Item 1A.Risk Factors
Please carefully consider the risks described below regarding the Company. These risks are not the only ones faced by the Company. Additional risks not presently known to the Company or that the Company currently believes are immaterial may also impair business operations and financial results. If any of the following risks actually occur, the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected. In such case, the trading price of the Company’s common stock could decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment. The risk factors below are categorized by operational, regulatory and financial:
OPERATIONAL RISKS
Risks associated with the operation of a natural gas distribution pipeline and LNG storage facility.
Numerous potential risks are inherent in the operation of a natural gas distribution system and LNG storage facility, including unanticipated or unforeseen events that are beyond the control of the Company. Examples of such events include adverse weather conditions, acts of terrorism or sabotage, accidents and damage caused by third parties, equipment failure, failure of upstream pipelines and storage facilities, as well as catastrophic events such as explosions, fires, earthquakes, floods, or other similar events. These risks could result in injury or loss of life, property damage, pollution and customer service disruption resulting in potentially significant financial losses. The Company maintains insurance coverage to protect against many of these risks. However, if losses result from an event that is not fully covered by insurance, the Company’s financial condition could be significantly impacted if it were unable to recover such losses from customers through the regulatory rate-making process. Even if the Company did not incur a direct financial loss as a result of any of the events noted above, it could encounter significant reputational damage from a reliability, safety, integrity or similar viewpoint, potentially resulting in a longer-term negative earnings impact or decline in share price.
Security incident or cyber attacks on the Company’s computer or information technology systems.
The Company’s business operations and information technology systems are targets of cyber attack, and they may be vulnerable to an attack by individuals or organizations intending to disrupt the operations of the Company. Such an attack or cybersecurity incident on the Company’s information technology systems could result in corruption of the Company’s financial information; disruption of services to our customers; the unauthorized release of confidential customer, employee or vendor information; the interruption of natural gas deliveries to our customers; and/or compromise the safety of our distribution, transmission and storage systems. The Company has implemented policies, procedures and controls to prevent and detect these activities; however, there are no guarantees that Company processes will adequately protect against unauthorized access. In the event of an attack, the Company could be exposed to material financial and reputational risks, possible disruptions in natural gas deliveries or a compromise of the safety of the natural gas distribution system, as well as be exposed to claims by persons harmed by such an attack, all of which could materially increase the Company's costs to protect against such risks. The Company maintains cyber-insurance coverage, which does not protect the Company from cyber incidents but does provide some potential mitigation of the financial impacts resulting from such attacks. See Item 1C of this Form 10-K for additional discussion.
Volatility in the price and availability of natural gas.
Natural gas purchases represent the single largest expense of the Company. Increasing demand from other areas, including electricity generation, combined with other factors, have placed upward pressure on natural gas commodity prices in the past. If these factors return and continue for an extended period of time, higher natural gas prices could result in declining usage as well as increases in bad debt expense and increased competition from other energy providers.
Inability to attract and retain professional and technical employees.
The ability to implement the Company’s business strategy and serve customers is dependent upon employing talented professionals and attracting, training, developing and retaining a skilled workforce. As the Company expects key personnel to retire over the next several years, as well as higher mobility trends, failure to hire and adequately train replacement employees, including the transfer of significant internal historical knowledge and skills to new employees, or future availability and cost of contracted labor may adversely affect the ability to manage and operate the Company. In addition, certain specialized knowledge is required of the Company’s technical employees for construction and operation of the natural gas distribution facilities. If the Company is unable to attract and/or retain qualified employees, the Company could experience increased operating costs and expose the Company to other operational, reputational and financial risks.
9
Table of Contents
Availability of sufficient and reliable pipeline capacity.
The Company is currently served directly by three interstate pipelines. These pipelines carry 100% of the natural gas transported to the Company’s distribution system. Depending on weather conditions and the level of customer demand, failure of one or more of these interstate transmission pipelines could have a major impact on the Company’s ability to meet customer demand for natural gas and adversely affect the Company’s earnings as a result of lost revenue and the cost of service restoration. Frequent or prolonged failure could lead customers to switch to alternative energy sources. Hurricanes, floods, fires and other natural or man-made disasters could damage or inhibit production and/or pipeline transportation facilities, which could result in decreased natural gas supplies. Capacity limitations on existing pipeline and storage infrastructure could impact the Company’s ability to obtain additional natural gas supplies, thereby limiting its ability to add new customers or meet increased customer demand thereby limiting future earnings potential.
Inability to complete necessary or desirable pipeline expansion or infrastructure improvement projects.
In order to serve new customers or expand service to existing customers, the Company installs new pipeline facilities and maintains, expands or upgrades its existing distribution, transmission and/or storage infrastructure. Various factors may prevent or delay the completion of such projects or make them more costly, such as the inability to obtain required approval from local, state and/or federal regulatory and governmental bodies, public opposition to the projects, inability to obtain adequate financing, competition for labor and materials, construction delays, cost overruns, and an inability to negotiate acceptable agreements relating to rights-of-way, construction or other material development components. As a result, the Company may not be able to adequately serve existing customers or expand its distribution system to support customer growth. These factors could negatively impact earnings.
Increased dependence on technology may hinder the Company’s business operations and adversely affect its financial condition and results of operations if such technologies fail.
Over the last several years, the Company has implemented or acquired a variety of technological tools including both Company-owned information technology and technological services provided by outside parties. Additionally, the Company upgraded its financial system and is in the process of updating its customer information system. These tools and systems support critical functions including, scheduling and dispatching of service technicians, automated meter reading systems, customer care and billing, revenue recognition, operational plant logistics, and external financial reporting. Issues in the implementation or the failure of these or other similarly important technologies, or the Company’s inability to have these technologies supported, updated, expanded, or integrated into other technologies, could hinder its business operations and adversely impact its financial condition and results of operations. Although the Company has, when possible, developed alternative sources of technology and built redundancy into its computer networks and tools, there can be no assurance that these efforts would protect against all potential issues related to the loss of any such technologies.
Geographic concentration of business activities.
The Company's business activities are concentrated in the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas. Changes in the local economy, politics, regulations and weather patterns or other factors limiting demand for natural gas could negatively impact the Company's existing customer base, leading to declining usage patterns and financial condition of customers. Furthermore, these changes could also limit the Company's ability to serve its customers or add new customers within its service territory. These factors could adversely affect earnings.
Competition from other energy providers.
The Company competes with other energy providers in its service territory, including those that provide electricity, propane, coal, fuel oil, wind and solar. Price is a significant competitive factor. Higher natural gas costs or decreases in the price of other energy sources may enhance competition and encourage customers to switch to alternative energy sources, thus lowering natural gas deliveries and earnings. Price considerations could also inhibit customer and revenue growth if builders and developers do not perceive, or are regulatorily prevented from installing, natural gas as a better value than other energy options and elect to install heating systems that use energy sources, including those perceived as more environmentally friendly.
10
Table of Contents
REGULATORY RISKS
Laws or regulations associated with ESG matters.
Focus on ESG matters related to, among other things, concerns raised by advocacy groups about climate change, social issues and corporate governance may lead to increased regulatory review, which in turn may lead to new state and federal safety laws, regulations, guidelines, and enforcement interpretations. Social, corporate and environmental governance initiatives retain importance. In addition, several federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives have been proposed and enacted in recent years in an attempt to limit the effects of climate change, including greenhouse gas emissions such as those created by the combustion of fossil fuels, including natural gas. Full implementation and/or passage of environmental legislation or implementation of regulations that mandate the use of electric rather than gas appliances, or reductions in greenhouse gas emissions or other similar restrictions could have a negative effect on the Company’s core operations and its investment in the LLC. Such legislation could impose limitations on greenhouse gas emissions, require funding of new energy efficiency objectives, impose new operational requirements or lead to other additional costs to the Company. Regulations restricting or prohibiting the use of coal as a fuel for electric power generation has increased the demand for natural gas, and could at some point potentially result in natural gas supply concerns and higher costs for natural gas. Legislation or regulations could limit the exploration and development of natural gas reserves, making the price of natural gas less competitive and less attractive as a fuel source for consumers. Future legislation could also place limitations on the amount of natural gas used by businesses and homeowners to reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in reduced deliveries and earnings or provide incentives to customers to utilize alternative energy sources not associated with fossil fuels.
In addition, advocacy groups, both domestically and internationally, have campaigned for governmental and private action to influence change in the business strategies of oil and gas companies, including through the investment and voting practices of investment advisors, public pension funds, universities and other members of the investing community. These activities include increasing attention and demands for action related to climate change and energy transition matters, such as promoting the use of substitutes to fossil fuel and encouraging the divestment of investments in the oil and gas industry, as well as pressuring lenders and other financial services companies to limit or curtail activities with oil and gas companies. If investors or financial institutions shift funding away from companies in the oil and gas industry, the Company’s access to and costs of capital or the market for the Company’s securities may be adversely impacted.
Regulatory actions or failure to obtain timely rate relief.
The Company’s natural gas distribution operations are regulated by the SCC. The SCC approves the rates that the Company charges its customers. During periods of enhanced inflationary pressure or the incurrence of significant additional costs, if the SCC did not timely authorize rates that provide for the recovery of such costs including a reasonable rate of return on investment in natural gas distribution facilities, earnings could be negatively impacted.
Furthermore, issuance of debt and equity by Roanoke Gas is also subject to SCC regulation and approval. Delays or lack of approvals could inhibit the ability to access capital markets and negatively impact liquidity or earnings.
Increased compliance and pipeline safety requirements and fines.
The Company is committed to the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas to its customers. Working in concert with this commitment are numerous federal and state laws and regulations. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in the levy of significant fines. There are inherent risks that may be beyond the Company’s control, including third-party actions, which could result in damage to pipeline facilities, injury and even death. Such incidents could subject the Company to lawsuits, large fines, increased scrutiny and loss of customers, all of which could have a significant effect on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.
FINANCIAL RISKS
Access to capital to maintain liquidity.
The Company relies on a variety of capital sources to operate its business and fund capital expenditures, including internally generated cash from operations, borrowings under its line-of-credit, proceeds from the issuance of additional shares of its common stock and other sources. Access to a line-of-credit is essential to provide seasonal funding of natural gas operations and provide capital budget bridge financing. Access to capital markets and other long-term funding sources is important for refinancing and capital outlays. The ability of the Company to secure longer-term financing and to maintain and renew its line-of-credit is critical to operations. Adverse market trends, market disruptions or deterioration in the financial condition of the Company could increase the cost of borrowing, restrict the Company's ability to issue additional shares of its common stock or otherwise limit the Company’s ability to secure adequate funding.
11
Table of Contents
Failure to comply with debt covenant requirements.
The Company's long-term debt obligations and bank line-of-credit contain financial covenants. Noncompliance with any of these covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could accelerate payment on outstanding debt obligations or cause prepayment penalties. In such an event, the Company may not be able to refinance or repay all of its indebtedness, pay dividends or have sufficient liquidity to meet operating and capital expenditure requirements. Any such acceleration would cause a material adverse change in the Company's financial condition.
Investment in Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC.
The MVP went into service in June 2024. The LLC’s gas infrastructure facilities are subject to many operational risks. Operational risks could result in, among other things, lost revenues due to prolonged outages, increased expenses due to monetary penalties or fines for compliance failures, liability to third parties for property damage and personal injury, a failure to perform under applicable sales agreements and associated loss of revenues from terminated agreements or liability for liquidated damages under continuing agreements. The consequences of these risks, if realized, could adversely affect the LLC’s business, cash flows, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Uncertainties and risks inherent in operating and maintaining the LLC's facilities include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the success of new projects to generate additional cash flows. The LLC’s business, cash flows, financial condition, results of operations and prospects potentially could be adversely affected by weather conditions, including, but not limited to, the impact of severe weather. Threats of terrorism and catastrophic events resulting from terrorism, sabotage, cyber-attacks, or individuals and/or groups attempting to disrupt the LLC’s business, or the businesses of third parties, may materially adversely affect the LLC’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Any adverse developments, such as those noted above, could have a significant effect on the LLC and the Company's earnings, cash flows and financial position, and materially impact Resources' consolidated financial position and results of operations, including Resources' ability to pay shareholder dividends at the current level or remain in compliance with credit agreement covenants.
Obligations for income taxes that may arise from examinations by taxing authorities.
The Company is subject to federal and state income taxes as prescribed by the laws within the United States. Significant judgments are required in determining the provisions for income taxes. Our total income tax expense could be affected by changes in tax rates in various jurisdictions, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities or changes in tax laws or their interpretation. In preparing its tax provisions and returns, the Company must make calculations and assumptions regarding tax treatment of various transactions, including the applicability of tax credits. The Company’s tax returns are subject to examination by the IRS and state tax authorities as disclosed in Note 9 of the consolidated financial statements. Although the Company utilizes the assistance of tax professionals in the preparation of its tax returns, the final determination of tax examinations and any related litigation could be materially different than what is reflected in historical income tax provisions and accruals. If a taxing authority disagrees with the positions we have taken, the Company could face additional tax liability, including interest and penalties, which could adversely affect our financial results.
The cost of providing post-retirement benefits.
The Company provides certain pension and post-retirement benefits. The costs of providing defined benefit pension and retiree medical plans are dependent on a number of factors such as the rates of return on plan assets, discount rates used in determining plan liabilities, the level of interest rates used to measure the required minimum funding levels of the plan, future government regulation, changes in life expectancy and required or voluntary contributions made to the plan. Changes in actuarial assumptions and differences between the assumptions and actual results, as well as a significant decline in the value of investments that fund these plans, if not offset or mitigated by a decline in plan liabilities, could increase the expense of these plans and require significant additional funding. Although the Company has soft-frozen both plans to limit future growth in each plan's liabilities, ongoing funding obligations and expenses could have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operation and cash flows should there be a material reduction in the amount of the recovery of these costs through rates currently charged to customers or significant delays in the timing of the recovery of such costs.
Exposure to market risks.
The Company is subject to market risks that are beyond the Company’s control, such as commodity price volatility and interest rate risk. The Company is generally isolated from commodity price risk through the PGA mechanism. With respect to interest rate risk, there has been significant movement in interest rates in recent years. Much of the Company's outstanding debt is comprised of fixed rate notes or have interest rate swaps in place. However, higher interest rates do impact the Company through higher borrowing costs on Roanoke Gas' line-of-credit and Midstream's variable rate credit facilities as well as any future borrowings by the Company.
12
Table of Contents
Item 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 1C.Cybersecurity.
Risk Management and Strategy
In an effort to mitigate cyber intrusions, the Company has implemented a cybersecurity program intended to protect and preserve the integrity, confidentiality and reliability of data and systems. Cybersecurity risks are a key component of the Company's overall risk management, is integrated into other corporate processes and goes beyond the Company to certain vendors or suppliers. The Company has instituted certain cybersecurity requirements, interacted with various external organizations including its state regulator, and participated in proprietary briefings by industry experts to maintain an awareness of current cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities.
The Company's cybersecurity program fundamentally aligns with the COBIT framework. This is reflected in our related policies, practices and procedures. We have multiple layers of security controls as well as a third-party SOC that helps identify, avoid and mitigate cybersecurity threats. The evaluation of risks includes consideration of cybersecurity and privacy risk, including (1) potential impact on the Company's employees, customers, and other stakeholders, (2) intelligence briefings on notable cyber events impacting the industry and (3) evaluation of external threats. The Company utilizes internal and third-party assessment tools and tests to evaluate its cyber risk policies, practices and procedures as well as to challenge how its defenses are built and deployed. These assessments provide opportunities for critical self-analysis, constructive feedback from third parties, and learnings from industry experts to enhance cyber resilience. Both formal and informal cybersecurity awareness trainings are provided to employees to help identify and avoid cybersecurity threats and to ensure employees understand the Company's cyber risk management policies along with the key role they play to ensure cyber hygiene. The Company has established a cybersecurity incident response team that includes the CEO, CFO, VP of HR, IT Director and other personnel. The Company has also retained counsel to advise on cybersecurity matters. The Company periodically undertakes table top exercises facilitated by a third party whereby the incident response team reacts to, evaluates and updates, if necessary, its policies and processes to a simulated cyberattack.
The Company's current security posture and regulatory compliance efforts are intended to address evolving and changing cyber threats. During the past three years, the Company has not experienced a cybersecurity incident resulting in a material impact to its business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition. The Company has identified the risk that a hostile cyber intrusion could severely impair the Company's operations, lead to disclosure of confidential information, damage the Company's reputation or otherwise have an adverse effect on the Companies' business as disclosed within Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Governance
The Company's Board of Directors, including its Audit Committee, provides oversight of the Company’s risks from cybersecurity threats. Management, including the CEO, CFO and IT personnel, presents formal reports to the Audit Committee and to the full board at least annually, as well as whenever cyber events warrant update.
13
Table of Contents
Item 2.Properties.
Included in “Utility Property” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet are storage plant, transmission plant, distribution plant and general plant of Roanoke Gas consistent with other natural gas utilities. The Company has approximately 1,184 miles of transmission and distribution pipeline representing 89% of the total utility property. The transmission and distribution pipelines are located on or under public roads, highways or private property for which the Company has obtained the legal authorization and rights to operate.
Roanoke Gas currently owns and operates eleven metering stations through which it measures and regulates the gas being delivered by its suppliers. These stations are located at various points throughout the Company’s distribution system.
Roanoke Gas owns a liquefied natural gas storage facility located in its service territory that has the capacity to store up to 200,000 DTH of natural gas.
Roanoke Gas also began operation of an RNG facility, that it owns, during fiscal 2023 as part of a cooperative agreement with the local water authority to produce commercial quality biogas at the regional pollution control facility. The Company leases the land upon which the RNG facility is located.
The Company’s executive, accounting and business offices, along with its operations departments, are located on Kimball Avenue in Roanoke, Virginia.
Although the Company considers its present properties to be adequate, management continues to evaluate the adequacy of its current facilities as additional needs arise.
Item 3.Legal Proceedings.
The Company is not known to be a party to any pending legal proceedings.
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
14
Table of Contents
PART II
Item 5.Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Market Information
Resources' common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the trading symbol RGCO. Payment of dividends is within the discretion of the Board of Directors and depends on, among other factors, earnings, capital requirements, and the operating and financial condition of the Company.
Range of Bid Prices Cash Dividends
Year Ending September 30, 2025 High Low Declared
As of November 28, 2025, there were 884holders of record of the Company’s common stock. This number does not include all beneficial owners of common stock who hold their shares in “street name."
A summary of the Company’s equity compensation plans follows as of September 30, 2025:
(a) (b) (c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders 28,000 $ 18.98 437,348
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders — — —
Item 6.[Reserved].
15
Table of Contents
Item7.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Overview
Resources is an energy services company primarily engaged in the regulated sale and distribution of natural gas to approximately 62,500 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Roanoke, Virginia, and the surrounding localities, through its Roanoke Gas subsidiary. Midstream, a wholly owned subsidiary of Resources, is a less than 1% investor in the MVP, Southgate and Boost. More information regarding the investment in MVP is provided below and under the Equity Investment in Mountain Valley Pipeline section.
The utility operations of Roanoke Gas are regulated by the SCC, which oversees the terms, conditions and rates charged to customers for natural gas service, safety standards, extension of service and depreciation. Nearly all of the Company’s revenues are derived from the sale and delivery of natural gas to Roanoke Gas customers based on rates and fees authorized by the SCC. These rates are designed to provide the Company with the opportunity to recover its gas and non-gas expenses and to earn a reasonable rate of return for shareholders based on normal weather. These rates are determined based on various rate applications filed with the SCC. Generally, investments related to extending service to new customers are recovered through the additional revenues generated by the non-gas base rates in place at that time. The investment in replacing and upgrading existing infrastructure, as well as recovering increases in non-gas expenses due to inflationary pressures, regulatory requirements or operation needs, are generally not recoverable until a formal rate application is filed to include additional investment and higher costs, and new non-gas base rates are approved.
The Company is also subject to regulation from the Department of Transportation in regard to the construction, operation, maintenance, safety and integrity of its transmission and distribution pipelines, as well as the FERC, which regulates the prices for the transportation and delivery of natural gas to the Company's distribution system and underground storage services. In addition, Roanoke Gas is subject to other regulations which are not necessarily industry specific.
On February 2, 2024, primarily in response to continued inflationary pressures, Roanoke Gas filed for a non-gas base rate increase of $4.33 million. The filing also reflected an increase in the Company's authorized return on equity from 9.44% to 10.35%. The new interim non-gas base rates went into effect for customer billings on or after July 1, 2024, subject to refund. On October 16, 2024, the Company reached a settlement with the SCC staff on all outstanding issues in the case. Under the terms of the settlement, the Company agreed to an annual incremental revenue requirement increase of $4.08 million based on a return on equity of 9.90%. On April 10, 2025, the SCC issued a final order approving the settlement in its entirety. The order also directed Roanoke Gas to refund the excess revenues collected during the time the interim rates were in effect with interest. The refunds to customers, which had previously been accrued as a regulatory liability, were made to customers in May 2025.
As the Company’s business is seasonal in nature, volatility in winter weather and the commodity price of natural gas can impact the effectiveness of the Company’s rates in recovering its costs and providing a reasonable return for its shareholders. In order to mitigate the effect of weather variations and other factors not provided for in the Company's base rates, Roanoke Gas has certain approved rate mechanisms in place that help provide stability to customer bills and earnings, adjust for volatility in the price of natural gas and provide a return on qualified infrastructure investment. These mechanisms include the SAVE Rider, WNA, ICC, RNG Rider and PGA.
The SAVE Plan and Rider provides the Company with a mechanism through which it recovers costs related to SAVE qualified infrastructure investments on a prospective basis, until such time a formal rate application is filed incorporating these investments in non-gas base rates. Roanoke Gas filed and received approval from the SCC for an updated annual SAVE Rider rate which became effective October 1, 2024. As a result of the updated SAVE Rider, SAVE Plan revenues increased to approximately $1,588,000 in fiscal 2025 from approximately $461,000 in fiscal 2024. Roanoke Gas filed and received approval from the SCC for an updated annual SAVE Rider rate to become effective October 1, 2025 that will result in approximately $2,610,000 of SAVE-related revenues during fiscal 2026. See Note 4 of the consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding the SAVE Plan and Rider.
16
Table of Contents
The WNA mechanism reduces the volatility in earnings due to the variability in temperatures during the heating season. The WNA is based on the most recent 30-year temperature average and provides the Company with a level of earnings protection when weather is warmer than normal and provides its customers with a level of price protection when the weather is colder than normal. The WNA allows the Company to recover from customers the lost margin, excluding gas costs, from the impact of warmer-than-normal weather and correspondingly requires the Company to refund to customers the excess margin earned for colder-than-normal weather. The WNA mechanism used by the Company is based on a linear regression model that determines the value of a single heating degree day and thereby estimates the revenue adjustment based on weather variance from normal. Any billings or refunds related to the WNA are completed following each WNA year, which extends for the 12-month period from April to March. The Company recorded approximately $1,056,000 and $3,761,000 in additional revenues under the WNA for weather that was approximately 4% and 20% warmer than normal for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The number of heating degree days used to determine normal can change annually as a new year is added to the 30-year period and the oldest year is removed. As a result of adding warmer than normal years to replace colder years, the number of heating degree days that defines normal has trended downward over the last several years.
The Company also has an approved rate structure that mitigates the impact of financing costs of its natural gas inventory. Under this rate structure, Roanoke Gas recognizes revenue by applying the ICC factor, based on the Company’s weighted-average cost of capital, including interest rates on short-term and long-term debt, and the Company’s authorized return on equity, to the average cost of natural gas inventory during the period. Total ICC revenues decreased from approximately $728,000 in fiscal 2024 to $587,000 in fiscal 2025 due to lower natural gas commodity prices during the 2024 summer storage injection season resulting in a lower average cost of natural gas in storage. The average price of gas in storage during fiscal 2025 declined by 12% compared to fiscal 2024, while the average price of gas in storage at September 30, 2025 increased by 5% compared to the same period last year. If natural gas prices remain at or higher than the prior year, the average dollar balance of gas in storage may increase based on current storage levels and due to an increased ICC factor from the prior year may lead to higher ICC revenues in fiscal 2026.
In March 2023, Roanoke Gas began the operation of the RNG facility to produce commercial quality biogas for delivery into its distribution system through a cooperative agreement with the Western Virginia Water Authority. With SCC approval, Roanoke Gas is allowed to recover the costs associated with the investment in RNG facilities and related operating costs through an RNG Rider added to customer bills. The customer benefits from this program through the monetization of environmental credits generated through RNG production, which are returned to customers through the RNG Rider. Total RNG revenue increased from approximately $1,629,000 in fiscal 2024 to $1,760,000 in fiscal 2025. See Note 4 of the consolidated financial statements for more information on RNG.
The cost of natural gas is a pass-through cost and is independent of the Company's non-gas rates. Accordingly, the Company's approved billing rates include a component designed to allow for the recovery of the cost of natural gas used by its customers. This rate component, referred to as the PGA, allows the Company to pass along to its customers increases and decreases in natural gas costs through a quarterly filing (or more frequent if necessary) with the SCC. Once SCC approval is received, the Company adjusts the gas cost component of its rates. As actual costs and usage will differ from the projections used in establishing the PGA rate, the Company will either over-recover or under-recover its actual gas costs during the period. The difference between actual costs incurred and costs recovered through the application of the PGA is recorded as a regulatory asset or liability. At the end of the annual deferral period, the balance is amortized over an ensuing 12-month period as amounts are reflected in customer billings.
Inflation and Rising Prices
Natural gas commodity, delivery and storage capacity costs constitute the single largest expense of the Company, representing 55% of fiscal 2025 total operating expenses. After peaking in December 2022, natural gas commodity prices decreased significantly for the remainder of fiscal 2023 and through fiscal 2025. The decline in prices was primarily due to improved supply availability resulting from a warm winter season. Roanoke Gas recovers natural gas costs through the PGA mechanism as noted above; however, in times where commodity prices rapidly increase, the timing of recovery may lag. Increasing natural gas prices, especially in relation to other energy options, may lead to reductions in energy consumption through customer conservation or fuel switching. In addition, there is potential for higher bad debts related to customers' inability to pay higher natural gas bills.
17
Table of Contents
The Company continues to experience inflation over the 2% level targeted by the Federal Reserve. Inflation levels in health care spending, certain types of insurance, contracted services and IT service costs, as well as other items, continue to put upward pressure on the Company's expenses. The Company recovers non-gas related costs through the non-gas portion of its tariff rates, which are adjusted through a non-gas base rate application. Unlike the rate adjustments for the gas portion of rates which are done administratively, the non-gas base rate application process can result in an inherent lag in non-gas expense recovery. Therefore, authorized non-gas base rates may not keep pace with rising costs during inflationary periods. Management regularly evaluates the Company's operations, economic conditions and other factors to assess the need to apply for a non-gas base rate adjustment. Accordingly, on December 2, 2025, the Company filed a non-gas base rate application with the SCC to increase revenues by $4.3 million annually.
Results of Operations
The analysis on the results of operations is based on the consolidated operations of the Company, which are primarily associated with the utility segment. Additional segment analysis is provided when Midstream's investment in affiliates represents a significant component of the comparison. Net income increased by $1,519,074 from the prior year primarily due to the implementation of higher non-gas base rates and record natural gas deliveries, as well as lower post-retirement benefit costs, partially offset by lower WNA revenues and lower equity earnings from the MVP as the project transitioned from construction into service.
The Company's operating revenues are affected by the cost of natural gas, as reflected in the consolidated statement of income under the line item cost of gas - utility. The cost of natural gas, which includes commodity price, transportation, storage, injection and withdrawal fees, with any increase or decrease offset by a correlating change in revenue through the PGA, is passed through to customers at cost. Accordingly, management believes that gross utility margin, a non-GAAP financial measure defined as utility revenues less cost of gas, is a useful and relevant measure to analyze financial performance. The term gross utility margin is not intended to represent or replace gross margin, the most comparable GAAP financial measure, as an indicator of operating performance and is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. A reconciliation between gross utility margin and gross margin is presented under the Gross Utility Margin section below.
The following results of operations analyses will reference gross utility margin.
Fiscal Year 2025 Compared with Fiscal Year 2024
The tables below reflect operating revenues, volume activity and heating degree days.
Operating Revenues
Year Ended September 30, 2025 2024 Increase / (Decrease) Percentage
Delivered Volumes
Year Ended September 30, 2025 2024 Increase Percentage
Regulated natural gas (DTH):
18
Table of Contents
Total gas utility operating revenues for the year ended September 30, 2025 increased by 13% from the year ended September 30, 2024 primarily due to the implementation of a non-gas base rate increase, along with higher delivered volumes, gas costs and SAVE revenues, partially offset by a decrease in WNA revenue. The non-gas base rate increase implemented in July 2024 was the main contributing factor to an approximate $5.6 million increase in non-gas volumetric revenues. In addition, total heating degree days increased by 18% from the prior fiscal year, resulting in a 9% increase in the weather-sensitive residential and commercial volumes, while transportation and interruptible volumes increased 24%, primarily driven by business activity of a single, multi-fuel customer during the period. Total gas costs also increased over the prior year primarily due to pipeline capacity charges increasing over $4.0 million as a result of higher rates and MVP capacity. SAVE Plan revenues increased as Roanoke Gas continues to invest in qualified SAVE infrastructure projects, resulting in approximately $1,127,000 more revenue compared to the same period in the prior year. WNA revenues declined approximately $2.7 million from the prior fiscal year as weather was only 4% warmer than normal during the current year compared to 20% warmer than normal during the prior year.
Gross Utility Margin
Year Ended September 30, 2025 2024 Increase Percentage
Gross utility margin increased over the prior fiscal year primarily as a result of the implementation of new non-gas base rates and increases in SAVE revenues, slightly offset by the reduction in ICC revenues. The volumetric margin, net of the WNA, increased by approximately $2.8 million primarily due to the new non-gas base rates and increases in transportation and interruptible volumes. As previously discussed, the SAVE Plan contributed an additional $1,127,000 to margin, while ICC revenues decreased by approximately $141,000 due to lower cost and volumes of gas in storage.
The changes in the components of the gross utility margin are summarized below:
Years Ended September 30, Increase
19
Table of Contents
Reconciliation between gross utility margin and gross margin is presented below:
Gas Utility Investment in Affiliates Consolidated Total
For the Year Ended September 30, 2025:
Operating revenues
Cost of sales
Gas Utility Investment in Affiliates Consolidated Total
For the Year Ended September 30, 2024:
Operating revenues
Cost of sales
Corporate and other — — (5,896 )
Operations and Maintenance Expense - Operations and maintenance expense increased by $1,556,674, or 8%, over the prior year primarily due to inflationary effects on personnel costs and contracted services, RNG-related costs and bad debt expense. Personnel costs and contracted services increased by approximately $969,000 due to increased staffing and the inflationary impact on salaries and benefits. RNG expenses increased approximately $231,000 primarily due to increases in electric and telemetering charges. Bad debt expense increased by approximately $170,000 due to higher bills from colder weather and more inactive accounts resulting from non-pay customer turnoffs. Increased corporate insurance premiums accounted for much of the remaining increase.
20
Table of Contents
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes - Taxes other than income taxes increased by $239,135, or 9%, primarily due to higher property tax rates and growth in utility property, as well as increases in payroll taxes related to increased staffing and compensation.
Depreciation and Amortization - Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $952,547, or 9%, corresponding to a similar increase in net additions to depreciable utility property. Increases in fixed assets with shorter useful lives during the current fiscal year resulted in depreciation expense increasing slightly more than the 6% increase in utility property.
Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliate - The equity in earnings of the MVP investment decreased by $617,239, or 16%. With the MVP in service, the Company now recognizes its share of operational earnings from the MVP, favorably adjusted for the amortization of a basis difference that arose when the Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment of its investment in 2022. These in-service earnings did not fully replace the amount of AFUDC recognized while construction activities were ongoing during the first eight months of fiscal 2024. See Note 5 of the consolidated financial statements for additional information related to the MVP.
Other Income, Net - Other income increased by $1,204,122, primarily due to an approximate $1,129,000 decrease in postretirement benefit plan costs as a result of actuarial changes, coupled with an increase of approximately $237,000 in revenue sharing related to the asset management agreements, which are described in more detail in Note 14 of the consolidated financial statements.
Interest Expense - Total interest expense remained relatively flat over the prior year, increasing slightly by $38,626, or 1%, primarily due to higher borrowing levels. Total average debt outstanding during fiscal 2025 increased by 2% from fiscal 2024. Roanoke Gas' total average debt outstanding increased by approximately $1,346,000 associated with net borrowings under the Company's line-of-credit, while Midstream's total average debt outstanding increased by approximately $1,441,000 during the year. There were minimal fluctuations in the weighted-average interest rates between the periods. See Note 6 and 7 of the consolidated financial statements for more information on the Company's debt.
Income Taxes - Income tax expense increased by $394,924, or 11%, corresponding to an increase in pre-tax income. The effective tax rate was 23.6% and 23.9% for fiscal 2025 and 2024, respectively. The effective tax rate is below the combined statutory state and federal rate due to the amortization of excess deferred taxes and tax credits. See Note 9 of the consolidated financial statements for the impact of tax credits on the effective tax rate.
Earnings Per Share and Dividends - Basic and diluted earnings per share were $1.29 in fiscal 2025 compared to $1.16 per share in fiscal 2024. Dividends declared per share of common stock were $0.83 in fiscal 2025 compared to $0.80 in fiscal 2024.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
Due to the capital intensive nature of the utility business, as well as the impact of weather variability, the Company’s primary capital needs are the funding of its capital projects, the seasonal funding of its natural gas inventories and accounts receivables, debt service and payment of dividends to shareholders. The Company anticipates funding these items through its operating cash flows, credit availability under short-term and long-term debt agreements and proceeds from the sale of its common stock.
Cash and cash equivalents increased by approximately $1,426,000 in fiscal 2025 compared to a decrease of approximately $618,000 in fiscal 2024. The following table summarizes the categories of sources and uses of cash:
Cash Flow Summary Years Ended September 30,
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (6,788,350 ) 3,981,761
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents $ 1,426,184 $ (618,246 )
21
Table of Contents
Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities:
The seasonal nature of the natural gas distribution business causes operating cash flows to fluctuate significantly during the year, as well as from year to year. Factors, including weather, energy prices, natural gas storage levels and customer collections, all contribute to working capital levels and related cash flows. Generally, operating cash flows are positive during the second and third fiscal quarters as a combination of earnings, declining storage gas levels and collections on customer accounts all contribute to higher cash levels. During the first and fourth fiscal quarters, operating cash flows generally decrease due to the combination of increasing natural gas storage levels and rising customer receivable balances.
Cash flows from operating activities increased by $11.5 million from the prior year. The increase in operating cash flows is primarily due to net income increasing approximately $1,519,000, along with the cash distributions received from the LLC, direct impacts from weather and increased pipeline and storage capacity charges. During fiscal 2025, the Company received approximately $3,645,000 in quarterly cash distributions from the LLC, which has been accounted for as a return on its invested capital. The timing of collections related to gas costs, RNG and WNA resulted in approximately $5,011,000 in additional operating cash. Colder weather and increased gas costs compared to the prior year resulted in higher accounts receivable and accounts payable balances. Pipeline and storage capacity charges during fiscal 2025 increased over $3,400,000 from the prior year. Additionally, total commodity costs increased from $3.44 per DTH in fiscal 2024 to $3.64 per DTH in fiscal 2025.
Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities:
Investing activities primarily consist of expenditures related to Roanoke Gas' utility property, which includes replacing aging natural gas pipe with new plastic or coated steel pipe, improvements to the LNG plant and gas distribution system facilities and expansion of its natural gas system to meet the demands of customer growth. New customer demand for natural gas continues to be steady and therefore extending the natural gas distribution system within its service territory is also a priority. Roanoke Gas' expenditures were approximately $20.7 million and $22.1 million in fiscal 2025 and 2024, respectively. The $1.4 million decrease in expenditures is primarily due to higher prior-year investment for the MVP gate stations, which were placed into service in fiscal 2024. Roanoke Gas renewed 4.2 miles of main and 311 service lines and 5.4 miles of main and 412 service lines in fiscal years 2025 and 2024, respectively. Under the SCC approved SAVE Plan and Rider, the Company is continuing its focus on SAVE infrastructure replacement projects, including the replacement of pre-1973 first generation plastic pipe. Roanoke Gas’ capital expenditures included costs to extend natural gas distribution mains and services to 594 new customers in fiscal 2025, compared to 521 new customers in fiscal 2024.
Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $22 million annually over the next few years as Roanoke Gas continues to focus on its SAVE Plan, as well as system improvements and customer growth. The Company expects to utilize its operating cash flows and credit facilities, as well as to consider additional long-term debt and equity capital, to meet the funding requirements of these planned expenditures.
22
Table of Contents
Investing cash flows also reflects the fiscal 2025 funding of approximately $76,000 for Midstream's participation in the LLC, up from approximately $18,000 in fiscal 2024. Now that the MVP is in service, Midstream will be required to make periodic capital investment related to ongoing MVP operations requirements and system improvements. Midstream has and will continue to make capital investments in Southgate and Boost. The targeted timing for completion of the Southgate project is 2028 and the Boost project is 2029.
Cash Flows Provided by Financing Activities:
Financing activities generally consist of borrowings and repayments under credit agreements, issuance of common stock and the payment of dividends. Net cash flows used in financing activities were approximately $6.8 million in fiscal 2025, compared to $4.0 million in net cash flows provided by financing activities in fiscal 2024. The $10.8 million decrease in financing cash flows is primarily attributable to net borrowings of approximately $751,000 under Roanoke Gas' line-of-credit during fiscal 2025 compared to net borrowings of $6.8 million in the same period last year. In addition, during fiscal 2025, Resources issued a total of 88,409 shares of common stock, primarily from DRIP activity, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $1.8 million. No shares were issued through the ATM program during fiscal 2025. During fiscal 2024, the Company realized $4.7 million from the issuance of 234,645 shares through the ATM program and DRIP activity. Cash outflows for dividend payments were $8.5 million as the annualized dividend rate increased from $0.80 to $0.83 per share and total outstanding shares increased as a result of the stock issuance activity. The Company’s consolidated capitalization was 43.7% equity and 56.3% long-term debt at September 30, 2025, exclusive of unamortized debt expense. This compares to 44.1% equity and 55.9% long-term debt at September 30, 2024.
Current interest rate trends may result in lower interest costs associated with the Company's variable rate debt in 2026.
Management regularly evaluates the Company’s liquidity through a review of its available financing resources and its cash flows. Resources maintains the ability to raise equity capital through its ATM program, private placement or other public offerings. Roanoke Gas has a term note in the principal amount of $15 million coming due in August 2026. Management believes Roanoke Gas has access to sufficient financing resources to meet its cash requirements for the next year, including cash from operations and the line of credit. Roanoke Gas may also adjust capital spending as necessary, if such a need would arise.
With the MVP now in service, Midstream's future cash requirements will relate to regular monthly operating expenses, debt service and capital contributions. The Company received four quarterly cash distributions from MVP in fiscal 2025 totaling approximately $3.6 million, and should receive similar quarterly distributions going forward. On September 5, 2025, Midstream established a new $53.6 million term note with two banks, which refinanced and replaced all of Midstream's outstanding debt. This term note matures on September 5, 2032. Also on September 5, 2025, Midstream entered into a new Loan Agreement for the MVP Southgate extension and MVP Boost expansion that can be drawn to principal amounts of $1.85 million and $3.65 million, respectively. These loans mature on September 5, 2030, at which time the outstanding principal balance on each note is due. With the establishment of the new term note, Midstream's total debt principal payments over the succeeding 12 months is $2,846,018. Management believes that it will be able to meet Midstream's cash requirements over the ensuing 12-month period with availability on the Southgate and Boost Loan Agreements and its quarterly cash distributions from MVP.
Notes 6 and 7 of the consolidated financial statements provide details on the Company's line-of-credit and borrowing activities.
ATM Program
The Company opted to not utilize the ATM program for the year ended September 30, 2025, although it remains in place. Resources issued 129,164 shares of common stock for $2,635,200, net of $67,569 in fees, under the ATM program for the year ended September 30, 2024.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Regulation S-K, Item 303(a)(4)(ii).
23
Table of Contents
Equity Investment in Mountain Valley Pipeline
The Company owns a less than 1% interest in the LLC that owns and operates the MVP, as defined in its operating agreement. The Company accounts for its interest in the LLC under the equity method of accounting given the LLC maintains specific ownership accounts for each investor, and also considering the Company's rights under the LLC management agreement and the Company's involvement as a stakeholder of the MVP. The Company has been using the equity method since the inception of its investment in fiscal 2016.
From inception through May 2024, earnings from the LLC were primarily attributable to AFUDC income. With the MVP in operation, the Company recognizes its share of earnings from the LLC, favorably adjusted for a basis difference between the Company's proportional share of assets and its carrying value that arose when the Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment of its investment in 2022. This basis difference amortization is a favorable non-cash adjustment over the operational life of the MVP, or 40 years. During fiscal 2025 and 2024, the Company recorded equity in earnings of consolidated affiliates of approximately $3.2 million and $3.9 million, respectively, with the 2024 amounts being primarily derived from AFUDC. The LLC began to return excess cash in fiscal 2025. Midstream received quarterly cash distributions of its share from the LLC totaling approximately $3.6 million during fiscal 2025, which was a return on its invested capital. Future quarterly distributions are expected to be of a similar magnitude. The Company is using this cash to pay interest and other expenditures related to Midstream. The Company refinanced all of the debt supporting its investment in the MVP in September 2025, as described in the liquidity section above.
Regulatory
See Note 4 of the consolidated financial statements for discussion on Regulatory matters.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The consolidated financial statements of Resources are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses reported in the Company’s financial statements are affected by accounting policies, estimates and assumptions that are necessary to comply with generally accepted accounting principles. Estimates used in the financial statements are derived from prior experience, statistical analysis and management and professional judgments. Actual results may differ significantly from these estimates and assumptions.
The Company considers an estimate to be critical if it is material to the financial statements and requires assumptions to be made that were uncertain at the time the estimate was made and changes in the estimate are reasonably likely to occur from period to period. The Company considers the following accounting policies and estimates to be critical.
Regulatory accounting - The Company’s regulated operations follow the accounting and reporting requirements of ASC 980, Regulated Operations. The economic effects of regulation can result in a regulated company deferring costs that have been or are expected to be recovered from customers in a period different from the period in which the costs would be charged to expense by an unregulated enterprise. When this occurs, costs are deferred as regulatory assets on the consolidated balance sheet and recorded as expenses in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income when such amounts are reflected in rates. Additionally, regulators can impose regulatory liabilities upon a regulated company for amounts previously collected from customers and for current collection in rates of costs that are expected to be incurred in the future.
If, for any reason, the Company ceases to meet the criteria for application of regulatory accounting treatment for all or part of its operations, the Company would remove the applicable regulatory assets or liabilities from the consolidated balance sheet and include them in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the period in which the discontinuance occurred.
Unbilled revenue recognition - The Company bills its regulated natural gas customers on a monthly cycle. The billing cycle for most customers does not coincide with the accounting periods used for financial reporting. The Company accrues revenue for estimated natural gas delivered to customers but not yet billed during the accounting period. The following month, the unbilled estimate is reversed, the actual usage is billed and a new unbilled estimate is calculated. The consolidated financial statements include unbilled revenue of $1,373,512 and $1,294,798 as of September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Because the process is performed monthly, the Company routinely ensures its methodology continues to provide a reasonable estimate.
24
Table of Contents
Pension and Postretirement Benefits - The Company offers a pension plan and a postretirement plan to eligible employees. The expenses and liabilities associated with these plans, as disclosed in Note 12 of the consolidated financial statements, are based on numerous assumptions and factors, including provisions of the plans, employee demographics, contributions made to the plan, return on plan assets and various actuarial calculations, assumptions and accounting requirements. Demographic assumptions include projections of future mortality rates, pay increases and retirement patterns, as well as projected health care costs. In regard to the pension plan, specific factors include assumptions regarding the discount rate used in determining future benefit obligations, expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, compensation increases and life expectancies. Similarly, the postretirement medical plan also requires the estimation of many of the same factors as the pension plan in addition to assumptions regarding the rate of medical inflation and Medicare availability. Actual results may differ materially from the results expected from the actuarial assumptions due to changing economic conditions, differences in actual returns on plan assets, different rates of medical inflation, volatility in interest rates and changes in life expectancy. Such differences may result in a material impact on the amount of expense recorded in future periods or the value of the obligations on the consolidated balance sheet.
In selecting the discount rate to be used in determining the benefit liability, the Company utilized the FTSE Pension Discount Curve, which incorporates the rates of return on high-quality, fixed-income investments that corresponded to the length and timing of benefit streams expected under both the pension plan and postretirement plan. The Company used a discount rate of 5.29% and 5.16% for valuing its pension plan liability and postretirement plan liability, respectively, at September 30, 2025. These discount rates represent an increase from the 4.83% rate used for valuing the corresponding liabilities for both the pension plan and postretirement plan at September 30, 2024. The increase in discount rates corresponds to the market reactions to the continuing inflationary pressures on the financial markets and economy. The yield on the 30-year Treasury increased from 4.14% at September 30, 2024 to 4.73% at September 30, 2025. Corporate bond rates experienced a smaller increase as credit spreads have narrowed. The rise in the discount rates was the primary factor in the reduction of the benefit obligations for both the pension and the postretirement plan. Mortality assumptions were based on the PRI-2012 Mortality Table with improvements projected generational using Projection Scale MP-2021 for the current year valuation.
The Company has focused on minimizing the financial risk associated with these plans. With the soft freezes of both the pension and postretirement plans, future liability growth associated with participant service and compensation has been limited. Since January 2017, when the pension plan froze access to new employees, the target asset allocation has transitioned from 60% equity and 40% fixed income to 25% equity and 75% fixed. During the same period, the fixed income portion of the plan was transitioned to an LDI approach, with the fixed income assets invested in securities with a duration that corresponds to the duration of the corresponding liability. This synchronization of the pension assets with the pension liabilities has reduced volatility in the funded status of the plan. This is evidenced by the relative stability of the funded status of the pension plan at September 30, 2025 and 2024 with a funded ratio of 103% and 104%, respectively. The 25% allocation to equity investments provides asset growth potential to offset increases in the pension liability related to those employees continuing to accrue benefits. Management will continue to evaluate the investment allocation as the liabilities mature and make adjustments as necessary.
The Company has initiated a transition of the postretirement plan assets from a 50% equity and 50% fixed income allocation to a 30% equity and 70% fixed income allocation. This revision to the investment targets is in response to a greater proportion of participants that have transitioned to retirement. Similar to the pension plan, the revision to the asset allocation will seek to reduce the volatility in funded status while still providing the opportunity for asset growth through the equity portion of the portfolio. The funded status for the postretirement plan was 147% and 139% as of September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The improvement in the funded status was due to stronger-than-expected market performance only partially offset by higher liabilities as the Company is effectively matching durations within the portfolio. Management will continue to monitor and evaluate the asset allocation and adjust as warranted.
A summary of the funded status of both the pension and postretirement plans is provided below:
Funded status - September 30, 2025 Pension Postretirement Total
Funded status - September 30, 2024 Pension Postretirement Total
25
Table of Contents
The Company annually evaluates the long-term rate of return on its targeted investment allocation model, as well as the overall asset allocation of its benefit plans, and reviews both plans' potential long-term rate of return assumptions with its investment advisors to determine the rates used in each plan's actuarial calculations. The long-term rates of return increased slightly from 4.95% in fiscal 2024 to 5.75% for fiscal 2025 for both the pension plan and the postretirement plan. Management evaluates the return assumptions and asset allocation and adjusts both as market conditions warrant.
Management estimates that the Company will have no minimum funding requirements next year. The Company currently does not expect to make contributions to its pension plan and postretirement plan in fiscal 2026 due to the funded position of the plans. The Company will continue to evaluate its benefit plan funding levels in light of funding requirements and ongoing investment returns and make adjustments, as necessary, to avoid benefit restrictions and minimize PBGC premiums.
The following schedule reflects the sensitivity of pension costs to changes in certain actuarial assumptions, assuming that the other components of the calculation remain constant.
Rate of return on plan assets -0.25 % 74,000 N/A
The following schedule reflects the sensitivity of postretirement benefit costs from changes in certain actuarial assumptions, while the other components of the calculation remain constant.
Rate of return on plan assets -0.25 % 38,000 N/A
Derivatives - The Company may hedge certain risks incurred in its operation through the use of derivative instruments. The Company applies the requirements of ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, which requires the recognition of derivative instruments as assets or liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at fair value. In most instances, fair value is based upon quoted futures prices for natural gas commodities and interest rate futures for interest rate swaps. Changes in the commodity and futures markets will impact the estimates of fair value in the future. Furthermore, the actual market value at the point of realization of the derivative may be significantly different from the values used in determining fair value in prior financial statements. The Company had six interest-rate swaps outstanding at September 30, 2025 related to its variable rate notes, compared to four at September 31, 2024. The corresponding fair value of the swaps is reflected on the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2025 and 2024. A 25 basis point decrease or increase on the yield curve would result in an approximately $600,000 corresponding decrease or increase in the fair value of the interest rate swaps on the balance sheet. See Notes 1 and 8 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding the swaps.
Item 7A.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Not applicable.
Item 7B.Insider Trading Policy.
The information set forth under "Compensation Philosophy and Objectives" in the Proxy Statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Resources is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
26
Table of Contents
RGC Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Financial Statements
for the Years Ended September 30, 2025 and 2024
and Report of Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm
27
Table of Contents
RGC RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 34) 29
Consolidated Balance Sheets 31
Consolidated Statements of Income 33
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) 34
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity 35
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 36
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 37
28
Table of Contents
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of RGC Resources, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of RGC Resources, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2025 and 2024, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows, for each of the two years in the period ended September 30, 2025, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2025 and 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended September 30, 2025, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
RateRegulatedBasisofAccountingand Regulatory Matters —Refer to Notes 1 and 4, respectively, to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company, through its regulated natural gas distribution utility subsidiary, is subject to rate regulation by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (the “SCC”) and follows the accounting and reporting requirements of ASC 980, Regulated Operations. The economic effects of regulation can result in a regulated company deferring costs that have been or are expected to be recovered from customers in a period different from the period in which the costs would be charged to expense by an unregulated enterprise. When this situation occurs, costs are deferred as assets in the consolidated balance sheet and recorded as expenses when such amounts are reflected in rates. Similarly, regulators can impose liabilities upon a regulated company for amounts previously collected from customers and for current collection in rates of costs that are expected to be incurred in the future. In the event the provisions of ASC 980 no longer apply to any or all regulatory assets or liabilities, the Company would write off such amounts and include them in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income in the period which ASC 980 no longer applied.
29
Table of Contents
We identified the impact of rate regulation as a critical audit matter due to the significant judgments made by management to support its assertions about impacted account balances and disclosures and subjectivity involved in assessing the potential impact of future regulatory orders on the financial statements. Management judgments include assessing the likelihood of (1) recovery of regulatory assets through future rates, and (2) whether a regulatory liability is due to customers. Given that management’s accounting judgments are based on assumptions about the outcome of future decisions by the SCC, auditing these judgments requires specialized knowledge of accounting for rate regulation and the rate setting process due to its inherent complexities.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures to evaluate the accounting for the effects of cost-based rate regulation, including the probable recovery or refund of regulatory assets and liabilities, included the following, among others:
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Richmond, Virginia
December 3, 2025
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2024.
30
Table of Contents
RGC RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF September 30, 2025 AND 2024
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
UTILITY PROPERTY:
OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS:
(Continued)
31
Table of Contents
RGC RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF September 30, 2025 AND 2024
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Interest rate swaps 57,144 —
LONG-TERM DEBT:
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 14)
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
32
Table of Contents
RGC RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
YEARS ENDED September 30, 2025 AND 2024
OPERATING REVENUES:
OPERATING EXPENSES:
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
33
Table of Contents
RGC RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
YEARS ENDED September 30, 2025 AND 2024
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
34
Table of Contents
RGC RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
YEARS ENDED September 30, 2025 AND 2024
Accumulated
Capital in Other Total
Common Excess of Retained Comprehensive Stockholders’
Stock Par Value Earnings Income (Loss) Equity
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
35
Table of Contents
RGC RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
YEARS ENDED September 30, 2025 AND 2024
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate (3,234,632 ) (3,851,871 )
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliate 3,644,542 —
Changes in assets and liabilities which provided (used) cash:
Accounts receivable and customer deposits, net (293,609 ) (275,196 )
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates (76,385 ) (18,258 )
Proceeds from disposal of utility property 72,910 79,032
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (6,788,350 ) 3,981,761
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 1,426,184 (618,246 )
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid during the year for:
Significant noncash activities:
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
36
Table of Contents
RGC RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDEDSeptember 30, 2025 AND 2024
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of Consolidation—RGC Resources, Inc. is an energy services company primarily engaged in the sale and distribution of natural gas. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Resources and its wholly owned subsidiaries: Roanoke Gas and Midstream. Roanoke Gas is a natural gas utility, which distributes and sells natural gas to approximately 62,500 residential, commercial and industrial customers within its service areas in Roanoke, Virginia and the surrounding localities. The Company’s business is seasonal in nature as a majority of natural gas sales are for space heating during the winter season. Roanoke Gas is regulated by the SCC. Midstream is a wholly owned subsidiary created primarily to invest in the LLC.
The Company follows accounting and reporting standards established by the FASB and the SEC, including certain provisions allowed under the smaller reporting company exceptions.
Rate Regulated Basis of Accounting—The Company’s regulated operations follow the accounting and reporting requirements of ASC 980,Regulated Operations. The economic effects of regulation can result in a regulated company deferring costs that have been or are expected to be recovered from customers in a period different from the period in which the costs would be charged to expense by an unregulated enterprise. When this situation occurs, costs are deferred as assets in the consolidated balance sheet (regulatory assets) and recorded as expenses when such amounts are reflected in rates. Additionally, regulators can impose liabilities upon a regulated company for amounts previously collected from customers and for current collection in rates of costs that are expected to be incurred in the future (regulatory liabilities). In the event the provisions of ASC 980no longer apply to any or all regulatory assets or liabilities, the Company would write off such amounts and include them in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income in the period which ASC 980no longer applied.
37
Table of Contents
Regulatory assets and liabilities included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2025 and 2024 are as follows:
September 30
Assets:
Current Assets:
Regulatory assets:
Other Non-Current Assets:
Regulatory assets:
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Current Liabilities:
Regulatory liabilities:
Deferred Credits and Non-Current Other Liabilities:
Regulatory liabilities:
Amortization of $101,141 and $116,085 of regulatory assets for the years ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, is included in operations and maintenance expense on the consolidated statements of income. Amortization of $131,673 and $211,863 of regulatory assets for the years ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, is included in other income, net on the consolidated statements of income. Amortization of $114,187 of regulatory assets for both years ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 is included in interest expense on the consolidated statements of income.
As of September 30, 2025, the Company had regulatory assets in the amount of $5,897,920 on which the Company did not earn a return during the recovery period.
38
Table of Contents
Utility Property and Depreciation—Utility property is stated at original cost and includes direct labor and materials, contractor costs, and all allocable overhead charges. The Company applies the group method of accounting, where the costs of like assets are aggregated and depreciated by applying a rate based on the average expected useful life of the assets. In accordance with Company policy, expenditures for depreciable assets with a life greater than one year are capitalized, along with any upgrades or improvements to existing assets, when such upgrades or improvements significantly improve or extend the original expected useful life. Expenditures for maintenance, repairs, and minor renewals and betterments are expensed as incurred. The original cost of depreciable property retired is removed from utility property and charged to accumulated depreciation. The cost of asset removals, less salvage, is charged to “regulatory cost of retirement obligations” or “asset retirement obligations” as explained under Asset Retirement Obligations below.
Utility property is composed of the following major classes of assets:
September 30
Provisions for depreciation are computed principally at composite straight-line rates over a range of periods. Rates are determined by depreciation studies, which are required to be performed at least every 5 years on the regulated utility assets of Roanoke Gas. The most recent depreciation study was completed and approved by the SCC staff in fiscal 2024. The composite weighted-average depreciation rate was 3.26% for both years ended September 30, 2025 and 2024.
The composite rates are composed of two components, one based on average service life and one based on cost of retirement. As a result, the Company accrues the estimated cost of retirement of long-lived assets through depreciation expense. These retirement costs are not a legal obligation but rather the result of cost-based regulation and are accounted for under the provisions of ASC 980. Such amounts are classified as a regulatory liability.
The Company reviews long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. These reviews have not identified any impairments which would have a material effect on the results of operations or financial condition.
From time to time, the Company recognizes AFUDC related to large infrastructure investments. This treatment allows capitalizing both the equity and debt financing costs during the construction phases. The Company did not capitalize any financing costs related to projects for the years ended September 30, 2025 and 2024.
Asset Retirement Obligations—ASC 410,Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations, requires entities to record the fair value of a liability for an ARO when there exists a legal obligation for the retirement of the asset. When the liability is initially recorded, the entity capitalizes the cost, thereby increasing the carrying amount of the underlying asset. In subsequent periods, the liability is accreted, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the underlying asset. The Company has recorded AROs for its future regulatory obligations related to purging and capping its distribution mains and services upon retirement, although the timing of such retirements is uncertain.
39
Table of Contents
The following is a summary of the AROs:
Years Ended September 30
Revisions to estimates and other — (150,689 )
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments—From time to time, the Company will have balances on deposit at banks in excess of the amount insured by the FDIC. The Company has not experienced any losses on these accounts and does not consider these amounts to be at risk. For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Customer Receivables and Allowance for Credit Losses—Accounts receivable include amounts billed to customers for natural gas sales and related services and gas sales occurring subsequent to normal billing cycles but before the end of the period. The Company provides an estimate for losses on these receivables by utilizing historical information, current account balances, account aging and current economic conditions. Customer accounts are charged off annually when deemed uncollectible or when turned over to a collection agency for action.
A reconciliation of changes in the allowance for credit losses is as follows:
Years Ended September 30
Lease Accounting—The Company leases certain assets including office space and land classified as operating leases. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception of the agreement based on the terms and conditions in the contract. The operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized as the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. As most of the leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses an estimate of its secured incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. The incremental borrowing rate is determined by management aided by inquiries of a third party. The operating lease ROU asset also is adjusted for any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease at certain dates, typically at the Company’s own discretion. The Company regularly evaluates the renewal options and when they are reasonably certain of exercise, the Company includes the renewal period in its lease term. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the agreement. The Company made an accounting policy election that payments under agreements with an initial term of 12 months or less will not be included on the consolidated balance sheet but will be recognized in the consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the term of the agreement.
Inventories—Natural gas in storage and materials and supplies inventories are recorded at average cost. Natural gas storage injections are priced at the purchase cost at the time of injection and storage withdrawals are priced at the weighted average cost of gas in storage. Materials and supplies are removed from inventory at average cost.
40
Table of Contents
Unbilled Revenues—The Company bills its natural gas customers on a monthly cycle; however, the billing cycle for most firm customers does not coincide with the accounting periods used for financial reporting. As the Company recognizes revenue when gas is delivered, an accrual is made to estimate revenues for natural gas delivered to customers but not billed during the accounting period. The amounts of unbilled revenue receivable included in accounts receivable on the consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2025 and 2024 were $1,373,512 and $1,294,798, respectively.
Income Taxes—Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. A valuation allowance against deferred tax assets is provided if it is more likely than not the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company and its subsidiaries file consolidated state and federal income tax returns.
Debt Expenses—Debt issuance expenses are deferred and amortized over the lives of the debt instruments. The unamortized balances are offset against the carrying value of long-term debt.
Over/Under-Recovery of Natural Gas Costs—From time to time, the Company enters into forward purchases of natural gas at fixed prices through its asset manager. As management believes it is probable these purchases will physically settle, the Company has applied the normal purchase and normal sale exception to derivative accounting. Pursuant to the provisions of the Company’s PGA clause, the SCC provides the Company with a method of passing along to its customers increases or decreases in natural gas costs incurred by its regulated operations, including gains and losses on natural gas derivative hedging instruments, if utilized. On at least a quarterly basis, the Company files a PGA rate adjustment request with the SCC to increase or decrease the gas cost component of its rates, based on projected price and activity. Once administrative approval is received, the Company adjusts the gas cost component of its rates to reflect the approved amount. As actual costs and usage will differ from the projections used in establishing the PGA rate, the Company may either over-recover or under-recover its actual gas costs during the period. Any difference between actual costs incurred and costs recovered through the application of the PGA is recorded as a regulatory asset or liability. At the end of the deferral period, the balance of the net deferred charge or credit is amortized over an ensuing 12-month period as amounts are reflected in customer bills.
Fair Value—Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants at the measurement date. The Company determines fair value based on the following fair value hierarchy which prioritizes each input to the valuation methods into one of the following three broad levels:
The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). All fair value disclosures are categorized within one of the three categories in the hierarchy based on the lowest level that is significant to the valuation. See fair value disclosures below and in Notes 8 and 12.
Use of Estimates—The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Excise and Sales Taxes—Certain excise and sales taxes imposed by the state and local governments in the Company’s service territory are collected by the Company from its customers. These taxes are passed through to the state and local governments and included within accounts payable on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
41
Table of Contents
Earnings Per Share—Basic EPS and diluted EPS are calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period and the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period plus potential dilutive common shares, respectively. Potential dilutive common shares are calculated in accordance with the treasury stock method, which assumes that proceeds from the exercise of all options are used to repurchase common stock at market value. The amount of shares remaining after the proceeds are exhausted represents the potentially dilutive effect of the securities. The computation of diluted EPS for the years ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 excludes potentially dilutive shares of 1,926 and 2,542, respectively, because to include them would be antidilutive for the period. However, these shares could potentially dilute EPS in the future. A reconciliation of basic and diluted EPS is presented below:
Years Ended September 30
Effect of dilutive securities:
Options to purchase common stock 4,577 3,571
Earnings per share of common stock:
Business and Credit Concentrations—The primary business of the Company is the distribution of natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers in its service territories.
No sales to individual customers accounted for more than 5% of total revenue in any period. No individual customer amounted to more than 5% of total accounts receivable at September 30, 2025 and 2024.
Roanoke Gas currently holds the only franchises and/or CPCNs to distribute natural gas in its service area. These franchises generally extend for multi-year periods, are renewable by the municipalities and are intended for perpetual duration, including exclusive franchises in the cities of Roanoke, Salem and the Town of Vinton. All franchises are set to expire December 31, 2035.
Roanoke Gas is currently served by three primary pipelines that provide the natural gas supplied to the Company’s customers. Depending upon weather conditions and the level of customer demand, failure of one or all of these transmission pipelines could have a major adverse impact on the Company.
Derivative and Hedging Activities—ASC 815,Derivatives and Hedging, requires the recognition of all derivative instruments as assets or liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet and measurement of those instruments at fair value.
The Company’s hedging and derivatives policy allows management to enter into derivatives for the purpose of managing the commodity and financial market risks of its business operations. The Company’s hedging and derivatives policy specifically prohibits the use of derivatives for speculative purposes. The key market risks that the Company may hedge against include the price of natural gas and the cost of borrowed funds.
From time to time, the Company has entered into collars, swaps and caps for the purpose of hedging the price of natural gas in order to provide price stability during the winter months. The fair value of these instruments is recorded in the consolidated balance sheets with the offsetting entry to either under- or over-recovery of gas costs. Net income and other comprehensive income are not affected by the change in market value as any cost incurred or benefit received from these instruments is recoverable or refunded through the PGA as the SCC allows for full recovery of prudent costs associated with natural gas purchases. At September 30, 2025 and 2024, the Company had no outstanding derivative instruments for the purchase of natural gas.
42
Table of Contents
The Company has six interest rate swaps associated with certain of its variable rate debt. Roanoke Gas has two variable rate term notes in the amounts of $15 million and $10 million, with corresponding swap agreements to convert the variable interest rates into fixed rates of 2.00% and 2.49%, respectively. Midstream has four swap agreements in the amounts of $14 million, $4 million, $20.6 million, and $15 million, corresponding to the $53.6 million variable rate term note. The swap agreements convert the note into a fixed rate instrument with effective interest rates of 3.24%, 2.443%, 5.061%, and 5.061%, respectively. The swaps qualify as cash flow hedges with changes in fair value reported in other comprehensive income. No portion of the swaps were deemed ineffective during the periods presented.
See Notes 7 and 8 for additional information on the swaps and fair value.
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)—A summary of other comprehensive income is provided below:
Tax
Before Tax (Expense) Net of Tax
Amount or Benefit Amount
Interest rate swaps:
Defined benefit plans:
Interest rate swaps:
Defined benefit plans:
The amortization of actuarial gains or losses are included as a component of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs under other income, net in the consolidated statements of income.
Composition of AOCI:
43
Table of Contents
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07,Segment Reporting (Topic 280) - Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which enhances and expands the current annual and interim requirements on segment information disclosures. The new guidance requires disclosure of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (CODM) and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss, an amount and description of the composition of other segment items to reconcile to segment profit or loss, and the title and position of the entity's CODM. The provisions within the guidance are to be applied retrospectively for all comparative periods and are effective for the Company for the fiscal year that began October 1, 2024 and interim periods within fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025. The Company adopted ASU 2023-07 effective for the year ended September 30, 2025, with retrospective application of the additional segment information for the year ended September 30, 2024. Additional information regarding the Company's reportable segments is included in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, with no impact on results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition of the Company.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09,Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The new guidance requires that on an annual basis public business entities disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation table and provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold (items equal to or greater than 5 percent of the amount computed by multiplying pretax income or loss by the applicable statutory rate). The required disclosures will provide more granularity regarding the payment of income taxes to federal, state and foreign entities. The Company does not expect certain requirements of this ASU to have a significant impact to its current disclosures as all of its operations are domestic and reside in two states. Changes to the rate reconciliation table will result in additional disclosure. The new guidance is effective for the Company for annual periods beginning October 1, 2025.
In November 2024, the SEC issued ASU 2024-03,Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Expense Disaggregation Disclosures. The new guidance requires public business entities to disclose certain additional detail about expenses including, among other items, purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation and intangible asset amortization included within each income statement expense line items within continuing operations. The guidance also requires disclosure of the total amount of selling expenses and the Company’s definition of selling expenses. Such disclosures must be made on an annual and interim basis and integrated with existing disclosure requirements in a tabular format in the footnotes to the financial statements. Further, in January 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-01,Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Expense Disaggregation Disclosures: Clarifying the Effective Date, which clarified the effective date of ASU 2024-03. The new guidance is effective for the Company for annual periods beginning October 1, 2027 and interim periods within fiscal year beginning October 1, 2028. The Company is currently assessing the impacts of the new guidance on its financial statement disclosures.
Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standard–setting bodies are not currently applicable to the Company or are not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Reclassification
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentations.
44
Table of Contents
2. REVENUE
The Company assesses new contracts and identifies related performance obligations for promises to transfer distinct goods or services to the customer. Revenue is recognized when performance obligations have been satisfied. In the case of Roanoke Gas, the Company contracts with its customers for the sale and/or delivery of natural gas.
The following tables summarize revenue by customer, product and income statement classification for the years ended September 30:
Gas utility Non utility Total operating revenues
Natural Gas (Billed and Unbilled):
Gas utility Non utility Total operating revenues
Natural Gas (Billed and Unbilled):
Gas utility revenues
Substantially all of Roanoke Gas’ revenues are derived from rates authorized by the SCC through its tariffs. Based on its evaluation, the Company has concluded that these tariff-based revenues fall within the scope of ASC 606. Tariff rates represent the transaction price. Performance obligations include the procurement and transport of natural gas through the Company's distribution system to customers. The delivery of natural gas to customers results in the satisfaction of the Company’s respective performance obligations over time.
All customers are billed monthly based on consumption as measured by metered usage with payments due 20 days from the rendering of the bill. Revenue is recognized as bills are issued for natural gas that has been delivered or transported. In addition, the Company utilizes the practical expedient that allows an entity to recognize the invoiced amount as revenue, if that amount corresponds to the value received by the customer. Since customers are billed tariff rates, there is no variable consideration in the transaction price.
45
Table of Contents
Unbilled revenue is included in residential and commercial revenues in the preceding table. Natural gas consumption is estimated for the period subsequent to the last billed date and up through the last day of the month. Estimated volumes and approved tariff rates are utilized to calculate unbilled revenue. The following month, the unbilled estimate is reversed, the actual usage is billed and a new unbilled estimate is calculated. The Company obtains metered usage for transportation and interruptible customers at the end of each month, thereby eliminating any unbilled consideration for these rate classes.
Other revenues
Other revenues primarily consist of miscellaneous fees and charges, utility-related revenues not directly billed to utility customers and billings for non-utility activities. Customers are invoiced monthly based on services provided for these activities. The Company utilizes the practical expedient allowing revenue to be recognized based on invoiced amounts. The transaction price is based on a contractually predetermined rate schedule; therefore, the transaction price represents total value to the customer and no variable price consideration exists.
Alternative revenue program revenues
ARPs, which fall outside the scope of ASC 606, are SCC approved mechanisms that allow for the adjustment of revenues for certain broad, external factors, or for additional billings if the entity achieves certain performance targets. The Company's ARPs include its WNA, which adjusts revenues for the effects of weather temperature variations as compared to the 30-year average; the SAVE Plan over/under collection mechanism, which adjusts revenues for the differences between SAVE Plan revenues billed to customers and the revenues earned, as calculated based on the timing and extent of infrastructure replacement completed during the period; and the RNG over/under collection mechanism, which adjusts revenues similar to the SAVE Plan, but is calculated based on the timing and costs associated with owning, operating and maintaining the RNG facility. These amounts are ultimately collected from, or returned to, customers through future rate changes approved by the SCC.
Customer accounts receivable and liabilities
Accounts receivable, as reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets, includes both billed and unbilled customer revenues, as well as amounts that are not related to customers. The balances of customer receivables are provided below:
Current Assets Current Liabilities
The Company did not incur any significant costs to obtain contracts during the period. Certain customers elect to pay even amounts monthly, giving rise to assets and liabilities that are in the table above. All amounts clear annually.
46
Table of Contents
3. SEGMENT INFORMATION
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available and is evaluated regularly by the Company's executive management in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company has two reportable segments based on the nature of their activities and are defined as follows:
Gas Utility - The natural gas distribution segment of the Company generates revenue from its tariff rates and other regulatory mechanisms through which it provides for the sale and distribution of natural gas to its residential, commercial and industrial customers.
Investment in Affiliates - The investment in affiliates segment reflects the income generated through the activities of the Company's investment in the LLC.
In order to reconcile to net income as disclosed in the consolidated statements of income, "Corporate and other" rows are included below associated with certain unallocated expenses that represent corporate reporting adjustments.
The accounting policies of the reported segments are the same as those described within Note 1. Information is routinely presented to the CODM, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, in a manner that makes significant elements of profitability and cash flows of each segment easily discernible. The CODM evaluates the performance of the reportable segments based on the Gas Utility's operating income (loss) and the Investment in Affiliates' equity in earnings, as well as cash flows, and uses these measures to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources, primarily during the annual budget and forecasting processes. The CODM regularly reviews variances between budgeted and actual results in assessing earnings, operational performance, and allocating resources including personnel and capital allocations that affect each reportable segment. When the CODM reviews balance sheet information, it is at a consolidated level. Intersegment transactions are recorded at cost.
Information related to the reportable segments of the Company are provided below:
Gas Utility Investment in Affiliates Consolidated Total
For the Year Ended September 30, 2025:
Corporate and other — — 102,269
Corporate and other — — 19,919
Corporate and other — — 82,350
Gross investment in affiliates $ — $ 76,385 $ 76,385
47
Table of Contents
Gas Utility Investment in Affiliates Consolidated Total
For the Year Ended September 30, 2024:
Corporate and other — — 108,131
Corporate and other — — 20,011
Corporate and other — — 88,008
Gross investment in affiliates $ — $ 18,258 $ 18,258
4. REGULATORY MATTERS
The SCC exercises regulatory authority over the natural gas operations of Roanoke Gas. Such regulation encompasses terms, conditions and rates to be charged to customers for natural gas service, safety standards, service extension and depreciation.
In response to continued inflationary pressures, Roanoke Gas filed a general rate application on February 2, 2024 with the SCC seeking to increase its non-gas base rates by $4.33 million and its permitted return on equity from 9.44% to 10.35% reflecting its higher cost of capital, including higher interest expense. The SCC permitted the Company to implement its new rates on an interim basis for customer billings on or after July 1, 2024, subject to refund. On October 16, 2024, the Company reached a settlement with the SCC staff on all outstanding issues in the case. Under the terms of the settlement, the Company agreed to an annual incremental revenue requirement increase of $4.08 million based on a return on equity of 9.90%. On April 10, 2025, the SCC issued a final order approving the settlement agreement in its entirety. Refunds for the difference in amounts that were billed based on interim and settlement rates, which had previously been accrued, were made to customers in May 2025.
On December 2, 2025, the Company filed a non-gas base rate application with the SCC to increase revenues by $4.3million annually, with interim rates proposed to customers in the second quarter of fiscal 2026.
On May 30, 2025, Roanoke Gas filed for approval of an updated RNG Rider to become effective October 1, 2025. The RNG Rider recovers costs associated with the RNG facility to produce renewable natural gas that was approved by the SCC in 2022. The revenue requirement associated with the RNG Rider is $1.66 million. The impact to customers is affected by the under-recovered costs during the prior fiscal year, the sale of environmental credits and the over crediting of customers for RIN sales, resulting in a net impact to customers of approximately $699,000. The Company received a final order from the SCC approving the Company's updated RNG Rider on September 26, 2025.
On June 30, 2025, Roanoke Gas filed for approval of an updated annual SAVE Rider to become effective October 1, 2025. The proposed SAVE Rider revenue requirement of $2.64 million is designed to recover the costs associated with an estimated $10.33 million of SAVE eligible investment during fiscal 2026. The revenue requirement also included an adjustment for under-recovered costs incurred during the prior year. The Commission approved the Company’s updated SAVE Rider on September 26, 2025, which contained a slightly lower revenue requirement of $2.61 million.
48
Table of Contents
On June 2, 2022, Roanoke Gas filed an application with the SCC to acquire certain natural gas distribution assets from a local housing authority. Under this application, the Company requested the approval to acquire such facilities at five separate apartment complexes, located in the Company’s service territory, that were under housing authority management. Under the proposed plan, the housing authority would renew existing natural gas distribution facilities to include mains, services, and meter installations and then transfer ownership of these facilities to Roanoke Gas. In turn, Roanoke Gas would assume responsibility for the operation and maintenance of these assets and recognize a gain related to the asset acquisition equal to the cost associated with the renewal. The SCC approved the application in July 2022.
The housing authority completed the transfer of two apartment complexes to Roanoke Gas in fiscal 2022,one complex in fiscal 2023,one complex in fiscal 2024 and the last complex in fiscal 2025. For fiscal years 2024 and 2025, Roanoke Gas recognized pre-tax income of approximately $782,000 and $762,000, respectively, for the assets transferred by analogy to ASC 958. The assets are included under utility property, in service on the consolidated balance sheets and the income is recorded in other income, net on the consolidated statements of income. There are no ongoing obligations between the parties for the properties transferred. Additionally, there are no remaining facilities to be transferred in the future under the plan.
5. OTHER INVESTMENTS
Midstream has invested less than 1% in the equity interests of the LLC that owns and operates the MVP. The Company accounts for its interest in the LLC under the equity method of accounting given the LLC maintains specific ownership accounts for each investor, and also considering the Company's rights under the LLC management agreement and the Company's involvement as a stakeholder of the MVP. The Company has been using the equity method since the inception of its investment in fiscal 2016. The MVP entered commercial operation on June 14, 2024 and commenced long-term firm capacity obligations on July 1, 2024.
AFUDC attributable to MVP was recognized during the construction phase, and is included in the equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate in the tables below. AFUDC on the main pipeline ceased in June 2024 when MVP went into commercial operations; large expansions and improvement projects will give rise to AFUDC in the future.
The Company participates in the earnings of the LLC proportionate to its level of investment, favorably adjusted for a basis difference between the Company's capital account and its carrying value that arose when the Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment of its investment in 2022. This basis difference amortization is a favorable non-cash adjustment to income over the book life of the MVP, which is 40 years. The Company's share of earnings from the LLC and the basis difference amortization are presented under equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate on the consolidated statements of income. The Company received four quarterly cash distributions totaling approximately $3.6 million from the LLC during fiscal 2025 and expects future quarterly distributions to be of a similar magnitude to those received to date.
Midstream assesses the value of its investment in the LLC on at least a quarterly basis, and no impairment indicators were identified in fiscal 2025 or 2024.
Funding for Midstream's investments has been provided through equity contributions from Resources and unsecured promissory notes as detailed in Note 7.
The investments in the LLC are included in the consolidated balance sheets as follows:
September 30
Other Assets:
49
Table of Contents
The change in the investment in unconsolidated affiliates is provided below:
September 30
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliate (3,644,542 ) —
Change in investment in unconsolidated affiliates $ (333,525 ) $ 3,870,129
Summary unaudited financial statements of MVP are presented below. Southgate financial statements, which are accounted for under the cost method, are not included:
Income Statements
Years Ended September 30
Balance Sheets
September 30
Assets:
Construction work in progress — 1,568,267
Liabilities and Equity:
6. LINE-OF-CREDIT
The Company had been operating with a line-of-credit in the principal amount of $25 million that it renewed annually each March. On March 31, 2025, Roanoke Gas amended its line-of-credit to increase the principal amount to $30 million and extend the maturity date to March 31, 2027. The line-of-credit's variable interest rate is based upon Term SOFR plus 1.25% and provides for multiple-tier borrowing limits to accommodate seasonal borrowing demands. The Company's total borrowing limits during the term of the line-of-credit range from $20 million to $30 million. As of September 30, 2025, the Company had an outstanding balance of $11,916,760 under the line-of-credit.
The Company's total available borrowing limits for the remaining term are as follows:
Available
Line-of-Credit
50
Table of Contents
A summary of the line-of-credit follows:
September 30
Average rate of interest during year on outstanding balances 5.56 % 6.39 %
Interest rate at year-end 5.42 % 6.29 %
Interest rate on unused line-of-credit 0.25 % 0.15 %
7. LONG-TERM DEBT
Long-term debt consisted of the following:
September 30
Roanoke Gas:
Midstream:
Less: current maturities of long-term debt (2,846,018 ) — (800,000 ) —
51
Table of Contents
On September 5, 2025, Midstream established new Term Notes with two banks in the amounts of $38.6 million and $15 million, which refinanced and replaced all of Midstream's outstanding debt. The interest rate on the new Term Notes is one month Term SOFR plus 1.55% with interest payable monthly. The Term Notes also included a 0.3% origination fee and 0.1% annual fee. Quarterly principal payments will be due each October, January, April and July, and repayment terms are based on a schedule aligned with the terms of the MVP shipper agreements, which will expire June 2044. The Term Notes mature on September 5, 2032. Also, on September 5, 2025, Midstream executed two interest rate swap agreements totaling $35.6 million, which corresponds to the term and draw provisions of the Term Note agreement and effectively converts that portion of the variable rate note to a fixed rate instrument with an effective annual interest rate of 5.061%. The two existing interest rate swaps will remain in place, have been redesignated, and when combined with the new interest rate swap agreements, hedged a notional value of $53.6 million.
Additionally, on September 5, 2025, Midstream entered into a Loan Agreement for the MVP Southgate extension and MVP expansion that can be drawn to principal amounts of $1.85 million and $3.65 million, respectively, (the "Notes"). The Notes bear an interest rate of Term SOFR plus 1.75% subject to adjustment to Term SOFR plus 1.55% upon meeting certain milestones. The Notes mature on September 5, 2030, at which time the outstanding principal balance on each note is due. The Loan Agreement included a 0.25% origination fee.
On March 6, 2024, Midstream entered into the Sixth Amendment to Credit Agreement and related Promissory Notes on the non-revolving credit facility. The Sixth Amendment revised the interest rate from Term SOFR plus 2.00% to Term SOFR plus 2.00% subject to adjustment to Term SOFR plus 1.75% and Term SOFR plus 1.55% upon meeting certain milestones. The Sixth Amendment also consolidated the Promissory Notes to one Promissory Note with one lender, increased the available non-revolving credit facility to $25 million, and extended the maturity date to December 31, 2025. All other terms and requirements remain unchanged.
On May 2, 2024, Midstream established a new $9 million line of credit facility. The interest rate on the borrowings under the facility is SOFR plus 2.215%; the arrangement included a 0.40% upfront fee and 0.125% unused line fee. The facility matures on May 2, 2026.
On May 29, 2024, Midstream paid in full the remaining $9 million term note payable that was set to mature June 1, 2024 with proceeds from the new line of credit.
Debt issuance costs are amortized over the life of the related debt. As of September 30, 2025 and 2024, the Company also had an unamortized loss on the early retirement of debt of $1,027,684 and $1,141,872, respectively, which has been deferred as a regulatory asset and is being amortized over a 20-year period.
All of the debt agreements set forth certain representations, warranties and covenants to which the Company is subject, including financial covenants that limit consolidated long-term indebtedness to not more than 65% of total capitalization. All of the debt agreements provide for Priority Indebtedness (defined in the debt agreements) to not exceed 15% of consolidated total assets. The $15 million, $10 million, $53.6 million, $1.85 million and $3.65 million notes have an interest coverage ratio requirement of not less than 1.5 to 1, which excludes the effect of a non-cash impairment on the LLC investments up to the total investment as of December 31, 2021. The Company was in compliance with all debt covenants as of September 30, 2025 and 2024.
The aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt for the next five years ending after September 30, 2025 are as follows:
Year Ending September 30 Maturities
Roanoke Gas has a term note in the principal amount of $15 million maturing in August 2026. The Company has a positive record of refinancing term notes, as well as has access to sufficient financing resources, including availability under the line-of-credit, to meet the payment requirements associated with this term note. Thus the Company has presented this balance within notes payable of long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2025.
52
Table of Contents
8. FAIR VALUE
The following table summarizes the Company’s 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 defined in Note 1 as of September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. There have been no changes to the Company's valuation techniques during fiscal years ended September 30, 2025 and 2024.
Fair Value Measurements - September 30, 2025
Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Assets:
Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps - current $ 57,144 $ — $ 57,144 $ —
Fair Value Measurements - September 30, 2024
Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Assets:
Liabilities:
The fair value of the interest rate swaps is determined by using the counterparty's proprietary models that include observable quoted market interest rates and interest rate futures as well as certain assumptions regarding past, present and future market conditions.
See Note 5 for discussion on the fair value assumptions of the Company's investment in the LLC.
Under the asset management contract, a timing difference can exist between the payment for natural gas purchases and the actual receipt of such purchases. Payments are made based on a predetermined monthly volume with the price based on the weighted average first of the month index prices corresponding to the month of the scheduled payment. At September 30, 2025 and 2024, the Company had recorded in accounts payable the estimated fair value of the liability based on the corresponding first of month quoted index prices for which the liability was expected to be settled.
The Company’s non-financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis consist of its AROs. The AROs are measured at fair value at initial recognition based on expected future cash flows to settle the obligation.
53
Table of Contents
The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, borrowings under line-of-credit, accounts payable, customer credit balances and customer deposits is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. In addition, the carrying amount of the variable rate line-of-credit is a reasonable approximation of its fair value. The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are not adjusted to fair value in the consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2025 and 2024.
Fair Value Measurements - September 30, 2025
Amount Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Liabilities:
Fair Value Measurements - September 30, 2024
Amount Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt $ 800,000 $ — $ — $ 800,000
The fair value of long-term debt is estimated by discounting the future cash flows of the fixed rate debt based on the underlying Treasury rate or other Treasury instrument with a corresponding maturity period and estimated credit spread extrapolated based on market conditions since the issuance of the debt.
ASC 825,Financial Instruments, requires disclosures regarding concentrations of credit risk from financial instruments. Cash equivalents are investments in high-grade, short-term securities (original maturity less than three months), placed with financially sound institutions. Accounts receivable are from a diverse group of customers including individuals and small and large companies in various industries. The Company maintains certain credit standards with its customers and requires a customer deposit if such evaluation warrants.
54
Table of Contents
9. INCOME TAXES
Under the provisions of ASC 740, the deferred tax assets and liabilities of the Company were revalued in fiscal 2018 to reflect the reduction in the corporate federal income tax rate. As a result of the revaluation, the excess deferred income taxes of the regulated operations of Roanoke Gas were reclassified to a regulatory liability. The excess deferred taxes related to the depreciable property are being returned to customers over the remaining weighted average useful life of the property with a corresponding reduction in income tax expense. The excess deferred taxes related to the other regulatory basis differences were being collected from customers over a five-year period, which concluded in December 2023.
The details of income tax expense (benefit) are as follows:
Years Ended September 30
Current income taxes:
Deferred income taxes:
Income tax expense for the years ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 differed from amounts computed by applying the U.S. federal income tax rate to earnings before income taxes due to the following:
Years Ended September 30
Corporate federal income tax rate 21 % 21 %
State income taxes, net of federal income tax expense 853,582 763,518
Reserve for unrecognized tax benefits — 82,000
During fiscal 2021, the Company engaged an outside firm to conduct a study of its activities that would qualify for the Research and Development ("R&D") credit under 26 U.S. Code § 41- Credit for increasing research activities. Upon completion of this study, the Company filed amended federal income tax returns for the 2017,2018 and 2019 fiscal years to claim the R&D tax credit. The Company also filed for the R&D tax credit on its fiscal 2020 federal income tax return. A second study was performed during fiscal 2022, and the Company filed for the R&D tax credit on its fiscal 2021 federal income tax return. During fiscal 2021 and 2022, the Company also applied for a Virginia State tax credit related to the R&D study.
Amounts corresponding with the tax credits were deferred as a regulatory liability as such benefits will be returned to customers through future rate adjustments. These credits were originally being amortized over the 20-year tax-life of the related utility plant. In accordance with the SCC settlement agreement in relation to the Company’s non-gas rate application, the amortization of the R&D tax credit was halted effective August 1, 2023 as the IRS began an examination on the fiscal 2018 and 2019 federal tax returns. As such, no amortization was recognized associated with the R&D tax credits in fiscal 2025 and 2024.
55
Table of Contents
During September 2025, the Company participated in the IRS Fast Track Settlement (FTS), which is a process that provides the IRS and taxpayers an opportunity to resolve disputes with an appeals official using mediation skills and settlement authority. The IRS and Company agreed on a settlement equal to 40% of the R&D tax credits claimed for fiscal 2018 and 2019, the two years under examination. Once the IRS finalizes the resolution and the refunds are received, the Company will proceed with refunding the R&D tax credits, net of related fees, to customers over a 12-month period through a mechanism to be approved by the SCC. The net credit amount deferred as a regulatory liability as of September 30, 2025 was $2,568,143, which reflects adjustments to 40% of the fiscal 2018 and 2019 credits claimed and the remaining balance of the fiscal 2020 and 2021 credits claimed. As part of the settlement, the Company grossed up the tax credit consistent with treatment of the excess deferred taxes. The deferred tax asset associated with the R&D tax credits was adjusted to $705,848 as of September 30, 2025 to reflect the adjustment for fiscal 2018 and 2019.
During fiscal 2023, the Company engaged an outside firm to conduct a study of its RNG facility to determine eligibility for the Federal Energy Investment Tax Credit under 26 U.S. Code § 48– Energy credit (“RNG tax credit”). Upon completion of the study, the Company determined a credit in the amount of $1,892,164 to be claimed on the fiscal 2023 tax return. Similar to the treatment of the R&D tax credits, the Company deferred the RNG tax credit as a regulatory liability, which is being amortized over the 20-year tax-life of the related asset. Further, as part of the SCC order approving the RNG project and corresponding rates charged to customers, any tax credits attributable to the RNG project are to be used to reduce the cost to customers through the RNG Rider. Accordingly, the Company grossed up the RNG tax credit consistent with treatment of the excess deferred taxes, thereby creating a deferred tax asset of $655,862, which is also being amortized over the 20-year tax-life of the related asset. The Company recognized $127,404 of amortization as part of income tax expense on the consolidated statements of income in both fiscal 2025 and 2024 related to the federal RNG tax credit.
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are as follows:
September 30
Deferred tax assets:
Accrued pension and postretirement medical benefits $ 556,316 $ 512,778
Regulatory effect of change in federal income tax rate 2,433,559 2,553,086
Deferred tax liabilities:
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets on a net basis by taxing jurisdictions. As of September 30, 2025 and 2024, the Company's consolidated balance sheets included net deferred tax liabilities of $2,277,550 and $1,890,562, respectively, in deferred credits and other non-current liabilities and net deferred tax assets of $617,390 and $771,746, respectively, in other non-current assets.
56
Table of Contents
ASC 740 provides for the determination of whether tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recognized in the financial statements. The Company evaluated its tax positions and recorded a reserve for unrecognized tax benefits of $273,936 as of September 30, 2024. These unrecognized tax benefits relate to tax positions taken in the Company's prior tax returns. The reduction to $0 in the current year is due to the adjustments made to the Company's income tax assets and liabilities as a result of the FTS previously discussed. A reconciliation of the Company's unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
September 30
Beginning balance $ 273,936 $ —
Increase (decrease) resulting from prior period tax positions (273,936 ) 273,936
The Company’s policy is to classify interest associated with uncertain tax positions as interest expense in the financial statements. Tax penalties, if any, are netted against other income.
The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return and state income tax returns in Virginia and West Virginia, and thus subject to examinations by federal and state tax authorities. The Company adjusted its income tax assets and liabilities to reflect the outcome of the FTS as of September 30, 2025. Due to the federal government shutdown in October and November 2025, the Company has not received final notice from the IRS officially closing the Company's federal returns for fiscal 2018 and 2019. Once final notice is received, the federal returns and the state returns for Virginia and West Virginia for the tax years ended through September 30,2022 are closed to examination.
10. COMMON STOCK OPTIONS
The KEYSOP provides for the issuance of common stock options to officers and certain other full-time salaried employees to acquire shares of the Company’s common stock. As of September 30, 2025, the number of shares available for future grants was 16,000.
ASC 718,Compensation-Stock Compensation, requires that compensation expense be recognized for the issuance of equity instruments to employees. No options were granted during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, the Board approved stock option grants to certain officers. As required by the KEYSOP, each option's exercise price per share equaled the fair value of the Company's common stock on the grant date. Pursuant to the plan, the options vest over a six-month period and are exercisable over a ten-year period from the date of issuance.
As the Company's stock options are not traded on the open market, the fair value of each grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model including the following assumptions:
Years Ended September 30
Expected volatility N/A 32.07 %
Expected dividends N/A 2.84 %