Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) is a limited partnership operating midstream energy assets in the US. The company is an integrated and diversified play on energy that deals in natural gas and crude oil and their derivatives. The company’s operating territory spans the North American energy infrastructure system with operations in 41 states and Canada and is systemically important.
The company was founded n 1995 by Kelcy Warren and Ray Davis. The company was private until 2004 when it IPOd. It operated as a stand-alone business until 2011 when it joined forces with Regency Energy Partners to purchase assets from Castleton Commodities International and begin a growth phase. As of 2022, Mr. Warren remains as Chairperson. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas but maintains an international office in Beijing.
Among other notable acquisitions are the purchase of Sunoco and Sunoco logistics partners and the eventual absorption of Regency Energy Partners. The company was formerly known as Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and changed its name to Energy Transfer LP in October 2018 along with some internal structural changes.
Today the company operates a vast network of natural gas and crude oil collection, processing and storage facilities along with the pipelines to move it. The company’s subsidiaries include but are not limited to Sunoco LP, Sunoco Logistics Partners, USA Compression Partners and it owns 100% or a controlling interest in pipelines that include the Dakota Access Pipeline, the Bayou Bridge Pipeline and the Florida Gas Transmission Pipeline.
Energy Transfer Partner LP owns or controls more than 120,000 miles of pipeline infrastructure, including natural gas, crude oil and derivative vehicles. The company controls or owns five natural gas storage facilities and over a dozen natural gas or LNG processing plants. The company can compress and deliver LNG to transport vessels as well as process, store and deliver propane. Its downstream operations include wholesaling natural gas and derivative crude oil products to utility companies, industrial users, and consumers.
As of 2022, the company employed more than 11,000 people and brought in more than $39 billion in net revenue. Roughly 30% of the nation's natural gas is moved by Energy Transfer Partners LP infrastructure and growing. Projects in the works include newer, more efficient processing plants and the interstate Gulf Run pipeline.
Natural gas is a crucial factor in the switch to green energy. Not only is it the cleanest of all petroleum-based energy sources, but it is easy to store and use, making it ideal as a backup source for intermittent energy like solar and wind. Natural gas is also important as a feedstock for plastics and other products critical to the health industry. Natural gas is also important for making ammonia, a necessary fertilizer for today’s food chain.
As an MLP, Energy Transfers Partners pays a large share of its earnings as dividends. Investors of record can enroll in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan or DRIP and have their distributions paid in shares.
