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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.



SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K/A
Amendment No. 1

(Mark One)  

ý

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004

OR

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                                    TO                                     

Commission File No. 1-8796

QUESTAR CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

State of Utah   87-0407509
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

 

 
180 East 100 South, P.O. Box 45433,
Salt Lake City, Utah
  84145-0433
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (801) 324-5000

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

Title of each class
  Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, Without Par Value, with Common Stock Purchase Rights   New York Stock Exchange

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
None

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý    No o

        Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein and will not be contained, to the best of registrants' knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ý

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) Yes ý    No o

        Aggregate market value of the voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the Registrant computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold as of the last business day of the Registrant's most recently completed second quarter (June 30, 2004) $3,227,858,281.

        On February 28, 2005, 84,701,901 shares of the registrant's common stock, without par value, were outstanding.

        Documents Incorporated by Reference. Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III. The sections of the Proxy Statement labeled "Committee Report on Executive Compensation" and "Cumulative Total Shareholder Return" are expressly not incorporated into this document.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

        Questar Corporation (Questar or the Company) included an incorrect organization chart in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2004 that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 7, 2005. Consequently, the Company is filing an amended 10-K with a corrected organization chart, as part of Item 1. Business. This amendment includes all items and exhibits originally filed in Questar's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2004 as well as a revised organization chart for the convenience of the reader. Questar is not making any changes to its financial statements. This amendment is accurate as of the date of the Company's originally filed Form 10-K and has not been updated to reflect any events that occurred subsequent to March 7, 2005. The Company is including currently dated certifications as listed in Item 15.




TABLE OF CONTENTS

Heading
   
    PART I

Item 1.

 

BUSINESS
    General
    Glossary of Commonly Used Terms
    SEC Filings and Website Information
    Narrative Description of Business
    Market Resources, General
    Questar E&P, General
    E&P, Risk Management
    E&P, Competition and Customers
    E&P, Regulation
    Wexpro, General
    Wexpro, Regulation
    Gas Gathering and Processing, General
    Gas-and-Oil Marketing and Trading, Risk Management and Underground Storage, General
    Questar Pipeline, General
    Questar Pipeline, Risk Management
    Questar Pipeline, Customers, Growth and Competition
    Questar Pipeline, Regulation
    Clay Basin Storage Gas
    Questar Gas, General
    Questar Gas Growth
    Questar Gas, Risk Management
    Questar Gas, Regulation
    Questar Gas, Competition
    Corporate and Other Operations
    Environmental Matters
    Employees
    Executive Officers

Item 2.

 

PROPERTIES
    Exploration and Production
    Gas Gathering and Processing
    Marketing, Trading, Risk Management and Underground Gas Storage
    Questar Pipeline
    Questar Gas
    Other

Item 3.

 

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Item 4.

 

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

 

PART II

Item 5.

 

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Item 6.

 

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Item 7.

 

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION

Item 7A.

 

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Item 8.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Item 9.

 

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

Item 9A.

 

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Item 9.B.

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

PART III

Item 10.

 

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

Item 11.

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Item 12.

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND STOCKHOLDERS MATTERS

Item 13.

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

Item 14.

 

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

 

PART IV

Item 15.

 

EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

SIGNATURES


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This report includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts included or incorporated by reference in this report, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "expect," "intend," "project," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "forecast," or "continue" or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Although these statements are made in good faith and are reasonable representations of Questar Corporation's (Questar or the Company) expected performance at the time, actual results may vary from management's stated expectations and projections due to a variety of factors.

        Important assumptions and other significant factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements include:

        Questar subsidiaries find, produce, and sell natural gas, oil and NGL. Natural gas, oil and NGL prices are volatile and, therefore, Questar revenues, cash flow and earnings can be volatile. The Company cannot predict future natural gas, oil and NGL price movements, which are subject to forces beyond our control such as:

        The Company uses financial contracts to hedge its exposure to volatile energy prices and to protect cash flow, returns on capital, net income and credit ratings from downward commodity-price movements. While hedging reduces the impact of declining prices, it may also limit future revenues from favorable price movements. Questar believes the Company's regulated businesses—interstate natural gas transmission and retail gas distribution—and its Wexpro subsidiary generate revenues that are not significantly sensitive to short-term fluctuations in energy prices.

        Questar's profitability depends not only on prevailing prices for natural gas and oil, but also the Company's ability to find, develop and acquire gas and oil reserves that are economically recoverable. Substantial capital expenditures are required to find, develop and acquire gas and oil reserves to replace those depleted by production.

        Questar Exploration and Production's proved natural gas and oil-reserve estimates are prepared annually by independent reservoir-engineering consultants. Gas and oil-reserve estimates are subject to numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves, projecting future rates of production and timing of development expenditures. The accuracy of these estimates depends on the quality of available data and on engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Reserve estimates are imprecise and will change as additional information becomes available. Estimates of economically recoverable reserves and future net cash flows prepared by different engineers, or by the same engineers at different times may vary significantly. Results of subsequent drilling, testing and production may cause either upward or downward revisions of previous estimates. In addition the estimates of future net revenues from proved reserves and the present value of those reserves are based upon certain assumptions about production levels, prices and costs, which may change. The volumes considered to be commercially recoverable fluctuate with changes in prices and operating costs. The meaningfulness of such estimates depends on the accuracy of the assumptions upon which they were based. Actual results may differ materially from the estimated results.

        Drilling is a high-risk activity. Operating risks include: blow-outs; fire; unexpected drilling conditions such as uncontrollable flows of gas, oil, formation water or drilling fluids; abandonment costs; explosions; pipe, cement or casing failures; oil spills; natural gas leaks; pipeline ruptures; and discharges of toxic gases. The Company could incur substantial losses as a result of injury or loss of life; environmental damage; destruction of property; fines; or curtailment of operations. The Company maintains insurance against some, but not all, of these potential risks and losses.

        Questar and its subsidiaries are subject to federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Environmental laws and regulations are complex, change frequently and tend to become more onerous over time. In addition to the costs of compliance, the Company may incur substantial costs to take corrective actions at both owned and previously owned facilities. Accidental spills and leaks requiring cleanup may occur in the ordinary course of business. As standards change, the Company may incur significant costs in cases where past operations followed practices that were considered acceptable at the time but that now require remedial work to meet current standards. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in fines, significant costs for remedial activities, or injunctions.

        Questar and its subsidiaries must comply with numerous and complex regulations governing their activities on federal and state lands in the Rocky Mountain region, notably the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act. Federal and state agencies frequently impose conditions on the Company's activities. These restrictions tend to become more stringent over time, and can limit or prevent the Company from exploring for, finding and producing natural gas and oil on its Rockies leasehold. Certain environmental groups oppose drilling on some of the Company's federal and state leases.

        Questar Pipeline's natural gas-transmission and storage operations are regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under the Natural Gas Act of 1938 and the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978. The FERC has authority to: (1) set rates for natural gas transmission, storage, and related services; (2) set rules governing business relationships between the pipeline subsidiary and its affiliates; (3) approve new pipeline and storage-facility construction; and (4) establish policies and procedures for accounting, purchase, sale, abandonment and other activities. FERC policies may adversely affect Questar Pipeline profitability.

        Questar Gas's natural gas-distribution business is regulated by the Public Service Commission of Utah (PSCU) and the Public Service Commission of Wyoming (PSCW). These commissions set rates for distribution services and establish policies and procedures for services, accounting, purchase, sale and other activities. PSCU and PSCW policies may adversely affect Questar Gas profitability.

        Both Questar Pipeline and Questar Gas must incur significant costs to comply with new federal pipeline-safety regulations enacted in December 2002. Questar Pipeline and Questar Gas may also be affected by possible future regulations requiring the tracking, reporting and reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions.

        Questar results may also be negatively affected by: changes in general economic conditions; changes in regulation; availability and economic viability of gas and oil properties for sale or exploration; creditworthiness of counterparties; rate of inflation and interest rates; assumptions used in business combinations; weather and natural disasters; changes in customers' credit ratings; competition from other forms of energy, other pipelines and storage facilities; effects of accounting policies issued periodically by accounting standard-setting bodies; terrorist attacks or acts of war; changes in the business or financial condition of the Company; changes in credit ratings; and availability of financing for Questar and its subsidiaries.

FORM 10-K/A
ANNUAL REPORT, 2004

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS.

General

        The registrant, Questar Corporation, is a natural gas-focused energy company with three principal lines of business—gas and oil exploration and production, interstate gas transmission, and retail-gas distribution. Questar Market Resources (Market Resources) subsidiaries engage in gas and oil exploration, development and production, gas gathering and processing, wholesale gas and oil marketing, and gas storage. Questar Pipeline Company (Questar Pipeline) provides interstate natural gas transmission, storage and gas-processing and treating services. Questar Gas Company (Questar Gas) conducts retail natural gas distribution. In addition, corporate and other operations include other services and activities.

        Questar was organized in 1984 and became a publicly held entity when the shareholders of Questar Gas (then known as Mountain Fuel Supply Company) approved a corporate reorganization. Questar was created to provide organizational and financial flexibility and to achieve a more clearly defined separation of utility and nonutility activities. Questar is a holding company, as that term is defined in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, because Questar Gas is a natural gas utility. Questar, however, qualifies for and claims an exemption from provisions of the act applicable to registered holding companies.

        Market Resources is a subholding company that owns Questar Exploration and Production Company (Questar E&P), Wexpro Company (Wexpro), Questar Gas Management Company (Gas Management) and Questar Energy Trading Company (Energy Trading). Questar Pipeline and Questar Gas are the Company's two principal regulated subsidiaries.

        Questar conducts most of its operations through subsidiaries. The parent-holding company performs certain management, legal, tax, administrative and other services for its subsidiaries. The corporate-organization structure and major subsidiaries are summarized below.

Flow Chart

        See Note 17 in Item 8 of this report for financial information concerning Questar's lines of business that contribute 10% or more of consolidated revenues.


Glossary of Commonly Used Terms

bbl   Barrel, which is equal to 42 United States gallons and is a common unit of measurement of crude oil.

basis

 

The difference between a reference or benchmark-commodity price and the corresponding sales price at various regional sales points.

bcf

 

One billion cubic feet, a common unit of measurement of natural gas.

bcfe

 

One billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent. Oil volume is converted to natural gas equivalent using the ratio of one barrel of crude oil to 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas.

Btu

 

One British thermal unit — a measure of the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.

cash-flow hedge

 

A derivative instrument that complies with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 133, as amended, and is used to reduce the exposure to variability in cash flows from the forecasted physical sale of gas and oil production whereby the gains (losses) on the derivative transaction are anticipated to offset the losses (gains) on the forecasted physical sale.

cf

 

Cubic foot is a common unit of gas measurement. One standard cubic foot equals the volume of gas in one cubic foot measured at standard conditions—a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure of 30 inches of mercury (approximately 14.73 pounds per square inch).

development well

 

A well drilled into a known producing formation in a previously discovered field.

dew point

 

A specific temperature and pressure at which hydrocarbons condense to form a liquid.

dry hole

 

A well drilled and found to be incapable of producing hydrocarbons in sufficient quantities such that proceeds from the sale of production exceed expenses and taxes.

dth

 

Decatherms or ten therms. One dth equals one million Btu or approximately one Mcf.

exploratory well

 

A well drilled into a previously untested geologic prospect to determine the presence of gas or oil.

finding costs

 

Finding costs are the sum of costs incurred for gas and oil exploration and development activities; including leasehold acquisitions, seismic, geological and geophysical, development and exploration drilling, and asset-retirement obligations for a given period, divided by the total amount of estimated net-proved reserves added through discoveries, positive and negative revisions of previous estimates, and purchases in-place for the same period. The Company expresses finding costs in dollars per Mcfe averaged over a five-year period. See Note 19 included in Item 8 of this report for additional details.

futures contract

 

An exchange-traded legal contract to buy or sell a standard quantity and quality of a commodity at a specified future date and price.

gross

 

"Gross" natural gas and oil wells or "gross" acres equal the total number of wells or acres in which the Company has a working interest.

heating-degree days

 

A measure of the number of degrees the average-daily outside temperature is below 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

hedging

 

The use of derivative-commodity and interest-rate instruments to reduce financial exposure to commodity-price and interest-rate volatility.

Mbbl

 

One thousand barrels.

Mcf

 

One thousand cubic feet.

Mcfe

 

One thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalents. Oil volume is converted to natural gas equivalent using the ratio of one barrel of crude oil to 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas.

Mdth

 

One thousand decatherms.

Mdthe

 

One thousand decatherm equivalents. Oil volume is converted to natural gas equivalent using the ratio of one barrel of crude oil to 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas.

MMbbl

 

One million barrels.

MMBtu

 

One million British thermal units.

MMcf

 

One million cubic feet.

MMcfe

 

One million cubic feet of natural gas equivalents.

MMdth

 

One million decatherms.

MMgal

 

One million U. S. gallons.

natural gas

 

All references to "gas" in this report refer to natural gas.

natural gas liquids (NGL)

 

Liquid hydrocarbons that are extracted and separated from the natural gas stream. NGL products include ethane, propane, butane, natural gasoline and heavier hydrocarbons.

net

 

Net gas and oil wells or net acres are determined by the sum of the fractional ownership working interest the Company has in those gross wells or acres.

production-replacement ratio

 

The production-replacement ratio is calculated by dividing the net-proved reserves added through discoveries, positive and negative revisions of previous estimates, and purchases and sales in-place for a given period by the production for the same period, expressed as a percentage. The production-replacement ratio is typically reported on an annual basis divided by production.

proved reserves

 

Those quantities of natural gas, crude oil, condensate, and NGL on a net-revenue-interest basis, which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable under existing economic and operating conditions. See 17 C.F.R. Section 4-10(a)(2i)(2ii)(2iii) for a complete definition.

proved-developed reserves

 

Reserves that include proved developed-producing reserves and proved-developed behind-pipe reserves. See 17 C.F.R. Section 4-10(a)(3).

proved-developed-producing reserves

 

Reserves expected to be recovered from existing completion intervals in existing wells.

proved-undeveloped reserves

 

Reserves expected to be recovered from new wells on proved-undrilled acreage or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. See 17 C.F.R. Section 4-10(a)(4).

reservoir

 

A porous and permeable underground formation containing a natural accumulation of producible natural gas and/or oil that is confined by impermeable rock or water barriers and is separate from other reservoirs.

wet gas

 

Unprocessed natural gas that contains a mixture of heavier hydrocarbons including ethane, propane, butane, and natural gasoline.

working interest

 

An interest that gives the owner the right to drill, produce, and conduct operating activities on a property and receive a share of any production.


SEC Filings and Website Information

        Questar, Market Resources, Questar Gas and Questar Pipeline file annual, quarterly, and current reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Questar also regularly files proxy statements and other documents with the SEC. Investors can read and copy any materials filed with the SEC at its Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and can obtain information about the operations of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0300. The SEC also maintains a website that contains information filed electronically that can be accessed over the Internet at www.sec.gov.

        Investors can also access financial and other information for Questar at the Company's website at www.questar.com. Questar's website contains Statements of Responsibility for Board Committees, Corporate Governance Guidelines and its Business Ethics Policy.

        Questar and each of its reporting subsidiaries make available, free of charge, through the website copies of Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to such reports and all reports filed by executive officers and directors under Section 16 of the Exchange Act reporting transactions in Questar securities. Access to these reports is provided as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are electronically filed with the commission.


Narrative Description of Business

        The Company has three major subsidiaries—Market Resources, Questar Pipeline and Questar Gas. The following description of each subsidiary's business should be read in conjunction with Item 7. of this report.


Market Resources, General

        Market Resources is Questar's primary growth driver. Market Resources has four major subsidiaries: Questar E&P acquires, explores for, develops and produces gas and oil; Wexpro manages, develops and produces cost-of-service reserves for affiliated company, Questar Gas; Gas Management provides gas-gathering and processing services for affiliates and third parties; and Energy Trading markets equity and third-party gas and oil, provides risk-management services, and through its wholly owned limited liability company (LLC), Clear Creek Storage Company, LLC, owns and operates an underground gas-storage reservoir.


Questar E&P, General

        Questar E&P operates in two core areas—the Rocky Mountain region of Wyoming, Utah and Colorado and the Midcontinent region of Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. The company has a large inventory of identified development-drilling locations primarily at properties near Pinedale, Wyoming, and in the Uinta Basin of Utah. The company continues to conduct exploratory drilling to determine commerciality of its inventory of undeveloped leaseholds located primarily in the Rocky Mountain region, including assessment of deeper reservoirs beneath currently producing horizons. In the Midcontinent, Questar E&P has several active development projects, including an ongoing coalbed methane-development project in eastern Oklahoma and a tight-sands gas-development project in northwest Louisiana. Questar E&P seeks to maintain geographical and geological diversity with its two core regions. The company has in the past and may in the future pursue acquisition of producing properties through purchase of assets or corporate entities to expand its presence in its core areas or create a new core area.

        Questar E&P increased year-end 2004 proved reserves 24% to 1,434 bcfe versus 1,159 bcfe at the end of 2003. Reserve additions included a 295 bcfe net increase at Pinedale related primarily to the approval of 20-acre well spacing.

        Questar E&P's primary focus is natural gas. Natural gas comprised about 88.6% of Questar E&P's proved reserves. Approximately 56% of year-end 2004 total-proved reserves were classified as proved developed producing. The largest concentration of proved-undeveloped reserves is at the Pinedale development project, where approximately 541 bcfe are classified as proved undeveloped.


E&P, Risk Management

        Questar E&P focuses primarily on lower-risk development drilling. In addition Market Resources has established policies and procedures for managing commodity-price risks through the use of derivatives. Market Resources hedges commodity prices to support credit ratings and to protect returns on invested capital, cash flow and earnings from downward movements in commodity prices. However, these arrangements usually limit future gains from favorable price movements. Market Resources may hedge up to 100% of its production from proved-developed reserves when commodity prices are attractive. Market Resources also manages market-access risk by building the necessary infrastructure, particularly gathering and processing facilities, to move company production to an interstate pipeline. See Item 7A. for more information.

        The availability of regional pipeline capacity can also significantly affect gas prices. The Rocky Mountain region is the fastest growing major producing region in the United States. Regional gas production exceeds regional gas consumption, particularly during the nonheating season. Only about 20% of the gas produced in the Rockies is consumed by local markets. When Rockies production exceeds available pipeline capacity, Rockies basis—the difference between gas prices at the Henry Hub (the national market benchmark) and sales prices in the Rockies—widens, resulting in lower realized prices for producers. The expansion of the Kern River Pipeline in May 2003 added 0.9 bcf of daily capacity from the Rocky Mountain area to markets in the western U.S. This expansion helped alleviate a transportation shortfall that adversely affected Rockies gas prices though much of 2002 and the first half of 2003. The start-up in 2005 of a new 0.56-bcf-per-day pipeline, connecting Cheyenne, Wyoming to Greensburg, Kansas, may reduce basis risk for Rockies producers but also increase basis risk for Midcontinent producers.


E&P, Competition and Customers

        Questar E&P faces competition in every part of its business, including the acquisition of reserves and leases. Its longer-term growth strategy depends, in part, on its ability to purchase reasonably priced reserves and develop them in a low-cost and efficient manner. Competition is particularly intense when prices are high, as has been the case in recent years.

        Questar E&P, through Energy Trading, sells natural gas production to a variety of customers, including pipelines, gas-marketing firms, industrial users and local-distribution companies. It regularly evaluates counterparty credit and may require financial guarantees from parties that fail to meet its credit criteria. Energy Trading sells company crude-oil production to refiners, remarketers and other companies, including some with pipeline facilities near company producing properties. In the event pipeline facilities are not available, Energy Trading transports crude oil by truck to storage, refining or pipeline facilities.


E&P, Regulation

        Questar E&P's operations are subject to various government controls and regulation at the federal, state and local levels. Questar E&P must obtain permits to drill and produce; maintain bonding requirements to drill and operate wells; submit and implement spill-prevention plans; and file notices relating to the presence, use, and release of specified contaminants incidental to gas and oil production. Questar E&P is also subject to various conservation matters, including the regulation of the size of drilling and spacing units, the number of wells that may be drilled in a unit and the unitization or pooling of gas and oil properties.

        Most Questar E&P leases in the Rocky Mountain area are granted by the federal government and administered by federal agencies. Development of Pinedale leasehold acreage is subject to the terms of certain winter-drilling restrictions. During the last two years, Questar E&P has been working with federal and state officials in Wyoming to obtain authorization for limited winter-drilling activities and has developed innovative measures, such as drilling multiple wells from a single location, to minimize the impact of its activities on wildlife and the habitat. The presence of wildlife and potential endangered species could limit access to public lands. Various wildlife species inhabit Market Resources leaseholds at Pinedale and in other areas. Current federal regulations restrict activities during certain times of the year on portions of Market Resources leaseholds due to wildlife activity and/or habitat. Some species that are known to be present may be listed under federal law as endangered or threatened. Such listing could have a material impact on access to Market Resources leaseholds in certain areas or during periods when the particular species is present.


Wexpro, General

        Wexpro has generated steady growth and predictable earnings through a business model that is unique in the energy industry. Wexpro develops gas and oil on certain producing properties for Questar Gas under the terms of a comprehensive agreement, the Wexpro Agreement. Under the Wexpro Agreement, Wexpro recovers its costs plus a return on its investment. See Note 15 in Item 8 of this report for more information on the Wexpro Agreement.

        Wexpro natural gas production is delivered to Questar Gas at a price equal to Wexpro's cost-of-service. Wexpro production and operated reserves are not included in Questar E&P production and reserves, which are referred to as nonregulated production and reserves. Wexpro cost-of-service gas, plus the gas attributable to royalty-interest owners, satisfied 47% of Questar Gas's system requirements during 2004. The average wellhead cost (net of revenue credits) of Questar Gas's cost-of-service gas in 2004 was $2.71 per dth, which was lower than Questar Gas's average cost for field-purchased gas.


Wexpro Regulations

        Wexpro's gas and oil-development and production activities are subject to the same type of regulation as Questar E&P. Wexpro is also subject to oversight by the Utah Division of Public Utilities. The division retains an outside consultant to assess the prudence of Wexpro's activities.

        Wexpro also owns oil-producing properties. Under terms of the Wexpro Agreement, revenues from crude-oil sales offset operating expenses and provide Wexpro with a return on its investment. Surplus revenues, after recovery of expenses and Wexpro's return on investment, are divided between Wexpro (46%) and Questar Gas (54%).


Gas Gathering and Processing, General

        Gas Management provides gas-gathering and processing services to affiliates and third-party producers, primarily in the Rocky Mountain region. Gas Management also owns 50% of Rendezvous Gas Services, LLC (Rendezvous), a joint venture that operates gas-gathering facilities in western Wyoming. Rendezvous gathers natural gas for Pinedale Anticline and Jonah producers for delivery to various interstate pipelines. Rendezvous plans to build a new gathering line from Black's Fork plant to a connection with the Kern River Pipeline. Under a contract with Questar Gas, Gas Management gathers cost-of-service volumes produced from properties operated by Wexpro.

        Gas Management's processing margins are based on the difference between the market price for natural gas and the market value of the NGL extracted from the gas stream (commonly referred to as the "frac spread"). Gas Management may hedge NGL prices to protect processing margins. To reduce margin risk Gas Management has restructured many of its processing agreements with producers from "keep-whole" contracts to "fee-based" contracts. (A keep-whole contract insulates producers from NGL-and gas-price risk while a fee-based contract eliminates commodity-price risk for the plant owner.)


Gas and Oil Marketing and Trading, Risk Management and Underground Storage, General

        Energy Trading markets natural gas, oil and NGL. It combines gas volumes purchased from third parties and equity production (production from affiliates) to build a flexible and reliable portfolio. As a wholesale-marketing entity, Energy Trading concentrates on markets in the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains and Midwest that are close to reserves owned by affiliates or accessible by major pipelines. It contracts for firm-transportation capacity on pipelines and firm-storage capacity at Clay Basin (a large baseload-storage facility owned by Questar Pipeline).

        Energy Trading uses derivatives to manage commodity-price risk. Energy Trading primarily uses fixed-price swaps to secure a known price for a specific volume of company production. Energy Trading does not engage in speculative hedging transactions. See Notes 1 and 10 included in Item 8 and Item 7A of this report for additional information relating to hedging activities.

        Energy Trading pays Questar E&P index prices for production volumes on which the latter calculates and pays royalties. Energy Trading then resells such volumes and bears profit-and-loss risk. In addition to contracting for storage capacity at Clay Basin, Energy Trading, through its wholly owned subsidiary Clear Creek Storage Company, LLC, owns and operates an underground gas-storage reservoir in southwestern Wyoming. It uses owned and leased-storage capacity together with firm-transportation capacity to take advantage of price differentials and arbitrage opportunities.


Questar Pipeline, General

        Questar Pipeline is an interstate pipeline company that provides natural gas-transportation and underground storage services in the Rocky Mountain states of Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. As a "natural gas company" under the Natural Gas Act of 1938, Questar Pipeline and certain subsidiary pipeline companies are regulated by the FERC as to rates and charges for storage and transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce, construction of new facilities, and extensions or abandonments of service and facilities, accounting and other activities.

        Questar Pipeline and its subsidiaries own 2,497 miles of interstate pipeline with total daily capacity of 2,892 Mdth. Questar Pipeline's core-transmission system is strategically located in the Rocky Mountain area near large reserves of natural gas in six major Rocky Mountain producing areas. Questar Pipeline transports natural gas from these producing areas to other major pipeline systems and to the Questar Gas distribution system. In addition to this core system, Questar Pipeline, through a subsidiary, owns and operates the Southern Trails Pipeline, a 488-mile line that extends from the Blanco hub in the San Juan Basin to just inside the California state line.

        Questar Pipeline owns and operates the Clay Basin storage facility, the largest underground- storage reservoir in the Rocky Mountain region. Through a subsidiary, Questar Pipeline also owns gathering lines and a processing plant in Price, Utah, which provides heat-content-management services for Questar Gas and carbon-dioxide processing for third parties.


Questar Pipeline, Risk Management

        Questar Pipeline faces risks from changes in regulatory practice, credit risk of firm-capacity holders, damage to pipelines from third parties or natural causes, and bypass by other pipelines or gathering lines In its storage operations, Questar Pipeline faces risks associated with performance of storage reservoirs or storage facilities.

        Questar Pipeline mitigates these risks by actively participating in FERC regulatory proceedings, monitoring customer credit ratings and exercising its tariff rights including the requirement of prepayments, marking underground pipelines, monitoring construction activities near its facilities, and monitoring the performance of underground-storage facilities.

        Questar Pipeline faces risk of recontracting firm capacity as contract terms expire. Questar Pipeline's transportation system is nearly fully subscribed and firm contracts had a weighted-average remaining life of 9.3 years as of December 31, 2004. All of Questar Pipeline storage capacity is fully subscribed with a weighted-average remaining life of 7.4 years as of December 31, 2004.


Questar Pipeline, Customers, Growth and Competition

        Questar Gas remains Questar Pipeline's largest single transportation customer. During 2004, Questar Pipeline transported 116.5 MMdth for Questar Gas compared to 105.7 MMdth in 2003. Questar Gas has reserved firm-transportation capacity of 951 Mdth per day under long-term contracts, or about 60% of Questar Pipeline's reserved capacity, during the three coldest months of the year. Questar Pipeline's primary transportation agreement with Questar Gas will expire on June 30, 2017.

        Questar Pipeline also transported 220.5 MMdth for nonaffiliated customers to pipelines owned by Kern River Pipeline, Northwest Pipeline, Colorado Interstate Gas, TransColorado, WIC and other systems. Questar Pipeline may be adversely affected by proposals before the FERC to establish natural gas-quality standards, specifically for hydrocarbon dew point. Questar Pipeline's tariff provides a higher hydrocarbon dew-point specification than other systems, which requires less processing by producers before natural gas volumes are delivered into Questar Pipeline's system. Other interstate pipelines require lower dew-point gas. As a consequence, Questar Pipeline must incur higher costs to blend lower dew-point-processed gas with wet gas and in some instances isolate processed gas for delivery to other pipelines. In effect, Questar Pipeline currently provides a bundled gas-transportation and dew-point-management service for its shippers. Questar Pipeline may need to restructure its tariff to unbundle these services.

        During 2005, Questar Pipeline will expand its southern system in central Utah. This expansion, scheduled to be in service by the fourth quarter of the year, will add 102 Mdth of daily capacity under long-term contracts. Questar Pipeline received FERC approval for the expansion in January 2005. During 2004 Questar Pipeline installed a lateral pipeline to a power plant near Mona, Utah. This lateral will be in service during the first quarter of 2005. These projects will add about $0.04 cents per share to 2006 earnings, the first full year of operations.

        During 2003, Questar Pipeline increased its capacity for deliveries to Kern River by 150 Mdth per day through a new interconnect at Roberson Creek in southwestern Wyoming. Questar Pipeline also completed its Tie Line 112 expansion in late 2003. Questar Gas holds long-term contracts for 52 Mdth per day on this new line, which is expandable to 180 Mdth per day with additional compression. Tie Line 112 provided critical incremental supplies and operating flexibility during a period of record demand in early 2004.

        Rocky Mountain producers, marketers and end-users seek capacity on transmission systems that move gas to California (Kern River), the Pacific Northwest (Northwest Pipeline) or Midwestern markets (WIC, Colorado Interstate Gas). Questar Pipeline provides access for many producers to these third-party pipelines. Some parties, including Gas Management, an affiliate of Questar Pipeline, are building gathering lines that allow producers to make direct connections to competing pipeline systems.

        Questar Pipeline seeks to extend and expand its core pipeline and storage business. Questar Pipeline and other pipelines have proposed projects to connect Piceance Basin (northwest Colorado) gas supplies with pipelines moving gas east out of Wyoming. Questar Pipeline is conducting an open season to assess possible market support for these new projects. Questar Pipeline is also assessing the feasibility of a gas-storage project in western Wyoming.

        In mid-2002 a Questar Pipeline subsidiary placed the eastern segment of the Southern Trails pipeline into service. The eastern segment extends from the San Juan basin to the California border. Capacity on this segment is fully committed under contracts that expire in mid-2008. Current market rates for transportation between these receipt and delivery points are less than current contract rates. When the existing contracts expire, Questar Pipeline's subsidiary may have to lower rates to recontract capacity on this pipeline, which would reduce revenues and earnings.

        Questar Pipeline has thus far failed to secure long-term contracts for the western segment of Southern Trails, which extends from the California border to Long Beach, California. Questar Pipeline has been working with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to develop a gas pipeline to serve a power-generation facility. LADWP budgeted funds to acquire a gas pipeline and issued a request for proposal in October 2004. Questar Pipeline responded to this request with a proposal to complete conversion and sell the western segment to LADWP. On February 28, 2005, LADWP notified Questar Pipeline of its intent to pursue the proposal, although it is uncertain whether negotiations will be successful. Conversion of the segment and extension to LADWP's power-generation facilities will require significant additional investment on the order of $45 to $55 million.


Questar Pipeline, Regulation

        FERC Order No. 2004, which defines standards of conduct for transmission providers, became effective on September 22, 2004. These rigorous new affiliate rules are designed to ensure that transmission-system employees function independently from employees of marketing and energy affiliates. In addition, a transmission provider must treat all transmission customers on a nondiscriminatory basis and will not be allowed to operate its transmission system to benefit its marketing or energy affiliates. Based on clarification from the FERC, Questar Pipeline has determined that Market Resources' affiliates, except Gas Management, are marketing or energy affiliates. Questar Gas is not an energy affiliate. Questar Pipeline and other Questar companies have adopted new procedures to comply with this order.

        Questar Pipeline is required to comply with the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002. This act and rules issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) require interstate pipelines and local-distribution companies to implement a 10-year program of risk analysis, pipeline assessment and remedial repair for transmission pipelines located in high-consequence areas such as population centers. Questar Pipeline filed a compliance plan with the FERC during 2004. Questar Pipeline estimates the annual compliance cost at $1 million, not including pipeline replacement, if necessary.

        During the fourth quarter of 2004, Questar Pipeline received a FERC order in a case involving the annual Fuel Gas Reimbursement Percentage (FGRP). The FERC previously granted Questar Pipeline's request to increase the FGRP effective January 1, 2004. In its order, the FERC approved the FGRP but also ruled that Questar Pipeline is required to credit to transmission customers proceeds from selling natural gas liquids recovered from its dew-point facilities at the Kastler plant in northeastern Utah. See Item 7. of this report for additional information about the FGRP.


Clay Basin Storage Gas

        Questar Pipeline continues to investigate a potential discrepancy of up to 9 bcf between the book volume of cushion gas at Clay Basin and cushion-gas volumes implied by pressure-survey data obtained in recent field tests. The current book volume of the cushion gas is 61.5 bcf with a value of $99.7 million. Questar Pipeline has not determined if any gas is missing from the reservoir. Analysis to date has not revealed any leaks or gas migration out of the reservoir. Additional reservoir tests and analysis, including reservoir modeling, are under way to identify the cause and may continue for several years. See Item 7. of this report.


Questar Gas, General

        Questar Gas distributes natural gas as a public utility in Utah, southwestern Wyoming and a small portion of southeastern Idaho. As of December 31, 2004, Questar Gas was serving 794,117 sales and transportation customers. Questar Gas is the only nonmunicipal gas-distribution utility in Utah, where over 96% of its customers are located. Questar Gas has the necessary regulatory approvals to serve these areas granted by the PSCU and PSCW and the Public Utility Commission of Idaho. It also has long-term franchises granted by communities and counties within its service area.


Questar Gas, Growth

        Questar Gas's growth is tied to the economic growth of Utah and southwestern Wyoming. It has over 90% of the load for residential space heating and water heating in Utah. During 2004, Questar Gas added 23,623 customers, a 3.1% increase.


Questar Gas, Risk Management

        Questar Gas faces the same risks as other local-distribution companies. These risks include revenue variations based on seasonal changes in demand, sufficient gas supplies, declining residential usage per customer, adequate distribution facilities and adverse regulatory decisions. Questar Gas's sales to residential and commercial customers are seasonal, with a substantial portion of such sales made during the heating season. The typical residential customer in Utah (defined as a customer using 115 dth per year) consumes over 77% of total gas requirements in the coldest six months of the year. Questar Gas, however, has a weather-normalization mechanism for its general-service customers. This mechanism adjusts the nongas portion of a customer's monthly bill as the actual heating-degree days in the billing cycle are warmer or colder than normal. This mechanism reduces dramatic fluctuations in any given customer's monthly bill from year to year and reduces fluctuations in Questar Gas's gross margin.

        Questar Gas minimizes its supply risks by owning natural gas-producing properties. During 2004, it satisfied 47% of its system requirements with the cost-of-service gas and associated royalty-interest volumes produced from such properties. Wexpro produces the gas from these properties, which is then gathered by Gas Management and transported by Questar Pipeline. Questar Gas had estimated proved cost-of-service natural gas reserves of 531.1 bcf as of year-end 2004 compared to 434.4 bcf a year earlier.

        Questar Gas also has a balanced and diversified portfolio of gas-supply contracts for volumes produced in the Rocky Mountain states of Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. Questar Gas has regulatory approval to include costs associated with hedging activities in its balancing account for pass-through treatment.

        Questar Gas has designed its distribution system and annual gas-supply plan to handle design-day demand requirements. It periodically updates its design-day demand, the volume of gas that firm customers could use during extremely cold weather. For the 2004-05 heating season, Questar Gas used a design-day demand of 1,077 Mdth for firm-customers.

        Questar Gas has long-term contracts with Questar Pipeline for transportation capacity and storage capacity at Clay Basin and three peak-day facilities. It also contracts to take deliveries at several locations on the Kern River Pipeline that runs through Utah.

        During 2004, Questar Gas placed a new customer-information system in service, replacing a 30-year-old legacy system. The new system cost $20 million and should increase Questar Gas's efficiency, reduce technology costs and provide better information to customers.


Questar Gas, Regulation

        As a public utility, Questar Gas is subject to the jurisdiction of the PSCU and PSCW. Natural gas sales and transportation services are made under rate schedules approved by the two regulatory commissions. Questar Gas is authorized to earn a return on equity of 11.2% in Utah and 11.83% in Wyoming. Both the PSCU and PSCW permit Questar Gas to recover gas costs through a balancing-account procedure and to reflect natural gas-price changes on a periodic, generally semi-annual, basis. Questar Gas has also received permission from the PSCU and PCSW to reflect in its gas costs specified costs associated with hedging contracts.

        At year-end 2002, the PSCU issued an order in Questar Gas's general rate case approving a stipulation that reflected a test year primarily based on November 2002 rate base, expenses and customers, and changed its accounting for contributions in aid of construction.

        On August 1, 2003, the Utah Supreme Court issued an order reversing an August 2000 decision made by the PSCU concerning certain natural gas-processing costs incurred by Questar Gas. The court ruled that the PSCU did not comply with its statutory responsibilities and regulatory procedures when approving a stipulation in Questar Gas's 1999 general-rate case. The stipulation permitted Questar Gas to collect $5.0 million per year, a portion of the processing costs, through May 2004. The Committee of Consumer Services, a Utah state agency, appealed the PSCU's decision because the PSCU did not explicitly address whether the costs were prudent.

        As a result of the court's order, Questar Gas recorded a liability for a potential refund to gas-distribution customers. A total liability of $29.0 million, including $4.1 million recorded in the first nine months of 2004, reflects revenue received for processing costs and interest from June 1999 through September 2004.

        On August 30, 2004, after hearings held in May 2004, the PSCU ruled that Questar Gas failed to prove prudence in contracting for gas processing in response to the changes in the heat content of its gas supply. The PSCU rejected the stipulation, denied the request for rate recovery and ordered the refund of costs previously collected in rates. Since Questar Gas had accrued a liability for the refund, the order did not have a material impact on earnings for the third quarter of 2004. In addition, the order did not have a material impact on the creditworthiness, cash flow or liquidity of Questar or Questar Gas. Questar Gas reduced its rates on September 1, 2004, to eliminate the collection of gas-processing costs and, on October 1, 2004, began refunding previously collected costs, plus interest, over a 12-month period as ordered by the PSCU. As of December 31, 2004, Questar Gas had a liability of $20.6 million of remaining refunds to customers.

        On September 16, 2004, Questar Gas filed a petition with the PSCU for reconsideration or clarification of the August 30, 2004, order. On October 20, 2004, the PSCU declined to reconsider its order but clarified that its order did not preclude recovery of ongoing and certain past processing costs. Ongoing processing costs are approximately $6 million per year.

        Questar Gas has requested ongoing rate coverage for gas-processing costs in its pass-through filings but is not currently collecting these costs in rates. The PSCU has conducted several technical conferences to determine how to resolve issues of managing the heat content of the gas supply. On January 31, 2005, Questar Gas filed a rate request with the PSCU to recover $5.7 million per year of gas-processing costs through its gas-balance account.

        Questar Gas has significant relationships with affiliates that have allowed it to lower its costs and improve efficiency. These affiliate relationships, however, are subject to increased oversight by regulatory commissions for evidence of subsidization and above-market payments.

        Questar Gas is subject to the requirements imposed by the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 administered by the DOT. The act requires Questar to develop an integrity-management plan and assess on a recurring basis the integrity of its high-pressure lines in "high consequence" areas. Questar Gas estimates that it may be required to spend $4 to $5 million per year to comply with the new requirements. The PSCU has allowed Questar Gas to record incremental-operating costs to comply with this act as a regulatory asset until the next rate case or three years, whichever is sooner.


Questar Gas, Competition

        Questar Gas is a public utility and currently has no direct competition from other distributors of natural gas for residential and commercial customers. It has historically enjoyed a favorable price comparison with other energy sources used by residential and commercial customers except coal and occasionally fuel oil. It provides transportation service to industrial customers that can buy volumes of gas directly from others. Questar Gas makes low margins on this transportation service, but could lose customers to Kern River.


Corporate and Other Operations

        Historically, Questar's other operations included information-technology and communication services (Questar InfoComm); web-hosting and data centers (Consonus); commercial real-estate management (Interstate Land); and well-head gas analysis and automation, field compression and engine maintenance (Energy Services). During 2004, Questar reorganized these activities to refocus attention on primary business units. Questar has no plans to enlarge the scope of these activities. The Company reorganized its information-technology services to eliminate duplication and increase efficiency. The majority of information-technology employees and assets were transferred to the separate business units. Consonus has never fulfilled its business purpose and has significantly retrenched its operations. Interstate Land was merged with Questar InfoComm during 2004. Energy Services is focusing on well-head gas analysis and automation.


Environmental Matters

        See Item 3. Legal Proceedings in this report for a discussion of the Company's environmental matters.


Employees

        At January 1, 2005, the Company had 2,136 employees, including 563 in Market Resources, 173 in Questar Pipeline, 1,243 in Questar Gas, and 157 in corporate and other operations.


Executive Officers

        The following individuals are serving as executive officers of the Company:

Name

   
  Primary Positions Held with the Company and Affiliates, Other Business Experience
Keith O. Rattie   51   Chairman (May 2003); President (February 2001); Chief Executive Officer (May 2002); Director (February 2001); Chief Operating Officer (February 2001 to May 2002); Director, Questar affiliates (February 2001). Prior to coming to Questar, Mr. Rattie served as Vice President and Senior Vice President of the Coastal Corporation (from 1996 to January 2001).

Charles B. Stanley

 

46

 

Executive Vice President, Director Questar (November 2002); President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Market Resources and Market Resources subsidiaries (November 2002); Senior Vice President, Questar (February 2002 to November 2002); Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Market Resources and Market Resources subsidiaries (February 2002 to November 2002). Prior to joining Questar, Mr. Stanley was President and Chief Executive Officer and Director, Coastal Gas International Co. (1995 to 2000); President and Chief Executive Officer of El Paso Oil and Gas Canada, Inc. (2000 to January 2002).

Alan K. Allred

 

54

 

Executive Vice President, Questar (May 2003); President and Chief Executive Officer and Director, Regulated Services and Questar Gas (May 2003); Chief Executive Officer and Director, Questar Pipeline (May 2003); President, Questar Pipeline (May 2003 to January 2005); Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Regulated Services, Questar Gas and Questar Pipeline (November 2002 to May 2003); Senior Vice President, Regulated Services, Questar Gas and Questar Pipeline (March 2002 to November 2002); Vice President, Business Development, Regulated Services, Questar Gas and Questar Pipeline (November 2000 to March 2002); Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Questar Gas and Questar Pipeline (October 1997 to November 2000).

R. Allan Bradley

 

53

 

President and Chief Operating Officer and Director, Questar Pipeline (January 2005); Senior Vice President, Questar (February 2005);. Prior to joining Questar, Mr. Bradley was Managing Director and founding member, Ventura Energy LLC (2002 to December 2004) and Senior Vice President, Coastal and El Paso affiliates (1990-2002).

Stephen E. Parks

 

53

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (March 2001); Chief Financial Officer (February 1996); Treasurer (May 1984 to March 2004); Vice President (February 1990 to March 2001); Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of all affiliates (at various dates beginning in May 1984); and Director Market Resources subsidiaries (at various dates beginning in May 1996).

Connie C. Holbrook

 

58

 

Senior Vice President (March 2001); Vice President (October 1984 to March 2001); Corporate Secretary (October 1984); General Counsel (April 1999); Corporate Secretary, Questar Gas and other affiliates (at various dates beginning in March 1982).

Glenn H. Robinson

 

54

 

Vice President, Questar, (May 2004); President and Chief Information Officer, Questar InfoComm (August 2000 to May 2004); Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Questar (August 2000—May 2004); Director, Questar InfoComm (August 2000); Vice President and Controller, Regulated Services (January 1999 to August 2000), Questar Gas (April 1991 to August 2000), and Questar Pipeline (September 1996 to August 2000).

Brent L. Adamson

 

53

 

Vice President, Ethics, Compliance and Audit (March 2002); Director, Audit (August 1982 to March 2002); Compliance Officer (March 1995 to March 2002).

        There is no "family relationship" between any of the listed officers or between any of them and the Company's directors. The executive officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. There is no arrangement or understanding under which the officers were selected.


ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.

Exploration and Production

        Reserves—Questar E&P. The following table sets forth Questar E&P's estimated proved reserves, the estimated future net revenues from the reserves and the standardized measure of discounted net cash flows as of December 31, 2004. The U.S. reserves were collectively estimated by Ryder Scott Company; Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., H. J. Gruy and Associates, Inc. and Malkewicz Hueni Associates Inc., independent reservoir-engineering consultants. Estimates of Canadian reserves were prepared by Gilbert Laustsen Jung Associates Ltd, and Sproule Associates Limited, independent reservoir engineers. Questar E&P does not have any long-term supply contracts with foreign governments or reserves of equity investees or of subsidiaries with a significant minority interest. All properties are located in the United States.

Estimated proved reserves      
  Natural gas (bcf)     1,270.5
  Oil and NGL (MMbbl)     27.2
Total proved reserves (bcfe)     1,434.0
Proved developed reserves (bcfe)     808.3
Estimated future net revenues before future income taxes (in thousands)(1)   $ 5,599,487
Standardized measure of discounted net cash flows (in thousands)(2)   $ 1,760,538

(1)
Estimated future net revenue represents estimated future gross revenue to be generated from the production of proved reserves, using average year-end 2004 prices of $5.50 per Mcf for natural gas

and $40.60 per bbl for oil and NGL combined, net of estimated production and development costs (but excluding the effects of general and administrative expenses; debt services; depreciation, depletion and amortization; and income tax expense).

(2)
The standardized measure of discounted net cash flows prepared by the Company represent the present value of estimated future net revenues after income taxes, discounted at 10%.

        Estimates of proved reserves and future net revenues are made at year end, using sales prices estimated to be in effect as of the date of such reserve estimates and are held constant throughout the remaining life of the properties (except to the extent a contract specifically provides for escalation). Year-end prices do not include the effect of hedging. Estimated quantities of proved reserves and future net revenues are affected by natural gas and oil prices, which have fluctuated widely in recent years. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating natural gas and oil reserves and their estimated values, including many factors beyond the control of the producer.

        Questar E&P's reserve statistics for the years ended December 31, 2000, through 2004, are summarized below.

 
  Proved Gas and Oil Reserves (bcfe)*
Year

  Year-End Reserves
  Annual Production
  Reserve Life (Years)
2000   730.1   82.3   8.9
2001   1,184.4   85.6   13.8
2002   1,113.4   96.3   11.6
2003   1,158.7   92.8   12.5
2004   1,434.0   103.5   13.9

*
Does not include cost-of-service reserves managed, developed and produced by Wexpro for Questar Gas.

        Finding costs measure the costs of finding, developing and acquiring new proved reserves. The production-replacement ratio measures company success at replacing production during a specific period. If the production-replacement ratio is greater than 100%, the Company added or replaced more reserves than it produced for the same period. These non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors interested in analyzing Questar's performance, but may not be directly comparable with similar information disclosed by other gas and oil companies.

        In 2004 gas and oil reserves increased 24%, after production and sales of producing properties, to 1,434 bcfe versus a 4% increase in 2003 to 1,159 bcfe. Questar E&P's production-replacement ratio was 366% in 2004 and 149% in 2003. Net reserve additions, revisions, purchases and sales in place totaled 379 bcfe in 2004 and 138 bcfe in 2003. Questar E&P's five-year average finding cost of proved reserves per Mcfe was $0.83, $0.84 and $0.85 in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The 66% increase in reserves at the Pinedale Anticline was attributable to the 20-acre downspacing.

        Questar E&P's proved reserves by major operating areas at December 31, 2004 and 2003 follow.

 
  2004
  2004
  2003
  2003
 
 
  (bcfe)

   
  (bcfe)

   
 
Rocky Mountains                  
  Pinedale Anticline   737.9   51 % 443.2   38 %
  Uinta Basin   272.4   19 % 303.3   26 %
  Other Rocky Mountains   137.2   10 % 133.0   12 %
   
 
 
 
 
    Subtotal—Rocky Mountains   1,147.5   80 % 879.5   76 %
Midcontinent   286.5   20 % 279.2   24 %
    Total   1,434.0   100 % 1,158.7   100 %
   
 
 
 
 

        Reserves—Cost-of-Service.    The following table sets forth (i) Questar Gas's estimated cost-of-service proved natural gas reserves (which are managed, developed and delivered by Wexpro under the terms of the settlement agreement); and (ii) Wexpro's proved-oil reserves (the income from which is shared with Questar Gas pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement). The estimates were made by Wexpro's reservoir engineers as of December 31, 2004. All properties are located in the United States.

Estimated cost of service proved reserves    
  Natural gas (bcf)   531.1
  Oil (MMbbl)   4.2
Total proved reserves (bcfe)   556.3
Proved-developed reserves (bcfe)   428.4

        Since the gas reserves operated by Wexpro are delivered to Questar Gas at cost of service, and any net income from oil properties remaining after recovery of expenses and Wexpro's contractual return on investment under the settlement agreement is divided between Wexpro and Questar Gas, SEC guidelines with respect to standard economic assumptions are not applicable. The SEC anticipated such potential difficulty and provides that companies may give appropriate recognition to differences arising because of the effect of the ratemaking process. Accordingly, Wexpro's reservoir engineers used a minimum producing rate or maximum well-life limit to determine the ultimate quantity of reserves attributable to each well.

        Reference should be made to Note 19 included in Item 8 of this report for additional information pertaining to both the Questar E&P's proved reserves and the company's cost-of-service reserves as of the end of each of the last three years.

        In addition to this filing, Questar E&P and Wexpro will each file estimated reserves as of December 31, 2004, with the Energy Information Administration in the Department of Energy on Form EIA-23. Although the companies use the same technical and economic assumptions when they prepare the EIA-23, they are obligated to report reserves for all wells they operate, not for all wells in which they have an interest, and to include the reserves attributable to other owners in such wells.

        Production.    The following table sets forth the net production volumes, the average sales prices per Mcf of gas, per barrel of oil and of NGL produced, and the production cost per Mcfe for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively. Production costs include direct-lifting costs (labor, repairs and maintenance, materials, supplies and workovers), administrative costs of production offices, insurance and property and severance taxes, but are exclusive of depreciation and depletion applicable to capitalized-lease acquisitions, exploration and development expenditures. Questar E&P's Canadian properties were sold in the last quarter of 2002.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
United States (excluding cost-of-service activities)                  
  Volumes produced and sold                  
    Gas (bcf)     89.8     78.8     74.9
    Oil and NGL (MMbbl)     2.3     2.3     2.3
  Average realized price (including hedges)                  
    Gas (per Mcf)   $ 4.18   $ 3.62   $ 2.61
    Oil and NGL (per bbl)     30.97     23.39     20.26
  Production costs per Mcfe                  
    Lease-operating expense   $ 0.50   $ 0.49   $ 0.51
    Production taxes     0.46     0.34     0.20
   
 
 
    Production cost   $ 0.96   $ 0.83   $ 0.71
   
 
 

 


 

Year Ended December 31,

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
Canada (in U.S. dollars)              
  Volumes produced and sold              
    Gas (bcf)             4.8
    Oil and NGL (MMbbl)             0.5
  Average realized price (including hedges)              
    Gas (per Mcf)           $ 2.22
    Oil and NGL (per bbl)             21.03
  Production costs per Mcfe              
    Lease-operating expense           $ 0.92
    Production cost           $ 0.92
Cost-of Service (Wexpro-managed)              
  Volumes produced              
    Gas (bcf)   38.8   40.1     41.2
    Oil and NGL (MMbbl)   0.4   0.4     0.5

        Productive Wells.    The following table summarizes Market Resources' productive wells (including the cost-of-service wells managed by Wexpro) as of December 31, 2004. All of these wells are located in the United States.

 
   
  Gas
  Oil
  Total
Productive Wells   Gross   3,893   926   4,819
    Net   1,819.0   450.3   2,269.3

        Although many of Market Resources' wells produce both gas and oil, a well is categorized as either a gas or an oil well based upon the ratio of gas to oil produced. Each gross well completed in more than one producing zone is counted as a single well. At the end of 2004, there were 63 gross wells with multiple completions.

        Market Resources also holds numerous overriding-royalty interests in gas and oil wells, a portion of which is convertible to working interests after recovery of certain costs by third parties. After converting to working interests, these overriding-royalty interests will be included in Market Resources' gross and net-well count.

        Leasehold Acres.    The following table summarizes developed and undeveloped-leasehold acreage in which Market Resources owns a working interest as of December 31, 2004. "Undeveloped Acreage" includes (i) leasehold interests that already may have been classified as containing proved undeveloped reserves; and (ii) unleased mineral-interest acreage owned by the company. Excluded from the table is acreage in which Market Resources' interest is limited to royalty, overriding-royalty and other similar interests. All leasehold acres are located in the U.S.

Leasehold Acreage—December 31, 2004

 
  Developed(1)
  Undeveloped(2)
  Total
 
  Gross
  Net
  Gross
  Net
  Gross
  Net
Arizona           480   450   480   450
Arkansas   31,720   10,146   3   1   31,723   10,147
California   345   113   1,613   303   1,958   416
Colorado   161,391   113,832   193,614   101,212   355,005   215,044
Idaho           44,175   10,643   44,175   10,643
Illinois   172   39   14,207   3,949   14,379   3,988
Indiana           1,890   702   1,890   702
Kansas   30,302   13,397   16,880   3,843   47,182   17,240
Kentucky           17,323   6,669   17,323   6,669
Louisiana   12,459   11,323   756   756   13,215   12,079
Michigan   89   8   6,240   1,262   6,329   1,270
Minnesota           313   104   313   104
Mississippi   2,904   1,922   1,053   447   3,957   2,369
Montana   20,149   8,541   300,339   53,655   320,488   62,196
Nevada   320   280   680   543   1,000   823
New Mexico   79,433   55,807   38,422   17,650   117,855   73,457
North Dakota   4,635   546   146,364   21,781   150,999   22,327
Ohio           202   43   202   43
Oklahoma   1,483,255   260,409   65,831   38,740   1,549,086   299,149
Oregon           43,869   7,671   43,869   7,671
South Dakota           204,398   107,829   204,398   107,829
Texas   149,253   58,640   39,668   36,401   188,921   95,041
Utah   90,815   79,505   233,673   111,849   324,488   191,354
Washington           26,631   10,149   26,631   10,149
West Virginia   969   115           969   115
Wyoming   231,973   150,600   413,608   263,147   645,581   413,747
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Total   2,300,184   765,223   1,812,232   799,799   4,112,416   1,565,022
   
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
Developed acreage is acreage spaced or assignable to productive wells.

(2)
Undeveloped acreage is leased acreage on which wells have not been drilled or completed to a point that would permit the production of commercial quantities of natural gas and oil regardless of whether such acreage contains proved reserves.

        Substantially all the leases summarized in the preceding table will expire at the end of their respective primary terms unless the existing leases are renewed or production has been obtained from the acreage subject to the lease prior to that date. In that event, the lease will remain in effect until production ceases. The following table sets forth the gross and net acres subject to leases summarized in the preceding table that will expire during the periods indicated:

 
  Acres Expiring
Leaseholds Expiring (in Acres)

  Gross
  Net
12 Months Ending December 31,        
  2005   70,330   47,784
  2006   90,420   64,716
  2007   55,966   45,771
  2008   35,139   24,154
  2009 and later   25,568   22,057

        Drilling Activity.    The following table summarizes the number of development and exploratory wells drilled by Market Resources, including the cost-of-service wells drilled by Wexpro, during the years indicated. Questar E&P's Canadian properties were sold in the last quarter of 2002.

 
   
  Year Ended December 31,
 
   
  Productive
  Dry
 
   
  2004
  2003
  2002
  2004
  2003
  2002
Net Wells Completed                            
United States   -Exploratory   4.7   3.7   0.6       0.2   1.0
    -Development   156.0   132.3   150.9   6.6   9.6   2.4
Canada   -Exploratory           0.5            
    -Development           2.3           0.4
Total   -Exploratory   4.7   3.7   1.1       0.2   1.0
    -Development   156.0   132.3   153.2   6.6   9.6   2.8
Gross Wells Completed                            
United States   -Exploratory   9   10   2       2   1
    -Development   322   282   215   13   19   5
Canada   -Exploratory           1            
    -Development           9           1
Total   -Exploratory   9   10   3       2   1
    -Development   322   282   224   13   19   6


Gas Gathering and Processing

        Gas Management owns 1,506 miles of gathering lines in Utah, Wyoming, Colorado and Oklahoma. In conjunction with these gathering facilities, Gas Management owns compression facilities, field-dehydration and measuring systems. Gas Management is a 50% partner in Rendezvous, which owns an additional 221 miles of gathering lines and associated field equipment.

        Gas Management owns processing plants that have an aggregate capacity of 314 MMcf of unprocessed natural gas per day.


Marketing, Trading, Risk Management and Underground Gas Storage

        Energy Trading, through its wholly owned subsidiary Clear Creek Storage Company, LLC, owns and operates an underground gas-storage reservoir in southwestern Wyoming.


Questar Pipeline

        Questar Pipeline has a maximum capacity of 2,892 Mdth per day and firm-capacity commitments of 1,643 Mdth per day. Questar Pipeline's transmission system includes 2,497 miles of transmission lines that interconnect with other pipelines. Its core system includes two segments, often referred to as the northern system and southern system. The northern system extends from northwestern Colorado through southwestern Wyoming into northern Utah, while the southern system extends from western Colorado to Elberta, Utah. The transmission mileage includes lines at storage fields and tap lines used to serve Questar Gas, the 488 miles of the Southern Trails system in service that is owned by a subsidiary, and the 88 miles of Overthrust Pipeline owned by subsidiaries. The maximum-daily-capacity figures included above for Southern Trails and Overthrust are 88 Mdth and 899 Mdth, respectively. Questar Pipeline's system ranges in size from lines that are less than four inches in diameter to the Overthrust line that is 36 inches in diameter. Through a subsidiary, Questar Pipeline also owns 210 miles of pipeline comprising the western segment of the Southern Trails system, although this segment has not been placed in service. Questar Pipeline has major compression sites, including a complex near Rock Springs, Wyoming, that compresses gas volumes from the transmission system for delivery to other pipelines, including systems that move gas volumes east.

        Questar Pipeline also owns the Clay Basin storage facility in northeastern Utah, which has a certificated capacity of 117.5 bcf, including 53.5 bcf of working gas, and several smaller storage aquifers in northeastern Utah and western Wyoming. Through a subsidiary, Questar Pipeline owns a processing plant in Price, Utah, and related gathering lines.


Questar Gas

        Questar Gas distributes gas to customers in the major populated area of Utah, commonly referred to as the Wasatch Front, including the metropolitan Salt Lake area, Provo, Park City, Ogden, and Logan. It also serves customers throughout the state, including the cities of Price, Roosevelt, Vernal, Moab, Monticello, Fillmore, Cedar City and St. George. Questar Gas supplies natural gas to the southwestern Wyoming communities of Rock Springs, Green River, Evanston, Kemmerer and Diamondville and the southeastern Idaho community of Preston. To supply these communities Questar Gas owns and operates distribution systems and has a total of 24,177 miles of street mains, service lines and interconnecting pipelines. Questar Gas has a major operations center in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has operations centers, field offices and service-center facilities through other parts of its service area.


Other

        Questar leases a 255,000-square-foot facility in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, that serves as its corporate headquarters.


ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

        Questar is involved in a variety of pending legal disputes. Management believes that the outcome of these cases will not have a material adverse effect on financial position, operating results or liquidity. Questar Gas's regulatory proceedings involving coverage for certain processing costs are described in Item 7. Questar Pipeline's regulatory proceedings involving fuel-gas reimbursement are discussed in Item 7. Other significant cases are discussed below.

        Grynberg.    Questar affiliates are involved in three separate lawsuits filed by Jack Grynberg, an independent producer. The first case, United States ex rel. Grynberg v. Questar Corp., Civil No. 99-MD-1604, consolidated as In re Natural Gas Royalties Qui Tam Litigation, Consolidated Case MDL No. 1293 (D. Wyo.) involves qui tam claims filed by Grynberg under the federal False Claims Act and is substantially similar to the other cases filed against pipelines and their affiliates that have been consolidated for discovery and pre-trial discovery motions in Wyoming's federal district court. The cases involve allegations of industry-wide mismeasurement of natural gas quantities on which royalty payments are due the federal government.

        The Questar defendants have finished deposing Grynberg and filed a motion contending that the court has no jurisdiction over the case because Grynberg cannot satisfy the statutory requirements for jurisdiction. In other words, the Questar defendants argue that Grynberg cannot claim to be the "original source" of the information on which the allegations are based and failed to provide any information to the government before public disclosures occurred.

        A special master has been handling the consolidated cases in order to expedite administrative matters. He has scheduled a hearing on the motions to be held on March 17-18, 2005.

        The second case, Grynberg and L & R Exploration Venture v. Questar Pipeline Co., Civil No. 97CV0471 (D. Wyo.) was originally stayed pending the outcome of issues raised in other cases involving the parties. This case involves some of the same allegations that were heard in an earlier case between the parties, e.g., breach of contract, intentional interference with a contract, and has additional claims of antitrust violations and fraud. In June 2001 the judge entered an order granting the Company's motion filed by Questar defendants for partial summary judgment dismissing the antitrust claims from the case, but has not ruled on other motions for summary judgment dealing with ratable take and fraud.

        The third case, Grynberg v. Questar Pipeline, No. 99090729CN (Dist. Ct. Utah), is pending in a Utah district court following a remand from the Utah Supreme Court. The district court judge recently issued an order to show cause why this case should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute and has set a hearing for March 23, 2005. This case, which was originally filed by Grynberg against Questar Pipeline and other named Questar defendants in September of 1999, involves claims that Questar entities mismeasured the heat content attributable to Grynberg's working interest in several wells in southwestern Wyoming, committed fraud, and breached fiduciary responsibilities owed him. The trial court judge granted summary judgment to the Questar defendants and dismissed Grynberg's claims. On appeal, the Utah Supreme Court substantially upheld the trial court's decision, but ruled that Grynberg was not collaterally estopped from presenting a contract-termination issue that had been previously ruled on by a Wyoming federal district court judge in another case and remanded the case to the trial court to determine whether any contractual claims remain.

        Kansas Cases.    Energy Trading is a named defendant in tandem cases pending in a Kansas state district court, Price v. Gas Pipelines, No. 99 C 30 (Dist. Ct. Kan.) and Price v. El Paso Entities, No. 03 C 23 (Dist. Ct. Kan.). These cases are similar to the cases filed by Grynberg, but the allegations of a conspiracy by the pipeline industry to set standards that result in the systematic undermeasurement of natural gas volumes and resulting underpayment of royalties are made on behalf of private and state lessors rather than on behalf of the federal government. The purported class involves all royalty owners of production from nonfederal and nonIndian land in Kansas, Wyoming and Colorado. Energy Trading opposes certification of the class and contends that it is not engaged in any measurement activities in Kansas. Questar affiliates engage in measurement activities, but not in Kansas.

        A hearing on defendants' motion opposing class certification is scheduled to be heard on April 1, 2005.

        Beaver Gas Pipeline System.    On February 15, 2005, the trial court judge granted Questar E&P's motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed against it in Kaiser-Francis Oil v. Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Case No. CJ-2003-66518 (Dist. Ct. Okla.). This lawsuit was filed by Questar E&P's co-defendant in a prior Oklahoma case, Bridenstine v. Kaiser-Francis Oil Co. The original lawsuit was a class action alleging improper royalty payments for wells connected to the Beaver Gas Pipeline System in western Oklahoma. Questar E&P and Anadarko (as the successor to another company) settled the lawsuit in December 2000 by agreeing to pay a total sum of $22.5 million, of which $16.5 million was allocated to Questar E&P. Kaiser-Francis chose not to settle and was assessed damages, including punitive damages, by a jury. Kaiser-Francis ultimately settled for $82.5 million.

        Kaiser-Francis' lawsuit claimed that Questar E&P and Anadarko were obligated by express and implied indemnities to pay for a portion of the damages assessed in the jury trial and for its legal-defense costs. In dismissing the lawsuit for failure to state a claim, the district judge noted that the jury determined that Kaiser-Francis was involved in a conspiracy with other working-interest owners and was barred by the doctrine of "unclean hands" from suing Questar E&P and Anadarko.

        Questar E&P has settled two additional cases involving the Beaver system that were filed by the Oklahoma State Land Commission and the Oklahoma State Tax Commission.

        Consonus Cases.    On February 11, 2005, Consonus settled the claims that had been filed against it in Safeway,  Inc. v. Consonus, Civil No. 2:02-CV-1216DS (D. Utah). This suit involved claims that Safeway, a former data-center tenant, suffered irreparable damage when its computer system was rendered unfit due to an accident that occurred at the center in February 2002. Consonus did not incur any expense associated with the settlement.

        Consonus, its parent (Questar InfoComm) and certain named officers and directors of Consonus have been named as defendants in the second lawsuit, Melnyk v. Consonus, Inc., Case No. 2:03-CV-00528DB, pending in a federal district court. Individual defendants include Keith O. Rattie, S. E. Parks, Connie C. Holbrook, and Glenn H. Robinson, who currently serve as executive officers of Questar.

        The plaintiffs are former minority shareholders who include a former officer and a former director and officer. They claim that the majority shareholders breached their fiduciary duties to minority shareholders by wasting assets and engaging in related-party transactions to the detriment of minority shareholders and the named defendants breached their fiduciary duties as officers and directors. Plaintiffs allege that they received an inadequate price for their shares in a statutory merger that occurred in mid-2003 and claim damages ranging from $2.2 million to $14.3 million for breach of fiduciary obligations.

        Royalty Cases.    Royalty class actions are being asserted by landowners against entities involved in the gas and oil marketing-and-production business. Questar E&P and Wexpro have been involved in several class actions and expect to be the subject of additional class-action cases involving similar claims.

        Royalty payments are also audited by the Minerals Management Service, an agency within the Department of Interior, and by various states in which Questar E&P and Wexpro operate.

        Environmental Matters.    Questar E&P has intervened in a lawsuit that was filed by Wyoming environmental groups against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Wyoming Outdoor Council v. Bennett, Case No. 03-CV50-J (D. Wyo.) The environmental groups claim the BLM violated federal law and regulatory provisions when it approved Questar E&P's request for an exception that allowed limited drilling during the winter of 2002-03. (Questar E&P's successful efforts to extend winter drilling are described in other sections of this report.) Questar E&P contends the BLM complied with federal regulations when expanding winter drilling. Environmental groups have not appealed the latest BLM decision to grant additional access for winter drilling. A hearing on the issues was held in January 2004, but as of the date of this report the federal district court has not issued any order.

        During the second quarter of 2002, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued two separate compliance orders alleging that Gas Management to comply with regulatory requirements adopted to enforce the federal Clean Air Act. Both orders involved facilities in the Uinta Basin of eastern Utah that were owned by Shenandoah Energy, Inc. (currently renamed QE&P Uinta Basin) before its purchase in mid-2001. Gas Management is currently operating the facilities and filing necessary reports in compliance with regulatory requirements. It is discussing the allegations with the EPA and expects that it may be required to pay a civil penalty in excess of $100,000 in conjunction with each order.

        On January 2, 2005, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for the state of Oklahoma issued a seven-count Notice of Violation to Gas Management in conjunction with the operation of the Beaver processing plant in western Oklahoma. The DEQ alleges that Gas Management violated federal and state environmental laws and regulations concerning air emissions when operating the facility and when reporting about such operations. As requested by DEQ, Gas Management filed a compliance plan by the end of February 2005. At this point, Gas Management has not been advised of any penalties but anticipates that penalties may exceed $100,000.

        Questar Pipeline received a Notice of Violation from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) dated February 3, 2005, in conjunction with its operation of a tank battery in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. Specifically, the Colorado agency alleged that Questar Pipeline violated applicable environmental regulations by failing to obtain the necessary permit and complying with the best available control technology. Questar Pipeline is involved in ongoing discussions with APCD. Questar Pipeline has not been advised of penalties and other assessments, but anticipates that these may exceed $100,000.

        Questar defendants are listed as "responsible parties" at other sites involving hazardous wastes and have also received formal "notices of violation" or informal inquiries from state environmental agencies and the federal EPA. With the possible exceptions of an enforcement action that the EPA may bring against QEP Uinta Basin (a subsidiary of Questar E&P) for violation of air-permit requirements for operations on tribal lands in eastern Utah and the notice issued by the Oklahoma DEQ and the Colorado APCD described above, there is no pending proceeding involving formal or informal notices of violations that includes a penalty of $100,000 or more.


ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

        The Company did not submit any matters to a vote of stockholders during the last quarter of 2004.


PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

        Information concerning the market for the common equity of the Company and the dividends paid on such stock is located in Note 18 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8. As of March 1, 2005, Questar had 10,210 shareholders of record and estimates that it had an additional 30,000 to 35,000 beneficial holders.

Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

        The following table sets forth the Company's purchases of common stock registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2004.

 
  Total Number
of Shares Purchased*

  Average Price per Share
  Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans
  Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans
October 1, 2004 to October 31, 2004   12,907   $ 47.67        
November 1, 2004 to November 30, 2004   5,277     49.21        
December 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004   10,901     48.44        
   
             
Total   29,085   $ 48.24        
   
             

*
The numbers include shares purchased in conjunction with tax-payment elections under the Company's Long-term Stock Incentive Plan. They exclude any fractional shares purchased from terminating participants in Questar's Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, any shares of restricted stock forfeited when failing to satisfy vesting conditions and any shares delivered for consideration or attested to when exercising stock options.


ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
  (in thousands, except per-share amounts)

Revenues   $ 1,901,431   $ 1,463,188   $ 1,200,667   $ 1,439,350   $ 1,266,153
Operating expenses                              
  Cost of natural gas and other products sold     840,544     542,441     395,742     675,011     562,229
  Operating and maintenance     309,090     284,266     284,317     270,355     251,477
  Depreciation, depletion and amortization     216,175     192,382     184,952     151,735     142,491
  Questar Gas rate-refund obligation     4,090     24,939                  
  Other expenses     115,945     79,330     61,461     68,142     61,989
   
 
 
 
 
    Total operating expenses     1,485,844     1,123,358     926,472     1,165,243     1,018,186
   
 
 
 
 
    Operating income   $ 415,587   $ 339,830   $ 274,195   $ 274,107   $ 247,967
   
 
 
 
 
Interest and other income   $ 6,868   $ 7,435   $ 56,667   $ 35,298   $ 39,359
Income before accounting changes   $ 229,301   $ 179,196   $ 170,893   $ 158,186   $ 149,477
Cumulative effect of accounting changes           (5,580 )   (15,297 )          
   
 
 
 
 
    Net income   $ 229,301   $ 173,616   $ 155,596   $ 158,186   $ 149,477
   
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per common share                              
  Income before accounting changes   $ 2.74   $ 2.17   $ 2.09   $ 1.95   $ 1.86
  Cumulative effect of accounting changes           (0.07 )   (0.19 )          
   
 
 
 
 
    Net income   $ 2.74   $ 2.10   $ 1.90   $ 1.95   $ 1.86
   
 
 
 
 
Diluted earnings per common share                              
  Income before accounting changes   $ 2.67   $ 2.13   $ 2.07   $ 1.94   $ 1.85
  Cumulative effect of accounting changes           (0.07 )   (0.19 )          
   
 
 
 
 
    Net income   $ 2.67   $ 2.06   $ 1.88   $ 1.94   $ 1.85
   
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding                              
  Used in basic calculation     83,759     82,697     81,782     81,097     80,412
  Used in diluted calculation     85,722     84,190     82,573     81,658     80,915
Dividends per share   $ 0.85   $ 0.78   $ 0.725   $ 0.705   $ 0.685
Net cash provided from operating activities   $ 581,882   $ 436,373   $ 472,348   $ 377,458   $ 255,519
Capital expenditures     442,483     325,339     362,653     984,086     315,142
Capitalization at December 31,                              
  Long-term debt, less current portion   $ 933,195   $ 950,189   $ 1,145,180   $ 997,423   $ 714,537
  Common equity     1,439,558     1,261,265     1,138,761     1,080,781     952,632
   
 
 
 
 
Total capitalization   $ 2,372,753   $ 2,211,454   $ 2,283,941   $ 2,078,204   $ 1,667,169
   
 
 
 
 
Total assets at December 31,   $ 3,646,658   $ 3,331,631   $ 3,084,983   $ 3,269,580   $ 2,484,442
Book value per-common share   $ 17.05   $ 15.15   $ 13.88   $ 13.26   $ 11.79


ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION.

SUMMARY

        Questar reported net income of $229.3 million or $2.67 per diluted share in 2004 compared to $173.6 million, or $2.06 for 2003 and $155.6 million or $1.88 in 2002. Net income in 2003 was reduced by $5.6 million or $0.07 per share due to the cumulative effect of implementing SFAS 143, a new accounting rule governing the treatment of retirement costs of long-lived assets. Net income in 2002 was reduced by $15.3 million or $0.19 per share due to the cumulative effect of change in accounting for goodwill. Following is a comparison of net income by line of business.

 
   
   
   
  Change
  Change
 
 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2004 v. 2003
  2003 v. 2002
 
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
 
  (dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)

 
Net income (loss)                                
Market Resources   $ 165,411   $ 115,990   $ 97,929   $ 49,421   $ 18,061  
Questar Pipeline     27,596     30,169     32,608     (2,573 )   (2,439 )
Questar Gas     31,461     20,182     32,399     11,279     (12,217 )
Corporate and other operations     4,833     7,275     (7,340 )   (2,442 )   14,615  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Total   $ 229,301   $ 173,616   $ 155,596   $ 55,685   $ 18,020  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share—diluted   $ 2.67   $ 2.06   $ 1.88   $ 0.61   $ 0.18  

        Market Resources' net income increased 43% in 2004 compared to 2003. Primary factors for the higher income were a 12% increase in production, higher realized natural gas, oil and NGL prices, increased gas-gathering throughput and gathering and processing margins, and additions to Wexpro's investment base. Market Resources' net income grew 18% in 2003 over 2002 due to higher realized prices for natural gas, oil and NGL and increased investment in gas gathering in Wyoming. The cumulative effect of implementing SFAS 143 reduced Market Resources 2003 earnings by $5.1 million. Market Resources 2002 net income included a $26.8 million after-tax gain from asset sales.

        Questar Pipeline earned $27.6 million in 2004 compared with $30.2 million in 2003. The 2004 results were lower by $3.0 million after tax as a result of an order to credit to transportation customers certain revenues from the sale of liquids recovered from gas processing. A more-detailed discussion of the FERC decision follows. Net income declined in 2003 compared with 2002 because increased operating expenses and lower capitalized costs for construction projects offset a 7% increase in transportation volumes and a 10% growth in revenues. The cumulative effect of implementing SFAS 143 reduced Questar Pipeline 2003 net income by $133,000.

        Questar Gas net income increased 56% or $11.3 million in 2004 versus 2003 and decreased 38% or $12.2 million in 2003 versus 2002. The 2003 results were negatively impacted by a $15.5 million after-tax charge for refund of disputed gas-processing costs, of which $11.9 million related to periods prior to 2003. Excluding the impact of the refund, Questar Gas net income decreased $0.6 million in 2004 compared with 2003. Increased revenues from new customers were offset by higher expenses and lower usage per customer. The cumulative effect of implementing SFAS 143 reduced Questar Gas 2003 earnings by $334,000.

        Net income from corporate and other operations decreased $2.4 million in 2004. In 2004 Questar reorganized Questar InfoComm, shifting most information-technology activities to the other business units. Prior to 2004 Questar InfoComm provided these services and received fees from its affiliates. Corporate and other operations net income for 2003 was $14.6 million higher than 2002. Under a new accounting method adopted in the first quarter of 2002, goodwill related to the data-hosting business was determined to be impaired and written off, resulting in a $15.3 million reduction in net income.

RESULTS OF OPERATION

Market Resources

        Market Resources conducts its operations through several subsidiaries. Questar Exploration and Production Company (Questar E&P) acquires, explores for, develops and produces gas and oil. Wexpro Company (Wexpro) manages, develops and produces cost-of-service reserves for affiliated company, Questar Gas. Questar Gas Management Company (Gas Management) provides gas-gathering and processing services for affiliates and third parties. Questar Energy Trading Company (Energy Trading) markets equity and third-party gas and oil, provides risk-management services, and through its wholly owned subsidiary Clear Creek Storage Company, LLC, owns and operates an underground gas-storage reservoir. Following is a summary of Market Resources' financial results and operating information.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
  (in thousands)

OPERATING INCOME                  
Revenues                  
  Natural gas sales   $ 375,220   $ 285,118   $ 205,928
  Oil and natural-gas-liquids sales     86,336     67,020     67,572
  Cost-of-service gas operations     116,747     100,997     93,177
  Energy marketing     525,276     348,002     212,087
  Gas gathering, processing and other     81,702     67,871     50,359
   
 
 
    Total revenues     1,185,281     869,008     629,123
Operating expenses                  
  Energy purchases     518,437     342,476     202,132
  Operating and maintenance     144,668     130,680     131,598
  Depreciation, depletion and amortization     142,688     121,316     117,446
  Exploration     9,239     4,498     6,086
  Abandonment and impairment of gas, oil and other properties     15,758     4,151     11,183
  Production and other taxes     73,243     53,343     28,558
  Wexpro Agreement—oil-income sharing     4,702     2,199     1,676
   
 
 
    Total operating expenses     908,735     658,663     498,679
   
 
 
      Operating income   $ 276,546   $ 210,345   $ 130,444
   
 
 
OPERATING STATISTICS                  
Nonregulated production volumes                  
  Natural gas (in MMcf)     89,801     78,811     79,674
  Oil and natural gas liquids (in Mbbl)     2,281     2,324     2,764
  Total production (in bcfe)     103.5     92.8     96.3
  Average daily production (in MMcfe)     283     254     264
Average commodity price, net to the well                  
  Average realized price (including hedges)                  
    Natural gas (per Mcf)   $ 4.18   $ 3.62   $ 2.58
    Oil and natural gas liquids (per bbl)   $ 30.97   $ 23.39   $ 20.39
  Average sales price (excluding hedges)                  
    Natural gas (per Mcf)   $ 5.11   $ 4.17   $ 2.17
    Oil and natural gas liquids (per bbl)   $ 38.10   $ 28.47   $ 22.93
Wexpro net investment base at December 31, (in millions)   $ 182.8   $ 172.8   $ 164.5
Natural gas-gathering volumes (in thousands of MMBtu)                  
  For unaffiliated customers     128,721     114,774     112,205
  For Questar Gas     38,997     41,568     40,685
  For other affiliated customers     56,958     46,150     38,136
   
 
 
    Total gathering     224,676     202,492     191,026
   
 
 
  Gathering revenue (per MMBtu)   $ 0.22   $ 0.20   $ 0.16
Natural gas and oil-marketing volumes (in Mdthe)     94,783     80,196     83,816

Market Resources Consolidated Results

        Market Resources grew 2004 net income to $165.4 million versus $116.0 million in 2003, a 43% increase. Operating income increased $66.2 million, or 31%, in the year-to-year comparison from $210.3 million to $276.5 million. Total revenues increased $316.3 million, or 36%, in 2004. Revenue growth was driven by increased production, higher realized natural gas, oil and NGL prices at Questar E&P, increased throughput, higher gathering fees and improved processing margins at Gas Management, and an increased investment base in Wexpro. Revenues include sales to affiliates. Expenses increased in the 2004 period due to increased abandonment expense, exploration expense, production taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization, and lease-operating expense.

Questar E&P Results

        Questar E&P 2004 net income was $108.2 million compared to $70.4 million in 2003, a 54% increase. Higher profits were driven by increased production and higher realized natural gas, oil and NGL prices. Questar E&P 2003 net income benefited from higher prices for natural gas, oil and NGL. Realized oil and natural gas-liquid prices, net to the well, increased 15% in 2003. Realized natural gas prices, net to the well, increased 40% year over year compared to 2002. A change in accounting for asset-retirement obligations reduced Questar E&P income by $4.6 million in 2003.

        Questar E&P production increased 12% to 103.5 bcfe in 2004 versus 92.8 bcfe in the prior year. Production growth was driven by accelerated development drilling on the Pinedale Anticline in western Wyoming and a 17% year-over-year increase from Midcontinent properties. Natural gas remains the primary focus of Questar E&P's exploration and production strategy. On an energy-equivalent ratio, natural gas comprised approximately 87% of production for 2004. The comparisons of energy-equivalent production by region are shown in the following table.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
  (in bcfe)

Rocky Mountains            
  Pinedale Anticline   23.5   15.2   8.6
  Uinta Basin   24.8   29.0   26.8
  Rockies Legacy   18.0   16.7   20.7
   
 
 
    Subtotal—Rocky Mountains   66.3   60.9   56.1
   
 
 
Midcontinent            
  Tulsa   19.9   13.9   14.5
  Oklahoma City   17.3   18.0   18.2
   
 
 
    Subtotal—Midcontinent   37.2   31.9   32.7
Canada           7.5
   
 
 
      Total production   103.5   92.8   96.3
   
 
 

        At December 31, 2004, Market Resources operated 104 producing wells on the Pinedale Anticline compared to 76 at the end of 2003. Questar E&P's 2004 production from Pinedale was 23.5 bcfe compared to 15.2 bcfe in 2003. Production volumes from the Uinta Basin in eastern Utah decreased 15% in 2004 compared to 2003. Uinta Basin production decline has flattened significantly, with second-half 2004 production volumes essentially equal to first-half 2004 results. Production from Rockies legacy properties was 18.0 bcfe in 2004 compared to 16.7 bcfe in 2003, an 8% increase. Legacy properties include all of Questar E&P's Rocky Mountain producing properties except Pinedale and the Uinta Basin. Continued good performance from Questar E&P's Hartshorne coalbed-methane development project in the Arkoma Basin of eastern Oklahoma and ongoing infill-development drilling on the Elm Grove properties in northwest Louisiana drove Midcontinent results. Current-year Midcontinent production was up 5.3 bcfe, or 17%, compared to 2003.

        Questar E&P benefited from higher realized prices for natural gas, oil and NGL in 2004. The weighted-average realized natural gas price for Questar E&P (including the effects of hedging) was $4.18 per Mcf in 2004 compared to $3.62 per Mcf for 2003, a 15% increase. For 2004, realized oil and NGL prices averaged $30.97 per bbl (including the effects of hedging), compared with $23.39 per bbl in 2003, a 32% increase. A comparison of average-realized prices by region, including hedges, is shown in the following table.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
Natural gas (per Mcf)                  
  Rocky Mountains   $ 3.95   $ 3.27   $ 2.14
  Midcontinent     4.57     4.26     3.35
  Canada                 2.22
    Volume-weighted average     4.18     3.62     2.58
Oil and NGL (per bbl)                  
  Rocky Mountains   $ 30.10   $ 21.95   $ 19.72
  Midcontinent     32.98     27.04     21.67
  Canada                 21.03
    Volume-weighted average     30.97     23.39     20.39

        Realized natural gas prices in Questar E&P's core Rockies areas increased significantly in 2004 compared to 2003. Approximately 63% of Questar E&P's 2004 natural gas production came from Rockies properties. Rockies basis, the regional difference between Rockies prices and the reference Henry Hub price, averaged approximately $0.90 per MMBtu for 2004 compared to $1.27 per MMBtu for 2003. The May 2003 completion of a major interstate-pipeline expansion that delivers Rockies gas to western U. S. markets alleviated the transportation bottleneck that adversely affected Rockies gas prices during much of the first half of 2003. About two-thirds of 2003 production was in the Rockies region and one-third in the Midcontinent region. Rockies gas prices increased 53% in 2003 versus 2002. In response to lower gas prices in 2002 Questar E&P shut in 3.3 bcfe of Rockies gas production. Midcontinent realized natural gas prices were 27% higher in 2003 compared with 2002.

        Approximately 76% of Market Resources' nonregulated gas production in 2004 was hedged or pre-sold at an average price of $4.04 per Mcf net to the well. Net-to-the-well prices reflect adjustments for regional basis, gathering and processing costs, and gas quality. Hedging reduced gas revenues $83.9 million in 2004. Market Resources also hedged or pre-sold approximately 66% of its oil production in 2004 at an average net-to-the-well price of $30.98 per bbl. Hedging reduced oil revenues $16.3 million during 2004. Market Resources may hedge up to 100% of its forecasted production from proved developed reserves to lock in acceptable returns on invested capital and to protect cash flows and earnings from a decline in commodity prices. Market Resources has continued to take advantage of higher natural gas and oil prices to add to its hedge positions in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Natural gas and oil hedges as of December 31, 2004, are summarized in Item 7A of this report.

        Questar E&P pre-income tax cost structure is summarized in the following table.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
  (per Mcfe)

Lease-operating expense   $ 0.50   $ 0.49   $ 0.55
Production taxes     0.46     0.34     0.18
   
 
 
  Lifting costs     0.96     0.83     0.73
   
 
 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization     1.02     0.96     0.92
General and administrative expense     0.30     0.29     0.27
Allocated-interest expense     0.21     0.23     0.27
   
 
 
      Total   $ 2.49   $ 2.31   $ 2.19
   
 
 

        Lifting costs were $0.13 per Mcfe higher in 2004 versus 2003 due primarily to a 35% increase in production taxes resulting from higher sales prices of natural gas, oil and NGL. Most production taxes are based on a fixed percentage of commodity-sales prices. Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense increased 6% in 2004 compared to a year ago due to higher reserve-replacement costs and ongoing depletion of older, lower-cost successful-efforts pools. Increased competition for rigs and other services in core operating areas, along with sharply higher steel prices, has increased drilling and completion costs. General and administrative expenses increased $0.01 per Mcfe, or 3%, in 2004 versus 2003 due primarily to higher labor and employee-benefit costs and higher compliance costs. Allocated interest decreased about 9% on a unit-of-production basis to $0.21 per Mcfe versus $0.23 per Mcfe in 2003 due primarily to increased production volumes.

        Lease-operating expenses were lower in the 2003 period after the 2002 sale of higher-cost Canadian and other properties. Higher sales prices in 2003 compared with 2002 resulted in higher production taxes. Depreciation, depletion and amortization rates increased in 2003 over 2002 due to higher costs and, in part, lower estimated reserves in Questar E&P's Uinta Basin properties.

        In 2004 impairments totaling $5.7 million were recognized for Bovina field in Mississippi due to collapsed casing on one well, and the uneconomic coalbed-methane play at the Copper Ridge Unit in Wyoming. Dry-hole expense of $3.9 million was recorded for the unsuccessful exploratory zones in the Brady Field.

Pinedale Anticline Drilling Activity

        During 2004 Market Resources drilled and completed 28 wells, had four additional wells drilled to intermediate casing point and suspended until May 2005, and had three wells waiting on completion at year-end. Two of the wells waiting on completion were completed and turned to sales in January 2005. In addition, two rigs were actively drilling on the winter pad on December 31, 2004. In mid-July 2004, Market Resources commenced drilling a well to test the deep potential of its Pinedale acreage. The 19,500-foot Stewart Point 15-29 well, designed to test the potential of the Rock Springs and Blair formations beneath the Lance Pool pay zones at Pinedale, was delayed over two months due to sage grouse activity. The pace of drilling on the well was hampered by chronic mechanical problems with the contracted drilling rig and inexperienced rig crews. In November 2004, drilling operations were suspended at intermediate casing point at a depth of 14,200 feet and the rig was released. A different rig will be used to finish drilling the well to total depth when operations resume in May 2005.

Pinedale Anticline Year-Round Drilling Proposal

        On April 15, 2004, Market Resources submitted a proposal to the BLM seeking a long-term exception to the winter-drilling restrictions on its Pinedale acreage from November 15 through May 1. On November 9, 2004, a BLM Decision gave Market Resources approval to phase-in over the next year the company's proposed year-round drilling program. The BLM decision allows Market Resources to operate two drilling rigs on one pad during the winter of 2004-2005. After a proposed water- and condensate-gathering line is completed in 2005, Market Resources will be allowed to operate six rigs from three active pads beginning in the winter of 2005-2006 through the winter of 2013-2014.

        Market Resources believes that year-round drilling from pads is the most efficient and environmentally responsible approach for developing its Pinedale acreage. Market Resources' year-round drilling program will shorten the anticipated development drilling period from 18 years to about 9 years. Market Resources can drill up to 16 directional wells per single surface pad. With year-round drilling, surface disturbance will be reduced initially by about two-thirds from almost 1,500 acres currently allowed to around 500 acres. Surface disturbance would be further reduced to less than 250 acres with post-drilling reclamation.

        Other benefits of Market Resources' year-round drilling program include a substantial reduction in emissions, noise, dust and traffic compared to the current situation in which activities are compressed into the summer months. Year-round drilling also creates year-round jobs and thus a more-stable, better-trained, more-productive and safer workforce in the drilling and completion-service industries.

        Market Resources has committed to build pipelines to transport condensate and water production off the portion of the Pinedale Anticline where Market Resources' acreage is located. The pipelines will eliminate the need for storage tanks at each location and up to 25,500 tanker-truck trips per year at peak production. Other key components of the BLM decision are funding for continued monitoring of mule deer and other critical wildlife, monitoring air quality, and habitat enhancement on contiguous undeveloped areas of Market Resources' Pinedale leasehold.

Pinedale Anticline 20-Acre Spacing Approved

        During the third quarter of 2004, the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission issued a formal order approving 20-acre-density drilling of Lance Pool (Lance and Mesaverde Formation) wells on all of Market Resources Pinedale Anticline acreage held at the end of 2003 (approximately 14,800 acres). With 20-acre spacing Market Resources has up to 470 total well locations on its Pinedale leasehold (including several recently acquired tracts that have not yet been approved for 20-acre spacing) with approximately 359 locations remaining to be drilled at the end of 2004. Market Resources has over 17,951 gross acres under lease at Pinedale. Questar E&P and Wexpro have a combined 67% average working interest in the 470 total development locations covering approximately 9,400 productive acres in the Lance Pool (combined Lance and Mesaverde formations) at Pinedale. Of the 470 gross Lance Pool development locations on Market Resources' leasehold, Questar E&P has about 263 net locations and Wexpro has about 54.

        Market Resources estimates that each 20-acre-spaced well drilled and completed in the Lance and Mesaverde Formations will recover between 3.8 and 8.8 bcfe of gross-incremental reserves. Questar E&P's average working interest in horizons beneath the productive limits of the Lance Pool is approximately 75%. Wexpro has no working interest in deeper horizons.

New Pinedale Leases

        During the third quarter of 2004, Questar E&P acquired additional federal leases on 2,018 acres adjacent to the southwest side of the current 14,800-acre leasehold. Subject to approval of 20-acre spacing, this newly acquired Pinedale acreage may add up to 32 drilling locations. Questar E&P has a 100% working interest in these new leases. Several groups have appealed the issuance of these leases.

Wexpro

        Wexpro net income increased 8% to $35.3 million in 2004 compared to $32.6 million in 2003. Wexpro manages, develops and produces gas reserves for affiliated company Questar Gas. Wexpro activities are governed by a long-standing agreement (Wexpro Agreement) with the states of Utah and Wyoming. Pursuant to the Wexpro Agreement, Wexpro recovers its costs and receives an unlevered after-tax return of approximately 19% on its net investment in commercial wells and related facilities—known as the investment base—adjusted for working capital, deferred taxes, and depreciation. Wexpro's net investment base increased to $182.8 million at December 31, 2004, up $10 million over 2003. Wexpro's net income also benefited from higher oil and NGL prices in 2004.

        Wexpro earned $32.6 million in 2003 compared to $30.8 million in 2002 due to increased investment in gas-development wells, higher realized prices for oil, capitalized interest associated with construction, and lower debt expense. Wexpro's 2003 results included a $0.5 million after-tax charge for the cumulative effect of an accounting change for asset-retirement obligations.

Gas Gathering and Processing

        Net income from gas-gathering and processing services increased 58% to $21 million in 2004 versus $13.3 million in 2003. Gathering margins increased by $7 million due to an 11% increase in volumes and a 2.3-cent-per-MMBtu increase in gathering rates. Pinedale production and new projects serving third parties in the Uinta Basin are driving the expanded service. Gas Management gas-processing margins (revenue from the sale of natural gas liquids less natural gas purchases and operating expenses) improved by 7.6 cents per gallon due to higher NGL sales prices. To reduce processing-margin volatility, Gas Management began hedging NGL prices in 2004 using forward-sales contracts. Hedging reduced NGL revenues by $0.5 million in 2004.

        Net income from gas-gathering and processing operations increased 46% to $13.3 million in 2003 compared to 2002. Gathering volumes increased 11.5 MMBtu to 202.5 MMBtu in 2003 as the result of increased investment in gathering facilities in the Pinedale area.

        Pre-tax earnings from Gas Management's 50% interest in Rendezvous increased to $5 million in 2004 from $4.7 million for 2003 and $2.2 million in 2002. Rendezvous provides gas-gathering services for the Pinedale and Jonah producing areas.

Gas and Oil Marketing and Trading, Risk Management and Gas Storage

        Net income from Energy Trading was $0.9 million in 2004 compared to a loss of $0.4 million in the year-earlier period. Gross margins for gas and oil marketing (gross revenues less the costs to purchase gas and oil, commitments to gas-transportation contracts on interstate pipelines, and gas-storage costs), increased to $6.8 million for 2004 versus $5.4 million for 2003. Current-year results were positively impacted by higher unit margins and increased sales volumes. Gross margins declined in 2003 compared with 2002 due primarily to losses from long-term transportation contracts that were above market rates for much of 2003.

        Energy Trading is the sole member in Clear Creek Storage, LLC, which owns and operates the Clear Creek natural gas-storage facility in southwestern Wyoming. Clear Creek has working-gas-storage capacity of approximately 3 bcf and is connected to four interstate pipelines—Kern River, Northwest, Overthrust and Questar Pipeline.

Questar Pipeline

        Questar Pipeline provides FERC-regulated interstate natural gas transmission and storage, and nonjurisdictional processing and gathering services. Following is a summary of financial results and operating information.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
  (in thousands)

OPERATING INCOME                  
Revenues                  
  Transportation   $ 105,464   $ 103,579   $ 93,007
  Storage     37,690     37,616     37,673
  Carbon-dioxide processing     7,348     7,281     6,241
  Liquid revenues and other     5,977     8,362     5,954
   
 
 
    Total revenues     156,479     156,838     142,875
Operating expenses                  
  Operating and maintenance     55,654     53,249     49,593
  Depreciation and amortization     28,235     26,141     22,149
  Other taxes     6,557     6,352     4,948
   
 
 
    Total operating expenses     90,446     85,742     76,690
   
 
 
      Operating income   $ 66,033   $ 71,096   $ 66,185
   
 
 
OPERATING STATISTICS                  
Natural gas-transportation volumes (in Mdth)                  
  For unaffiliated customers     220,514     251,665     245,119
  For Questar Gas     116,454     105,720     111,692
  For other affiliated customers     18,803     26,224     6,044
   
 
 
    Total transportation     355,771     383,609     362,855
   
 
 
  Transportation revenue (per dth)   $ 0.30   $ 0.27   $ 0.26
Firm daily-transportation demand at December 31, (Mdth)     1,643     1,655     1,543

        Questar Pipeline's net income was $27.6 million in 2004 compared with $30.2 million in 2003 and $32.6 million in 2002. The 2004 net income was reduced by $3 million because of an order from the FERC crediting liquid revenues to customers as discussed below.

Revenues

        Questar Pipeline's revenues were flat in 2004 versus 2003 after increasing by 10% in 2003 versus 2002. Revenues include sales to affiliates. Following is a summary of major changes in Questar Pipeline's revenues.

 
  Change in Revenues
 
 
  2003 to 2004
  2002 to 2003
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
Transportation revenues              
  New transportation contracts   $ 4,300   $ 4,900  
  Expiration of transportation contracts     (1,300 )   (2,100 )
  Eastern segment of Southern Trails in service June 2002           8,100  
  Changes in interruptible transportation and other     (1,100 )   (300 )
Carbon-dioxide processing           1,000  
Liquid revenues and other              
  Change in liquid revenues before credit     2,500     1,800  
  Credit of liquid revenues     (4,700 )      
  Other changes     (100 )   600  
   
 
 
    Increase (decrease)   $ (400 ) $ 14,000  
   
 
 

        Questar Pipeline added new transportation capacity and contracts in 2003 for deliveries to Kern River Pipeline at Roberson Creek near the regional market hub at Opal, Wyoming, and for increased deliveries to Questar Gas. Questar Pipeline did not increase transportation capacity during 2004.

        Questar Pipeline's existing transportation system is nearly fully subscribed. As of December 31, 2004, Questar Pipeline had firm-transportation contracts of 1,643 Mdth per day compared with 1,655 Mdth per day as of December 31, 2003, and 1,543 Mdth per day as of December 31, 2002. The amounts include 80 Mdth per-day capacity on the eastern segment of Southern Trails, which was placed in service in June 2002. Questar Pipeline's firm-transportation contracts had a weighted-average remaining life of 9.3 years as of December 31, 2004.

        Questar Gas is Questar Pipeline's largest transportation customer with contracts for 951 Mdth per day, including 50 Mdth per day for winter-peaking service. The majority of Questar Gas's transportation contracts extend to 2017.

        Questar Pipeline's primary storage facility is Clay Basin in eastern Utah. This facility was 100% contracted as of December 31, 2004. One contract expires in the first quarter of 2005 but is expected to be resold. In addition to Clay Basin, Questar Pipeline also owns and operates three smaller aquifer gas-storage facilities. Questar Pipeline's firm-storage contracts had a weighted-average remaining life of 7.4 years as of December 31, 2004.

        Questar Gas has contracted for 26% of firm-storage capacity at Clay Basin for terms extending from four to 15 years, and 100% of the firm-storage capacity at the aquifer facilities for terms extending for 15 years.

        During the fourth quarter of 2004, the FERC issued an order to Questar Pipeline in a case involving the annual fuel-gas-reimbursement percentage (FGRP). As a result Questar Pipeline recorded a revenue reduction in 2004 of $4.7 million, which included $2.3 million for prior years, as a potential credit to customers. The FERC previously granted Questar Pipeline's request to increase the FGRP effective January 1, 2004. In its order, the FERC approved the FGRP but also ruled that Questar Pipeline is required to credit to transmission customers proceeds from the sale of natural gas liquids recovered from its hydrocarbon dew-point facilities at the Kastler plant in northeastern Utah. Questar Pipeline has filed a request for rehearing with the FERC. Questar Pipeline believes that any credit to customers should be reduced by the plant's cost of service. Until the issue is resolved, Questar Pipeline will continue to accrue a potential liability equal to any liquid revenues from the dew-point plant.

        Questar Pipeline charges FERC-approved transportation and storage rates that are based on straight fixed-variable rate design. Under this rate design all fixed costs of providing service, including depreciation and return on investment, are recovered through a fixed-reservation charge per unit of contracted-transportation capacity, or a demand charge. About 95% of Questar Pipeline costs are fixed and recovered through these demand charges. Questar Pipeline's earnings are driven primarily by demand revenues from firm shippers. Operating costs that vary based on throughput are recovered through volumetric charges. Since demand charges are based on contract levels and volumetric charges are about 5% of the total customer charge, period-to-period changes in firm-transportation volumes do not have a significant impact on earnings.

        Questar Transportation Services, a subsidiary of Questar Pipeline, owns nonjurisdictional gathering lines and a processing plant near Price, Utah. Transportation Services built the plant in 1999 for Questar Gas to remove carbon dioxide from gas prior to delivery to Questar Pipeline. Questar Gas has contracted for 100% of the plant's firm capacity and pays the cost of service for operating the plant.

Expenses

        Operating and maintenance expenses increased 5% in 2004 compared with 2003 and 7% in 2003 compared with 2002. The increases were primarily due to higher employee-benefit costs, and higher costs associated with maintenance and continued marketing of the western segment of the Southern Trails Pipeline. Operating and maintenance expenses per dth transported were $0.156 in 2004 compared with $0.139 in 2003 and $0.137 in 2002.

        Depreciation expense increased 8% in 2004 over 2003 and 18% in 2003 over 2002, reflecting increased pipeline investment.

Clay Basin Storage

        Questar Pipeline continues to investigate a potential discrepancy of up to 9 bcf between the book volumes of cushion gas at Clay Basin and cushion-gas volumes implied by pressure-survey data obtained in recent field tests. The current book volume of the cushion gas is 61.5 bcf with a value of $99.7 million. Questar Pipeline has not determined if any gas is missing from the reservoir. Analysis to date has not revealed any leaks or gas migration out of the reservoir. Additional reservoir tests and analysis, including reservoir modeling, are under way to identify the cause of the potential discrepancy and may continue for several years. The gas may still be in the reservoir but not detectible with short-duration pressure surveys. Pressure-survey tests were conducted during October 2004 to evaluate the reservoir when it was nearly full. The preliminary results of these tests show that the discrepancy may not be significant. This potential discrepancy has not affected Questar Pipeline's ability to meet its obligations to storage customers.

        If Questar Pipeline determines that the discrepancy is due to changes in the physical conditions in the storage reservoir, the financial impact may include some additional investment in cushion gas to meet service obligations. If the discrepancy is due to lost-and-unaccounted-for-gas in the measurement process, Questar Pipeline would expense the cost of replacement gas and could file with the FERC to recover costs from customers.

New Long-Term Contracts

        During first-quarter 2004 Questar Pipeline signed long-term contracts to support a $54 million expansion of its central Utah transmission system. The expansion will add 102 Mdth per day of capacity from the Piceance and Uinta basins to the Kern River pipeline, a power-generation facility, and Questar Gas's distribution system. Questar Pipeline will start construction in the summer of 2005 for a late-2005 in-service date. On January 21, 2005, the FERC approved the expansion.

        Questar Pipeline has signed a long-term contract supporting a $14 million extension from the west end of its Mainline 104 near Goshen, Utah, to a new power plant near Mona, Utah. Construction was completed in December 2004 on this 190-Mdth-per-day line and service should begin during the first quarter of 2005.

Southern Trails

        The eastern segment of the Southern Trails line, which runs between the San Juan basin and the California border, was placed into service in mid-2002. Capacity on this segment is fully contracted, although these contracts expire in mid-2008. At this time, market-transportation rates between the receipt and delivery points are less than current contract rates. Earnings on the eastern segment may decrease when these contracts expire.

        The western segment of the Southern Trails line, which runs from the California-Arizona border to Long Beach, California, is currently not in service. Questar Pipeline's investment is approximately $51 million. Additional investment would be required to complete the conversion of the pipeline from a liquid pipeline to a natural gas pipeline and make connections to customers. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) budgeted funds to acquire a gas pipeline to serve a power-generation facility and issued a request for proposal on October 21, 2004. Questar Pipeline filed a response to the request in November 2004. On February 28, 2005, LADWP notified Questar Pipeline of its intent to pursue the proposal, although it is uncertain whether negotiations will be successful.

Regulation

        FERC Order No. 2004, which defines standards of conduct for transmission providers, became effective on September 22, 2004. These standards of conduct are designed to ensure that employees engaged in transmission-system operations function independently from employees of marketing and energy affiliates. In addition, a transmission provider must treat all transmission customers on a non-discriminatory basis and must not operate its transmission system to preferentially benefit its marketing or energy affiliates. Questar Pipeline has determined that all Market Resources subsidiaries except Gas Management are marketing or energy affiliates. Questar Gas is not an energy or marketing affiliate. Questar Pipeline and other Questar companies have adopted new procedures to comply with this order.

        Questar Pipeline is required to comply with the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002. This act and the rules issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) require interstate pipelines and local distribution companies to implement a 10-year program of risk analysis, pipeline assessment and remedial repair for transmission pipelines located in high-consequence areas such as densely populated locations. Questar Pipeline's plan for complying with the act was filed with the DOT during 2004. Questar Pipeline estimates that its annual cost to comply with the act will be approximately $1 million, not including costs of pipeline replacement, if necessary.

        Questar Pipeline made an annual FGRP filing with the FERC on November 30, 2004, requesting an increase in the FGRP to 2.6%. On December 30, 2004, the FERC approved the request on an interim basis subject to refund and final resolution of the 2004 FGRP proceeding. Several shippers have filed comments with the FERC protesting the FGRP level.

Questar Gas

        Questar Gas distributes natural gas in Utah, southwestern Wyoming and southeastern Idaho. Following is a summary of financial results and operating information.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
OPERATING INCOME                    
Revenues                    
  Residential and commercial sales   $ 680,658   $ 552,773   $ 521,716  
  Industrial sales     49,094     45,279     44,488  
  Transportation for industrial customers     6,355     7,108     7,222  
  Other     28,086     15,835     22,085  
   
 
 
 
    Total revenues     764,193     620,995     595,511  
  Cost of natural gas sold     536,128     394,523     370,294  
   
 
 
 
    Margin     228,065     226,472     225,217  
Operating expenses                    
  Operating and maintenance     104,786     100,279     105,544  
  Rate-refund obligation     4,090     24,939        
  Depreciation and amortization     41,956     40,126     39,771  
  Other taxes     9,767     9,743     9,548  
   
 
 
 
    Total operating expenses     160,599     175,087     154,863  
   
 
 
 
      Operating income   $ 67,466   $ 51,385   $ 70,354  
   
 
 
 
OPERATING STATISTICS                    
Natural gas volumes (in Mdth)                    
  Residential and commercial sales     92,975     84,393     90,796  
  Industrial sales     8,823     9,613     10,729  
  Transportation for industrial customers     34,278     38,341     46,459  
   
 
 
 
    Total industrial     43,101     47,954     57,188  
   
 
 
 
    Total deliveries     136,076     132,347     147,984  
   
 
 
 
Natural gas revenue (per dth)                    
  Residential and commercial   $ 7.32   $ 6.55   $ 5.75  
  Industrial sales     5.56     4.71     4.15  
  Transportation for industrial customers     0.19     0.19     0.16  
System natural gas cost (per dth)   $ 5.20   $ 4.13   $ 3.14  
Heating degree days—colder (warmer) than normal     3 %   (7 )%   8 %
Temperature-adjusted usage per customer (in dth)     114.9     118.9     117.4  
Customers at December 31,     794,117     770,494     750,128  

        Questar Gas earned $31.5 million in 2004 compared to $20.2 million in 2003 and $32.4 million in 2002. Questar Gas 2003 earnings included after-tax charges of $15.5 million related to a long-standing dispute in Utah over the recovery of gas-processing and heat-content-management costs. Of the charges, $3.6 million related to 2003 and the remainder to prior years. Questar Gas 2004 net income was reduced by $4.3 million for these unrecovered costs.

Margin Analysis

        Questar Gas's margin increased 1% in 2004 over 2003 and 1% in 2003 over 2002. Revenues include sales to affiliates. Following is a summary of major changes in Questar Gas's margin.

 
  Change in margin
 
 
  2003 to 2004
  2002 to 2003
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
General rate case—December 2002         $ 11,200  
New customers   $ 5,100     1,800  
Change in usage per customer     (6,300 )   4,300  
Estimated impact of warmer-than-normal weather           (1,900 )
2002 customer contributions in excess of general rate-case amount           (5,600 )
2002 recovery of gas-processing costs           (3,800 )
Recovery of gas-cost portion of bad-debt costs     1,400     (1,500 )
Change in gas costs recovered through general rate case           (2,100 )
Other     1,400     (1,100 )
   
 
 
  Total   $ 1,600   $ 1,300  
   
 
 

        Effective December 30, 2002, the PSCU approved an $11.2 million general-rate increase and an 11.2% allowed return on equity. The PSCU based the increase on November 2002 rate base, operating costs and usage per customer.

        At December 31, 2004, Questar Gas was serving 794,117 customers. Customer growth remained above industry averages at 3.1% over the prior year. Housing construction in Utah remained strong. Usage per customer, adjusted for normal temperatures, declined 3.4% in 2004 compared with 2003 after increasing 1.3% in 2003 compared with 2002. Usage per customer has been decreasing due to more-efficient appliances and construction and customer response to higher prices.

        Weather, as measured in heating-degree days for the Questar Gas service area, was 3% colder than normal in 2004, 7% warmer than normal in 2003 and 8% colder than normal in 2002. A weather-normalization adjustment on customer bills generally offsets financial impacts of moderate temperature variations. However, significantly warmer-than-normal weather during September and October 2003 resulted in a margin reduction of $1.9 million.

        Questar Gas's 2002 results included $3.8 million in recovery of previously denied gas-processing costs. These costs are part of a continuing dispute as discussed below.

        The 2002 results also included revenues of $5.6 million due to up-front customer contributions in-aid of construction for new connections. Accounting for customer contributions changed beginning in 2003 as a result of the 2002 Utah general rate case. Customer contributions are now recorded as a reduction of investment instead of revenues.

        Industrial deliveries declined 10% in 2004 versus 2003 and 16% in 2003 versus 2002 due primarily to lower usage of gas for power generation.

Operating Expense

        Cost of natural gas sold increased 36% in the 2004 versus 2003 and 7% in 2003 versus the year earlier period. The 2004 change was due to increased volumes and higher natural gas-purchase costs. The 2003 increase over 2002 was due to higher cost of purchased natural gas. Questar Gas accounts for purchased-gas costs in accordance with procedures authorized by the PSCU and the PSCW. Purchased-gas costs that are different from those provided for in present rates are accumulated and recovered or credited through future rate changes. As of December 31, 2004, Questar Gas had a $35.9 million balance in the purchased-gas-adjustment account representing gas costs incurred but not yet recovered from customers. Effective October 1, 2004, the PSCU and PSCW authorized Questar Gas to increase customer rates by about 10% to reflect higher projected gas costs and to recover the balance in the purchased-gas-adjustment account.

        Operating and maintenance expenses increased 4% in 2004 compared with 2003, after decreasing 5% in 2003 compared with 2002. Higher employee-benefit costs, contracted services and bad-debt costs in 2004 were partially offset by lower information-technology costs. The 2003 decrease was due to lower information-technology and bad-debt expenses.

        Depreciation expense increased 5% in 2004 compared with 2003 and 1% in 2003 compared with 2002. Plant additions, including a customer-information system that was placed in service in July 2004, have increased depreciation expense.

        In July 2004, Questar Gas implemented a new customer-information system. The new system provides critical customer-service functions including billing, collections, cash receipts, customer sign-up, service requests and dispatch. The implementation took approximately 18 months and cost approximately $20 million.

Rate-Refund Obligation

        On August 1, 2003, the Utah Supreme Court issued an order reversing an August 2000 decision made by the PSCU concerning certain natural gas-processing costs incurred by Questar Gas. The court ruled that the PSCU did not comply with its statutory responsibilities and regulatory procedures when approving a stipulation in Questar Gas's 1999 general rate case. The stipulation permitted Questar Gas to collect $5.0 million per year, a portion of the processing costs, through May 2004. The Committee of Consumer Services, a Utah state agency, appealed the PSCU's decision, arguing that the PSCU had failed to explicitly address whether the costs were prudent.

        As a result of the court's order, Questar Gas recorded a liability for a potential refund to gas-distribution customers. A total liability of $29.0 million, including $4.1 million recorded in the first nine months of 2004, includes revenue received for processing costs and interest from June 1999 through September 2004.

        On August 30, 2004, the PSCU ruled that Questar Gas failed in 1999 to prove that its decision to contract for gas processing with an affiliate was prudent. The PSCU rejected the stipulation, denied the request for rate recovery and ordered the refund of gas-processing costs previously collected in rates. Because Questar Gas had previously accrued a liability for the refund, the order did not have a material impact on 2004 earnings. Questar Gas reduced its rates on September 1, 2004, to eliminate the collection of gas-processing costs and on October 1 began refunding previously collected costs, plus interest, over a 12-month period. As of December 31, 2004, Questar Gas had a liability of $20.6 million of remaining refunds to customers.

        In response to a Questar Gas petition, the PSCU clarified that its order did not preclude recovery of ongoing and certain past-processing costs. Ongoing processing costs are approximately $6 million per year. Questar Gas has requested ongoing rate coverage for gas-processing costs in its pass-through filings, but is not currently collecting these costs in rates. The PSCU has conducted several technical conferences to determine what should be done to manage the heat content of the gas supply. On January 31, 2005, Questar Gas filed a rate request with the PSCU to recover $5.7 million per year of gas-processing costs through its gas-balance account.

Regulation

        Questar Gas is subject to the requirements of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act. Questar Gas estimates that it will cost $4 to $5 million per year to comply with the act, not including costs of pipeline replacement if necessary. The PSCU has allowed Questar Gas to record incremental operating costs to comply with this act as a regulatory asset until the next rate case or three years, whichever is sooner.

        Questar Gas is not an energy or marketing affiliate of Questar Pipeline under FERC Order No. 2004. Questar Gas has adopted new procedures to comply with the order.

Corporate and Other Operations

        Corporate and other operations include other services and activities. Revenues include sales to affiliates.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
  (in thousands)

OPERATING INCOME                  
Revenues   $ 35,645   $ 48,113   $ 50,225
Operating expenses                  
  Cost of products sold     5,892     4,651     6,367
  Operating and maintenance     19,534     30,416     29,922
  Depreciation and amortization     3,296     4,799     5,586
  Other taxes     1,381     1,243     1,138
   
 
 
    Total operating expenses     30,103     41,109     43,013
   
 
 
      Operating income   $ 5,542   $ 7,004   $ 7,212
   
 
 

        Revenues decreased 26%, operating and maintenance decreased 36% and depreciation decreased 31% in 2004 compared with 2003 due to the reorganization of information-technology-related businesses. Questar reorganized its information-technology services in June 2004, resulting in a small staff reduction and $0.6 million of severance costs. The remaining information-technology assets and employees were transferred to affiliates. Revenues decreased 4% in 2003 compared with 2002 with the company's exit from the equipment-resale business.

        Costs of products sold increased 27% in 2004 compared with 2003 resulting from a growth in providing data storage and contracted-field services. Operating and maintenance expenses increased 2% in 2003 compared with 2002 primarily in response to higher rent charges.

Consolidated Operating Results After Operating Income

Interest and Other Income

        Details of interest and other income are below.

 
  Year ended December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
  (in thousands)

Interest income and other earnings   $ 2,189   $ 4,021   $ 6,067
Net gain (loss) from asset sales     336     (525 )   43,683
Allowance for other funds used duringconstruction (capitalized finance costs)     273     1,125     3,516
Return earned on working-gas inventory and purchased-gas-adjustment account     4,070     2,814     3,401
   
 
 
Total   $ 6,868   $ 7,435   $ 56,667
   
 
 

Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates

        Rendezvous Gas Services income increased in 2004 due to higher gas throughput on its gathering system. Gas Management is a 50% member in Rendezvous, which provides gas-gathering services for the Pinedale-Jonah producing area of western Wyoming. Questar Pipeline's share of earnings from TransColorado, Overthrust and Gas Management's share of Blacks Fork earnings are included in 2002. Questar Pipeline sold its TransColorado Pipeline interest in 2002. Also, Questar Pipeline became sole owner of Overthrust Pipeline and Gas Management became the sole owner of the Blacks Fork processing plant in the fourth quarter of 2002.

Debt Expense

        Lower debt balances and long-term interest rates resulted in lower debt expense in 2004 compared with 2003. In 2004 and 2003 Questar Gas replaced higher-cost fixed-rate debt with lower-cost fixed- and floating-rate debt. Market Resources reduced its revolving long-term debt by $55.0 million in 2004 and $145.0 million in 2003.

Income Taxes

        The effective combined federal, state and foreign income tax rate was 36.1% in 2004, 36.4% in 2003 and 34.8% in 2002. The Section 29 income tax credit associated with production of nonconventional fuels expired December 31, 2002. The nonconventional-fuel credits amounted to $6.6 million in 2002.

Cumulative Effect of Changes in Accounting Methods

        On January 1, 2003, the Company adopted a new accounting rule, SFAS 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations" and recorded a cumulative effect that reduced net income by $5.6 million, or $0.07 per diluted common share. A year earlier, the Company adopted SFAS 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," that resulted in impairment of acquired goodwill. A subsidiary of Questar InfoComm wrote off $17.3 million of goodwill, of which $15.3 million, or $0.19 per diluted common share, was Questar InfoComm's share, and reported as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting for goodwill. The remaining $2.0 million was attributed to minority shareholders.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Operating Activities

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
  (in thousands)

Net income   $ 229,301   $ 173,616   $ 155,596
Noncash adjustments to net income     354,117     296,725     261,434
Changes in operating assets and liabilities     (1,536 )   (33,968 )   55,318
   
 
 
  Net cash provided from operating activities   $ 581,882   $ 436,373   $ 472,348
   
 
 

        Net cash provided from operating activities increased 33% in 2004 compared with 2003 due primarily to increased income and noncash adjustments to income.

Investing Activities

        Capital spending amounted to $442.5 million in 2004. The details of capital expenditures in 2004 and 2003, and a forecast for 2005 are as below. Corporate and other operations includes $25.0 million of yet-to-be-defined capital expenditures in 2005.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2005
Forecast

  2004
  2003
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
Market Resources                    
  Drilling and other exploration   $ 17,400   $ 29,229   $ 11,055  
  Development drilling     220,800     222,455     146,608  
  Wexpro development drilling     47,800     39,184     33,028  
  Reserve acquisitions           1,131     2,492  
  Production     13,400     13,640     9,687  
  Gathering and processing     71,500     26,979     31,448  
  Storage     300     1,171     333  
  General     4,300     12,040     3,480  
   
 
 
 
      375,500     345,829     238,131  
Questar Pipeline                    
  Transmission system     83,400     27,828     17,883  
  Storage     14,900     1,971     1,286  
  Southern Trails Pipeline     800     52     121  
  Gathering and processing     100     438     500  
  General     2,700     1,826     2,564  
   
 
 
 
      101,900     32,115     22,354  
Questar Gas                    
  Distribution system and customer additions     60,900     53,092     47,638  
  General     21,800     24,131     23,885  
   
 
 
 
      82,700     77,223     71,523  
Corporate and Other Operations     27,000     2,574     3,408  
   
 
 
 
      587,100     457,741     335,416  
Capital expenditure accruals           (15,258 )   (10,077 )
   
 
 
 
  Total capital expenditures   $ 587,100   $ 442,483   $ 325,339  
   
 
 
 

Market Resources

        In 2004 Market Resources increased drilling activity at Pinedale and in the Midcontinent region. During 2004 Market Resources participated in 413 wells (167.3 net), resulting in 160.7 net successful gas and oil wells and 6.6 net dry or abandoned wells. The net drilling-success rate was 96% in 2004. There were 67 gross wells in progress at year end. Market Resources also increased investment in its midstream gathering and processing-services business to expand capacity in both western Wyoming and eastern Utah in response to growing equity and third-party production volumes.

Questar Pipeline

        During 2004, Questar Pipeline completed a new pipeline extension to a power plant in Mona, Utah and began an expansion of its southern system.

Questar Gas

        During 2004, Questar Gas added 854 miles of main, feeder and service lines to provide service to 23,623 new customers and completed the installation of a new customer-information system.

Financing Activities

        Net cash flow provided from operating activities exceeded the sum of net capital expenditures and dividends by $75.2 million in 2004 and $57.5 million in 2003. The Company used surplus cash flow generated from operations to repay debt. Market Resources repaid $55 million of revolving long-term debt using cash flow from operations. Questar Gas retired $17 million of long-term debt. Market Resources paid down its revolving debt by $145 million, and Questar Gas refinanced $105 million of long-term debt in 2003.

        Short-term borrowings amounted to $68 million at December 31, 2004, compared with $105.5 million a year earlier. The weighted-average interest rate on short-term debt balances at December 31 was 2.45% in 2004 and 1.11% in 2003. Questar commercial-paper borrowings are backed by short-term line-of-credit arrangements. Lines-of-credit capacity was $210 million at December 31, 2004.

        Questar consolidated capital structure consisted of 41% combined short- and long-term debt and 59% common shareholders' equity at December 31, 2004. A year earlier debt represented 47% and shareholders' equity 53% of capitalization. Ratings of senior-unsecured debt as of December 31, 2004, were as follows.

 
  Moody's
  Standard & Poor's
Market Resources   Baa3   BBB+
Questar Pipeline   A2   A+
Questar Gas   A2   A+
Questar—short-term debt   P2   A1

        Moody's ratings are designated as stable while the Standard & Poor's ratings carry a negative outlook qualifier.

        The Company typically has negative net working capital at December 31 because of short-term borrowing. The borrowing is seasonal and generally peaks at the end of the year because of the lag in receivables related to cold-weather gas purchases for distribution customers.

Contractual Cash Obligations and Other Commitments

        In the course of ordinary business activities, Questar enters into a variety of contractual cash obligations and other commitments. The following table summarizes the significant contractual cash obligations as of December 31, 2004.

 
  Payments Due by Year
 
  Total
  2005
  2006-2007
  2008-2009
  After
2009

 
  (in millions)

Long-term debt   $ 933.5         $ 210.0   $ 101.3   $ 622.2
Gas-purchase contracts     183.3   $ 141.7     41.6            
Transportation contracts     113.1     10.1     19.8     19.4     63.8
Operating leases     44.6     5.1     9.5     8.1     21.9
   
 
 
 
 
  Total   $ 1,274.5   $ 156.9   $ 280.9   $ 128.8   $ 707.9
   
 
 
 
 

Critical Accounting Policies, Estimates and Assumptions

        Questar's significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 accompanying the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K/A. The Company's consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires management to make assumptions and estimates that affect the reported results of operations and financial position. The following accounting policies may involve a higher degree of complexity and judgment on the part of management.

Successful-Efforts Accounting for Gas and Oil Operations

        The Company follows the successful-efforts method of accounting for gas- and oil-property acquisitions, exploration, development and production activities. Under this method, the acquisition costs of proved and unproved properties, successful exploratory wells and development wells are capitalized. Other exploration costs, including geological and geophysical costs, the delay rental and administrative costs associated with unproved property and unsuccessful exploratory-well costs are expensed. Costs to operate and maintain wells and field equipment are expensed as incurred.

        The capitalized costs of unproved properties are generally combined and amortized over the expected holding period for such properties. Individually significant unproved properties are periodically reviewed for impairment. Capitalized costs of unproved properties are reclassified as proved property when related proved reserves are determined or charged against the impairment allowance when abandoned.

        Capitalized proved-property-acquisition costs are amortized by field using the unit-of-production method based on proved reserves. Capitalized exploratory-well and development costs are amortized similarly by field based on proved-developed reserves. The calculation takes into consideration estimated future equipment dismantlement, surface restoration and property-abandonment costs, net of estimated equipment-salvage values. Other property and equipment are generally depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives or the unit-of-production method for certain processing plants. A gain or loss is generally recognized only when an entire field is sold or abandoned, or if the unit-of-production amortization rate would be significantly affected.

        Questar E&P engages independent reservoir-engineering consultants to prepare estimates of the proved gas and oil reserves. Reserve estimates are based on a complex and highly interpretive process that is subject to continuous revision as additional production and development-drilling information becomes available.

        Long-lived assets are assessed for impairment whenever changes in facts and circumstances indicate a possible significant deterioration in the future cash flows expected to be generated on a field-by-field basis. If the undiscounted pretax cash flows are less than the net book value of the asset group, the asset value is written down to estimated fair value which is determined using discounted future net revenues.

Accounting for Derivatives

        The Company uses derivative instruments, typically fixed-price swaps, to hedge against a decline in the realized prices of its gas and oil production. Accounting rules for derivatives require that these instruments be marked to fair value at the balance-sheet reporting date. The change in fair value is reported either in net income or comprehensive income depending on the structure of the derivatives. The Company has structured virtually all energy-derivative instruments as cash-flow hedges as defined in SFAS 133 as amended. Changes in the fair value of cash-flow hedges are recorded on the balance sheet and in comprehensive income or loss until the underlying gas or oil is produced. When a derivative is terminated before its contract expires, the associated gain or loss is recognized in income over the life of the previously hedged production.

Revenue Recognition

        Revenues are recognized in the period that services are provided or products are delivered. Questar E&P uses the sales method of accounting whereby revenue is recognized for all gas, oil and NGL sold to purchasers. Revenues include estimates for the two most recent months using published commodity index prices and volumes supplied by field operators. A liability is recorded to the extent that Questar E&P has an imbalance in excess of its share of remaining reserves in an underlying property. Energy-trading revenues are presented on a gross-revenue basis.

        Questar Gas estimates revenues on a calendar basis even though bills are sent to customers on a cycle basis throughout the month. The company estimates unbilled revenues for the period from the date meters are read to the end of the month, using usage history and weather information. Approximately one-half month of revenues is estimated in any period. The gas costs and other variable costs are recorded on the same basis to ensure proper matching of revenues and expenses.

        Questar Gas's tariff provides for monthly adjustments to customer charges to approximate the impact of normal temperatures on nongas revenues. Questar Gas estimates the weather-normalization adjustment for the unbilled revenue each month. The weather-normalization adjustment is evaluated each month and reconciled on an annual basis in the summer to agree with the amount billed to customers.

Rate Regulation

        Regulatory agencies establish rates for the storage, transportation, distribution and sale of natural gas. The regulatory agencies also regulate, among other things, the extension and enlargement or abandonment of jurisdictional natural gas facilities. Regulation is intended to permit the recovery, through rates, of the cost of service, including a return on investment. Questar Gas and Questar Pipeline follow SFAS 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation," that requires the recording of regulatory assets and liabilities by companies subject to cost-based regulation. The FERC, PSCU and PSCW have accepted the recording of regulatory assets and liabilities.

Employee Benefit Plans

        The Company has pension and post-retirement-benefit plans covering a majority of its employees. The calculation of the Company's expense and liability associated with its benefit plans requires the use of a number of assumptions that the Company deems to be critical. Changes in these assumptions can result in different expenses and liabilities and actual experience can differ from these assumptions.

        Independent consultants hired by the Company use actuarial models to calculate the yearly expenses of pension and post-retirement benefits. The models consider mortality estimations, liability discount rates, long-term rate of return on investments, rate of increase of compensation, amortizing gain or loss from investments and medical-cost trend rates among the key factors. Management makes assumptions based on parameters and advice from the consultants. The Company believes that the discount rate and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets are critical assumptions.

        The assumed discount rate reflects the current rate at which the pension benefits could effectively be settled. Management considered the rates of return on high-quality, fixed income investments and compared those results with a bond-defeasance technique. The Company discounted its future pension liabilities using rates of 6.50% and 6.75% as of December 31, 2004, and 2003, respectively. A 0.25% decrease in the discount rate increases the Company's annual expense by $1.3 million.

        The expected long-term rate of return reflects the average rate of earnings expected on funds invested or to be invested in the pension plan to provide for the benefits included in the pension liability. The Company establishes the expected long-term rate of return at the beginning of each fiscal year giving consideration to the pension plan's investment mix and the historical and forecasted rates of return on these types of securities. The expected long-term rate of return determined by the Company as of January 1, 2004, and 2003, was 8.50%. Pension expense increases as the expected long-term rate of return decreases. A 0.25% decrease in the expected long-term rate of return causes a $0.6 million increase in the annual pension expense.

Recent Accounting Developments

        Refer to Note 1 accompanying the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 for a discussion of recent accounting developments.


ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

        Questar's primary market-risk exposures arise from commodity-price changes for natural gas, oil and NGL, estimation of gas and oil reserves and volatility in interest rates. Energy Trading has long-term contracts for pipeline capacity and is obligated for transportation services with no guarantee that it will be able to recover the full cost of these transportation commitments.

Commodity-Price Risk Management

        Market Resources bears the risk associated with commodity-price changes and uses gas- and oil-price-hedging arrangements in the normal course of business to limit the risk of adverse price movements. However these same arrangements typically limit future gains from favorable price movements. Hedging contracts are used for a significant share of Questar E&P-owned gas and oil production and for a portion of gas- and oil-marketing transactions and for some of Gas Management's NGL.

        Market Resources has established policies and procedures for managing commodity-price risks through the use of derivatives. Natural gas- and oil-price hedging supports Market Resources' rate of return and cash-flow targets and protects earnings from downward movements in commodity prices. The volume of hedged production and the mix of derivative instruments are regularly evaluated and adjusted by management in response to changing market conditions and reviewed periodically by the Finance and Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Market Resources may hedge up to 100% of forecast nonregulated production from proved-developed reserves when prices meet earnings and cash-flow objectives. Proved-developed production represents production from existing wells. Market Resources does not enter into derivative arrangements for speculative purposes and does not hedge undeveloped reserves or equity NGL.

        Hedges are matched to equity gas and oil production, thus qualifying as cash-flow hedges under the accounting provisions of SFAS 133 as amended and interpreted. Gas hedges are typically structured as fixed-price swaps into regional pipelines, locking in basis and hedge effectiveness. Any ineffective portion of hedges is immediately recognized in the income statement. The ineffective portion of hedges was not significant in 2004 and 2003.

        As of December 31, 2004, approximately 74.3 bcf of forecast full-year 2005 gas production was hedged at an average price of $4.90 per Mcf, net to the well.

        Market Resources enters into commodity-price-hedging arrangements with several banks and energy-trading firms. Generally the contracts allow some amount of credit before Market Resources is required to deposit collateral for out-of-the-money hedges. In some contracts the amount of credit varies depending on the credit rating assigned to Market Resources' debt. Market Resources' current ratings support individual counterparty lines of credit of $5 million to $40 million. If Market Resources credit ratings fall below investment grade (BBB- by Standard & Poor's or Baa3 by Moody's), counterparty credit generally falls to zero. In addition to the counterparty arrangements, Market Resources has a $200 million revolving-credit facility in place with banks.

        A summary of Market Resources hedging positions for equity production as of December 31, 2004, is shown below. Prices are net to the well. Currently all hedges are fixed-price swaps with creditworthy counterparties, allowing Market Resources to achieve a known price for a specific volume of production delivered into a regional sales point. The swap price is then reduced by gathering costs and adjusted for product quality to determine the net-to-the-well price.

Time periods

  Rocky
Mountains

  Midcontinent
  Total
  Rocky
Mountains

  Midcontinent
  Total
 
  Gas (in bcf)

  Average price per Mcf, net to the well

First half of 2005   24.0   13.7   37.7   $ 4.73   $ 5.33   $ 4.95
Second half of 2005   23.6   13.0   36.6     4.65     5.23     4.86
   
 
 
                 
12 months of 2005   47.6   26.7   74.3     4.69     5.28     4.90

First half of 2006

 

12.2

 

3.4

 

15.6

 

$

4.96

 

$

5.55

 

$

5.09
Second half of 2006   12.4   3.5   15.9     4.96     5.55     5.09
   
 
 
                 
12 months of 2006   24.6   6.9   31.5     4.96     5.55     5.09

First half of 2007

 

1.7

 

 

 

1.7

 

$

5.08

 

 

 

 

$

5.08
Second half of 2007   1.7       1.7     5.08           5.08
   
 
 
                 
12 months 2007   3.4       3.4     5.08           5.08

 

 

Oil (in Mbbl)

 

 

Average price per bbl, net to the well
First half of 2005   362   181   543   $ 33.41   $ 34.70   $ 33.84
Second half of 2005   368   184   552     33.41     34.70     33.84
   
 
 
                 
12 months of 2005   730   365   1,095     33.41     34.70     33.84

        Market Resources held gas-price hedging contracts covering the price exposure for about 135.6 MMdth of gas, 1.1 MMbbl of oil and 3.8 MMgal of NGL as of December 31, 2004. A year earlier Market Resources' hedging contracts covered 148.1 MMdth of natural gas. Market Resources may hedge NGL prices in its processing business.

        The following table summarizes changes in the fair value of hedging contracts from December 31, 2003, to December 31, 2004.

 
  (in thousands)
 
Net fair value of gas- and oil-hedging contracts outstanding at December 31, 2003   $ (49,098 )
Contracts realized or otherwise settled     49,074  
Increase in gas and oil prices on futures markets     (51,668 )
Contracts added     (15,809 )
   
 
Net fair value of gas- and oil-hedging contracts outstanding at December 31, 2004   $ (67,501 )
   
 

        A table of the net fair value of gas-hedging contracts as of December 31, 2004, is shown below. About 81% of the fair value of all contracts will settle and be reclassified from other comprehensive income in the next 12 months.

 
  (in thousands)
 
Contracts maturing by December 31, 2005   $ (54,845 )
Contracts maturing between December 31, 2005, and December 31, 2006     (12,276 )
Contracts maturing between December 31, 2006, and December 31, 2007     (380 )
   
 
Net fair value of gas- and oil-hedging contracts at December 31, 2004   $ (67,501 )
   
 

        The following table shows sensitivity of the mark-to-market valuation of gas and oil price-hedging contracts to changes in the market price of gas and oil.

 
  At December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
 
 
  (in millions)

 
Mark-to-market valuation—asset (liability)   $ (67.5 ) $ (49.1 )
Value if market prices of gas and oil decline by 10%     2.5     1.3  
Value if market prices of gas and oil increase by 10%     (137.5 )   (99.5 )

Credit Risk

        Market Resources requests credit support and, in some cases, prepayment from companies with unacceptable credit risks. Market Resources' five largest customers are BP Energy, Sempra Energy Trading, Coral Energy Resources LP, ONEOK Energy Marketing and Virginia Power Energy. Sales to these companies accounted for 33% of Market Resources revenues in 2004 and their accounts were current at December 31, 2004.

        Questar Pipeline requests credit support, such as letters of credit and cash deposits, from those companies that pose unfavorable credit risks. All companies posing such concerns were current on their accounts at December 31, 2004. Questar Pipeline's largest customers include Questar Gas, ChevronTexaco, Williams Energy Services, ConocoPhillips, PacifiCorp and Dominion Exploration and Production.


ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

 
Financial Statements:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Consolidated Statements of Income, three years ended December 31, 2004

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2004 and 2003

Consolidated Statements of Common Shareholders' Equity, three years ended December 31, 2004

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, three years ended December 31, 2004

Notes accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements

Financial Statement Schedules:

For the three years ended December 31, 2004
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

        All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto.


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Shareholders and Board of Directors
Questar Corporation

        We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Questar Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, common shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 8. These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.

        We conducted our audits in accordance the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Questar Corporation and subsidiaries at December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

        As discussed in Notes 1, 3 and 6 to the financial statements, Questar Corporation and subsidiaries adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets effective January 1, 2002 and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, effective January 1, 2003.

        We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of Questar Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 3, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

    /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Ernst & Young LLP

Salt Lake City, Utah
March 3, 2005


QUESTAR CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
 
  (in thousands, except per share amounts)

 
REVENUES                    
  Market Resources   $ 1,053,854   $ 751,502   $ 522,476  
  Questar Pipeline     67,844     74,981     66,275  
  Questar Gas     759,486     618,791     593,835  
  Corporate and other operations     20,247     17,914     18,081  
   
 
 
 
    TOTAL REVENUES     1,901,431     1,463,188     1,200,667  
OPERATING EXPENSES                    
  Cost of natural gas and other products sold     840,544     542,441     395,742  
  Operating and maintenance     309,090     284,266     284,317  
  Depreciation, depletion and amortization     216,175     192,382     184,952  
  Questar Gas rate-refund obligation     4,090     24,939        
  Exploration     9,239     4,498     6,086  
  Abandonment and impairment of gas, oil and other properties     15,758     4,151     11,183  
  Production and other taxes     90,948     70,681     44,192  
   
 
 
 
    TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES     1,485,844     1,123,358     926,472  
   
 
 
 
    OPERATING INCOME     415,587     339,830     274,195  
Interest and other income     6,868     7,435     56,667  
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates     5,125     5,008     11,777  
Minority interest     (270 )   222     501  
Debt expense     (68,429 )   (70,736 )   (81,121 )
   
 
 
 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND CUMULATIVE EFFECTS     358,881     281,759     262,019  
Income taxes     129,580     102,563     91,126  
   
 
 
 
INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECTS     229,301     179,196     170,893  
  Cumulative effect of accounting change for asset-retirement obligations, net of income taxes of $3,331           (5,580 )      
  Cumulative effect of accounting change for goodwill, net of $2,010 attributed to minority interest                 (15,297 )
   
 
 
 
  NET INCOME   $ 229,301   $ 173,616   $ 155,596  
   
 
 
 
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE                    
  Income before cumulative effects   $ 2.74   $ 2.17   $ 2.09  
  Cumulative effects           (0.07 )   (0.19 )
   
 
 
 
  Net income   $ 2.74   $ 2.10   $ 1.90  
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE                    
  Income before cumulative effects   $ 2.67   $ 2.13   $ 2.07  
  Cumulative effects           (0.07 )   (0.19 )
   
 
 
 
  Net income   $ 2.67   $ 2.06   $ 1.88  
   
 
 
 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding                    
  Used in basic calculation     83,759     82,697     81,782  
  Used in diluted calculation     85,722     84,190     82,573  

See notes accompanying consolidated financial statements


QUESTAR CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 
  December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
 
  (in thousands)

ASSETS            
CURRENT ASSETS            
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 3,681   $ 13,905
  Accounts receivable, net     262,373     221,954
  Unbilled gas accounts receivable     59,160     49,722
  Hedging collateral deposits           9,100
  Fair value of hedging contracts     9,334     2,283
  Inventories, at lower of average cost or market            
    Gas and oil storage     66,944     40,305
    Materials and supplies     18,993     12,184
  Prepaid expenses and other     23,690     16,356
  Purchased-gas adjustments     35,853     552
   
 
      TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS     480,028     366,361
   
 
NET PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT—successful efforts method of accounting for gas and oil properties     2,984,660     2,768,529

INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES

 

 

33,229

 

 

36,393

OTHER ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Goodwill     71,260     71,260
  Regulatory assets     32,120     37,839
  Intangible pension asset     12,394     14,652
  Fair value of hedging contracts     1,815     1,578
  Other noncurrent assets     31,152     35,019
   
 
      TOTAL OTHER ASSETS     148,741     160,348
   
 
    $ 3,646,658   $ 3,331,631
   
 

 
  December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY              
CURRENT LIABILITIES              
  Short-term debt   $ 68,000   $ 105,500  
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses              
    Accounts and other payables     282,562     181,012  
    Production and other taxes     49,779     40,124  
    Rate-refund obligations     25,343     24,939  
    Questar Gas customer credit balances     24,771     22,576  
    Interest     14,464     15,155  
    Federal income taxes     1,447     8,515  
    Deferred income taxes—current     13,624     210  
   
 
 
      Total accounts payable and accrued expenses     411,990     292,531  
  Fair value of hedging contracts     64,179     51,137  
  Current portion of long-term debt     12     55,011  
   
 
 
    TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES     544,181     504,179  

LONG-TERM DEBT, less current portion

 

 

933,195

 

 

950,189

 

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

 

 

532,809

 

 

447,005

 
ASSET-RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS     67,288     61,358  
PENSION LIABILITY     32,640     31,617  
POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS     15,279     14,388  
FAIR VALUE OF HEDGING CONTRACTS     14,471     1,822  
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES     67,237     51,944  

MINORITY INTEREST

 

 

 

 

 

7,864

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES—Note 12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMON SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Common stock—without par value; 350,000,000 shares authorized; 84,441,340 outstanding at December 31, 2004, and 83,233,951 outstanding at December 31, 2003     358,017     324,783  
  Retained earnings     1,135,718     977,780  
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (54,177 )   (41,298 )
   
 
 
    TOTAL COMMON SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY     1,439,558     1,261,265  
   
 
 
    $ 3,646,658   $ 3,331,631  
   
 
 

See notes accompanying consolidated financial statements


QUESTAR CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMMON SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 
  Common Stock
   
  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)

   
 
 
  Retained
Earnings

  Comprehensive
Income (Loss)

 
 
  Shares
  Amount
 
 
  (dollars in thousands)

 
Balances at January 1, 2002   81,523,407   $ 282,297   $ 772,408   $ 26,076        
Common stock issued   590,822     9,151                    
Common stock repurchased   (60,469 )   (1,594 )                  
2002 net income               155,596         $ 155,596  
Dividends paid ($0.725 per share)               (59,302 )            
Income tax benefit associated with stock- ased compensation         1,642                    
Adjustment of minority interest         6,093                    
Amortization of nonvested stock         1,129                    
Other comprehensive income                              
  Change in unrealized loss on energy hedges, net of income taxes of $25,651                     (42,799 )   (42,799 )
  Minimum pension liability, net of income taxes of $7,296                     (11,779 )   (11,779 )
  Unrealized loss on securities available for sale, net of income taxes of $2,005                     (3,237 )   (3,237 )
  Unrealized gain on interest-rate swaps, net of income taxes of $235                     392     392  
  Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income taxes of $2,375                     2,688     2,688  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Balances at December 31, 2002   82,053,760     298,718     868,702     (28,659 ) $ 100,861  
                         
 
Common stock issued   1,293,439     21,855                    
Common stock repurchased   (113,248 )   (3,462 )                  
2003 net income               173,616         $ 173,616  
Dividends paid ($0.78 per share)               (64,538 )            
Income tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation         4,462                    
Amortization of nonvested stock         2,041                    
Acquisition of minority interest         1,169                    
Other comprehensive income                              
  Change in unrealized loss on energy hedges, net of income taxes of $9,429                     (15,755 )   (15,755 )
  Minimum pension liability, net of income taxes of $1,930                     3,116     3,116  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Balances at December 31, 2003   83,233,951     324,783     977,780     (41,298 ) $ 160,977  
                         
 
Common stock issued   1,335,103     29,145                    
Common stock repurchased   (127,714 )   (4,778 )                  
2004 net income               229,301         $ 229,301  
Dividends paid ($0.85 per share)               (71,363 )            
Income tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation         6,479                    
Amortization of nonvested stock         2,388                    
Other comprehensive income                              
  Change in unrealized loss on energy hedges, net of income taxes of $5,677                     (9,515 )   (9,515 )
  Minimum pension liability, net of income taxes of $2,084                     (3,364 )   (3,364 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
Balances at December 31, 2004   84,441,340   $ 358,017   $ 1,135,718   $ (54,177 ) $ 216,422  
   
 
 
 
 
 

See notes accompanying consolidated financial statements


QUESTAR CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
 
   
  (in thousands)

 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES                    
  Net income   $ 229,301   $ 173,616   $ 155,596  
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from operating activities:                    
    Depreciation, depletion and amortization     225,879     201,809     194,369  
    Deferred income taxes and investment-tax credits     106,978     80,811     78,516  
    Amortization of nonvested stock     2,388     2,041     1,129  
    Abandonment and impairment of gas, oil and related properties     15,758     4,151     11,183  
    Net (gain) loss from asset sales     (336 )   525     (43,683 )
    Impairment of partnership interest                 2,956  
    Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates, net of cash distributions     3,164     1,974     2,257  
    Minority interest and other     286     (166 )   (590 )
    Cumulative effect of accounting changes           5,580     15,297  
   
 
 
 
      583,418     470,341     417,030  
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities                    
    Accounts receivable     (40,779 )   (69,357 )   14,488  
    Inventories     (33,448 )   (12,144 )   8,964  
    Prepaid expenses and other     (7,312 )   (1,348 )   (374 )
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses     96,883     25,900     (19,822 )
    Rate-refund obligations     404     24,939        
    Federal income taxes     (1,432 )   2,412     18,310  
    Purchased-gas adjustments     (35,301 )   (13,834 )   21,578  
    Other assets     1,277     2,977     10,399  
    Other liabilities     18,172     6,487     1,775  
   
 
 
 
    NET CASH PROVIDED FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES     581,882     436,373     472,348  
INVESTING ACTIVITIES                    
  Capital expenditures                    
    Purchase of property, plant and equipment     (441,483 )   (309,928 )   (339,320 )
    Other investments     (1,000 )   (15,411 )   (23,333 )
   
 
 
 
      Total capital expenditures     (442,483 )   (325,339 )   (362,653 )
  Proceeds from disposition of assets     7,121     10,975     280,645  
   
 
 
 
    NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES     (435,362 )   (314,364 )   (82,008 )
FINANCING ACTIVITIES                    
  Common stock issued     29,145     21,855     9,151  
  Common stock repurchased     (4,778 )   (3,462 )   (1,594 )
  Long-term debt issued           110,000     325,000  
  Long-term debt repaid     (71,993 )   (249,990 )   (179,120 )
  Increase (decrease) in short-term debt     (37,500 )   56,500     (481,246 )
  Decrease in cash held in escrow                 6,838  
  Other financing     (255 )   (110 )   272  
  Dividends paid     (71,363 )   (64,538 )   (59,302 )
   
 
 
 
    NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES     (156,744 )   (129,745 )   (380,001 )
  Foreign-currency-translation adjustment                 2  
   
 
 
 
Change in cash and cash equivalents     (10,224 )   (7,736 )   10,341  
Beginning cash and cash equivalents     13,905     21,641     11,300  
   
 
 
 
Ending cash and cash equivalents   $ 3,681   $ 13,905   $ 21,641  
   
 
 
 

See notes accompanying consolidated financial statements


QUESTAR CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business

        Questar Corporation is a natural gas-focused energy company with three principal lines of business—gas and oil exploration and production, interstate gas transmission, and retail gas distribution. Market Resources subsidiaries conduct gas and oil exploration, development and production, gas gathering and processing, wholesale gas and oil marketing, and gas storage. Questar Pipeline provides interstate natural gas transmission, storage and gas processing and treating services. Questar Gas conducts retail natural gas distribution.

Principles of Consolidation

        The consolidated financial statements contain the accounts of Questar Corporation and subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and with the instructions of Form 10-K and Regulations S-X and S-K. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates

        Questar uses the equity method to account for investments in affiliates where it does not have control. Generally, the Company's investment in these affiliates equals the underlying equity in net assets.

Use of Estimates

        The preparation of consolidated financial statements and notes in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Revenue Recognition

        Market Resources recognizes revenues in the period that services are provided or products are delivered. Revenues reflect the impact of price-hedging instruments. Revenues are accounted for using the sales method, whereby revenue is recognized on all gas and oil sold to purchasers. A liability is recorded to the extent that the company has sold volumes in excess of its share of remaining reserves in an underlying property. The company's imbalance obligations at December 31, 2004, and 2003, were $3.0 million and $2.4 million, respectively. Energy-trading revenues are recognized on a gross basis.

        Questar Gas records revenues for gas delivered to residential and commercial customers but not billed at the end of the accounting period. The impact of abnormal weather on gas-distribution earnings is significantly reduced by a weather-normalization adjustment. The straight fixed-variable rate design used by Questar Pipeline, which allows for recovery of substantially all fixed costs in the demand or reservation charge, reduces the earnings impact of volume changes on gas-transportation and storage operations. Rate-regulated companies may collect revenues subject to possible refunds and establish reserves pending final orders from regulatory agencies.

Regulation

        Questar Gas is regulated by the Public Service Commission of Utah (PSCU) and the Public Service Commission of Wyoming (PSCW). The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has contracted with the PSCU for rate oversight of Questar Gas's operations in a small area of southeastern Idaho. Questar Pipeline is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Market Resources through its subsidiary Clear Creek Storage Company, LLC, operates a gas-storage facility under the jurisdiction of the FERC. These regulatory agencies establish rates for the storage, transportation and sale of natural gas. The regulatory agencies also regulate, among other things, the extension and enlargement or abandonment of jurisdictional natural gas facilities. Regulation is intended to permit the recovery, through rates, of the cost of service, including a return on investment.

        The financial statements of rate-regulated businesses are presented in accordance with regulatory requirements. Methods of allocating costs to time periods, in order to match revenues and expenses, may differ from those of other businesses because of cost-allocation methods used in establishing rates.

Purchased-Gas Adjustments

        Questar Gas accounts for purchased-gas costs in accordance with procedures authorized by the PSCU and the PSCW. Purchased-gas costs that are different from those provided for in present rates are accumulated and recovered or credited through future rate changes. Questar Gas may hedge a portion of its natural gas supply to mitigate price fluctuations for gas-distribution customers. The benefits and the costs of hedging are included in the purchased-gas-adjustment account. The regulatory commissions allow Questar Gas to record periodic mark-to-market adjustments for commodity price-hedging contracts in the purchased-gas-adjustment account.

Other Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

        Rate-regulated businesses may be permitted to defer recognition of certain costs, which is different from the accounting treatment required of nonrate-regulated businesses. Questar Gas recorded a regulatory asset at January 1, 2003, amounting to $6.6 million, representing a retroactive charge for the abandonment costs associated with gas wells operated on its behalf by Wexpro. The regulatory asset will be reduced over approximately 18 years following an amortization schedule or as cash is paid to plug and abandon wells. Gains and losses on the reacquisition of debt by rate-regulated companies are deferred and amortized as debt expense over either the would-be remaining life of the retired debt or the life of the replacement debt. The reacquired debt costs had a weighted-average life of approximately 12 years as of December 31, 2004. The cost of the early retirement windows offered to employees of rate-regulated subsidiaries was deferred and amortized over a five-year period, which will conclude in 2005. The rate-regulated businesses are allowed to recover certain deferred taxes from customers. Production taxes on cost-of-service gas production are recorded when the gas is produced and recovered from customers when taxes are paid, generally within 12 months. A liability has been recorded for postretirement medical costs allowed in rates that exceed actual costs.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

        Cash equivalents consist principally of repurchase agreements with maturities of three months or less. In almost all cases, the repurchase agreements are highly liquid investments in overnight securities made through commercial-bank accounts that result in available funds the next business day.

Property, Plant and Equipment

        Property, plant and equipment is stated at historical cost. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred.

Gas and oil properties

        Questar E&P uses the successful-efforts method to account for gas and oil properties. The costs of acquiring leaseholds, drilling development wells, drilling successful exploratory wells, and purchasing related support equipment and facilities are capitalized under the successful-efforts method. The costs of unsuccessful exploratory wells are charged to expense when it is determined that such wells have not located proved reserves. Costs of geological and geophysical studies and other exploratory activities are expensed as incurred. Costs associated with production and general corporate activities are expensed in the period incurred. A gain or loss is generally recognized only when an entire field is sold or abandoned, or if the unit-of-production amortization rate would be significantly affected.

        The capitalized costs of unproved properties are generally combined and amortized over the expected holding period for such properties. Individually significant unproved properties are periodically reviewed for impairment. Capitalized costs of unproved properties are reclassified as proved property when related proved reserves are determined or charged against the impairment allowance when abandoned.

Cost-of-service gas and oil operations

        The successful-efforts method of accounting is used for "cost-of-service" gas and oil properties owned by Questar Gas and managed and developed by Wexpro, a subsidiary of Market Resources. Cost-of-service gas and oil properties are properties for which the operations and return on investment are subject to the Wexpro Agreement (see Note 15). In accordance with the agreement, production from the gas properties operated by Wexpro is delivered to Questar Gas at Wexpro's cost of providing this service. That cost includes a return on Wexpro's investment. Oil produced from the cost-of-service properties is sold at market prices. Proceeds are credited pursuant to the terms of the agreement, allowing Questar Gas to share in the proceeds for the purpose of reducing natural gas rates.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

        Capitalized proved-leasehold costs are depleted using the unit-of-production method based on proved reserves on a field basis. All other capitalized costs associated with gas and oil properties are depreciated using the unit-of-production method based on proved-developed reserves on a field basis. The Company capitalizes an estimate of the fair value of future abandonment costs, less estimated future salvage values, and depreciates those costs over the life of the related asset.

        Average depreciation, depletion and amortization rates used in the 12 months ended December 31, were as follows.

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
Market Resources                  
  Gas and oil properties, per Mcfe                  
    United States   $ 1.02   $ 0.96   $ 0.91
    Canada (in U.S. dollars)             0.98
      Combined U.S. and Canada     1.02     0.96     0.92
  Cost-of-service gas and oil properties, per Mcfe     0.69     0.65     0.64

        For the remaining Company properties, the provision for depreciation, depletion and amortization is based upon rates that will systematically charge the costs of assets against income over the estimated useful lives of those assets. The investment in natural gas-gathering and processing facilities is charged to expense using either the straight-line or unit-of-production method. For depreciation purposes, major categories of fixed assets in the gas-distribution, transmission and storage operations are grouped together and depreciated on a straight-line method. Under the group method, salvage value is not considered when determining depreciation rates. Gains and losses on asset disposals are recorded as adjustments in accumulated depreciation. Gas-production facilities are depreciated using the unit-of-production method. The Company has not capitalized future- abandonment costs on a majority of its long-lived distribution and transmission assets due to a lack of a legal obligation to abandon the assets and to an indeterminable date of abandonment. If required, an obligation will be recognized when an abandonment date is known.

        Average depreciation, depletion and amortization rates used in the 12 months ended December 31, were as follows.

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
Questar Pipeline transmission, processing and storage     3.4 %   3.2 %   3.2 %
Questar Gas                    
  Distribution plant     3.7 %   3.7 %   3.9 %
  Gas wells, per Mcf   $ 0.11   $ 0.13   $ 0.14  

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

        Proved gas and oil properties are evaluated on a field-by-field basis for potential impairment. Other properties are evaluated on a specific-asset basis or in groups of similar assets, as applicable. Impairment is indicated when a triggering event occurs and the sum of the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows of an evaluated asset is less than its carrying value. Triggering events could include an impairment of gas and oil reserves caused by mechanical problems, a faster-than-expected decline of reserves, lease-ownership issues, and/or an other-than-temporary decline in gas and oil prices. If impairment is indicated, fair value is calculated using a discounted-cash-flow approach. Cash-flow estimates require forecasts and assumptions for many years into the future for a variety of factors, including commodity prices and operating costs.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

        Intangible assets consist primarily of goodwill acquired through business combinations. Goodwill represents the excess of the cost over the fair value of net assets of acquired businesses. Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested for impairment at a minimum of once a year or when a triggering event occurs. Annual impairment tests are conducted in the fourth quarter. If a triggering event occurs, the undiscounted net cash flows of the asset or entity to which the goodwill relates are evaluated. Impairment is indicated if undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of the assets. The amount of the impairment is measured using a discounted-cash-flow model considering future revenues, operating costs, a risk-adjusted discount rate and other factors.

Capitalized Interest and Allowance for Funds Used During Construction (AFUDC)

        The Company capitalizes interest costs when applicable. Under provisions of the Wexpro Agreement, the company capitalizes AFUDC on cost-of-service construction projects. The FERC requires the capitalization of AFUDC during the construction period of rate-regulated plant and equipment. AFUDC amounted to $0.3 million in 2004, $1.1 million in 2003 and $3.5 million in 2002 and is included in Interest and Other Income in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Debt expense was reduced by $0.2 million, $0.1 million and $1.3 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Hedging Instruments

        The Company may elect to designate a derivative instrument as a hedge of exposure to changes in fair value, cash flows or foreign currencies. If the hedged exposure is a fair-value exposure, the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is recognized in earnings in the period of the change together with the offsetting gain or loss from the change in fair value of the hedged item. If the hedged exposure is a cash-flow exposure, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported initially as a component of other comprehensive income and subsequently reclassified into earnings when the forecasted transaction affects earnings. Any amount excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness, as well as the ineffective portion of the gain or loss, is reported in earnings in the current period.

        A derivative instrument qualifies as a cash-flow hedge if all of the following tests are met:

        When the designated item associated with a derivative instrument matures, is sold, extinguished or terminated, derivative gains or losses are included in income in the same period that the underlying production or other contractual commitment is delivered. When a derivative instrument is associated with an anticipated transaction that is no longer probable, the gain or loss on the derivative is reclassified from other comprehensive income and recognized currently in the results of operations. When a derivative is terminated before its contract expires, the associated gain or loss is recognized in income over the life of the previously hedged production.

        Physical Contracts:    Physical-hedge contracts have a nominal quantity and a fixed price. Contracts representing both purchases and sales settle monthly based on quantities valued at a fixed price. Purchase contracts fix the purchase price paid and are recorded as cost of sales in the month the contracts are settled. Sales contracts fix the sales price received and are recorded as revenues in the month they are settled. Due to the nature of the physical market, there is a one-month delay for the cash settlement. Market Resources accrues for the settlement of contracts in the current month's revenues and cost of sales.

        Financial Contracts:    Financial contracts are contracts that are net settled in cash without delivery of product. Financial contracts also have a nominal quantity and exchange an index price for a fixed price, and are net settled with the brokers as the price bulletins become available. Financial contracts are recorded in cost of sales in the month of settlement.

Credit Risk

        The Rocky Mountain and Midcontinent regions of the United States constitute the Company's primary market areas. Exposure to credit risk may be affected by the concentration of customers in these regions due to changes in economic or other conditions. Customers include individuals and numerous commercial and industrial enterprises that may react differently to changing conditions. Management believes that its credit-review procedures, loss reserves, customer deposits and collection procedures have adequately provided for usual and customary credit-related losses. Commodity-based hedging arrangements also expose the Company to credit risk. The Company monitors the creditworthiness of its counterparties, which generally are major financial institutions and energy companies. Loss reserves are periodically reviewed for adequacy and may be established on a specific-case basis. Market Resources requests credit support and, in some cases, fungible collateral from companies with unacceptable credit risks. The Company has a master-netting agreement with some customers that allows the offsetting of receivables and payables in a default situation.

        Bad-debt expense amounted to $5.5 million, $3.7 million and $7.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The allowance for bad-debt expenses was $6.1 million and $6.7 million at December 31, 2004, and 2003, respectively. Questar Gas's retail-gas operations account for a majority of the bad-debt expense. Questar Gas estimates bad-debt expense as 0.9% of general-service revenues with periodic adjustments. Uncollected accounts are generally written off five months after gas is delivered and interest is no longer accrued.

Income Taxes

        Questar and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. Deferred income taxes have been provided for temporary differences caused by differences between the book and tax-carrying amounts of assets and liabilities. These differences create taxable or tax-deductible amounts for future periods. Questar Gas and Questar Pipeline use the deferral method to account for investment-tax credits as required by regulatory commissions.

Earnings Per Share (EPS)

        Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the accounting period. Diluted EPS includes the potential increase in outstanding shares that could result from exercising in-the-money stock options plus the estimated number of non-vested restricted shares.

Stock-Based Compensation

        The Company accounts for employee stock-based compensation using the intrinsic-value method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APBO) 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and related interpretations. No compensation expense is recorded because the exercise price of options equals the market price on the date of grant. Compensation expense for awards of restricted shares are valued at market price on the grant date and amortized over the vesting period. A table showing income adjusted for stock-based compensation follows.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
Net income, as reported   $ 229,301   $ 173,616   $ 155,596  
Deduct: Stock-based compensation expense determined under fair-value-based methods, net of income tax     (2,639 )   (5,277 )   (5,100 )
   
 
 
 
Pro forma net income   $ 226,662   $ 168,339   $ 150,496  
   
 
 
 
Earnings per share                    
Basic, as reported   $ 2.74   $ 2.10   $ 1.90  
Basic, pro forma     2.71     2.04     1.84  
Diluted, as reported     2.67     2.06     1.88  
Diluted, pro forma     2.64     2.00     1.82  

Comprehensive Income

        Comprehensive income is the sum of net income as reported in the Consolidated Statement of Income and other comprehensive income transactions reported in the Consolidated Statement of Common Shareholders' Equity. Other comprehensive income or loss is the result of changes in the market value of gas and oil cash-flow derivatives and recognition of additional pension liability. These transactions are not the culmination of the earnings process, but result from periodically adjusting historical balances to fair value. Income or loss is realized when the underlying energy product is sold and pension costs are accrued.

        The balances of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes, at December 31, were as follows.

 
  2004
  2003
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
Unrealized loss on energy-hedging transactions   $ (42,150 ) $ (32,635 )
Additional pension liability     (12,027 )   (8,663 )
   
 
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   $ (54,177 ) $ (41,298 )
   
 
 

Business Segments

        Questar has three primary segments: Market Resources, Questar Pipeline and Questar Gas. Line-of-business information is presented according to senior management's basis for evaluating performance considering differences in the nature of products, services and regulation. Certain intersegment sales include intercompany profit.

Recent Accounting Developments

        The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) concluded that all companies would be required to measure and record the costs for stock-based awards using estimated fair value on the date of grant. SFAS 123R "Share-Based Payments," issued in December 2004 applies to all equity-based awards granted, modified or settled for periods beginning July 1, 2005. Questar issues stock options and nonvested shares to employees and non-employee directors. Currently Questar accounts for stock options under the intrinsic-value method where no expense is recorded. SFAS 123R will require recognition of costs in the consolidated statement of income. Questar estimates that the impact of expensing the value of currently issued stock options is not material.

        In February 2005, the FASB Staff posted its proposed FSP FAS 19-a, "Accounting for Suspended Well Costs." At issue is the current requirement of SFAS 19, "Financial Accounting and Reporting by Oil and Gas Producing Companies," to capitalize the costs of drilling exploratory wells pending determination of whether the well has found proved reserves. The capitalized costs become part of the entity's wells, equipment, and facilities if the well successfully located proved reserves. However, if the well has not found proved reserves, the capitalized costs of drilling the well are expensed, net of any salvage value. Questions have arisen as to whether there are circumstances that would permit the continued capitalization of exploratory-well costs beyond the one-year limit specified in SFAS 19 other than when additional exploration wells are necessary to justify major capital expenditures and those wells are underway or firmly planned for the near future. In its proposal, the FASB Staff states that exploratory well costs could be capitalized beyond a one-year limit if the well has found a sufficient quantity of reserves to justify its completion as a producing well and the entity is making progress assessing reserves and the economic and operational viability of the project. Comments on the proposed FASB Staff position are due March 7, 2005. The Company drills exploratory wells in the onshore United States in petroleum-producing regions with good access to downstream markets. Factors such as weather, seasonal access restrictions on federal land, or delays caused by permitting production facilities can cause minor delays in connecting successful exploratory wells to downstream markets, but those delays are typically less than one year. The Company currently has no completed exploratory wells classified as suspended.

        In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS 153 "Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets, an amendment of APBO 29" to address the accounting for nonmonetary exchanges of productive assets. SFAS 153 amends APBO 29, "Accounting for Nonmonetary Exchanges," which established a narrow exception from fair-value measurement for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets. SFAS 153 eliminates that exception and replaces it with an exception for exchanges that do not have commercial substance. Under SFAS 153 nonmonetary exchanges are required to be accounted for at fair value, recognizing any gains or losses, if their fair value is determinable within reasonable limits and the transaction has commercial substance. SFAS 153 specifies that a nonmonetary exchange has commercial substance if future cash flows of the entity are expected to change significantly as a result of the exchange. The provisions of SFAS 153 apply to nonmonetary asset exchanges in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005. Adoption of SFAS 153 is not expected to have a material impact on Questar's financial position or results of operations.

Reclassifications

        Certain reclassifications were made to prior-year consolidated financial statements to conform with the 2004 presentation of fair value hedging contracts, customer-credit balances, additional detail of other long-term liabilities and capital expenditure accruals.

Note 2—Rate-Refund Obligations

Questar Gas-Processing Dispute

        On August 1, 2003, the Utah Supreme Court issued an order reversing an August 2000 decision made by the PSCU concerning certain natural gas-processing costs incurred by Questar Gas. The court ruled that the PSCU did not comply with its statutory responsibilities and regulatory procedures when approving a stipulation in Questar Gas's 1999 general rate case. The stipulation permitted Questar Gas to collect $5.0 million per year, a portion of the processing costs, through May 2004. The Committee of Consumer Services, a Utah state agency, appealed the PSCU's decision, arguing that the PSCU had failed to explicitly address whether the costs were prudent.

        As a result of the court's order, Questar Gas recorded a liability for a potential refund to gas-distribution customers. A total liability of $29.0 million, including $4.1 million recorded in the first nine months of 2004, includes revenue received for processing costs and interest from June 1999 through September 2004.

        On August 30, 2004, the PSCU ruled that Questar Gas failed in 1999 to prove that its decision to contract for gas processing with an affiliate was prudent. The PSCU rejected the stipulation, denied the request for rate recovery and ordered the refund of gas-processing costs previously collected in rates. Because Questar Gas had previously accrued a liability for the refund, the order did not have a material impact on 2004 earnings. Questar Gas reduced its rates on September 1, 2004, to eliminate the collection of gas-processing costs, and on October 1 began refunding previously collected costs, plus interest, over a 12-month period. As of December 31, 2004, Questar Gas had a liability of $20.6 million of remaining refunds to customers.

        In response to a Questar Gas petition, the PSCU clarified that its order did not preclude recovery of ongoing and certain past-processing costs. Ongoing processing costs are approximately $6 million per year. Questar Gas has requested ongoing rate coverage for gas-processing costs in its pass-through filings, but is not currently collecting these costs in rates. The PSCU has conducted several technical conferences to determine what actions should be taken to manage the heat content of the gas supply. On January 31, 2005, Questar Gas filed a rate request with the PSCU to recover $5.7 million per year of gas-processing costs through its gas-balance account.

Questar Pipeline Fuel-Gas Reimbursement

        During the fourth quarter of 2004, the FERC issued an order to Questar Pipeline in a case involving the annual fuel-gas reimbursement percentage (FGRP). As a result Questar Pipeline recorded a revenue reduction in 2004 of $4.7 million, which included $2.3 million for prior years, as a potential credit to customers. The FERC previously granted Questar Pipeline's request to increase the FGRP effective January 1, 2004. In its order, the FERC approved the FGRP but also ruled that Questar Pipeline is required to credit to transmission customers proceeds from the sale of natural gas liquids recovered from its hydrocarbon dew point facilities at the Clay Basin storage field in northeastern Utah Questar Pipeline has filed a request for rehearing with the FERC. Questar Pipeline believes that any credit to customers should be reduced by the plant's cost of service. Until the issue is resolved, Questar Pipeline will continue to accrue a potential liability equal to any liquid revenues from the dew point plant.

        Questar Pipeline made an annual FGRP filing with the FERC on November 30, 2004, requesting an increase in the FGRP to 2.6%. On December 30, 2004, the FERC approved the request on an interim basis subject to refund and final resolution of the 2004 FGRP proceeding. Several shippers have filed comments with the FERC protesting the FGRP level.

Note 3—Asset-Retirement Obligations (ARO)

        On January 1, 2003, Questar adopted SFAS 143 "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations." SFAS 143 addresses the financial accounting and reporting of the fair value of legal obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets. The Company's ARO applies primarily to plugging and abandonment costs associated with gas and oil wells and certain other properties. The fair value of abandonment costs is estimated and depreciated over the life of the related assets. ARO are adjusted to present value each period through an accretion calculation using a credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate.

        Changes in asset-retirement obligations for the 12 months ended December 31 were as follows.

 
  2004
  2003
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
Balance at January 1,   $ 61,358   $ 56,493  
Accretion     2,868     3,667  
Additions     3,159     2,268  
Revisions     695        
Retirements and properties sold     (792 )   (1,070 )
   
 
 
Balance at December 31,   $ 67,288   $ 61,358  
   
 
 

        The accounting treatment of reclamation activities associated with ARO for properties administered under the Wexpro Agreement is spelled out in a guideline letter between Wexpro and the Utah Division of Public Utilities and the staff of the PSCW. Pursuant to the stipulation, Wexpro collects and deposits in trust certain funds related to estimated ARO costs. The funds are used to satisfy retirement obligations as the properties are abandoned. At December 31, 2004, approximately $2.9 million was held in this trust invested in a short-term bond index fund.

        Excluding the cumulative effect of implementation, the pro forma net-income effect of the retroactive application of SFAS 143 as of January 1, 2002, would not have been material. The pro forma ARO as of January 1, 2002, was $53.2 million.

Note 4—Property, Plant and Equipment

        The details of property, plant and equipment and accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization follow.

 
  December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
 
  (in thousands)

Property, plant and equipment            
Market Resources            
  Gas and oil properties            
    Proved properties   $ 1,602,143   $ 1,315,330
    Unproved properties, not being depleted     62,678     95,208
    Support equipment and facilities     16,932     22,569
   
 
      1,681,753     1,433,107
    Cost-of-service gas and oil properties     516,162     472,983
    Gathering, processing and marketing     258,417     243,081
   
 
      2,456,332     2,149,171
   
 
Questar Pipeline     1,055,030     1,034,958
Questar Gas     1,315,537     1,240,553
Corporate and other operations     50,872     78,113
   
 
      4,877,771     4,502,795
   
 

Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

Market Resources            
  Gas and oil properties     600,366     501,825
  Cost-of-service gas and oil properties     262,523     239,035
  Gathering, processing and marketing     74,378     75,985
   
 
      937,267     816,845
   
 
Questar Pipeline     355,407     336,206
Questar Gas     572,290     532,747
Corporate and other operations     28,147     48,468
   
 
      1,893,111     1,734,266
   
 
Net Property, Plant and Equipment   $ 2,984,660   $ 2,768,529
   
 

        Questar E&P proved and unproved leaseholds had a net book value of $361.9 million and $385.0 million at December 31, 2004, and 2003, respectively. The Company currently has no completed exploratory wells classified as unproved properties, not being depleted.

Note 5—Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliates

        Questar, indirectly through subsidiaries, has interests in businesses accounted for on the equity basis. As of December 31, 2004, and 2003, these affiliates did not have debt obligations with third-party lenders. The principal business activities, form of organization and percentage ownership are listed below. Percentage of voting control and economic interest are identical. Canyon Creek Compression Co., a general partnership (15%) and Rendezvous Gas Services LLC, a limited-liability corporation (50%), are engaged in gathering and compressing natural gas. Overthrust Pipeline Co. and TransColorado Gas Transmission Co. conducted transportation activities. The remaining interest in Overthrust was acquired in 2002 and is included in the consolidated financial statements. TransColorado was sold in 2002. The remaining 50% interest in the Blacks Fork Gas Processing Co. was acquired in 2002.

        Summarized results of the partnerships representing 100% interest are listed below.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
  (in thousands)

Gas-gathering and processing partnerships                  
Revenues   $ 16,857   $ 15,916   $ 25,490
Operating income     10,280     9,775     8,805
Income before income taxes     10,312     9,807     8,869
Current assets, at end of period     6,626     5,167     11,806
Noncurrent assets, at end of period     66,010     74,111     45,704
Current liabilities, at end of period     1,338     909     5,178
Noncurrent liabilities, at end of period     1,073     1,589     2,182
Transportation partnerships                  
Revenues               $ 24,992
Operating income                 14,732
Income before income taxes                 14,791

Note 6—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

        The Company adopted SFAS 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," as of January 1, 2002, and performed an initial test that indicated an impairment of goodwill acquired by a subsidiary of Questar InfoComm. The impairment amounted to $17.3 million, of which $15.3 million, or $0.19 per diluted common share, was attributed to Questar InfoComm's share and reported as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting for goodwill. The remaining $2 million loss was attributed to minority shareholders. Net income reported for 2002 was $155.6 million, or $1.88 per diluted share, including a goodwill impairment. Net income was $170.9 million, or $2.07 per diluted share, before the goodwill impairment. Neither the impairment resulting from the change in accounting method nor the amortization of goodwill was deductible for income tax purposes.

        The balance in goodwill in each line of business is listed below.

 
  Consolidated
  Market
Resources

  Questar Pipeline
  Questar Gas
 
  (in thousands)

Balance at January 1, 2003   $ 71,133   $ 61,423   $ 4,058   $ 5,652
Adjustment     127           127      
   
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2003 and 2004   $ 71,260   $ 61,423   $ 4,185   $ 5,652
   
 
 
 

        As of December 31, 2004, the Company held about $3.2 million of intangible assets with indefinite lives. Intangible assets, primarily rights of way for pipelines, subject to amortization, amounted to $11.2 million, net of accumulated amortization of $2.7 million. The weighted-average amortization period was 32 years.

Note 7—Other Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

        In addition to purchased-gas adjustments, the Company has other regulatory assets and liabilities. The regulated entities recover these costs but do not receive a return on these assets. A list of regulatory assets follows.

 
  December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
 
  (in thousands)

Cost of reacquired debt   $ 17,329   $ 17,954
Asset-retirement obligations cost-of-service gas wells     5,097     8,256
Deferred production taxes     4,258     3,090
Early retirement costs     2,418     5,370
Income taxes recoverable from customers     1,276     3,010
Questar Gas pipeline-integrity costs     1,042      
Other     700     159
   
 
    $ 32,120   $ 37,839
   
 

        Questar Pipeline has accrued a regulatory liability for the collection of postretirement medical costs allowed in rates which exceeded actual charges. The balance as of December 31 was $3.6 million in 2004 and $3.2 million in 2003. Questar Pipeline has a regulatory liability for a refund of income taxes to customers amounting to $0.6 million and $1.3 million at December 31, 2004, and 2003, respectively. The balance will be refunded to customers through 2016.

Note 8—Debt

        The Company has short-term line-of-credit arrangements with several banks under which it may borrow up to $210 million. These credit lines have interest rates generally below the prime-interest rate. Commercial-paper borrowings with initial maturities of less than one year are backed by the short-term line-of-credit arrangements. The details of short-term debt are as follows.

 
  December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
Commercial paper with variable-interest rates   $ 68,000   $ 105,500  
Weighted-average interest rate     2.45 %   1.11 %

        The details of long-term debt at December 31 are listed below. All notes and the revolving-credit loan are unsecured obligations and rank equally with all other unsecured liabilities. At December 31, 2004, Market Resources could pay a dividend of $334 million to the parent company without violating the terms of its debt covenants.

 
  December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
Market Resources              
  7.0% notes due 2007   $ 200,000   $ 200,000  
  7.5% notes due 2011     150,000     150,000  
  Revolving-credit loan           55,000  
Questar Pipeline              
  Medium-term notes 5.85% to 7.55%, due 2008 to 2018     310,400     310,400  
Questar Gas              
  Medium-term notes 5.02% to 7.58%, due 2007 to 2018     273,000     290,000  
Corporate and other operations     112     123  
   
 
 
  Total long-term debt outstanding     933,512     1,005,523  
Less current portion     (12 )   (55,011 )
Less unamortized-debt discount     (305 )   (323 )
   
 
 
    $ 933,195   $ 950,189  
   
 
 

        Maturities of long-term debt for the five years following December 31, 2004, are as follows.

 
  (in thousands)
2005   $ 12
2006     14
2007     210,016
2008     101,318
2009     20

        Cash paid for interest was $66.8 million in 2004, $70.2 million in 2003 and $77.3 million in 2002.

        On June 21, 2004, Questar Gas called $17 million in medium-term notes that carried an interest rate of 8.12%. A call premium of $0.7 million is being amortized over the remaining life of the original notes in accordance with regulatory treatment.

        On March 19, 2004, Market Resources completed a $200 million credit facility with a consortium of banks that replaced an existing facility that would have expired in April 2004. The facility allows for floating-rate interest and revolving loans of various maturities until March 2009. Key financial covenants place limits on minimum levels of cash flow compared to interest expense and maximum amounts of debt as a percentage of total capital. The interest rate credit spread on borrowings varies with changes in Market Resources' credit rating, but a reduction in or loss of credit ratings does not trigger an event of default under the facility.

Note 9—Earnings Per Share (EPS) and Common Stock

Earnings per share

        Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the accounting period. Diluted EPS includes the potential increase in the number of outstanding shares that could result from the exercise of in-the-money stock options plus the estimated number of nonvested restricted shares. A reconciliation of the components of basic and diluted shares used in the EPS calculation follows.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
  (in thousands)

Weighted-average basic common shares outstanding   83,759   82,697   81,782
Potential number of shares issuable from exercising stock options and nonvested shares   1,963   1,493   791
   
 
 
Weighted-average diluted common shares Outstanding   85,722   84,190   82,573
   
 
 

        In 2004, Questar issued shares under the terms of the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (Reinvestment Plan) and the Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (LTSIP).

Reinvestment Plan

        The Reinvestment Plan allows parties interested in owning Questar common stock to reinvest dividends or invest additional funds in common stock. The Company can issue new shares or buy shares in the open market to meet shareholders' purchase requests. The Reinvestment Plan issued total shares of 185,809, 208,400 and 112,761 in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. At December 31, 2004, 1,193,945 shares were reserved for future issuance.

Employee Investment Plan (EIP)

        The EIP allows eligible employees to purchase shares of Questar common stock or other investments through payroll deduction. The Company matches 80% of employees' pre-tax purchases up to a maximum of 6% of their qualifying earnings. In addition, each year the Company makes a nonmatching contribution of $200 to each eligible employee. The Company's expense equals its contribution. Questar's expense for the EIP amounted to $5.8 million, $5.5 million and $5.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The number of shares in the EIP increased by 143,436 shares, 176,626 shares and 61,010 shares in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Contributions to the EIP for part of 2002 were made through shares purchased on the open market.

Long-term Stock-Incentive Plan

        The Company has an omnibus LTSIP for officers, directors, and employees. The current plan was amended March 1, 2001, and approved by shareholders to combine optionees under one plan and reserve an additional 8,000,000 shares. The Company's separate Stock Option Plan for Directors terminated, but still has outstanding options granted. Stock options for participants have 10-year terms. Options held by employees vest in four equal, annual installments beginning six months after grant. Options granted to nonemployee directors generally vest in one installment six months after grant. Options vest on an accelerated basis in the event of retirement and have post-retirement exercise periods. The option price equals the closing market price of the stock on the grant date; therefore no compensation expense is recorded. There were 5,856,016 shares available for future grant at December 31, 2004.

        Transactions involving options in the stock plans are summarized as follows.

 
  Outstanding
Options

  Price Range
  Weighted-Average
Exercise Price

Balance at January 1, 2002   4,145,546   $9.81 - $28.01   $ 20.20
Granted   1,364,000   22.95 - 23.95     23.02
Cancelled   (53,600 ) 15.00 - 28.01     22.62
Exercised   (480,207 ) 9.81 - 22.95     16.57
   
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2002   4,975,739   13.69 - 28.01     21.29
Granted   1,156,500   27.11 - 29.71     27.18
Cancelled   (13,250 ) 22.95 - 28.01     26.29
Exercised   (1,138,770 ) 13.69 - 28.01     19.03
   
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2003   4,980,219   13.69 - 29.71     23.16
Granted   25,000   35.10     35.10
Cancelled   (11,000 ) 15.00 - 27.11     25.06
Exercised   (979,148 ) 13.69 - 35.10     20.62
   
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2004   4,015,071   $13.69 - $35.10   $ 23.85
   
 
 

Options Outstanding


 

Options Exercisable

Range of
Exercise prices

  Number
outstanding
December 31,
2004

  Weighted-
average
remaining
contract life
in years

  Weighted-
average
exercise
price

  Number
exercisable
December 31,
2004

  Weighted-
average
exercise
price

$13.69 - $17.00   687,000   4.5   $ 15.62   687,000   $ 15.62
19.13 - 23.95   1,339,284   5.9     22.44   1,127,534     22.32
27.11 - 35.10   1,988,787   7.2     27.64   1,528,287     27.67
   
           
     
    4,015,071         23.85   3,342,571     23.39
   
           
     

        A fair value of the stock options issued was determined on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-valuation model. The fair-value calculation relies upon subjective assumptions and the use of a mathematical model to estimate value and may not be representative of future results. The Black-Scholes model was intended for measuring the value of options traded on an exchange. The calculated fair value of options granted and major assumptions used in the model at the date of grant are listed below.

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
Fair value of options at grant date   $ 9.66   $ 7.54   $ 6.58  
Risk-free interest rate     3.52 %   3.80 %   4.98 %
Expected price volatility     28.4 %   30.0 %   30.5 %
Expected dividend yield     2.34 %   2.70 %   3.14 %
Expected life in years     7.3     7.3     7.3  

Nonvested Stock

        The Company issued nonvested stock as part of bonus payments in specified situations. Compensation expense is recorded in the period that the bonus is earned. Shares of nonvested stock are also granted as sign-on bonuses and for retention purposes. Nonvested stock is granted under the terms of the LTSIP. These shares carry voting and dividend rights; however, sale or transfer is restricted. Distribution of nonvested stock and vesting periods were as follows.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
Shares vesting in three to five years     132,400     160,201     44,091
Average market price per share at award date   $ 35.99   $ 29.15   $ 25.60
Compensation expense (in thousands)   $ 2,388   $ 2,041   $ 1,129

Shareholder Rights

        On February 13, 1996, Questar's Board of Directors declared a stock-right dividend for each outstanding share of common stock. The stock rights were issued March 25, 1996. The rights become exercisable if a person, as defined, acquires 15% or more of the Company's common stock or announces an offer for 15% or more of the common stock. Each right initially represents the right to buy one share of the Company's common stock for $87.50. Once any person acquires 15% or more of the Company's common stock, the rights are automatically modified. Each right not owned by the 15% owner becomes exercisable for the number of shares of Questar's stock that have a market value equal to two times the exercise price of the right. This same result occurs if a 15% owner acquires the Company through a reverse merger when Questar and its stock survive. If the Company is involved in a merger or other business combination at any time after the rights become exercisable, rightholders will be entitled to buy shares of common stock in the acquiring Company having a market value equal to twice the exercise price of each right. The rights may be redeemed by the Company at a price of $.005 per right until 10 days after a person acquires 15% ownership of the common stock. The rights expire March 25, 2006.

Note 10—Financial Instruments and Risk Management

        The carrying value and estimated fair values of Questar's financial instruments were as follows.

 
  December 31, 2004
  December 31, 2003
 
  Carrying
Value

  Estimated
Fair Value

  Carrying
Value

  Estimated
Fair Value

 
  (in thousands)

Financial assets                        
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 3,681   $ 3,681   $ 13,905   $ 13,905
  Gas and oil price-hedging contracts     11,149     11,149     3,861     3,861
Financial liabilities                        
  Short-term debt   $ 68,000   $ 68,000   $ 105,500   $ 105,500
  Long-term debt     933,207     1,029,970     1,005,200     1,130,243
  Gas and oil price-hedging contracts     78,650     78,650     52,959     52,959

        The Company used the following methods and assumptions in estimating fair values.

        Cash and cash equivalents and short-term debt—the carrying amount approximates fair value.

        Long-term debt—the carrying amount of variable-rate debt approximates fair value. The fair value of fixed-rate debt is based on the discounted present value of cash flows using the Company's current borrowing rates.

        Gas and oil price-hedging contracts—fair value of the contracts is based on market prices as posted on the NYMEX from the last trading day of the year. The average price of the gas contracts at December 31, 2004, was $5.04 per MMBtu, representing the average of contracts with different terms including fixed, various "into-the-pipe" postings and NYMEX references. Price-hedging contracts were in place for equity-gas production and gas-marketing transactions. Gas hedges are structured as fixed-price swaps into regional pipelines, locking in basis and hedge effectiveness. Deducting transportation and heat-value adjustments on the hedges of equity gas as of December 31, 2004, would result in an average price of $4.96 per Mcf, net to the well. The average price for oil contracts at December 31, 2004 was $35.32 per bbl. Oil contracts related to equity production would result in a net-to-the-well price of $33.84 per bbl.

        Market Resources held gas-price-hedging contracts covering the price exposure for about 135.6 million dth of natural gas 1.1 MMbbl of oil and 3.8 MMgal of NGL as of December 31, 2004. Gas Management, a subsidiary of Market Resources, uses forward-sales contracts to secure the price received for NGL processed from its plants. About 81% of those contracts will settle and be reclassified from other comprehensive income in 2005. A year earlier Market Resources hedging contracts covered 148.1 million dth of natural gas.

        At December 31, 2004, the Company reported a liability, net of hedging assets, of $67.5 million from hedging activities. Settlement or realizations of contracts in 2004 resulted in a reduction of revenue of $49.1 million. The offset to the hedging liability, net of income taxes, was a $9.5 million unrealized loss on hedging activities recorded in other comprehensive loss in the shareholders' equity section of the balance sheet. Settlement of contracts resulted in reclassifying $15.7 million from comprehensive loss in 2003 and $42.4 million from comprehensive income in 2002 to the income statement. The ineffective portion of hedging transactions recognized in earnings was not significant. The fair-value calculation of gas- and oil-price hedges does not consider changes in the fair value of the corresponding scheduled equity physical transactions, (i.e., the correlation between index price and the price realized for the physical delivery of gas or oil.)

Note 11—Income Taxes

        Details of Questar's income tax expense and deferred-income taxes are provided in the following tables. The components of income taxes were as follows.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
Federal                    
  Current   $ 19,573   $ 20,166   $ 11,613  
  Deferred     97,582     76,356     60,409  
State                    
  Current     1,544     383     (2,347 )
  Deferred     11,276     6,057     16,184  
Deferred investment-tax credits     (395 )   (399 )   (401 )
Foreign income taxes                 5,668  
   
 
 
 
    $ 129,580   $ 102,563   $ 91,126  
   
 
 
 

        The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the Company's effective income tax rate is explained as follows.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
 
  Percentages

 
Federal income taxes statutory rate   35.0 % 35.0 % 35.0 %
Increase (decrease) as a result of: State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit   2.3   1.5   3.4  
Nonconventional fuel credits           (2.5 )
Percentage depletion   (0.3 )        
Amortize investment-tax credits related to rate-regulated assets   (0.1 ) (0.1 ) (0.2 )
Amortize unrecorded timing difference related to rate-regulated assets   0.2   0.3   0.4  
Tax benefits from dividends paid to ESOP   (0.4 ) (0.5 ) (0.5 )
Foreign income taxes           (0.3 )
Other   (0.6 ) 0.2   (0.5 )
   
 
 
 
Effective income tax rate   36.1 % 36.4 % 34.8 %
   
 
 
 

        Significant components of the Company's deferred income taxes were as follows.

 
  December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
 
  (in thousands)

Deferred-tax liabilities:            
  Property, plant and equipment   $ 587,403   $ 498,498
Deferred-tax assets:            
  Mark-to-market and hedging activities     25,335     18,361
  Alternative minimum-tax credit carried forward     17,409     18,834
  Employee benefits and compensation costs     11,850     12,966
  Net operating loss carried forward           1,332
   
 
    Total deferred tax assets     54,594     51,493
   
 
      Deferred income taxes—noncurrent   $ 532,809   $ 447,005
   
 
Deferred income taxes—current liability:            
  Purchased-gas adjustment   $ 13,624   $ 210
   
 

        Cash paid for income taxes was $23.3 million and $18.9 million in 2004 and 2003, respectively. The Company received $8.8 million of refunded income taxes in 2002 resulting primarily from timing differences caused by intangible-drilling costs. Alternative minimum tax credits do not have an expiration date.

Note 12—Commitments and Contingencies

        There are various legal proceedings against the Company and its affiliates. Management believes that the outcome of these cases will not have a material effect on the Company's financial position, operating results or liquidity. For more details refer to Item 3 of this report on Form 10-K.

Commitments

        Historically, 40 to 50% of Questar Gas's gas-supply portfolio has been provided from company-owned gas reserves at the cost-of-service. The remainder of the gas supply has been purchased from more than 19 suppliers under approximately 57 gas-supply contracts using index-based or fixed pricing. Questar Gas has commitments of $142 million and $42 million to purchase gas in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Generally, at the conclusion of the heating season and after a bid process, new agreements for the upcoming heating season are put in place. Questar Gas bought natural gas under purchase agreements amounting to $336 million, $180 million and $148 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. In addition, Questar Gas makes use of various storage arrangements to meet peak-gas demand during certain times of the heating season.

        Questar Gas has third-party transportation commitments requiring yearly payments of $4.3 million through 2018.

        Subsidiaries of Market Resources have contracted for firm-transportation services with various pipelines through 2018. Market conditions and competition may prevent full recovery of the cost. Annual payments and the years covered are as follows.

 
  (in millions)
2005   $ 5.8
2006     5.7
2007     5.7
2008     5.3
2009     5.3
2010 through 2018   $ 26.5

        Questar sold its headquarters building under a sale-and-lease-back arrangement in November 1998. The operating agreement commits the Company to occupy the building through January 12, 2012. Questar has four renewal options of five years each, following expiration of the original lease in 2012.

        On January 12, 2012, the lessor is required to pay Questar a lease-reduction payment of $12.1 million. On the following day Questar is required to pay a balloon-lease payment of $14.1 million. If the lessor does not make the lease-reduction payment on January 12, 2012, a lessor-nonpayment event occurs, and Questar's lease immediately extends for a period of 20 years with no additional rent due. Minimum future payments under the terms of long-term operating leases for the Company's primary office locations, are as follows.

 
  (in millions)
2005   $ 5.1
2006     4.9
2007     4.6
2008     4.2
2009     3.9
2010 through 2012   $ 21.9

        Total minimum future-rental payments have not been reduced for sublease rentals of $144,000 in 2005, $145,000 in 2006, $120,000 in 2007, $94,000 in 2008 and $95,000 in 2009. Total rental expense amounted to $5.2 million in 2004 and 2003 and $4.9 million in 2002. Sublease-rental receipts were $176,000 in 2004, $287,000 in 2003 and $206,000 in 2002.

Note 13—Rate Regulation and Other Matters

State Rate Regulation

        Questar Gas files periodic applications with the PSCU and PSCW requesting permission to reflect annualized gas-cost increases or decreases in its rates. Gas costs are passed on to customers on a dollar-for-dollar basis with no markup. Effective October 1, 2004, the PSCU and PSCW authorized Questar Gas to increase customer rates by about 10% to reflect higher projected gas costs and to recover the balance in the purchase-gas-adjustment account.

2002 General Rate-Case Order

        Effective December 30, 2002, the PSCU issued an order approving an $11.2 million general-rate increase for Questar Gas using an 11.2% rate of return on equity. The rate increase was based on November 2002 usage per customer and costs.

FERC Order 2004

        FERC Order No. 2004, which defines standards of conduct for transmission providers, became effective on September 22, 2004. These standards of conduct are designed to ensure that employees engaged in transmission system operations function independently from employees of marketing and energy affiliates. In addition, a transmission provider must treat all transmission customers on a non-discriminatory basis and must not operate its transmission system to preferentially benefit its marketing or energy affiliates. Questar Pipeline has determined that all Market Resources subsidiaries except Gas Management are marketing or energy affiliates. Questar Gas is not an energy affiliate. Questar Pipeline and other Questar companies have adopted new procedures to comply with this order.

Note 14—Employee Benefits

Pension Plan

        The Company has defined-benefit pension and postretirement medical and life insurance plans covering the majority of its employees. The Company's Employee Benefits Committee (EBC) has oversight over investment of retirement-plan and postretirement-benefit assets. The EBC uses a third-party consultant to assist in setting targeted-policy ranges for the allocation of assets among various investment categories. The majority of retirement-benefit assets were invested as follows.

 
  Actual Allocation
   
 
  December 31,
2004

  December 31,
2003

  Policy
Range

Domestic equity securities   52 % 51 % 45% - 55%
Foreign equity securities   10 % 8 % 6% - 14%
Debt securities   32 % 33 % 32% - 42%
Real estate securities   6 % 5 % 3% - 7%
Other     3 % 0% - 3%

        Questar sets aside funds for retirement-benefit obligations to pay benefits currently due and to build asset balances over a reasonable time period to pay future obligations. Questar is subject to and complies with minimum-required and maximum-allowed annual contribution levels mandated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and by the Internal Revenue Code. Subject to the above limitations, the Company seeks to fund the qualified retirement plan approximately equal to the yearly expense. The majority of assets set aside for postretirement-benefit obligations are assets commingled with those of the Company's ERISA-qualified retirement plan as permitted by section 401(h) of the Internal Revenue Code. The retirement plan (including commingled 401(h) assets within the plan) seeks investment returns consistent with reasonable and prudent levels of liquidity and risk.

        The EBC allocates pension-plan and postretirement-medical-plan assets among broad asset categories and reviews the asset allocation at least annually. Asset-allocation decisions consider risk and return, future-benefit requirements, participant growth and other expected cash flows. These characteristics affect the level, risk and expected growth of postretirement-benefit assets.

        The EBC uses asset-mix guidelines that include targets and permissible ranges for each asset category, return objectives for each asset group and the desired level of diversification and liquidity. These guidelines change from time to time based on an ongoing evaluation of each plan's risk tolerance.

        Responsibility for individual security selection rests with each investment managers, who are subject to guidelines specified by the EBC. These guidelines are designed to ensure consistency with overall plan objectives.

        The EBC sets performance objectives for each investment manager that are expected to be met over a three-year period or a complete market cycle, whichever is shorter. Performance and risk levels are regularly monitored to confirm policy compliance and that results are within expectations.

        Pension-plan guidelines prohibit transactions between a fiduciary and parties in interest unless specifically provided for in ERISA. No restricted securities, such as letter stock or private placements, may be purchased for any investment fund. Questar securities may be considered for purchase at an investment manager's discretion, but within limitations prescribed by ERISA and other laws. There is no direct investment in Questar shares for the periods disclosed. Use of derivative securities by any investment managers is prohibited except where the committee has given specific approval or where commingled funds are utilized which have previously adopted permitting guidelines.

        Pension-plan benefits are based on the employee's age at retirement, years of service and highest earnings in a consecutive 72 semimonthly pay period during the 10 years preceding retirement. Continued lower interest rates resulted in the Company recording an additional pension liability of $31.9 million and a $12.4 million intangible-pension asset in 2004.

        A summary of pension expense is as follows.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
Service cost   $ 8,077   $ 7,608   $ 6,770  
Interest cost     19,429     18,289     17,400  
Expected return on plan assets     (18,841 )   (17,758 )   (18,187 )
Prior service and other costs     1,922     1,922     1,922  
Recognized net-actuarial loss     2,105     904        
Amortization of early retirement costs     2,875     3,241     3,504  
   
 
 
 
  Pension expense   $ 15,567   $ 14,206   $ 11,409  
   
 
 
 

        Assumptions at the beginning of the year used to calculate pension expense for the year were as follows.

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
Discount rate   6.75 % 7.00 % 7.50 %
Rate of increase in compensation   4.00 % 4.00 % 4.50 %
Long-term return on assets   8.50 % 8.50 % 9.00 %

        The projected-benefit obligation was measured using a discount rate of 6.5% and 6.75% at December 31, 2004, and 2003, respectively. Changes in discount rates are included in changes in plan assumptions. Asset-return assumptions are based on historical returns tempered for expectations of future performance.

Pension Plan

  2004
  2003
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
Change in benefit obligation              
  Projected benefit obligation at January 1,   $ 292,501   $ 270,290  
  Service cost     8,077     7,608  
  Interest cost     19,429     18,289  
  Change in plan assumptions     12,214     11,046  
  Actuarial (gain) loss     993     (3,376 )
  Benefits paid     (11,470 )   (11,356 )
   
 
 
  Projected benefit obligation at December 31,     321,744     292,501  
   
 
 
Change in plan assets              
  Fair value of plan assets at January 1,     207,109     173,202  
  Actual return on plan assets     21,499     31,057  
  Contributions to the plan     15,567     14,206  
  Benefits paid     (11,470 )   (11,356 )
   
 
 
  Fair value of plan assets at December 31,     232,705     207,109  
   
 
 
  Plan assets less-than-projected benefit obligation     (89,039 )   (85,392 )
  Unrecognized net-actuarial loss     79,979     71,535  
  Unrecognized prior-service cost     11,639     13,562  
   
 
 
Accrued pension cost     2,579     (295 )
Accrued supplemental executive-retirement plan cost     (3,348 )   (2,641 )
Additional pension liability     (31,871 )   (28,681 )
   
 
 
    Pension liability   $ (32,640 ) $ (31,617 )
   
 
 

        The accumulated-benefit obligation for the defined-benefit pension plan was $265.3 million and $238.7 million at December 31, 2004, and 2003, respectively. Pension-plan payments for the five years following 2004 and the subsequent five years aggregated are as follows.

 
  (in millions)
2005   $ 13.1
2006     13.1
2007     12.1
2008     12.5
2009     13.1
2010 through 2014   $ 84.0

Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions

        Postretirement health-care benefits and life insurance are provided only to employees hired before January 1, 1997. The Company pays a portion of the costs of health-care benefits as determined by an employee's years of service and generally limited to 170% of the 1992 contribution for employees who retired after January 1, 1993. The Company is amortizing its transition obligation over a 20-year period, which began in 1992.

        A summary of the expense of postretirement benefits other than pensions is listed below. Expenses include an estimate of the effect of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 20031. The drug benefit offered as part of postretirement medical coverage is actuarially equivalent to Part D of Medicare. The Company, however, has not decided whether to integrate coverage with Part D or maintain its current coverage.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
Service cost   $ 784   $ 787   $ 749  
Interest cost     5,217     5,303     5,351  
Expected return on plan assets     (3,049 )   (2,602 )   (3,137 )
Amortization of transition obligation     1,878     1,877     1,877  
Amortization of losses     321     481        
Special-termination benefits     165              
Accretion of regulatory liability     800     800     800  
   
 
 
 
  Postretirement benefit expense   $ 6,116   $ 6,646   $ 5,640  
   
 
 
 

        Assumptions at the beginning of the year used to calculate postretirement-benefit expense for the year were as follows.

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
Discount rate   6.75 % 7.00 % 7.50 %
Long-term return on assets   8.50 % 8.50 % 9.00 %
Health-care inflation rate decreasing to 6.5% by 2009   9.00 % 9.50 % 9.50 %

        Service costs and interest costs are sensitive to changes in the health-care inflation rate. A 1% increase in the health-care inflation rate would increase the yearly service and interest costs by $165,000 and the accumulated postretirement-benefit obligation by $2.4 million. A 1% decrease in the health-care inflation rate would decrease the yearly service cost and interest cost by $146,000 and the accumulated postretirement-benefit obligation by $2.2 million.

 
  2004
  2003
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions              
Change in benefit obligation              
  Projected benefit obligation at January 1,   $ 81,122   $ 78,944  
  Service cost     784     787  
  Interest cost     5,217     5,303  
  Actuarial loss     1,756     947  
  Special termination benefits     165        
  Benefits paid     (5,358 )   (4,859 )
   
 
 
  Projected-benefit obligation at December 31,     83,686     81,122  
   
 
 
Change in plan assets              
  Fair value of plan assets at January 1,     35,866     30,923  
  Actual gain on plan assets     3,552     4,825  
  Contributions to the plan     4,425     4,977  
  Benefits paid     (5,358 )   (4,859 )
   
 
 
  Fair value of plan assets at December 31,     38,485     35,866  
   
 
 
  Projected-benefit obligation in excess of plan assets     (45,201 )   (45,256 )
  Unrecognized-transition obligation     15,020     16,898  
  Unrecognized net loss     14,902     13,970  
   
 
 
    Accrued postretirement-benefit cost   $ (15,279 ) $ (14,388 )
   
 
 

        Postretirement-benefit payments for the five years following 2004 and the subsequent five years aggregated are as follows.

 
  (in millions)
2005   $ 5.6
2006     5.7
2007     5.5
2008     5.6
2009     5.6
2010 through 2014   $ 29.4

Postemployment Benefits

        The Company recognizes the net present value of the liability for postemployment benefits, such as long-term disability benefits and health-care and life-insurance costs, when employees become eligible for such benefits. Postemployment benefits are paid to former employees after employment has been terminated but before retirement benefits are paid. The Company accrues both current and future costs. Questar's postemployment liability at December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, was $1.5 million, $1.7 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

        Assumptions used to calculate postemployment-benefit liability were as follows.

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
Discount rate   6.50 % 6.75 % 7.00 %
Health-care inflation rate decreasing to 6.5% by 2009   9.00 % 9.50 % 9.50 %

Note 15—Wexpro Agreement

        Wexpro's operations are subject to the terms of the Wexpro Agreement. The agreement was effective August 1, 1981, and sets forth the rights of Questar Gas's utility operations to share in the results of Wexpro's operations. The agreement was approved by the PSCU and PSCW in 1981 and affirmed by the Supreme Court of Utah in 1983. Major provisions of the agreement are as follows.

        a.     Wexpro continues to hold and operate all oil-producing properties previously transferred from Questar Gas's nonutility accounts. The oil production from these properties is sold at market prices, with the revenues used to recover operating expenses and to give Wexpro a return on its investment. The after-tax rate of return is adjusted annually and is approximately 13.2%. Any net income remaining after recovery of expenses and Wexpro's return on investment is divided between Wexpro and Questar Gas, with Wexpro retaining 46%.

        b.     Wexpro conducts developmental oil drilling on productive oil properties and bears any costs of dry holes. Oil discovered from these properties is sold at market prices, with the revenues used to recover operating expenses and to give Wexpro a return on its investment in successful wells. The after-tax rate of return is adjusted annually and is approximately 18.2%. Any net income remaining after recovery of expenses and Wexpro's return on investment is divided between Wexpro and Questar Gas, with Wexpro retaining 46%.

        c.     Amounts received by Questar Gas from the sharing of Wexpro's oil income are used to reduce natural-gas costs to utility customers.

        d.     Wexpro conducts gas-development drilling on productive gas properties and bears any costs of dry holes. Natural gas produced from successful drilling is owned by Questar Gas. Wexpro is reimbursed for the costs of producing the gas plus a return on its investment in successful wells. The after-tax return allowed Wexpro is approximately 21.2%.

        e.     Wexpro operates natural-gas properties owned by Questar Gas. Wexpro is reimbursed for its costs of operating these properties, including a rate of return on any investment it makes. This after-tax rate of return is approximately 13.2%.

        Wexpro's investment base, net of depreciation and deferred income taxes, and the yearly average rate of return for 2004 and the previous two years are shown in the table below.

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
Wexpro's net investment base (in millions)   $ 182.8   $ 172.8   $ 164.5  
Annual average rate of return (after tax)     19.7 %   19.8 %   20.5 %

Note 16—Dispositions and Acquisitions

Sale of Canadian Properties

        In October 2002 Market Resources sold its Canadian exploration and production subsidiary and recorded a pretax gain of $19.7 million. Total consideration received was $101.6 million.

Sale of TransColorado

        On October 20, 2002, Questar Pipeline sold Questar TransColorado, Inc., the company owning Questar's interest in the TransColorado Pipeline, for $105.5 million.

Partnership Interests Acquired

        In 2002 Questar Pipeline and affiliates acquired the final 28% partnership interests in the Overthrust Pipeline Company for $5.4 million.

        Market Resources, through an affiliate, acquired the remaining 50% interest in the Blacks Fork processing plant effective December 18, 2002.

Note 17—Operations by Line of Business

        Questar has three primary reportable segments: Market Resources, Questar Pipeline and Questar Gas. Line-of-business information is presented according to senior management's basis for evaluating performance including differences in the nature of products, services and regulation. Line-of-business disclosures and discussions were reorganized in 2003 and prior years to combine "Other Questar Regulated Services" information with Corporate and other operations. Information-technology operations were transferred from Corporate and other operations to affiliates.

        Following is a summary of operations by line of business for the Year Ended December 31.

 
  Questar
Consolidated

  Intercompany
Transactions

  Market
Resources

  Questar
Pipeline

  Questar
Gas

  Corporate
and other
operations

 
 
  (in thousands)

 
2004                                      
Revenues                                      
  From unaffiliated customers   $ 1,901,431         $ 1,053,854   $ 67,844   $ 759,486   $ 20,247  
  From affiliated companies         ($ 240,167 )   131,427     88,635     4,707     15,398  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Total revenues     1,901,431     (240,167 )   1,185,281     156,479     764,193     35,645  
Operating expenses                                      
  Cost of natural gas and other products sold     840,544     (219,913 )   518,437           536,128     5,892  
  Operating and maintenance     309,090     (15,552 )   144,668     55,654     104,786     19,534  
  Depreciation, depletion and amortization     216,175           142,688     28,235     41,956     3,296  
  Questar Gas rate-refund obligation     4,090                       4,090        
  Exploration     9,239           9,239                    
  Abandonment and impairment of gas, oil and related properties     15,758           15,758                    
  Other taxes and expenses     90,948     (4,702 )   77,945     6,557     9,767     1,381  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Total operating expenses     1,485,844     (240,167 )   908,735     90,446     696,727     30,103  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Operating income     415,587           276,546     66,033     67,466     5,542  
Interest and other income     6,868     (2,891 )   2,510     202     3,508     3,539  
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates     5,125           5,125                    
Minority interest     (270 )         (270 )                  
Debt expense     (68,429 )   2,891     (27,412 )   (22,242 )   (19,733 )   (1,933 )
Income tax expense     (129,580 )         (91,088 )   (16,397 )   (19,780 )   (2,315 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Net income   $ 229,301         $ 165,411   $ 27,596   $ 31,461   $ 4,833  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Identifiable assets   $ 3,646,658         $ 1,849,287   $ 743,879   $ 1,000,897   $ 52,595  
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates     33,229           33,229                    
Capital expenditures     442,483           332,806     30,063     77,040     2,574  
2003                                      
Revenues                                      
  From unaffiliated customers   $ 1,463,188         $ 751,502   $ 74,981   $ 618,791   $ 17,914  
  From affiliated companies         ($ 231,766 )   117,506     81,857     2,204     30,199  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Total revenues     1,463,188     (231,766 )   869,008     156,838     620,995     48,113  
Operating expenses                                      
  Cost of natural gas and other products sold     542,441     (199,209 )   342,476           394,523     4,651  
  Operating and maintenance     284,266     (30,358 )   130,680     53,249     100,279     30,416  
  Depreciation, depletion and amortization     192,382           121,316     26,141     40,126     4,799  
  Exploration     4,498           4,498                    
  Questar Gas rate-refund obligation     24,939                       24,939        
  Abandonment and impairment of gas, oil and related properties     4,151           4,151                    
  Other taxes and expenses     70,681     (2,199 )   55,542     6,352     9,743     1,243  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Total operating expenses     1,123,358     (231,766 )   658,663     85,742     569,610     41,109  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Operating income     339,830           210,345     71,096     51,385     7,004  
Interest and other income (loss)     7,435     (3,435 )   2,851     (426 )   3,228     5,217  
Income from unconsolidated affiliates     5,008           5,008                    
Minority interest     222           183                 39  
Debt expense     (70,736 )   3,435     (28,158 )   (22,622 )   (20,984 )   (2,407 )
Income tax expense     (102,563 )         (69,126 )   (17,746 )   (13,113 )   (2,578 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Income before accounting change     179,196           121,103     30,302     20,516     7,275  
Cumulative effect of accounting change for asset retirement obligations     (5,580 )         (5,113 )   (133 )   (334 )      
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Net income   $ 173,616         $ 115,990   $ 30,169   $ 20,182   $ 7,275  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Identifiable assets   $ 3,331,631         $ 1,612,208   $ 746,535   $ 907,054   $ 65,834  
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates     36,393           36,393                    
Capital expenditures     325,339           226,761     23,787     71,383     3,408  
2002                                      
Revenues                                      
  From unaffiliated customers   $ 1,200,667         $ 522,476   $ 66,275   $ 593,835   $ 18,081  
  From affiliated companies         ($ 217,067 )   106,647     76,600     1,676     32,144  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Total revenues     1,200,667     (217,067 )   629,123     142,875     595,511     50,225  
Operating expenses                                      
  Cost of natural gas and other products sold     395,742     (183,051 )   202,132           370,294     6,367  
  Operating and maintenance     284,317     (32,340 )   131,598     49,593     105,544     29,922  
  Depreciation, depletion and amortization     184,952           117,446     22,149     39,771     5,586  
  Exploration     6,086           6,086                    
  Abandonment and impairment of gas, oil and related properties     11,183           11,183                    
  Other taxes and expenses     44,192     (1,676 )   30,234     4,948     9,548     1,138  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Total operating expenses     926,472     (217,067 )   498,679     76,690     525,157     43,013  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Operating income     274,195           130,444     66,185     70,354     7,212  
Interest and other income     56,667     (6,058 )   50,894     515     2,329     8,987  
Income from unconsolidated affiliates     11,777           3,977     7,800              
Minority interest     501           484                 17  
Debt expense     (81,121 )   6,058     (34,705 )   (23,995 )   (22,495 )   (5,984 )
Income tax expense     (91,126 )         (53,165 )   (17,897 )   (17,789 )   (2,275 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before accounting change     170,893           97,929     32,608     32,399     7,957  
Cumulative effect of accounting change for goodwill     (15,297 )                           (15,297 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Net income (loss)   $ 155,596         $ 97,929   $ 32,608   $ 32,399   ($ 7,340 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Identifiable assets   $ 3,084,983         $ 1,415,871   $ 744,855   $ 848,544   $ 75,713  
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates     23,617           23,617                    
Capital expenditures     362,653           185,990     100,707     72,019     3,937  

        Prior to its sale in the fourth quarter of 2002, Market Resources' Canadian subsidiary reported revenues, measured in U. S. dollars, totaling $21.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2002.

Note 18—Quarterly Financial and Stock-Price Information (Unaudited)

        Following is a summary of quarterly financial and stock-price data.

 
  First
Quarter

  Second
Quarter

  Third
Quarter

  Fourth
Quarter

  Year
 
 
  (dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)

 
2004                                
Revenues   $ 563,616   $ 369,515   $ 360,225   $ 608,075   $ 1,901,431  
Operating income     136,790     82,297     71,800     124,700     415,587  
Net income     76,133     42,556     36,941     73,671     229,301  
Basic earnings per common share     0.91     0.51     0.44     0.88     2.74  
Diluted earnings per common share     0.89     0.50     0.43     0.85     2.67  
Dividends per common share     0.205     0.215     0.215     0.215     0.85  
Market price per common share                                
  High   $ 37.08   $ 38.88   $ 46.40   $ 52.12   $ 52.12  
  Low     33.82     34.26     37.83     45.00     33.82  
  Close   $ 36.44   $ 38.64   $ 45.82   $ 50.96   $ 50.96  
Price-earnings ratio on closing price                             19.1  
Annualized dividend yield on closing price     2.3 %   2.2 %   1.9 %   1.7 %   1.7 %
Market-to-book ratio on closing price                             2.99  
Average number of common shares traded per day (000)     221     225     374     336     290  

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Revenues   $ 469,804   $ 270,669   $ 273,503   $ 449,212   $ 1,463,188  
Operating income     127,875     45,895     58,845     107,215     339,830  
Net income before accounting change     70,202     20,272     28,691     60,031     179,196  
Net income     64,622     20,272     28,691     60,031     173,616  
Basic earnings per common share before accounting change   $ 0.86   $ 0.24   $ 0.35   $ 0.72   $ 2.17  
Basic earnings per common share     0.79     0.24     0.35     0.72     2.10  
Diluted earnings per common share before accounting change   $ 0.84   $ 0.24   $ 0.34   $ 0.71   $ 2.13  
Diluted earnings per common share     0.77     0.24     0.34     0.71     2.06  
Dividends per common share     0.185     0.185     0.205     0.205     0.78  
Market price per common share                                
  High   $ 29.85   $ 34.12   $ 33.99   $ 35.50   $ 35.50  
  Low     26.04     29.35     30.11     30.75     26.04  
  Close   $ 29.57   $ 33.47   $ 30.81   $ 35.15   $ 35.15  
Price-earnings ratio on closing price                             17.1  
Annualized dividend yield on closing price     2.5 %   2.2 %   2.7 %   2.3 %   2.2 %
Market-to-book ratio on closing price                             2.32  
Average number of common shares traded per day (000)     220     266     211     228     231  

Note 19—Supplemental Gas and Oil Information (Unaudited)

        The Company uses the successful-efforts accounting method for its gas and oil exploration and development activities and for cost-of-service gas and oil properties managed and developed by Wexpro.

Nonregulated Activities

        This information pertains to Questar E&P gas and oil activities. Cost-of-service activities are presented in a separate section of this note.

Gas and Oil Exploration and Development Activities

        The following information is provided with respect to Questar's gas and oil exploration and development activities, which are located exclusively in the United States. The Company sold its Canadian subsidiary in the fourth quarter of 2002.

Capitalized Costs

        The aggregate amounts of costs capitalized for gas and oil exploration and development activities and the related amounts of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization are shown below. Future-abandonment costs associated with asset-retirement obligations amounted to $25.0 million and $23.5 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. These costs are included in proved properties and support equipment and facilities.

 
  December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
 
  (in thousands)

Proved properties   $ 1,602,143   $ 1,315,330
Unproved properties     62,678     95,208
Support equipment and facilities     16,932     22,569
   
 
      1,681,753     1,433,107
Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization     600,366     501,825
   
 
    $ 1,081,387   $ 931,282
   
 

Costs Incurred

        The costs incurred in gas and oil exploration and development activities are displayed in the table below. The development costs include expenditures to develop a portion of the proved-undeveloped reserves reported at the end of the prior year. These costs were $80.1 million, $55.3 million and $51.1 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
   
   
  2002
 
  2004
Total

  2003
Total

 
  United States
  Canada
  Total
 
  (in thousands)

Property acquisition                              
  Unproved   $ 13,346   $ 3,779   $ 1,092   $ 119   $ 1,211
  Proved     1,205     1,039     45           45
Exploration     25,059     13,521     10,372     627     10,999
Development     238,012     155,226     121,763     3,268     125,031
Asset-retirement obligations     1,699     1,616                  
   
 
 
 
 
    $ 279,321   $ 175,181   $ 133,272   $ 4,014   $ 137,286
   
 
 
 
 

Results of Operations

        Following are the results of operations of Questar E&P gas and oil exploration and development activities, before corporate overhead and interest expenses.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
   
   
  2002
 
  2004
Total

  2003
Total

 
  United States
  Canada
  Total
 
  (in thousands)

Revenues                              
  From unaffiliated customers   $ 448,796   $ 343,894   $ 249,239   $ 21,694   $ 270,933
  From affiliates                 1,172           1,172
   
 
 
 
 
    Total revenues     448,796     343,894     250,411     21,694     272,105
   
 
 
 
 
Production expenses     98,962     77,167     63,149     6,924     70,073
Exploration     9,239     4,498     5,459     627     6,086
Depreciation, depletion and amortization     105,451     88,901     81,473     7,415     88,888
Accretion expense (asset-retirement obligations)     2,001     1,852                  
Abandonment and impairment of gas, oil and related properties     12,968     4,151     11,030     153     11,183
   
 
 
 
 
Total expenses     228,621     176,569     161,111     15,119     176,230
   
 
 
 
 
Revenues less expenses     220,175     167,325     89,300     6,575     95,875
Income taxes—Note A     77,502     61,409     27,057     4,228     31,285
   
 
 
 
 
Results of operations before corporate overhead, interest and cumulative effect of accounting change     142,673     105,916     62,243     2,347     64,590
Cumulative effect of accounting change for asset retirement obligations           (4,550 )                
   
 
 
 
 
Results of operations before corporate overhead and interest expenses   $ 142,673   $ 101,366   $ 62,243   $ 2,347   $ 64,590
   
 
 
 
 

        Note A—Income tax expenses have been reduced by nonconventional fuel-tax credits of $4.9 million in 2002. The availability of these credits ended after December 31, 2002.

Estimated Quantities of Proved Gas and Oil Reserves

        The table below shows the estimated proved reserves owned by the Company. Estimates of U.S. reserves were prepared by Ryder Scott Company, Netherland, Sewell & Associates, H. J. Gruy and Associates, Inc., and Malkewicz Hueni Associates Inc., independent reservoir engineers. Estimates of Canadian reserves were prepared by Gilbert Laustsen Jung Associates Ltd, and Sproule Associates Limited, independent reservoir engineers. Reserve estimates are based on a complex and highly interpretive process that is subject to continuous revision as additional production and development-drilling information becomes available. The quantities reported below are based on existing economic and operating conditions at December 31. All gas and oil reserves reported were located in the United States and Canada. Canadian properties were sold in the fourth quarter of 2002. The Company does not have any long-term supply contracts with foreign governments or reserves of equity investees.

 
   
   
   
  Oil
 
 
  Natural Gas
 
 
  United States
   
   
 
 
  United States
  Canada
  Total
  Canada
  Total
 
 
  (MMcf)

  (Mbbl)

 
Balance at January 1, 2002   936,147   61,829   997,976   27,738   3,334   31,072  
Revisions of estimates   (108,570 ) 701   (107,869 ) (800 ) 122   (678 )
Extensions and discoveries   240,872   1,712   242,584   2,812   26   2,838  
Purchase of reserves in place   42       42              
Sale of reserves in place   (43,220 ) (59,433 ) (102,653 ) (270 ) (3,028 ) (3,298 )
Production   (74,865 ) (4,809 ) (79,674 ) (2,310 ) (454 ) (2,764 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2002   950,406       950,406   27,170       27,170  
Revisions of estimates   14,057       14,057   445       445  
Extensions and discoveries   111,575       111,575   1,285       1,285  
Purchase of reserves in place   2,098       2,098   8       8  
Sale of reserves in place   (152 )     (152 ) (3 )     (3 )
Production   (78,811 )     (78,811 ) (2,324 )     (2,324 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2003   999,173       999,173   26,581       26,581  
Revisions of estimates   (32,442 )     (32,442 ) (1,027 )     (1,027 )
Extensions and discoveries   392,810       392,810   3,964       3,964  
Purchase of reserves in place   812       812   5       5  
Sale of reserves in place   (21 )     (21 )            
Production   (89,801 )     (89,801 ) (2,281 )     (2,281 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2004   1,270,531       1,270,531   27,242       27,242  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proved-Developed Reserves                          
Balance at January 1, 2002   534,761   53,036   587,797   19,417   2,566   21,983  
Balance at December 31, 2002   540,333       540,333   19,942       19,942  
Balance at December 31, 2003   612,181       612,181   20,504       20,504  
Balance at December 31, 2004   680,587       680,587   21,293       21,293  

Standardized Measure of Future Net Cash Flows Relating to Proved Reserves

        Future net cash flows were calculated at December 31 using year-end prices and known contract-price changes. The year-end prices do not include any impact of hedging activities. The average year-end price per Mcf of proved natural gas reserves was $5.50 in 2004, $5.57 in 2003 and $3.34 in 2002. The average year-end price per barrel of proved oil and NGL reserves combined was $40.60 in 2004, $30.45 in 2003 and $28.46 in 2002. Year-end production costs, development costs and appropriate statutory income tax rates, with consideration of future tax rates already legislated, were used to compute the future net-cash flows. The statutes allowing income tax credits for nonconventional fuels expired for production after December 31, 2002. All cash flows were discounted at 10% to reflect the time value of cash flows, without regard to the risk of specific properties. The estimated future costs to develop booked proved-undeveloped reserves are $122.5 million, $146.6 million and $128.1 million in 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively. At the end of this three-year period the Company expects to have evaluated about 61% of the current booked proved-undeveloped reserves.

        The assumptions used to derive the standardized measure of future net cash flows are those required by accounting standards and do not necessarily reflect the Company's expectations. The usefulness of the standardized measure of future net cash flows is impaired because of the reliance on reserve estimates and production schedules that are inherently imprecise.

        Management considers a number of factors when making investment and operating decisions. They include estimates of probable and proved reserves, and varying price and cost assumptions considered more representative of a range of anticipated economic conditions.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
Future cash inflows   $ 8,090,022   $ 6,378,076   $ 3,951,706  
Future production costs     (1,723,128 )   (1,403,893 )   (1,049,205 )
Future development costs     (663,051 )   (338,245 )   (326,169 )
Future asset-retirement obligations     (104,356 )   (96,187 )      
Future income tax expenses     (1,854,458 )   (1,514,814 )   (768,402 )
   
 
 
 
  Future net cash flows     3,745,029     3,024,937     1,807,930  
10% annual discount to reflect timing of net cash flows     (1,984,491 )   (1,494,924 )   (908,304 )
   
 
 
 
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows   $ 1,760,538   $ 1,530,013   $ 899,626  
   
 
 
 

        The principal sources of change in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows were.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
 
  (in thousands)

 
Beginning balance   $ 1,530,013   $ 899,626   $ 604,302  
  Sales of gas and oil produced, net of production costs     (349,834 )   (266,726 )   (202,031 )
  Net changes in prices and production costs     (37,786 )   820,131     535,315  
  Extensions and discoveries, less related costs     763,776     235,891     298,082  
  Revisions of quantity estimates     (70,767 )   33,092     (128,917 )
  Purchase of reserves in place     1,205     1,039     45  
  Sale of reserves in place     (1,363 )   (8,610 )   (126,485 )
  Change in future development     (123,508 )   7,448     (12,128 )
  Accretion of discount     153,001     89,963     60,430  
  Net change in income taxes     (28,968 )   (345,600 )   (138,387 )
  Change in production rate     (161,734 )   21,091     (11,229 )
  Asset-retirement obligations and other     86,503     42,668     20,629  
   
 
 
 
  Net change     230,525     630,387     295,324  
   
 
 
 
Ending balance   $ 1,760,538   $ 1,530,013   $ 899,626  
   
 
 
 

Cost-of-Service Activities

        The following information is provided with respect to cost-of-service gas and oil properties managed and developed by Wexpro and regulated by the Wexpro Agreement. Information on the standardized measure of future net cash flows has not been included for cost-of-service activities because the operations of and return on investment for such properties are regulated by the Wexpro Agreement.

Capitalized Costs

        Capitalized costs for cost-of-service gas and oil properties net of the related accumulated depreciation and amortization are shown below. Future-abandonment costs associated with asset-retirement obligations amounted to $8.8 million and $8.2 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 
  December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
 
  (in thousands)

Wexpro   $ 253,639   $ 233,947
Questar Gas     16,054     17,194
   
 
    $ 269,693   $ 251,141
   
 

Costs Incurred

        Costs incurred by Wexpro for cost-of-service gas and oil-producing activities were $43.6 million, including $0.6 million associated with asset-retirement obligations in 2004, $36.6 million, including $0.3 million associated with asset retirement obligations in 2003 and $26.7 million in 2002.

Results of Operations

        Following are the results of operations of the Wexpro's cost-of-service gas and oil-development activities, before corporate overhead and interest expenses.

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
  (in thousands)

Revenues                  
  From unaffiliated companies   $ 17,315   $ 13,006   $ 8,699
  From affiliates—Note A     115,637     101,596     94,827
   
 
 
    Total revenues     132,952     114,602     103,526
Production expenses     40,613     32,670     23,032
Depreciation and amortization     21,038     20,169     20,475
Accretion expense (asset-retirement obligations)     3,993     183      
Abandonment and impairment of gas and oil properties     2,790            
   
 
 
    Total expenses     68,434     53,022     43,507
   
 
 
Revenues less expenses     64,518     61,580     60,019
Income taxes     23,167     22,134     21,572
   
 
 
Results of operations before corporate overhead, interest expenses and cumulative effect of accounting change     41,351     39,446     38,447
Cumulative effect of accounting change for asset-retirement obligations           (563 )    
   
 
 
Results of operations before corporate overhead and interest expense   $ 41,351   $ 38,883   $ 38,447
   
 
 

        Note A—Primarily represents revenues received from Questar Gas pursuant to the Wexpro Agreement.

Estimated Quantities of Cost-of-Service Proved Gas and Oil Reserves

        Since the gas reserves operated by Wexpro are delivered to Questar Gas at cost of service, SEC guidelines with respect to standard economic assumptions are not applicable. The SEC anticipated this potential difficulty and provides that companies may give appropriate recognition to differences arising because of the effect of the ratemaking process. Accordingly, Wexpro uses a minimum-producing rate or maximum well-life limit to determine the ultimate quantity of reserves attributable to each well.

        The following estimates were made by the Wexpro's reservoir engineers.

 
  Natural Gas
  Oil
 
 
  (MMcf)

  (Mbbl)

 
Proved Reserves          
Balance at January 1, 2002   405,681   3,687  
  Revisions of estimates   (658 ) (122 )
  Extensions and discoveries   56,085   675  
  Production   (41,208 ) (501 )
   
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2002   419,900   3,739  
  Revisions of estimates   24,273   103  
  Extensions and discoveries   30,286   187  
  Production   (40,088 ) (449 )
   
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2003   434,371   3,580  
  Revisions of estimates   5,624   32  
  Extensions and discoveries   129,855   1,018  
  Production   (38,758 ) (424 )
   
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2004   531,092   4,206  
   
 
 
Proved-Developed Reserves          
Balance at January 1, 2002   400,461   3,640  
Balance at December 31, 2002   395,821   3,481  
Balance at December 31, 2003   406,144   3,330  
Balance at December 31, 2004   409,194   3,202  


QUESTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Column A
Description

  Column B
Beginning Balance

  Column C
Amounts charged
to expense

  Column D
Deductions for
accounts written off

  Column E
Ending Balance

 
  (in thousands)

Year Ended December 31, 2004                        
Allowance for bad debts   $ 6,694   $ 5,519   $ 6,120   $ 6,093
Year Ended December 31, 2003                        
Allowance for bad debts     7,073     3,686     4,065     6,694
Year Ended December 31, 2002                        
Allowance for bad debts     6,311     7,886     7,124     7,073


ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

        The Company has not changed its independent auditors or had any disagreement with them concerning accounting matters and financial statement disclosures within the last 24 months.


ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.


Management's Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

        Questar's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Questar's management assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004. The criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control—Integrated Framework were used to make this assessment. We believe that the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, is effective based on those criteria.

        Management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included on the next page.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Shareholders and Board of Directors
Questar Corporation

        We have audited management's assessment, included under "Management's Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting", that Questar Corporation maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Questar Corporation's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management's assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

        We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management's assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

        Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

        In our opinion, management's assessment that Questar Corporation maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the COSO criteria. Also, in our opinion, Questar Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on the COSO criteria.

        We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Questar Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, common shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004 and our report dated March 3, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

    /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Ernst & Young LLP

Salt Lake City, Utah
March 3, 2005


ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMAITON.

        There is no information to report in this section.


PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.

        The information requested in this item concerning Questar's directors is presented in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement under the section entitled "Election of Directors" and is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the definitive Proxy Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about April 4, 2005.

        Information about the Company's executive officers can be found in Part I. Item 1. Business. of this report.

        Information concerning compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, is presented in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement dated April 4, 2005, under the section entitled "Section 16(a) Compliance" and is incorporated herein by reference.

        The Company has a Business Ethics Policy that applies to all of its directors, officers (including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer) and employees. Questar has posted the Business Ethics Policy on its website, www.questar.com. Any waiver of the Business Ethics Policy for executive officers must be approved only by the Company's Board of Directors. Questar will post on its website any amendments to or waivers of the Business Ethics Policy that apply to executive officers.


ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

        The information requested in this item is presented in Questar's definitive Proxy Statement for the Company's 2005 annual meeting, under the sections entitled "Executive Compensation" and "Election of Directors" and is incorporated herein by reference. The sections of the Proxy Statement labeled "Committee Report on Executive Compensation" and "Cumulative Total Shareholder Return" are expressly not incorporated into this report.


ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

        The information requested in this item for certain beneficial owners is presented in Questar's definitive Proxy Statement for the Company's 2005 annual meeting under the section entitled "Security Ownership, Principal Holders" and is incorporated herein by reference. Similar information concerning the securities ownership of directors and executive officers is presented in the definitive Proxy Statement for the Company's 2005 annual meeting under the section entitled "Security Ownership, Directors and Executive Officers" and is incorporated herein by reference.

        Finally, information concerning securities authorized for issuance under the Company's equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2004, is presented in the definitive Proxy Statement for the Company's 2005 annual meeting under the section entitled "Equity Compensation Plan Information" and is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.

        The information requested in this item for related transactions involving the Company's directors and executive officers is presented in the definitive Proxy Statement for Questar's 2005 annual meeting under the sections entitled "Information Concerning the Board of Directors" and Certain Relationships—"Executive Officers."


ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

        The information requested in this item for principal accountant fees and services is presented in the definitive Proxy Statement dated April 4, 2005, for Questar's annual meeting under the section entitled "Audit Committee Report" and is incorporated herein by reference.


PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

        (a)   and (c) Financial statements and financial statement schedules filed as part of this report are listed in the index included in Item 8 of this report.

        (b)   Exhibits. The following is a list of exhibits required to be filed as a part of this report in Item 15(b).

Exhibit No.
  Description
2.*   Plan and Agreement of Merger dated as of December 16, 1986, by and among the Company, Questar Systems Corporation, and Universal Resources Corporation. (Exhibit No. (2) to Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 16, 1986.)

3.1.*

 

Restated Articles of Incorporation as amended effective May 19, 1998. (Exhibit No. 3.1. to Form 10-Q Report for Quarter ended June 30, 1998.)

3.2.*

 

Bylaws as amended effective August 12, 2003. (Exhibit No. 3. to Form 10-Q Report for Quarter Ended June 30, 2003.)

4.1.*(1)

 

Rights Agreement dated as of February 13, 1996, between the Company and Chemical Mellon Shareholder Services L.L.C. pertaining to the Company's Shareholder Rights Plan. (Exhibit No. 4. to Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 13, 1996.)

4.2.*

 

Questar Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. (Exhibit No. 4. to Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 8, 2000.)

10.1.*

 

Stipulation and Agreement, dated October 14, 1981, executed by Mountain Fuel; Wexpro; the Utah Department of Business Regulations, Division of Public Utilities; the Utah Committee of Consumer Services; and the staff of the Public Service Commission of Wyoming. (Exhibit No. 10(a) to Mountain Fuel Supply Company's Form 10-K Annual Report for 1981.)

10.2.(2)

 

Questar Corporation Annual Management Incentive Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2005.

10.3.(2)

 

Questar Corporation Executive Incentive Retirement Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2005.

10.4.*(2)

 

Questar Corporation Long-term Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated effective March 1, 2001. (Exhibit No. 10.4. to Form 10-K Annual Report for 2000.)

10.5.*(2)

 

Questar Corporation Executive Severance Compensation Plan, as amended and restated effective February 10, 2004. (Exhibit No. 10.5 to Form 10-K Annual Report for 2003.)

10.6.*(2)

 

Questar Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, as amended and restated effective October 26, 2000. (Exhibit No. 10.6. to Form 10-K Annual Report for 2000.)

10.7.(2)

 

Questar Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2005.

10.8.*(2)

 

Questar Corporation Stock Option Plan for Directors, as amended and restated effective October 29, 1998. (Exhibit No. 10.10. to Form 10-Q Report for Quarter Ended September 30, 1998.)

10.9.*(2)

 

Form of Individual Indemnification Agreement dated February 9, 1993 between Questar Corporation and Directors. (Exhibit No. 10.11. to Form 10-K Annual Report for 1992.)

10.10.(2)

 

Questar Corporation Deferred Share Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2005.

10.11.(2)

 

Questar Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2005.

10.12.*(2)

 

Questar Corporation Directors' Stock Plan as approved May 21, 1996. (Exhibit No. 10.15. to Form 10-Q Report for Quarter ended June 30, 1996.)

10.13.(2)

 

Questar Corporation Deferred Share Make-Up Plan as amended and restated effective January 1, 2005.

10.14.*(2)

 

Questar Corporation Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan effective January 1, 2004. (Exhibit No. 10.14 to Form 10-K Annual Report in 2003.)

10.15.*(2)

 

Employment Agreement between the Company and Keith O. Rattie effective February 1, 2004. (Exhibit NO. 10.15 to Form 10-K Annual Report for 2003.)

10.16.*(2)

 

Employment Agreement between the Company and Charles B. Stanley effective February 1, 2004. (Exhibit No. 10.16 to Form 10-K Annual Report for 2003.)

10.17.*(2)

 

Consulting Contract between the Questar Regulated Services Company and D. N. Rose effective May 1, 2003. (Exhibit No. 10.1 to Form 10-Q Report for Quarter Ended March 31, 2003.)

10.18.

 

Questar Corporation Annual Management Incentive Plan II effective January 1, 2005.

10.19.*(2)

 

Form of Restricted Stock Agreement dated February 8, 2005, for shares granted to officers and key employees. (Exhibit No. 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 8, 2005.)

10.20.*(2)

 

Form of Restricted Stock Agreement dated February 8, 2005, for shares granted to non-employee directors. (Exhibit No. 10-2 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 8, 2005.)

10.21.*(2)

 

Form of Phantom Stock Agreement dated February 8, 2005, for phantom stock units granted to on-employee directors. (Exhibit No. 10.3 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 8, 2005.)

10.22.*(2)

 

Summary of directors' fees.

12.

 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

14.

 

Business Ethics and Compliance Policy.

21.

 

Subsidiary Information.

23.1.

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

23.2.

 

Consent of Independent Petroleum Engineers

23.3.

 

Consent of Independent Petroleum Engineers and Geologists

23.4.

 

Consent of H. J. Gruy and Associates, Inc.

23.5.

 

Engineer's Consent

23.6.

 

Engineer's Consent

23.7.

 

Consent of Independent Petroleum Engineers

23.8.

 

Engineer's Consent

24.

 

Power of Attorney.

31.1.

 

Certification signed by Keith O. Rattie, Questar's Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act").

31.2.

 

Certification signed by S. E. Parks, Questar's Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.

32.

 

Certification signed by Keith O. Rattie and S. E. Parks, Questar's Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.

99.1.

 

Undertakings for Registration Statements on Form S-3 (No. 33-48168) and on Form S-8 (Nos. 33-4436, 33-15149, 33-40800, 33-40801, 33-48169, 333-04913, 333-04951, 333-67658, 333-89486.

*
Exhibits so marked have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the indicated filing and are incorporated herein by reference.

(1)
The name of the Rights Agent has been changed to U. S. Bank National Association.

(2)
Exhibit so marked is management contract or compensation plan or arrangement.


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 8th day of March, 2005


 

 

QUESTAR CORPORATION
(Registrant)

 

 

By:

 

/s/  
KEITH O. RATTIE      
Keith O. Rattie
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

/s/  KEITH O. RATTIE      
Keith O. Rattie
  Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/  
S. E. PARKS      
S. E. Parks

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

*

P. S. Baker, Jr.

 

Director

*

Teresa Beck

 

Director


P. J. Early

 

Director

*

L. Richard Flury

 

Director

*

J. A. Harmon

 

Director

*

Robert E. Kadlec

 

Director

*

Robert E. McKee III

 

Director

*

Gary G. Michael

 

Director

*

Keith O. Rattie

 

Director

*

M. W. Scoggins

 

Director

*

Harris H. Simmons

 

Director

*

C. B. Stanley

 

Director

March 8, 2005

Date

 

*

 

/s/  
KEITH O. RATTIE      
Keith O. Rattie, Attorney in Fact


EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
  Description
2.*   Plan and Agreement of Merger dated as of December 16, 1986, by and among the Company, Questar Systems Corporation, and Universal Resources Corporation. (Exhibit No. (2) to Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 16, 1986.)

3.1.*

 

Restated Articles of Incorporation as amended effective May 19, 1998. (Exhibit No. 3.1. to Form 10-Q Report for Quarter ended June 30, 1998.)

3.2.*

 

Bylaws as amended effective August 12, 2003. (Exhibit No. 3. to Form 10-Q Report for Quarter Ended June 30, 2003.)

4.1.*(1)

 

Rights Agreement dated as of February 13, 1996, between the Company and Chemical Mellon Shareholder Services L.L.C. pertaining to the Company's Shareholder Rights Plan. (Exhibit No. 4. to Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 13, 1996.)

4.2.*

 

Questar Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. (Exhibit No. 4. to Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 8, 2000.)

10.1.*

 

Stipulation and Agreement, dated October 14, 1981, executed by Mountain Fuel; Wexpro; the Utah Department of Business Regulations, Division of Public Utilities; the Utah Committee of Consumer Services; and the staff of the Public Service Commission of Wyoming. (Exhibit No. 10(a) to Mountain Fuel Supply Company's Form 10-K Annual Report for 1981.)

10.2.(2)

 

Questar Corporation Annual Management Incentive Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2005.

10.3.(2)

 

Questar Corporation Executive Incentive Retirement Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2005.

10.4.*(2)

 

Questar Corporation Long-term Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated effective March 1, 2001. (Exhibit No. 10.4. to Form 10-K Annual Report for 2000.)

10.5.*(2)

 

Questar Corporation Executive Severance Compensation Plan, as amended and restated effective February 10, 2004. (Exhibit No. 10.5 to Form 10-K Annual Report for 2003.)

10.6.*(2)

 

Questar Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, as amended and restated effective October 26, 2000. (Exhibit No. 10.6. to Form 10-K Annual Report for 2000.)

10.7.(2)

 

Questar Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2005.

10.8.*(2)

 

Questar Corporation Stock Option Plan for Directors, as amended and restated effective October 29, 1998. (Exhibit No. 10.10. to Form 10-Q Report for Quarter Ended September 30, 1998.)

10.9.*(2)

 

Form of Individual Indemnification Agreement dated February 9, 1993 between Questar Corporation and Directors. (Exhibit No. 10.11. to Form 10-K Annual Report for 1992.)

10.10.(2)

 

Questar Corporation Deferred Share Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2005.

10.11.(2)

 

Questar Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2005.

10.12.*(2)

 

Questar Corporation Directors' Stock Plan as approved May 21, 1996. (Exhibit No. 10.15. to Form 10-Q Report for Quarter ended June 30, 1996.)

10.13.(2)

 

Questar Corporation Deferred Share Make-Up Plan as amended and restated effective January 1, 2005.

10.14.*(2)

 

Questar Corporation Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan effective January 1, 2004. (Exhibit No. 10.14 to Form 10-K Annual Report in 2003.)

10.15.*(2)

 

Employment Agreement between the Company and Keith O. Rattie effective February 1, 2004. (Exhibit NO. 10.15 to Form 10-K Annual Report for 2003.)

10.16.*(2)

 

Employment Agreement between the Company and Charles B. Stanley effective February 1, 2004. (Exhibit No. 10.16 to Form 10-K Annual Report for 2003.)

10.17.*(2)

 

Consulting Contract between the Questar Regulated Services Company and D. N. Rose effective May 1, 2003. (Exhibit No. 10.1 to Form 10-Q Report for Quarter Ended March 31, 2003.)

10.18.

 

Questar Corporation Annual Management Incentive Plan II effective January 1, 2005.

10.19.*(2)

 

Form of Restricted Stock Agreement dated February 8, 2005, for shares granted to officers and key employees. (Exhibit No. 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 8, 2005.)

10.20.*(2)

 

Form of Restricted Stock Agreement dated February 8, 2005, for shares granted to non-employee directors. (Exhibit No. 10-2 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 8, 2005.)

10.21.*(2)

 

Form of Phantom Stock Agreement dated February 8, 2005, for phantom stock units granted to on-employee directors. (Exhibit No. 10.3 to Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 8, 2005.)

10.22.*(2)

 

Summary of directors' fees.

12.

 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

14.

 

Business Ethics and Compliance Policy.

21.

 

Subsidiary Information.

23.1.

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

23.2.

 

Consent of Independent Petroleum Engineers

23.3.

 

Consent of Independent Petroleum Engineers and Geologists

23.4.

 

Consent of H. J. Gruy and Associates, Inc.

23.5.

 

Engineer's Consent

23.6.

 

Engineer's Consent

23.7.

 

Consent of Independent Petroleum Engineers

23.8.

 

Engineer's Consent

24.

 

Power of Attorney.

31.1.

 

Certification signed by Keith O. Rattie, Questar's Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act").

31.2.

 

Certification signed by S. E. Parks, Questar's Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.

32.

 

Certification signed by Keith O. Rattie and S. E. Parks, Questar's Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.

99.1.

 

Undertakings for Registration Statements on Form S-3 (No. 33-48168) and on Form S-8 (Nos. 33-4436, 33-15149, 33-40800, 33-40801, 33-48169, 333-04913, 333-04951, 333-67658, 333-89486.


*Exhibits
so marked have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the indicated filing and are incorporated herein by reference.

(1)
The name of the Rights Agent has been changed to U. S. Bank National Association.

(2)
Exhibit so marked is management contract or compensation plan or arrangement.