DEBT (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Text Block]

The following table presents the long-term debt of the Company as of September 30:

(Thousands)			2011			2010
NJNG
First mortgage bonds:		Maturity date:
Variable	Series AA	August 1, 2030	$	—		$	25,000
Variable	Series BB	August 1, 2030	—			16,000
6.88%	Series CC	October 1, 2010	—			20,000
Variable	Series DD	September 1, 2027	—			13,500
Variable	Series EE	January 1, 2028	—			9,545
Variable	Series FF	January 1, 2028	—			15,000
Variable	Series GG	April 1, 2033	—			18,000
5.00%	Series HH	December 1, 2038	12,000			12,000
4.50%	Series II	August 1, 2023	10,300			10,300
4.60%	Series JJ	August 1, 2024	10,500			10,500
4.90%	Series KK	October 1, 2040	15,000			15,000
5.60%	Series LL	May 15, 2018	125,000			125,000
Variable	Series MM	September 1, 2027	9,545			—
Variable	Series NN	August 1, 2035	41,000			—
Variable	Series OO	August 1, 2041	46,500			—
4.77% Unsecured senior notes		March 15, 2014	60,000			60,000
Capital lease obligation-Buildings		June 1, 2021	23,314			24,611
Capital lease obligation-Meters		Various dates	30,683			34,962
Capital lease obligation-Equipment		December 1, 2013	530			764
Less: Current maturities of long-term debt			(7,575		)	(31,257		)
Total NJNG long-term debt			376,797			378,925
NJR
6.05% Unsecured senior notes		September 24, 2017	50,000			50,000
Total NJR long-term debt			50,000			50,000
Total long-term debt			$	426,797		$	428,925

Schedule of Extinguishment of Debt [Table Text Block]

Annual long-term debt redemption requirements, excluding capital leases, are as follows (in millions):

September 30,	Redemption
2012		$	—
2013		$	—
2014		$	60.0
2015		$	—
2016		$	—
Thereafter		$	319.8

Schedule of Sale Leaseback Transactions [Table Text Block]

Contractual commitments for capital lease payments, as of the fiscal year end are as follows (in millions):

Fiscal Year Ended September 30,	Lease Payments
2012		$	9.5
2013		9.9
2014		9.0
2015		8.9
2016		9.5
Thereafter		23.1
Subtotal		69.9
Less: interest component		(15.4		)
Total		$	54.5

Schedule of Line of Credit Facilities [Table Text Block]

A summary of NJR's and NJNG's debt shelf and credit facilities are as follows:

	September 30,
(Thousands)	2011			2010
NJR
Debt shelf facilities (1)	$	175,000		$	—
Bank credit facilities(2)	$	325,000		$	325,000
Amount outstanding at end of period	$	132,850		$	140,600
Weighted average interest rate at end of period	0.54		%	0.64		%
NJNG
Bank credit facility dedicated to EDA Bonds (2)	$	100,000		$	—
Bank credit facilities (2)	$	200,000		200,000
Amount outstanding at end of period	$	26,500		$	7,000
Weighted average interest rate at end of period	0.24		%	0.26		%

(1) Uncommitted, long-term debt shelf facilities, which require no commitment fees on the unused amounts.

(2) Committed credit facilities, which require commitment fees on the unused amounts.