v3.22.4
Segment Information
 3 Months Ended
Dec. 24, 2022
Segment Reporting [Abstract]  
Segment Information
18.
Segment Information

The Partnership manages and evaluates its operations in four operating segments, three of which are reportable segments: Propane, Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels, and Natural Gas and Electricity. The chief operating decision maker evaluates performance of the operating segments using a number of performance measures, including gross margins and income before interest expense and provision for income taxes (operating profit). Costs excluded from these profit measures are captured in Corporate and include corporate overhead expenses not allocated to the operating segments. Unallocated corporate overhead expenses include all costs of back office support functions that are reported as general and administrative expenses within the condensed consolidated statements of operations. In addition, certain costs associated with field operations support that are reported in operating expenses within the condensed consolidated statements of operations, including purchasing, training and safety, are not allocated to the individual operating segments. Thus, operating profit for each operating segment includes only the costs that are directly attributable to the operations of the individual segment. The accounting policies of the operating segments are otherwise the same as those described in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2022.

The propane segment is primarily engaged in the retail distribution of propane to residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and government customers and, to a lesser extent, wholesale distribution to large industrial end users. In the residential, commercial and government markets, propane is used primarily for space heating, water heating, cooking and clothes drying. Industrial customers use propane generally as a motor fuel burned in internal combustion engines that power over-the-road vehicles, forklifts and stationary engines, to fire furnaces and as a cutting gas. In the agricultural markets, propane is primarily used for tobacco curing, crop drying, poultry brooding and weed control. In addition, the Partnership’s equity investment in Oberon is included within the propane segment.

The fuel oil and refined fuels segment is primarily engaged in the retail distribution of fuel oil, diesel, kerosene and gasoline to residential and commercial customers for use primarily as a source of heat in homes and buildings.

The natural gas and electricity segment is engaged in the marketing of natural gas and electricity to residential and commercial customers in the deregulated energy markets of New York and Pennsylvania. Under this operating segment, the Partnership owns the relationship with the end consumer and has agreements with the local distribution companies to deliver the natural gas or electricity from the Partnership’s suppliers to the customer.

Activities in the “all other” category include the Partnership’s service business, which is primarily engaged in the sale, installation and servicing of a wide variety of home comfort equipment, particularly in the areas of heating and ventilation. In addition, the Partnership’s equity investment in IH, as well as its biodigester systems for the production of RNG, are included within “all other”.

The following table presents certain data by reportable segment and provides a reconciliation of total operating segment information to the corresponding condensed consolidated amounts for the periods presented:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

December 24,

 

 

December 25,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

$

342,353

 

 

$

331,117

 

Fuel oil and refined fuels

 

 

30,141

 

 

 

20,966

 

Natural gas and electricity

 

 

8,690

 

 

 

9,223

 

All other

 

 

16,286

 

 

 

14,101

 

Total revenues

 

$

397,470

 

 

$

375,407

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

$

94,408

 

 

$

66,575

 

Fuel oil and refined fuels

 

 

2,082

 

 

 

1,694

 

Natural gas and electricity

 

 

1,092

 

 

 

1,670

 

All other

 

 

(5,775

)

 

 

(5,790

)

Corporate

 

 

(29,492

)

 

 

(26,893

)

Total operating income

 

 

62,315

 

 

 

37,256

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation to net income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

15,994

 

 

 

15,299

 

Other, net

 

 

975

 

 

 

1,130

 

(Benefit from) income taxes

 

 

(48

)

 

 

(471

)

Net income

 

$

45,394

 

 

$

21,298

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

$

11,890

 

 

$

13,734

 

Fuel oil and refined fuels

 

 

409

 

 

 

428

 

Natural gas and electricity

 

 

3

 

 

 

5

 

All other

 

 

43

 

 

 

45

 

Corporate

 

 

1,434

 

 

 

2,073

 

Total depreciation and amortization

 

$

13,779

 

 

$

16,285

 

 

 

 

As of

 

 

 

December 24,

 

 

September 24,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

$

1,994,787

 

 

$

1,957,257

 

Fuel oil and refined fuels

 

 

58,423

 

 

 

49,683

 

Natural gas and electricity

 

 

13,943

 

 

 

12,504

 

All other

 

 

51,652

 

 

 

47,853

 

Corporate

 

 

47,220

 

 

 

36,429

 

Total assets

 

$

2,166,025

 

 

$

2,103,726