REGULATION (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Regulated Operations [Abstract]

Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Text Block]

Regulatory assets and liabilities included on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are comprised of the following:

(Thousands)	June 30, 2012		September 30, 2011
Regulatory assets-current
Conservation Incentive Program	$	26,240	$	9,178
Underrecovered gas costs	8,772		—
Derivatives, net	17,928		8,452
Total current	$	52,940	$	17,630
Regulatory assets-noncurrent
Environmental remediation costs
Expended, net of recoveries	$	59,683	$	75,646
Liability for future expenditures	182,900		182,900
Deferred income taxes	11,574		10,879
Energy Efficiency Program	21,944		11,906
New Jersey Clean Energy Program	7,434		20,144
Postemployment and other benefit costs	118,456		123,827
Other	9,537		8,883
Total noncurrent	$	411,528	$	434,185
Regulatory liability-current
Overrecovered gas costs	$	—	$	4,633
Total current	$	—	$	4,633
Regulatory liabilities-noncurrent
Cost of removal obligation	$	66,007	$	59,752
Other	93		85
Total noncurrent	$	66,100	$	59,837