CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 79,851	$ 136,025	$ 151,028	$ 241,061
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	347,589	267,670	450,960	354,688
Deferred income taxes	22,955	45,374	38,793	58,339
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net of allowances	(78,719)	(62,081)	(68,192)	(68,714)
Accrued utility revenue	43,600	42,700	(1,600)	(3,200)
Deferred purchased gas costs	(92,200)	(293,410)	(142,518)	(317,070)
Accounts payable	(29,353)	(51,086)	72,159	251
Accrued taxes	18,352	5,954	5,673	3,134
Other current assets and liabilities	(1,039)	23,289	(113,537)	9,531
Gains on sale of property and equipment	(5,215)	(5,365)	(6,756)	(6,632)
Changes in undistributed stock compensation	7,855	7,676	9,473	9,001
Equity AFUDC	(912)	0	(912)	(1,311)
Changes in deferred charges and other assets	16,417	(7,956)	10,832	(21,373)
Changes in other liabilities and deferred credits	(25,826)	(57,269)	(42,186)	(67,922)
Net cash provided by operating activities	303,355	51,521	363,217	189,783
CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Construction expenditures and property additions	(612,516)	(506,737)	(821,405)	(699,368)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(18,809)	(830,395)	(1,542,674)	(830,145)
Changes in customer advances	23,222	7,940	31,256	14,282
Other	4,005	14,755	7,506	17,238
Net cash used in investing activities	(604,098)	(1,314,437)	(2,325,317)	(1,497,993)
CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance of common stock, net	459,051	210,812	461,880	259,422
Centuri distribution to redeemable noncontrolling interest	(39,649)	0	(39,649)	0
Dividends paid	(118,980)	(102,292)	(154,910)	(134,479)
Issuance of long-term debt, net	770,240	1,654,960	775,976	1,666,718
Retirement of long-term debt	(422,356)	(406,815)	(468,205)	(473,926)
Change in credit facility and commercial paper	8,000	(150,000)	138,000	(58,000)
Change in short-term debt	(380,253)	165,000	(593,253)	218,000
Issuance of short-term debt	0	0	1,850,000	0
Withholding remittance - share-based compensation	(2,105)	(1,254)	(2,115)	(1,254)
Other	(19,929)	(4,355)	(16,303)	(6,161)
Net cash provided by financing activities	254,019	1,366,056	1,951,421	1,470,320
Effects of currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	(701)	198	(739)	635
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(47,425)	103,338	(11,418)	162,745
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	222,697	83,352	186,690	23,945
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	175,272	186,690	175,272	186,690
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	146,792	57,128	194,016	98,567
Income taxes paid, net	$ 10,317	$ 7,665	$ 6,860	$ 12,720