Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Transportation and Distribution Revenue

v3.21.2
Transportation and Distribution Revenue
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2021
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]  
TRANSPORTATION AND DISTRIBUTION REVENUE TRANSPORTATION AND DISTRIBUTION REVENUE
The Company's contracts related to transportation and distribution revenue are primarily comprised of a mix of natural gas supply, crude oil and natural gas transportation and distribution performance obligations, as well as limited performance obligations related to system maintenance and improvement.
Crude Oil and Natural Gas Transportation and Distribution
Under the Company's (i) natural gas supply, (ii) crude oil and natural gas transportation and (iii) natural gas distribution performance obligations, the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefit of the services as the commodity is delivered. Therefore, the transaction price is allocated proportionally over the series of identical performance obligations with each contract, and the Company satisfies performance obligations over time as midstream transportation and distribution services are performed. The transaction price is calculated based on (i) index price, plus a contractual markup in the case of natural gas supply agreements (considered variable due to fluctuations in the index), (ii) CPUC and FERC regulated rates or negotiated rates in the case of transportation agreements and (iii) contracted amounts (with annual CPI escalators) in the case of the Company's distribution agreement.
The Company's crude oil transportation revenue also includes amounts earned for pipeline loss allowance ("PLA"). PLA revenue, recorded within transportation revenue, represents the estimated realizable value of the earned loss allowance volumes received by the Company as applicable under the tariff or contract. As is common in the pipeline transportation industry, as crude oil is transported, the Company earns a small percentage of the crude oil volume transported to offset any measurement uncertainty or actual volumes lost in transit. The Company will settle the PLA with its shippers either in-kind or in cash. PLA received by the Company typically exceeds actual pipeline losses in transit and typically results in a benefit to the Company. For PLA volumes received in-kind, the Company records these in inventory.
When PLA is paid in-kind, the barrels are valued at current market price less standard deductions, recorded as inventory and recognized as non-cash consideration revenue, concurrent with related transportation services. PLA paid in cash is treated in the same way as in-kind, but no inventory is created. In accordance with ASC 606, when control of the PLA volumes have been transferred to the purchaser, the Company records this non-cash consideration as revenue at the contractual sales price within PLA revenue and PLA cost of revenues.
Based on the nature of the agreements, revenue for all but one of the Company's natural gas supply, transportation and distribution performance obligations is recognized on a right to invoice basis as the performance obligations are met, which represents what the Company expects to receive in consideration and is representative of value delivered to the customer. The Company has a contract with Spire that has fixed pricing which varies over the contract term. For this specific contract, the transaction price has been allocated ratably over the contractual performance obligation. Based on a downward revision of the rate during the Company's long-term natural gas transportation contract with Spire, ASC 606 requires the Company to record the contractual transaction price, and therefore aggregate revenue, from the contract ratably over the term of the contract.
During the fourth quarter of 2020, MoGas entered into a new long-term firm transportation services agreement with Spire, its largest customer. Upon completion of the STL interconnect project, the agreement increased Spire’s firm capacity from 62,800 dekatherms per day to 145,600 dekatherms per day through October 2030 and replaced the previous firm transportation agreement. In accordance with ASC 606, the Company accounted for the contract modification in the fourth quarter of 2020 as a termination of the existing transportation contract and a creation of a new transportation contract with Spire that was accounted for prospectively. The remaining contract liability will decline at a rate of approximately $146 thousand per quarter through the end of the contract in October 2030. As of June 30, 2021, the revenue allocated to the remaining performance obligation under this contract is approximately $65.2 million.
System Maintenance & Improvement
System maintenance and improvement contracts are specific and tailored to the customer's needs, have no alternative use and have an enforceable right to payment as the services are provided. Revenue is recognized on an input method, based on the actual cost of service as a measure of the performance obligation satisfaction. Differences between amounts invoiced and revenue recognized under the input method are reflected as an asset or liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The costs of system improvement projects are recognized as a financing arrangement in accordance with guidance in the lease standard while the margin is recognized in accordance with the revenue standard as discussed above.
The table below summarizes the Company's contract liability balance related to its transportation and distribution revenue contracts as of June 30, 2021:
Contract Liability(1)
June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020
Beginning Balance January 1 $ 6,104,979  $ 6,850,790 
Unrecognized Performance Obligations 315,000  347,811 
Recognized Performance Obligations (292,756) (1,093,622)
Ending Balance $ 6,127,223  $ 6,104,979 
(1) The contract liability balance is included in unearned revenue in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company's contract asset balance was $286 thousand and $363 thousand as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The Company also recognized deferred contract costs related to incremental costs to obtain a transportation performance obligation contract, which are amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining term of the contract. As of June 30, 2021, the remaining unamortized deferred contract costs balance was approximately $1.0 million. The contract asset and deferred contract costs balances are included in prepaid expenses and other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The following is a breakout of the Company's transportation and distribution revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020:
For the Three Months Ended For the Six Months Ended
June 30, 2021 June 30, 2020 June 30, 2021 June 30, 2020
Crude oil transportation revenue 81.7  % —  % 78.3  % —  %
Natural gas transportation revenue 12.9  % 68.0  % 14.9  % 68.4  %
Natural gas distribution revenue 4.2  % 27.2  % 4.8  % 25.0  %