REGULATION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Regulated Operations [Abstract]

Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Text Block]

Regulatory assets and liabilities included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, are comprised of the following:

(Thousands)	2012		2011
Regulatory assets-current
Underrecovered gas costs	$	7,053	$	—
Conservation Incentive Program	25,681		9,178
Derivatives, net	—		8,452
Total current	$	32,734	$	17,630
Regulatory assets-noncurrent
Environmental remediation costs
Expended, net of recoveries	$	59,745	$	75,646
Liability for future expenditures	182,000		182,900
Deferred income taxes	11,405		10,879
Energy Efficiency Program	26,025		11,906
New Jersey Clean Energy Program	5,619		20,144
Postemployment and other benefit costs	142,495		123,827
Other	13,974		8,883
Total noncurrent	$	441,263	$	434,185
Regulatory liability-current
Overrecovered gas costs	$	—	$	4,633
Derivatives, net	1,169		—
Total current	$	1,169	$	4,633
Regulatory liabilities-noncurrent
Cost of removal obligation	$	65,994	$	59,752
Derivatives, net	1,000		—
Other	83		85
Total noncurrent	$	67,077	$	59,837