2017 2018 2017
Total Gross Margin$2,606
 $921
 $3,781
 $4,389
Operating Expense(1,918) (1,154) (3,857) (2,143)
Operating Income/(Loss)$688
 $(233) $(76) $2,246

Operating income for PESCO improved to $688,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2018, from a supplier agreement with a customerloss of $233,000 during the same period in Ohio, which expired on March 31, 2017,the prior year. The improvement reflects the benefit of several nonrecurring margin adjustments in the business, growth in margins from existing operations as well as additional customers in Florida,the addition of margin from the business purchased from ARM during the third quarter of 2017. This was partially offset by lower margina $764,000 increase in operating expenses, including $262,000 associated with the ARM margins previously mentioned, as well as $501,000 in increased staffing, infrastructure and risk management system costs to ensure the profitable future growth of this business.

For the six months ended June 30, 2018, PESCO reported an operating loss of $76,000, compared to income of $2.2 million during the same period in the Mid-Atlantic region,prior year. The decline primarily reflects increased expenses incurred to build out the staff, infrastructure and risk management systems necessary for the success of this business, as well as the impact of several nonrecurring margin adjustments, largely during the first quarter of 2017.2018.
Xeron
As disclosed previously, Xeron's operations were wound down during the second quarter of 2017. As a result, Xeron did not generate an operating loss during the third quarter of 2017 and will not report operating results during the fourth quarter of 2017 or subsequent years. During the third quarter of 2016, Xeron generated a pre-tax loss of $486,000. On a year-to-date basis, Xeron's pre-tax operating loss increased by $375,000, compared to the same period in 2016, driven primarily by non-recurring employee severance costs and costs associated with the termination of leased office space in Houston, Texas. The Company does not anticipate incurring any additional costs that will have a material impact associated with winding down Xeron's operations.
Other Natural Gas Growth - Distribution Operations
In addition to service expansions, the natural gas distribution operations on the Delmarva Peninsula generated $379,000 and $1.0 million in additional gross marginOperating income for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, improved by $173,000 and $870,000, respectively, compareddue to the same periodsabsence of wind-down expenses and the absence of operating losses for Xeron in 2016, due to an increase in residential, commercial and industrial customers served. The average number of residential customers on the Delmarva Peninsula increased by 3.7 percent and 3.8 percent during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2016. The natural gas distribution operations in Florida generated $187,000 and $1.2 million in additional gross margin for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2016, due primarily to an increase in commercial and industrial customers in Florida.2018.

Regulatory Proceedings
Delaware Division Rate Case
In December 2016, the Delaware PSC approved a settlement agreement, which, among other things, provided for an increase in our Delaware division revenue requirement of $2.25 million and a rate of return on common equity of 9.75 percent. The new authorized rates went into effect on January 1, 2017. For the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, revenue decreased by $38,000, reflecting the variance between settled and interim rates. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016, we recorded incremental revenue of approximately $249,000 related to the rate case. Any amounts collected through 2016 interim rates in excess of the respective portion of the $2.25 million were refunded to the ratepayers in March 2017.
Eastern Shore Rate Case
In January 2017, Eastern Shore filed a base rate proceeding with the FERC, as required by the terms of its 2012 rate case settlement agreement. Eastern Shore's proposed rates were based on the mainline cost of service of approximately $60.0 million, resulting in an overall requested revenue increase of approximately $18.9 million and a requested rate of return on common equity of 13.75 percent. The filing includes incremental rates for the White Oak Lateral Project and White Oak Mainline Expansion Project, which benefits a single customer. Eastern Shore also proposed to revise its depreciation rates and negative salvage rate based on the results of independent, third-party depreciation and negative salvage value studies. In March 2017, the FERC issued an order suspending the tariff rates for the usual five-month period.
On August 1, 2017, Eastern Shore implemented new rates, subject to refund based upon the outcome of the rate proceeding.  Eastern Shore recorded incremental revenue of approximately $1.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, and established a regulatory liability to reserve a portion of the total incremental revenues generated by the new rates until resolution of the rate case.  Settlement discussions continue with other parties to the case.
Investing for Future Growth
To support and continue our growth, we have expanded, and will continue to expand, our resources and capabilities. Eastern Shore previously expanded, and continues to significantly expand, its transmission system, which require additional staffing. We requested recovery of most of Eastern Shore's increased staffing costs in its 2017 rate case.Growth in non-regulated energy businesses, including Aspire Energy, PESCO and Eight Flags, also requires additional staff as well as corporate resources to support the increased level of business operations. Finally, to allow us to continue to identify and move growth initiatives forward and to assist in developing additional initiatives, staffing and resources have been added in our corporate shared services departments. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, our staffing and associated costs increased by $617,000 and $4.7 million, respectively, or three percent and nine percent, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2016. We are prudently managing the pace and magnitude of the investments being made, while ensuring that we appropriately expand our human resources and systems capabilities to capitalize on future growth opportunities.


Regulated Energy Segment

For the quarter ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018, compared to the quarter ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017:

 Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended  
 September 30, Increase June 30, Increase
 2017 2016 (decrease) 2018 2017 (decrease)
(in thousands)            
Revenue $69,703
 $70,019
 $(316) $70,504
 $70,996
 $(492)
Cost of sales 22,794
 24,644
 (1,850) 20,010
 24,167
 (4,157)
Gross margin 46,909
 45,375
 1,534
 50,494
 46,829
 3,665
Operations & maintenance 21,149
 22,912
 (1,763) 25,022
 22,407
 2,615
Depreciation & amortization 7,338
 6,346
 992
 7,620
 7,142
 478
Other taxes 3,254
 3,002
 252
 3,548
 3,194
 354
Other operating expenses 31,741
 32,260
 (519) 36,190
 32,743
 3,447
Operating income $15,168
 $13,115
 $2,053
 $14,304
 $14,086
 $218
Operating income for the Regulated Energy segment for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 was $15.2$14.3 million, an increase of $2.1 million$218,000 compared to the same period in 2016.2017. The increased operating income resulted from increased gross margin of $1.5$3.7 million, offset by a $3.4 million increase in operating expenses.
Excluding the impact of the customer refunds and reserves for future refunds of approximately $2.3 million for lower income taxes due to the TCJA, gross margin and operating income for the three months ended June 30, 2018 increased by $5.9 million and a decrease in operating expenses of $519,000.$2.5 million, or 12.7 percent and 17.8 percent, respectively.
Gross Margin
Items contributing to the quarter-over-quarter increase of $1.5 million, or 3.4 percent, in gross margin are listed in the following table:
(in thousands) 
Gross margin for the three months ended September 30, 2016$45,375
Factors contributing to the gross margin increase for the three months ended September 30, 2017: 
Implementation of Eastern Shore rates1,020
Additional Revenue from GRIP in Florida406
Natural gas growth (excluding service expansions)347
Other(239)
Gross margin for the three months ended September 30, 2017$46,909
The following is a narrative discussion of the significant items in the foregoing table, which we believe is necessary to understand the information disclosed in the table.
Implementation of Eastern Shore Rates
(in thousands)Margin Impact
Implementation of Eastern Shore settled rates$2,365
Service expansions1,652
Natural gas growth (including customer and consumption growth but excluding service expansions)1,575
Return to more normal weather359
Florida electric reliability/modernization program352
Florida GRIP306
Other(660)
Total5,949
TCJA impact - refunds and reserves for future refunds to ratepayers*
(2,284)
Quarter-over-quarter increase in gross margin$3,665
Eastern Shore generated additional gross margin of $1.0 million from the implementation of new rates as a result of its rate case filing. See Note 3, Rates and Other Regulatory Activities, to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional details.
Additional Revenue from GRIP in Florida
Increased investment in GRIP generated additional gross margin of $406,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016.
Natural Gas Growth (excluding service expansions)
Increased gross margin of $347,000 from other growth in natural gas (excluding service expansions) was generated primarily from the following:
$379,000 from a four-percent increase in the average number of residential customers in the Delmarva natural gas distribution operations, as well as growth in the number of commercial and industrial customers;
$187,000 from Florida natural gas customer growth, due primarily to new services to commercial and industrial customers; and
which were partially offset by $219,000 in decreased margin from Eastern Shore's interruptible services.

Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses decreased by $519,000. The significant factors contributing to the decrease in other operating expenses included:
$1.6 million in lower costs related to outside services and facilities and maintenance costs, due primarily to lower consulting and service contractor costs;
$437,000 in lower benefits and employee-related costs (since we are self-insured for healthcare, benefits costs fluctuate depending upon filed claims);
$1.4 million in higher depreciation, asset removal and property tax costs associated with recent capital investments.

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016

  Nine Months Ended  
  September 30, Increase
  2017 2016 (decrease)
(in thousands)      
Revenue $238,353
 $226,630
 $11,723
Cost of sales 87,206
 81,184
 6,022
Gross margin 151,147
 145,446
 5,701
Operations & maintenance 67,869

64,673
 3,196
Depreciation & amortization 21,365
 18,909
 2,456
Other taxes 9,998
 9,204
 794
Other operating expenses 99,232
 92,786
 6,446
Operating income $51,915
 $52,660
 $(745)
Operating income for the Regulated Energy segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $51.9 million, a decrease of $745,000 compared to the same period in 2016. The decreased operating income was due to an increase in gross margin of $5.7 million, offset by higher operating expenses of $6.4 million. Of the total $6.4 million increase in operating expenses, $4.7 million is associated with Eastern Shore's recently completed projects as well as initiatives underway.
Gross Margin
Items contributing to the period-over-period increase of $5.7 million, or 3.9 percent, in gross margin are listed in the following table:
(in thousands) 
Gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2016$145,446
Factors contributing to the gross margin increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2017: 
Additional revenue from GRIP in Florida1,619
Natural gas growth (excluding service expansions)1,574
Service expansions1,371
Customer consumption - weather and other(1,249)
Implementation of Eastern Shore rates1,020
Service to Eight Flags534
Implementation of Delaware Division Rates249
Other583
Gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2017$151,147
The following is a narrative discussion of the significant items in the foregoing table, which we believe is necessary to understand the information disclosed in the table.
Additional Revenue from GRIP in Florida
Increased investment in GRIP generated additional gross margin of $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016.

Natural Gas Growth (Excluding Service Expansions)
Increased gross margin of $1.6 million from growth (excluding service expansions) was generated primarily from the following:
$1.2 million from Florida natural gas customer growth, due primarily to new services to commercial and industrial customers; and
$1.0 million from a four-percent increase in the average number of residential customers in the Delmarva natural gas distribution operations, as well as growth in the number of commercial and industrial customers.
Service Expansions
Eastern Shore generated increased gross margin of $1.4 million from natural gas service expansions related to short-term firm service that commenced in March 2016. Following certain measurement and related improvements to Eastern Shore's interconnect with TETLP, Eastern Shore's natural gas receipt capacity from TETLP increased by 53,000 Dts/d, for a total capacity of 160,000 Dts/d. The remaining capacity is available for firm or interruptible service.
Customer Consumption - Weather and Other
Gross margin decreased by $1.2 million from lower customer consumption of electricity and natural gas, due primarily to warmer temperatures in Florida and on the Delmarva Peninsula. Because Maryland and Sandpiper Energy rates include a weather normalization adjustment for residential heating and smaller commercial heating customers, these operations experienced minimal impact from the warmer weather during the first nine months of 2017.
Implementation of Eastern Shore Rates
Eastern Shore generated additional gross margin of $1.0 million from implementation of new rates as a result of its rate case filing. See Note 3, Rates and Other Regulatory Activities, to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional details.
Service to Eight Flags
We generated additional gross margin of $534,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, from new natural gas transmission and distribution services provided by our affiliates to Eight Flags' CHP plant.
Implementation of Delaware Division Rates
Our Delaware Division generated additional gross margin of $249,000 as*As a result of the settlementTCJA, an estimated amount of $2.3 million was reserved or refunded to customers during the rate case. See Note 3, Ratessecond quarter of 2018 to reflect the impact of lower tax rates on our regulated businesses. In some jurisdictions, we have paid refunds to customers, while in other jurisdictions, we have established reserves until final agreements are approved and Other Regulatory Activities,changes are made to customer rates. The reserves and lower customer rates are equal to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional details.
Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses increased by $6.4 million. The significant components of the increaseestimated reduction in other operating expenses included:
$3.5 million in higher depreciation, asset removal and property tax costs associated with recent capital investments;
$1.6 million in higher payroll expenses for addition personnel to support growth;
$855,000 in increased regulatory expenses,Federal income taxes due primarily to costs associated with Eastern Shore’s rate case filing in 2017; and
$722,000 in higher benefits and employee-related costs in 2017 (since we are self-insured for healthcare, benefits costs fluctuate depending upon claims filed).


Unregulated Energy Segment

For the quarter ended September 30, 2017 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2016TCJA and have no material impact on after-tax earnings from the Regulated Energy segment

  Three Months Ended  
  September 30, Increase
  2017 2016 (decrease)
(in thousands)      
Revenue $64,688
 $42,042
 $22,646
Cost of sales 51,416
 31,840
 19,576
Gross margin 13,272
 10,202
 3,070
Operations & maintenance 11,460
 10,975
 485
Depreciation & amortization 2,001
 1,840
 161
Other taxes 800
 467
 333
Total operating expenses 14,261
 13,282
 979
Operating loss $(989) $(3,080) $2,091

Operating loss for the Unregulated Energy segment for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $989,000, compared to the operating loss of $3.1 million for same period in 2016. The decreased operating loss was due to an increase in gross margin of $3.1 million, which was offset by a $1.0 million increase in operating expenses.
Gross Margin
Items contributing to the quarter-over-quarter increase of $3.1 million in gross margin are listed in the following table:
(in thousands)  
Gross margin for the three months ended September 30, 2016 $10,202
Factors contributing to the gross margin increase for the three months ended September 30, 2017:  
Customer Consumption - Weather and Other 1,165
Retail Propane Margins 440
Eight Flags' CHP Plant 297
Pricing Amendments to Aspire Energy's Long-Term Agreements 291
Wholesale Propane Margins 271
Wind-down of Xeron operations 233
Other 373
Gross margin for the three months ended September 30, 2017 $13,272

The following is a narrative discussion of the significant items in the foregoing table, which we believe is necessary to understand the information disclosed in the table.
Customer Consumption - Weather and Other
Gross margin increased by $1.2 million, due primarily to increased sales volumesImplementation of propane to wholesale and retail customers on the Delmarva Peninsula and higher retail propane sales volumes in Florida due primarily to the timing of deliveries.Eastern Shore Settled Rates
Retail Propane Margins
Gross margin increased by $440,000, due primarily to favorable supply management activities.
Eight Flags
Eight Flags' CHP plant, which commenced operations in June 2016,Eastern Shore generated $297,000 in additional gross margin due primarilyof $2.4 million from the implementation of new rates as a result of its rate case filing. See Note 4, Rates and Other Regulatory Activities, to Eight Flags being fully on-line in the third quarter of 2017.condensed consolidated financial statements for additional details.
Pricing Amendments to Aspire Energy Long-Term Agreements
An increase in gross margin of $291,000 was due to pricing amendments to long-term sales agreements.

Wholesale Propane MarginsService Expansions
We generated additional gross margin of $1.7 million primarily from the following natural gas service expansions:
$1.2 million generated by Peninsula Pipeline from the New Smyrna Beach and Northwest Pipeline Expansion Projects; and
$859,000 from Eastern Shore's services, including those provided on an interim basis, to industrial customers in Delaware in conjunction with a portion of Eastern Shore's 2017 Expansion Project that was placed in service in December 2017, and $223,000 in additional margin as a result of an increase in rates from service provided to an industrial customer, partially offset by the absence of short-term contracts totaling $544,000 that were replaced by long-term service agreements.

Natural Gas Growth (including customer and consumption growth but excluding service expansions)
Increased gross margin of $1.6 million from natural gas growth and consumption (excluding service expansions) was generated primarily from the following:
$645,000 from higher sales on the Delmarva Peninsula and in Florida that were not driven by weather;
$560,000 from Florida natural gas customer growth, due primarily to an increase in residential and commercial customers served as well as expansion to Northwest Florida; and
$371,000 from a 3.8 percent increase in the average number of residential customers served by the Delmarva natural gas distribution operations, as well as growth in the number of commercial and industrial customers served.

Return to More Normal Weather
Temperatures during the second quarter of 2018 were nearly normal, compared to 32.9 percent warmer than normal weather during the second quarter of 2017. Comparatively colder weather during the second quarter of 2018 increased usage and generated $359,000 in additional margin.

Florida Electric Reliability/Modernization Program
Gross margin increased by $271,000,$352,000, due primarily to favorable supply management activitiesthe rates that went into effect in January 2018. See Note 4, Rates and Other Regulatory Activities, to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional details.
GRIP
Increased investment in GRIP generated additional gross margin of $306,000 for the Delmarva propane distribution operations.three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the same period in 2017.
XeronImpact of the TCJA on customer rates
The absenceadjustment to customer rates, because of the prior year operating loss increasedimplementation of the TCJA, decreased gross margin by $233,000.$2.3 million due to refunds paid to customers and the establishment of reserves for future refunds and/or rate reductions to customers. The decrease in gross margin was offset by a $2.3 million reduction in Federal income taxes.
Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses increased by $1.0$3.4 million. The significant components offactors contributing to the increase in other operating expenses included:
$730,0001.2 million in higher staffingcosts related to outside services to support growth and associatedfacilities and maintenance costs to maintain system integrity;
$1.0 million in higher staffing costs for additional personnel to support growth, (since we are self-insured for healthcare, benefits costs fluctuate depending upon claims filed);including the largest project to date in our history, Eastern Shore's 2017 System Expansion Project;
$347,000722,000 in higher depreciation, amortizationasset removal and property tax costs associated with recent capital investments; and
$384,000 in higher incentive compensation costs due to increased capital investments and amortizationimproved period-over-period results.
$293,000 in expenses associated with the incremental margin from Eight Flags

For the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018, compared to the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017:

 Nine Months Ended   Six Months Ended  
 September 30, Increase June 30, Increase
 2017 2016 (decrease) 2018 2017 (decrease)
(in thousands)            
Revenue $220,462
 $136,361
 $84,101
 $179,897
 $168,650
 $11,247
Cost of sales 166,635
 90,981
 75,654
 68,241
 64,411
 3,830
Gross margin 53,827
 45,380
 8,447
 111,656
 104,239
 7,417
Operations & maintenance 34,971
 30,136
 4,835
 48,169
 45,987
 2,182
Depreciation & amortization 5,833
 4,512
 1,321
 15,136
 14,027
 1,109
Other taxes 2,519
 1,465
 1,054
 7,336
 6,744
 592
Total operating expenses 43,323
 36,113
 7,210
Other operating expenses 70,641
 66,758
 3,883
Operating income $10,504
 $9,267
 $1,237
 $41,015
 $37,481
 $3,534
Operating income for the UnregulatedRegulated Energy segment for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 was $10.5$41.0 million, an increase of $1.2$3.5 million compared to the same period in 2016.2017. The increased operating income was due toresulted from increased gross margin of $7.4 million, offset by an increase in operating expenses of $3.9 million.
Excluding the impact of refunds to customers and reserves for future refunds of approximately $5.4 million for lower income taxes due to the TCJA, gross margin of $8.4and operating income increased by $12.8 million which was partially offset by a $7.2and $9.0 million, increase in operating expenses.or 12.3 percent and 24.0 percent, respectively.
Gross Margin
Items contributing to the period-over-period increase of $8.4 million in gross margin are listed in the following table:
(in thousands)  
Gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 $45,380
Factors contributing to the gross margin increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2017:  
Eight Flags' CHP plant 4,186
Natural Gas Marketing 1,760
Pricing Amendments to Aspire Energy's Long-Term Agreements 1,143
Propane Wholesale Sales 728
Customer consumption - weather and other 168
Other 462
Gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 $53,827
(in thousands)Margin Impact
Implementation of Eastern Shore settled rates$5,095
Natural gas growth (including customer and consumption growth but excluding service expansions)3,342
Service expansions2,316
Return to more normal weather1,314
Florida electric reliability/modernization program767
Florida GRIP602
Other(598)
Total12,838
TCJA impact - refunds and reserves for future refunds to ratepayers*
(5,421)
Period-over-Period increase in gross margin$7,417
*As a result of the TCJA, an estimated $5.4 million was reserved or refunded to customers during the first half of 2018 to reflect the impact of lower tax rates on the Company's regulated businesses. In some jurisdictions, the Company has paid refunds to customers, while in other jurisdictions, the Company has established reserves until final agreements are approved and changes are made to customer rates. The reserves and lower customer rates are equal to the estimated reduction in Federal income taxes due to the TCJA and have no material impact on after-tax earnings from the Regulated Energy segment

The following is a narrative discussion of the significant items in the foregoing table, which we believe is necessary to understand the information disclosed in the table.
Eight Flags
Eight Flags' CHP plant, which commenced operations in June 2016,Implementation of Eastern Shore's Settled Rates
Eastern Shore generated $4.2 million in additional gross margin.margin of $5.1 million from the implementation of new rates as a result of its rate case filing. See Note 4, Rates and Other Regulatory Activities, to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional details.
Natural Gas Growth (including customer and consumption growth but excluding service expansions)
Increased gross margin of $3.3 million from natural gas growth and consumption (excluding service expansions) was generated primarily from the following:
$1.6 million from higher sales on the Delmarva Peninsula and in Florida that were not driven by weather;

Natural Gas Marketing$889,000 from Florida natural gas customer growth, due primarily to an increase in residential and commercial customers served; and
PESCO$885,000 from a 3.7 percent increase in the average number of residential customers served by the Delmarva natural gas distribution operations, as well as growth in the number of commercial and industrial customers served.

Service Expansions
We generated additional gross margin of $1.8$2.3 million primarily from the following natural gas service expansions:
$2.0 million from Eastern Shore's services, including those provided on an interim basis, to industrial customers in Delaware in conjunction with a portion of Eastern Shore's 2017 Expansion Project that was placed in service in December 2017, and $447,000 in additional margin as a result of an increase in rates from service provided to an industrial customer, partially offset by the absence of short-term contracts totaling $1.2 million that were replaced by long-term service agreements; and
$1.6 million generated by Peninsula Pipeline from the New Smyrna Beach and Northwest Pipeline Expansion Projects.

Return to More Normal Weather
Temperatures during the first six months of 2018 were 1.8 percent warmer than normal compared to 22.2 percent warmer than normal weather during the first six months of 2017. Comparatively colder weather during the first six months of 2018 increased usage and generated $1.3 million in additional margin.
Florida Electric Reliability/Modernization Program
Gross margin increased by $767,000, due primarily to the rates that went into effect in January 2018. See Note 4, Rates and Other Regulatory Activities, to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional details.
GRIP
Increased investment in GRIP generated additional gross margin of $602,000 for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018, compared to the same period in 2016. 2017.
Impact of the TCJA on customer rates
The increaseadjustment to customer rates, because of the implementation of the TCJA, decreased gross margin by $5.4 million due to refunds and reserves for future refunds to customers. The decrease in gross margin was generated primarily from providing natural gas to approximately 40,000 end users within one customer pool pursuantoffset by a reduction in Federal income taxes.
Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses increased by $3.9 million. The significant factors contributing to the supplier agreement with Columbia Gas, which expired on March 31, 2017, as well as an increase in commercialother operating expenses included:
$1.7 million in higher depreciation, asset removal and industrial customers servedproperty tax costs associated with recent capital investments;
$1.4 million in Florida, offset by lower gross marginhigher staffing costs for additional personnel to support growth, including the largest project to date in the Mid-Atlantic region.Company's history, Eastern Shore's 2017 System Expansion Project;
Pricing Amendments$1.1 million in higher facilities and maintenance costs to Aspire Energy's Long-Term Agreementsmaintain system integrity; and
$592,000 in higher incentive compensation costs as a result of improved period-over-period results; offset by
$1.1 million in lower regulatory and outside services costs due to the absence of rate case filings in 2018.


Unregulated Energy Segment

For the quarter ended June 30, 2018, compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2017:
  Three Months Ended  
  June 30, Increase
  2018 2017 (decrease)
(in thousands)      
Revenue $76,345
 $63,049
 $13,296
Cost of sales 59,430
 49,313
 10,117
Gross margin 16,915
 13,736
 3,179
Operations & maintenance 13,406
 11,047
 2,359
Depreciation & amortization 2,198
 1,929
 269
Other taxes 821
 758
 63
Total operating expenses 16,425
 13,734
 2,691
Operating income $490
 $2
 $488

Operating income for the Unregulated Energy segment for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $490,000, compared to operating income of $2,000 for the same period in 2017. The increase in operating income of $488,000 was due to an increase in gross margin of $1.1$3.2 million, was dueoffset by a $2.7 million increase in operating expenses.
Gross Margin
Items contributing to favorable pricing amendments to long-term sales agreements, which generated $1.6 millionthe quarter-over-quarter increase in gross margin offset by the absence of a one-time management fee of $560,000 paid to Aspire Energy by CGCare listed in the firstfollowing table:
(in thousands) Margin Impact
PESCO $1,684
Propane delivery operations - additional customer consumption - weather 806
Propane delivery operations - increased margin driven by growth and other factors 536
Aspire Energy - increased margins largely due to higher commodity pricing
 on natural gas liquid sales
 207
Other (54)
Quarter-over-quarter increase in gross margin $3,179

The following is a narrative discussion of the significant items in the foregoing table, which we believe is necessary to understand the information disclosed in the table.
PESCO
For the three months ended June 30, 2018, PESCO's gross margin increased by $1.7 million compared to the same period in 2017. Higher second quarter of 2016.2018 margin from PESCO resulted from the following:
Wholesale
(in thousands) Margin Impact
Nonrecurring margin increase associated with the Southeast portfolio $642
Nonrecurring annual imbalance settlement from 2017 customer Supply Agreement 451
Additional margin associated with the acquisition of the Midwest portfolio in the third quarter of 2017 325
Incremental margin from growth 266
Total Incremental Margin from PESCO for the Second Quarter of 2018 $1,684

Propane Marginsdelivery operations - additional customer consumption - weather
Gross margin increased by $728,000,$806,000, due primarily to favorable supply management activities forincreased deliveries of propane as a result of colder temperatures in the Delmarva propane distribution operations.three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the same period in 2017.
Customer Consumption
Table of Contents

Propane delivery operations - Weatherincreased margin driven by growth and Otherother factors
Gross margin increased by $168,000,$536,000, due primarily to higherincreased sales of propane as a result of timing of deliveries for our propane distributions operations, coupled withgrowth in customers and other factors.
Aspire Energy - increased demand for propane in Floridamargin due to weather conditionschanges in natural gas liquids commodity prices
Gross margin increased by $207,000, as a result of higher commodity pricing on natural gas liquid sales, compared to the third quarter of 2017. This was partially offset by the impact of warmer weather primarily during the first three months ofsame period in 2017.
Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses increased by $7.2$2.7 million. The significant components of the increase in other operating expenses included:
$2.8 million764,000 in higher operating expenses by Eight Flags' CHP plant in supportas a result of increased staffing, infrastructure and risk management system costs to ensure the margin generated;profitable future growth of PESCO;
$1.5 million515,000 in higher payrollstaffing and associated costs for additional personnel to support growth;growth and increased deliveries driven by the colder weather in the second quarter of 2018, compared to the same period in 2017;
$950,000475,000 in higher outside services associated primarily with growth and ongoing compliance activities;
$427,000 in higher incentive compensation costs as a result of improved period-over-period results;
$173,000 in higher benefits and employee-related costs in 2017 (since we are self-insuredself-insure for healthcare, benefits costs fluctuate depending upon claims filed)filed claims); and
$800,000131,000 in higher depreciation expense,expense.

For the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017:
  Six Months Ended  
  June 30, Increase
  2018 2017 (decrease)
(in thousands)      
Revenue $221,712
 $155,774
 $65,938
Cost of sales 174,496
 115,219
 59,277
Gross margin 47,216
 40,555
 6,661
Operations & maintenance 26,766
 23,426
 3,340
Depreciation & amortization 4,364
 3,833
 531
Other taxes 1,912
 1,719
 193
Total operating expenses 33,042
 28,978
 4,064
Operating income $14,174
 $11,577
 $2,597

Operating income for the Unregulated Energy segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $14.2 million, compared to operating income of $11.6 million for same period in 2017. The $2.6 million increase in operating income was due to an increase in gross margin of $6.7 million, offset by a $4.1 million increase in operating expenses.
Gross Margin
Table of Contents

Items contributing to the period-over-period increase in gross margin are listed in the following table:
(in thousands) Margin Impact
Propane delivery operations - additional customer consumption - weather 2,923
Propane delivery operations - increased margin driven by growth and other factors 1,789
Aspire Energy - customer consumption - weather 921
PESCO (608)
Aspire Energy - increased margin driven by growth and other factors 585
Growth in wholesale propane margins and sales 333
Other 718
Period-over-period increase in gross margin $6,661

The following is a narrative discussion of the significant items in the foregoing table, which $424,000 relateswe believe is necessary to understand the information disclosed in the table.

Propane delivery operations - additional customer consumption - weather
Gross margin increased by $2.9 million, due primarily to increased propane deliveries as a result of colder temperatures in the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the same period in 2017.

Propane delivery operations - increased margin driven by growth and other factors
Gross margin increased by $1.8 million, due primarily to increased propane sales as a result of customer growth and other factors.
Aspire Energy - customer consumption - weather
Gross margin increased by $921,000, as a result of increased natural gas deliveries, due primarily to colder temperatures during the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the same period in 2017.
PESCO
For the six months ended June 30, 2018, PESCO's gross margin decreased by $608,000 compared to the same period in 2017. Lower gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 2018 from PESCO resulted from the following:

(in thousands)Margin Impact
Reversal of unrealized MTM loss recorded in the fourth quarter of 2017$5,713
Nonrecurring margin and annual imbalance settlement from 2017 customer Supply Agreement(1,673)
Net impact of extraordinary costs associated with the 2018 Bomb Cyclone for the Mid-Atlantic wholesale portfolio (1)
(3,284)
Loss for the Mid-Atlantic retail portfolio caused by pipeline capacity constraints in January and warm weather in February 2018 (1)
(2,261)
Nonrecurring margin increase associated with the Southeast portfolio642
Additional margin associated with the acquisition of the Midwest portfolio in the third quarter of 2017273
Other(18)
Total Change in Gross Margin for PESCO for the six months ended June 30, 2018$(608)
(1)The 2018 Bomb Cyclone refers to the early January, high-intensity winter storms that impacted the Company's Mid-Atlantic service territory and which had a residual impact on the Company's businesses through the month of February.   The exceedingly high demand and associated impacts on pipeline capacity and gas supply in the Delmarva Peninsula region created significant, unusual costs for PESCO. While such concerted impacts will recur infrequently, the Company's management revisited and refined its risk management strategies and implemented additional controls.

Aspire Energy - increased margin driven by growth and other factors
Gross margin increased by $585,000, due to customer growth, increased deliveries of natural gas because of an upgrade of pipeline pressure and improved margins on natural gas liquid sales.
Wholesale Propane Margins
Gross margin increased by $333,000, due to a credit adjustmenthigher margin per gallon and an increase in 2016 recordedvolume delivered for the Delmarva Peninsula propane distribution operations.
Table of Contents

Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses increased by $4.1 million. The significant components of the increase in conjunction with the final valuation for Aspire Energy; andother operating expenses included:
$350,0001.7 million in higher outside servicesexpenses as a result of increased staffing, infrastructure and risk management system costs to ensure the profitable future growth of PESCO;
$996,000 in higher staffing and associated primarily withcosts for additional personnel to support growth and increased deliveries driven by the colder weather in the first six months of 2018, compared to the same period in 2017;
$646,000 in higher expenses, including vehicle fuel costs, sales and advertising, taxes other than income taxes and credit collections costs;
$594,000 in higher incentive compensation costs as a result of improved period-over-period results;
$443,000 in higher maintenance costs as a result of ongoing compliance activities.activities;
$266,000 in higher depreciation and amortization expense due to increased investments; offset by
the absence of $870,000 in 2017 Xeron wind-down expenses.

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE),EXPENSE, NET
For the quarter ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 compared to the quarter ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017
Other income (expense),expense, net, which includes non-operating investment income (expense), interest income, late fees charged to customers, and gains or losses from the sale of assets increasedand pension and other benefits expense, decreased by $267,000$740,000 in the thirdsecond quarter of 2017,2018, compared to the same period in 2016,2017, due primarilypartly to the gain from the salerecognition of assets within our unregulated energy businesses.Xeron lease termination expenses in 2017.
For the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 compared to the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017
Other income (expense),expense, net, which includes non-operating investment income (expense), interest income, late fees charged to customers, and gains or losses from the sale of assets and pension and other benefits expense, decreased by $575,000$1.5 million for the first ninesix months of 2017,2018, compared to the same period in 2016,2017, due partly to costs associated with the recognition of Xeron lease termination of a lease for Xeron partially offset by the gain from the sale of assets within our unregulated energy businesses.expenses in 2017.

INTERESTINTEREST CHARGES
For the quarter ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 compared to the quarter ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017
Interest charges for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 increased by $599,000,$808,000, compared to the same period in 2016,2017, attributable primarily to an increase of $410,000$804,000 in interest on higher short-term borrowings, and an increase of $273,000 in interest on long-term debt, largely as a result of the issuance of the NYL Shelf Notes (Series A) in May 2018.
For the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017
Interest charges for the six months ended June 30, 2018 increased by $1.7 million, compared to the same period in 2017, attributable primarily to an increase of $1.4 million in interest on higher short-term borrowings, and an increase of $804,000 in interest on long-term debt, largely as a result of the issuance of the Prudential Shelf Notes in April 2017 and an increase of $266,000 in interest on higher short-term borrowings.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016
Interest charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 increased by $1.1 million, compared to the same period in 2016, attributable to an increase of $691,000 in interest on higher short-term borrowings and an increase of $618,000 in interest on long-term debt, largely as a result of the issuance of the PrudentialNYL Shelf Notes (Series A) in April 2017.May 2018.

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INCOME TAXES
For the quarter ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2016
Income tax expense was $4.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $3.0 million in the same period in 2016. The increase in income tax expense was due primarily to an increase in our operating results. Our effective income tax rate was 38.8 percent and 40.4 percent, for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the nine months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017
Income tax expense was $20.8$2.7 million for the ninethree months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, compared to $21.4$3.9 million in the same period in 2016.2017. The decrease in income tax expense was due primarily to a decreasethe impact of the TCJA in our operating results.the second quarter of 2018. Our effective income tax rate was 39.429.9 percent and 39.5 percent, for the ninethree months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

For the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017
Income tax expense was $12.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to $16.5 million in the same period in 2017. The decrease in income tax expense was due primarily to the impact of the TCJA in the first six months of 2018. Our effective income tax rate was 27.6 percent and 2016,39.5 percent for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

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FINANCIAL POSITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our capital requirements reflect the capital-intensive and seasonal nature of our business and are principally attributable to investment in new plant and equipment, retirement of outstanding debt and seasonal variability in working capital. We rely on cash generated from operations, short-term borrowings, and other sources to meet normal working capital requirements and to temporarily finance capital expenditures. We may also issue long-term debt and equity to fund capital expenditures and to more closely align our capital structure towith our target capital structure.
Our energy businesses are weather-sensitive and seasonal. We normally generate a large portion of our annual net income and subsequent increases in our accounts receivable in the first and fourth quarters of each year due to significant volumes of natural gas, electricity, and propane delivered by our natural gas, electric, and propane distribution operations, and our natural gas gathering and processing operation to customers during the peak heating season. In addition, our natural gas and propane inventories, which usually peak in the fall months, are largely drawn down in the heating season and provide a source of cash as the inventory is used to satisfy winter sales demand.
Capital expenditures for investments in new or acquired plant and equipment are our largest capital requirements. Our capital expenditures were $132.4$134.7 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017.2018.
We originally budgeted $260.3$181.6 million for capital expenditures during 2017,in 2018, and we currently project capital expenditures of approximately $214.7$216.4 million in 2017.2018. Our current forecastcapital projection by segment and by business line is shown below:
20172018
(dollars in thousands)  
Regulated Energy:  
Natural gas distribution$76,771
$65,594
Natural gas transmission93,737
110,813
Electric distribution10,768
8,930
Total Regulated Energy181,276
185,337
Unregulated Energy:  
Propane distribution10,458
13,359
Other unregulated energy16,417
7,413
Total Unregulated Energy26,875
20,772
Other:  
Corporate and other businesses6,507
10,289
Total Other6,507
10,289
Total 2017 Capital Expenditures$214,658
Total 2018 Budgeted Capital Expenditures$216,398
The capital expenditure projection is subject to continuous review and modification. Actual capital requirements may vary from the above estimates due to a number of factors, including changing economic conditions, customer growth in existing areas, regulation, new growth or acquisition opportunities and availability of capital. Historically, actual capital expenditures have typically lagged behind the budgeted amounts.
The timing of capital expenditures can vary based on delays in regulatory approvals, securing environmental approvals and other permits. The regulatory application and approval process has lengthened in the past few years, and we expect this trend to continue.

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Capital Structure
We are committed to maintaining a sound capital structure and strong credit ratings to provide the financial flexibility needed to access capital markets when required. This commitment, along with adequate and timely rate relief for our regulated energy operations, is intended to ensure our ability to attract capital from outside sources at a reasonable cost. We believe that the achievement of these objectives will provide benefits to our customers, creditors and investors.
The following table presents our capitalization, excluding and including short-term borrowings, as of SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and December 31, 2016:2017:

 September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
(in thousands)                
Long-term debt, net of current maturities $201,248
 30% $136,954
 23% $241,596
 32% $197,395
 29%
Stockholders’ equity 463,820
 70% 446,086
 77% 507,986
 68% 486,294
 71%
Total capitalization, excluding short-term debt $665,068
 100% $583,040
 100% $749,582
 100% $683,689
 100%
                
 September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
(in thousands)                
Short-term debt $203,098
 23% $209,871
 26% $235,288
 24% $250,969
 26%
Long-term debt, including current maturities 213,384
 24% 149,053
 19% 251,573
 25% 206,816
 22%
Stockholders’ equity 463,820
 53% 446,086
 55% 507,986
 51% 486,294
 52%
Total capitalization, including short-term debt $880,302
 100% $805,010
 100% $994,847
 100% $944,079
 100%
Included in the long-term debt balances at SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and December 31, 2016,2017, was a capital lease obligation associated with Sandpiper's capacity, supply and operating agreement (at SeptemberJune 30, 2017, $1.0 million2018, zero excluding current maturities and $2.4$1.4 million including current maturities and, at December 31, 2016, $2.1 million2017, $620,000 excluding current maturities and $3.5$2.1 million including current maturities). At the closing of the ESG acquisition in May 2013, Sandpiper entered into this agreement, which has a six-year term.term ending in May 2019. The capacity portion of this agreement is accounted for as a capital lease.
Our target ratio of equity to total capitalization, including short-term borrowings, is between 50 and 60 percent. We have maintained a ratio of equityFrom time to total capitalization, including short-term borrowings, between 50 percent and 57 percent duringtime, we may go below the past three years. In September 2016, we completed a public offering of 960,488 shares of our common stock at a price per share of $62.26. The net proceeds from the sale of common stock, after deducting underwriting commissions and expenses, were approximately $57.4 million, which were added to our general funds and used primarily to repay a portion of our short-term debt under unsecured lines of credit.
As described below under “Short-term Borrowings,” we entered into the Credit Agreement and the Revolver with the Lenders in October 2015, which increased our borrowing capacity by $150.0 million. To facilitate the refinancing of a portionlower end of the short-term borrowings into long-term debt,target range as appropriate, we also entered into the Prudential Shelf Agreement with Prudential for the potential private placement of the Prudential Shelf Notes as further described below under the heading “Shelf Agreements.” In addition, we also entered into the MetLife and NYL Shelf Agreements, as described in further detail below, to have additional debt capital available to fund future growth capital expenditures.
For larger revenue-generating capital projects, we will seek to align, as much as feasible, any long-term debt or equity issuance(s) with the commencement of service, and associated earnings.earnings, for larger revenue generating capital projects. In addition, the exact timing of any long-term debt or equity issuance(s) will be based on market conditions.
Shelf Agreements
In October 2015, we entered into the $150.0 million Prudential Shelf Agreement, under which through October 8, 2018, we may request that Prudential purchase up to $150.0 million of our Prudential Shelf Notes. The Prudential Shelf Notesunsecured senior debt. As of June 30, 2018, we have a fixed interest rate and a maturity date not to exceed 20 years from the date of issuance. Prudential is under no obligation to purchase any of the Prudential Shelf Notes. The interest rate and terms of payment of any series of the Prudential Shelf Notes will be determined at the time of purchase.
In May 2016, Prudential confirmed and accepted our request that Prudential purchaseissued $70.0 million of 3.25 percent3.25% Prudential Shelf Notes under the Prudential Shelf Agreement. We issued the Prudential Shelf Notes on April 21, 2017 and used the proceeds to reduce short-term borrowings under the Revolver, which had increased as a result of funding capital expenditures on a temporary basis.
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The Prudential Shelf Agreement sets forth certain business covenants to which we are subject when any Prudential Shelf Note is outstanding, including covenants that limit or restrict our ability, and the ability of our subsidiaries, to incur indebtedness, or place or permit liens and encumbrances on any of our property or the property of our subsidiaries.Notes.
In March 2017, we entered into the MetLife Shelf Agreement and the NYL Shelf Agreement, under which we may request that MetLife and NYL, through March 2, 2020, purchase up to $150.0 million in Met Life Shelf Notes and $100.0 million respectively, of ourin NYL Shelf Notes, respectively. The unsecured senior debt atwould have a fixed interest rate and with a maturity date not to exceed 20 years from the date of issuance. MetLife and NYL are under no obligation to purchase any unsecured senior debt. The interest rate and terms of payment of any series of unsecured senior debt will be determined at the time of purchase.
In November 2017, NYL agreed to purchase $50.0 million of 3.48% Series A notes and $50.0 million of 3.58% Series B notes. The Series A notes were issued in May 2018, and the Series B notes will be issued on or before November 20, 2018. The proceeds received from the issuances of these NYL Shelf Notes will be used to reduce borrowings under the Revolver and/or lines of credit and/or to fund capital expenditures. The NYL Shelf Agreement has been fully utilized.
As of SeptemberJune 30, 2017, no unsecured notes2018, we have been issued$230.0 million of additional potential borrowing capacity under either the Prudential and MetLife Shelf Agreements. The Prudential Shelf Agreement orand the NYL Shelf Agreement.Agreement set forth certain business covenants to which we are subject when any note is outstanding, including covenants that limit or restrict our ability, and the ability of our subsidiaries, to incur indebtedness, or place or permit liens and encumbrances on any of our property or the property of our subsidiaries.

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Short-term Borrowings
Our outstanding short-term borrowings at SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and December 31, 20162017 were $203.1$235.3 million and $209.9$251.0 million respectively. Theat weighted average interest rates for our short-term borrowings were 1.96of 2.98 percent and 1.492.42 percent, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Our current short-term borrowing limit, authorized by our Board of Directors, is $350.0 million.
We utilize bank lines of credit to provide funds for our short-term cash needs to meet seasonal working capital requirements and to temporarily fund portions of the capital expenditure program. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, we had fourfive unsecured bank credit facilities with threefour financial institutions totaling $180.0$220.0 million in available credit.
In addition, since October 2015, we have $150.0 million of additional short-term debt capacity available under the Revolver. The terms of the Revolver with five participating Lenders. are described in further detail below. None of the unsecured bank lines of credit requires compensating balances.
The $150.0 million Revolver has a five-year termis available through October 8, 2020 and is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement. Borrowings under the Revolver will be used for general corporate purposes, including repayments of short-term borrowings, working capital requirements and capital expenditures. Borrowings under the Revolver will bear interest at: (i) the LIBOR Rate plus an applicable margin of 1.25 percent or less, with such margin based on total indebtedness as a percentage of total capitalization, both as defined by the Credit Agreement, or (ii) the base rate plus 0.25% or less. Interest is payable quarterly, and the Revolver is subject to a commitment fee on the unused portion of the facility. We have the right, under certain circumstances, to extend the expiration date for up to two years on any anniversary date of the Revolver, with such extension subject to the Lenders' approval. We may also request the Lenders to increase the Revolver to $200.0 million, with any increase at the sole discretion of each Lender.
None of the unsecured bank lines of credit requires compensating balances. We are currently authorized by our Board of Directors to incur up to $275.0 million of short-term borrowing.
Cash Flows
The following table provides a summary of our operating, investing and financing cash flows for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 2016:2017:
 
 Nine Months Ended Six Months Ended
 September 30, June 30,
 2017 2016 2018 2017
(in thousands)        
Net cash provided by (used in):        
Operating activities $98,372
 $85,733
 $108,352
 $96,370
Investing activities (141,453) (109,730) (126,661) (88,577)
Financing activities 42,289
 22,678
 17,207
 (9,552)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (792) (1,319) (1,102) (1,759)
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period 4,178
 2,855
 5,614
 4,178
Cash and cash equivalents—end of period $3,386
 $1,536
 $4,512
 $2,419
Cash Flows Provided By Operating Activities
Changes in our cash flows from operating activities are attributable primarily to changes in net income, adjusted for non-cash items such as depreciation and changes in deferred income taxes, depreciation and working capital. Changes in working capital are determined by a variety of factors, including weather, the prices of natural gas, electricity and propane, the timing of customer collections, payments for purchases of natural gas, electricity and propane, and deferred fuel cost recoveries.
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During the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 2016,2017, net cash provided by operating activities was $98.4$108.4 million and $85.7$96.4 million, respectively, resulting in an increase in cash flows of $12.6$12.0 million. Significant operating activities generating the cash flows change were as follows:
Net income, adjusted for reconciling activities, increased cash flows by $17.9 million, due primarily to an increase in deferred income taxes as a result of the availability and utilization of bonus depreciation in the first nine months of 2017, which resulted in a higher book-to-tax timing difference and higher non-cash adjustments for depreciation and amortization related to increased investing activities.
Changes in income taxes receivable decreased cash flows by $18.7 million, due to lower tax refunds during the first nine months of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016.
Changes in net accounts receivable and accrued revenue and accounts payable and accrued liabilities increaseddecreased cash flows by $14.1$20.5 million, due primarily to higher revenues and the timing of the receipt of customer payments as well as the timing of payments to vendors.
Net income, adjusted for reconciling activities, increased cash flows by $8.2 million, due primarily to the higher performance during the period.
Net cash flows from changes in otherpropane inventories decreasedincreased by approximately $6.1$12.4 million due primarily to additional pipes and other constructionas a result of higher use of propane, which decreased our inventory purchases, which increased the levelslevels.
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Changes in net regulatory assets and liabilities increased cash flows by $4.3$6.8 million, due primarily to changesthe change in GRIP and fuel costs collected through the various cost recovery mechanisms.
Changes in net prepaid expenses and other current assets, customer deposits and refunds other assets and liabilities and accrued compensation increased cash flows by $1.2$5.2 million.
Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities totaled $141.5$126.7 million and $109.7$88.6 million during the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 2016,2017, respectively, resulting in a decrease in cash flows of $31.8$38.1 million. Significant investing activities generating the cash flows change were as follows:
Cash paid for capital expenditures increased by $20.5$38.2 million to $130.1$126.8 million for the first ninesix months of 2017,2018, compared to $109.6$88.6 million for the same period in 2016.
Net cash of $11.7 million was used to acquire ARM and Chipola during the first nine months of 2017; there were no corresponding transactions in 2016.2017.
Cash Flows Used inProvided (Used) by Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities totaled $17.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to net cash of $9.6 million used in financing activities totaled $42.3 million and $22.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.prior year period resulting in an increase in cash flows of $26.8 million. The increase in net cash used inprovided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 resulted primarily from the following:
WeIncreased cash flows from lower repayments of short-term borrowing of $45.6 million under our line of credit arrangements;
Receipt of $74.9 million in net cash proceeds from the Revolver and the issuance of the NYL Shelf Notes (Series A) in January and May 2018, respectively, which increased cash flow by $5.1 million during the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the same period in 2017. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, we received $69.8 million in net cash proceeds from the issuance of the Prudential Shelf Notes, and we paid $2.9Notes;
Increased cash flows of $3.0 million moreas a result of changes in scheduledcash overdrafts; partially offset by
Higher repayment of long-term debt principal payments and capital lease obligations payments.
Net cash flows decreased by $57.3of $25.0 million from proceeds related to the issuance of common stock during the third quarter of 2016.
Net repayments under our line of credit arrangements of $3.8 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, compared to net repayments of $21.4 million for the same period in 2016, increased cash flows by $17.6 million. Change in cash overdrafts decreased cash flows by $5.5 million.2017.
We paid $14.8 million in cash dividends for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $13.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have issued corporate guarantees to certain vendors of our subsidiaries, primarily PESCO. These corporate guarantees provide for the payment of propane and natural gas purchases in the event of the respective subsidiary’s default. PESCO hasThese subsidiaries have never defaulted on itstheir obligations to pay itstheir suppliers. The liabilities for these purchases are recorded in our financial statements when incurred. The aggregate amount guaranteed at SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 was $71.9$72.5 million, with the guarantees expiring on various dates through September 2018.June 2019.
We have issued letters of credit totaling $5.8$5.0 million related to the electric transmission services for FPU's northwest electric division, the firm transportation service agreement between TETLP and our Delaware and Maryland divisions, and to our current and previous primary insurance carriers.carrier. These letters of credit have variousvarying expiration dates through June 2018.December 2019. There have been no draws on these letters of credit as of SeptemberJune 30, 2017.2018. We do not anticipate that the letters of credit will be drawn upon by

the counterparties, and we expect that they will be renewed to the extent necessary in the future. Additional information is presented in Note 56, Other Commitments and Contingencies in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Contractual Obligations
There has been no material change in the contractual obligations presented in our 20162017 Annual Report on Form 10-K, except for long-term debt and commodity purchase obligations and forward contracts entered into in the ordinary course of our business. The following table summarizes long-term debt and commodity and forwardpurchase contract obligations at SeptemberJune 30, 2017:2018:
 
 Payments Due by Period Payments Due by Period
 Less than 1 year 1 - 3 years 3 - 5 years More than 5 years Total Less than 1 year 1 - 3 years 3 - 5 years More than 5 years Total
(in thousands)                    
Long-term debt (1)
 $10,698
 $24,226
 $40,700
 $135,800
 $211,424
 $8,626
 $31,200
 $38,700
 $172,200
 $250,726
Purchase obligations - Commodity (2)
 47,069
 1,693
 
 
 48,762
 116,416
 39,752
 77
 
 156,245
Total $57,767
 $25,919
 $40,700
 $135,800
 $260,186
 $125,042
 $70,952
 $38,777
 $172,200
 $406,971
 
(1) 
Excludes capital lease obligation, debt issuance costs and an unamortized debt discount of $1,960.$847,000.
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(2) 
In addition to the obligations noted above, we have agreements with commodity suppliers that have provisions with no minimum purchase requirements. There are no monetary penalties for reducing the amounts purchased; however, the propane contracts allow the suppliers to reduce the amounts available in the winter season if we do not purchase specified amounts during the summer season. Under these contracts, the commodity prices will fluctuate as market prices fluctuate.
Rates and Regulatory Matters
Our natural gas distribution operations in Delaware, Maryland and Florida and electric distribution operation in Florida are subject to regulation by the respective state PSC; Eastern Shore is subject to regulation by the FERC; and Peninsula Pipeline is subject to regulation by the Florida PSC. At SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, we were involved in regulatory matters in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Our significant regulatory matters are fully described in Note 34, Rates and Other Regulatory Activities, to the condensed consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Recent Authoritative Pronouncements on Financial Reporting and Accounting
Recent accounting developments applicable to us and their impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows are described in Note 1, Summary of Accounting Policies, to the condensed consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
INTEREST RATE RISK
Long-term debt is subject to potential losses based on changes in interest rates. Our long-term debt at SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, consists of fixed-rate Senior Notes and $8.0 million of fixed-rate secured debt. We evaluate whether to refinance existing debt or permanently refinance existing short-term borrowings based in part on the fluctuation in interest rates. Additional information about our long-term debt is disclosed in Note 13,14, Long-term Debt, in the condensed consolidated financial statements.
COMMODITY PRICE RISK
Regulated Energy Segment
We have entered into agreements with various wholesale suppliers to purchase natural gas and electricity for resale to our customers. Our regulated energy distribution businesses that sell natural gas or electricity to end-use customers have fuel cost recovery mechanisms authorized by the PSCs that allow us to periodically adjust fuel rates to reflect changes in the wholesale cost of natural gas and electricity and to ensure that we recover all of the costs prudently incurred in purchasing natural gas and electricity for our customers. Therefore, our regulated energy distribution operations have limited commodity price risk exposure.
Unregulated Energy Segment
Sharp and Flo-gas are exposed to commodity price risk as a result of the competitive nature of retail pricing offered to our customers. In order to mitigate this risk, we utilize propane storage activities and forward contracts for supply.
We can store up to approximately 6.26.9 million gallons of propane (including leased storage and rail cars) during the winter season to meet our customers’ peak requirements and to serve metered customers. Decreases in the wholesale price of propane may cause
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the value of stored propane to decline, particularly if we utilize fixed price forward contracts for supply. To mitigate the risk of propane commodity price fluctuations on the inventory valuation, we have adopted a Risk Management Policy that allows our propane distribution operation to enter into fair value hedges, cash flowsflow hedges or other economic hedges of our inventory.
Aspire Energy is exposed to commodity price risk, primarily during the winter season, to the extent we are not successful in balancing our natural gas purchases and sales and have to secure natural gas from alternative sources at higher spot prices. In order to mitigate this risk, we procure firm capacity that meets our estimated volume requirements and we continue to seek out new producers with which to contract in order to fulfill our natural gas purchase requirements.
PESCO is a party to natural gas swap and futures contracts. These contracts provide PESCO with the right to purchase natural gas at a fixed price at future dates. Upon expiration, the contracts can be settled financially without taking delivery of natural gas, or PESCO can procuretake delivery of natural gas for its customers.
PESCO is subject to commodity price risk on its open positions to the extent that market prices for natural gas liquids and natural gas deviate from fixed contract settlement prices. Market risk associated with the trading of futures and forward contracts is monitored daily for compliance with our Risk Management Policy, which includes volumetric limits for open positions. To manage exposures to changing market prices, open positions are marked up or down to market prices and reviewed daily by our oversight officials. In addition, the Risk Management Committee reviews periodic reports on markets, approves any exceptions to the Risk Management Policy (within limits established by the Board of Directors) and authorizes the use of any new types of contracts.
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The following table reflects the changes in the fair market value of financial derivatives contracts related to natural gas and propane purchases and sales from December 31, 2017 to June 30, 2018:
(in thousands)Balance at December 31, 2017 Increase (Decrease) in Fair Market Value Less Amounts Settled  Balance at June 30, 2018
PESCO$(6,153) $14,607
 $(9,099) $(645)
Sharp1,192
 (1,553) 655
 294
Total$(4,961) $13,054
 $(8,444) $(351)
There were no changes in methods of valuations during the six months ended June 30, 2018.
The following is a summary of fair market value of financial derivatives as of June 30, 2018, by method of valuation and by maturity for each fiscal year period.
(in thousands)2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Total Fair Value
Price based on ICE - PESCO$(750) $(541) $972
 $(329) $3
 $(645)
Price based on Mont Belvieu - Sharp244
 65
 (8) (7) 
 294
Total$(506) $(476) $964
 $(336) $3
 $(351)
WHOLESALE CREDIT RISK
The Risk Management Committee reviews credit risks associated with counterparties to commodity derivative contracts prior to such contracts being approved.
Additional information about our derivative instruments is disclosed in Note 11,12, Derivative Instruments, in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Chesapeake Utilities, with the participation of other Company officials, have evaluated our “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of SeptemberJune 30, 2017.2018. Based upon their evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of SeptemberJune 30, 2017.2018.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Beginning January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The impacts of the adoption are discussed in detail in Note 1, Summary of Accounting Policies, and Note 3, Revenue Recognition, in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements within this Form 10-Q. In conjunction with this adoption, we implemented changes to our controls related to revenue that were not material to our internal controls over financial reporting. These included the development of new policies based on the five-step model provided in the new revenue standard, enhanced contract review requirements, and other ongoing monitoring activities. These controls were designed to provide assurance, at a reasonable level, of the fair presentation of our condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. During the quarter ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
As disclosed in Note 56, Other Commitments and Contingencies, of the condensed consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we are involved in certain legal actions and claims arising in the normal course of business. We are also involved in certain legal and administrative proceedings before various governmental or regulatory agencies concerning rates and other regulatory actions. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these proceedings and claims will not have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Our business, operations, and financial condition are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The risk factors described in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2016,2017, should be carefully considered, together with the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the SEC in connection with evaluating Chesapeake Utilities, our business and the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Additional risks and uncertainties not known to us at present, or that we currently deem immaterial, also may affect Chesapeake Utilities. The occurrence of any of these known or unknown risks could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
  
Total
Number of
Shares
 
Average
Price Paid
 
Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced Plans
 
Maximum Number of
Shares That May Yet Be
Purchased Under the Plans
Period Purchased per Share 
or Programs (2)
 
or Programs (2)
July 1, 2017
through July 31, 2017
(1)
 387
 $75.75
 
 
August 1, 2017
through August 31, 2017
 
 $
 
 
September 1, 2017
through September 30, 2017
 
 $
 
 
Total 387
 $75.75
 
 
  
Total
Number of
Shares
 
Average
Price Paid
 
Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced Plans
 
Maximum Number of
Shares That May Yet Be
Purchased Under the Plans
Period Purchased per Share 
or Programs (2)
 
or Programs (2)
April 1, 2018
through April 30, 2018
(1)
 406
 $73.05
 
 
May 1, 2018
through May 31, 2018
 
 $
 
 
June 1, 2018
through June 30, 2018
 
 $
 
 
Total 406
 $73.05
 
 
 
(1) 
Chesapeake Utilities purchased shares of common stock on the open market for the purpose of reinvesting the dividend on deferred stock units held in the Rabbi Trust accounts for certain Directorsdirectors and Senior Executivessenior executives under the Deferred Compensation Plan. The Deferred Compensation Plan is discussed in detail in Item 8 under the heading “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 16, Employee Benefit Plans” in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20162017. During the quarter ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017, 3872018, 406 shares were purchased through the reinvestment of dividends on deferred stock units.
(2) 
Except for the purposes described in Footnote (1), Chesapeake Utilities has no publicly announced plans or programs to repurchase its shares.


Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities
None.
 
Item 5. Other Information

None.


Item 6.Exhibits
 
   
31.110.1Separation Agreement and Release, effective as of June 7, 2018, by and between Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and Elaine B. Bittner, which was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 8, 2018, and is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
31.1*  
   
31.231.2*  
   
32.132.1*  
   
32.232.2*  
   
101.INS*  XBRL Instance Document.
  
101.SCH*  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
  
101.CAL*  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
  
101.DEF*  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
  
101.LAB*  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
  
101.PRE*  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.


*Filed herewith

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.
 
CHESAPEAKE UTILITIES CORPORATION
 
/S/ BETH W. COOPER
Beth W. Cooper
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Date: NovemberAugust 9, 20172018


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