RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

NJRES may periodically enter into storage or park and loan agreements with its affiliated FERC-regulated natural gas storage facility, Steckman Ridge, or transportation agreements with its affiliated FERC-regulated interstate pipeline, Iroquois. As of June 30, 2014, NJRES has entered into storage and park and loan transactions with Steckman Ridge for varying terms, all of which will expire by April 30, 2015. Additionally, NJRES has transportation capacity with Iroquois that expires in March 31, 2019. Demand fees, net of eliminations, associated with both Steckman Ridge and Iroquois were $2.2 million and $4.6 million during the nine months endedJune 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of June 30, 2014, NJRES had demand fees payable of $141,000 and $389,000 to Steckman Ridge and Iroquois, respectively, which are included in gas purchases payable. As of September 30, 2013, fees payable to Steckman Ridge and Iroquois, were $159,000 and $390,000, respectively.

In January 2010, NJNG entered into a 10-year agreement effective April 1, 2010, for 3 Bcf of firm storage capacity with Steckman Ridge. Under the terms of the agreement, NJNG incurs demand fees, at market rates, of approximately $9.3 million annually, a portion of which is eliminated in consolidation. These fees are recoverable through NJNG's BGSS mechanism and are included in regulatory assets. Additionally, NJNG has transportation capacity with Iroquois that expires by January 31, 2019. Demand fees, net of eliminations, associated with both Steckman Ridge and Iroquois were $7.3 million and $4.3 million during the nine months endedJune 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. NJNG had demand fees payable to Steckman Ridge in the amount of $775,000 as of June 30, 2014 and $775,000 as of September 30, 2013. NJNG had fees payable to Iroquois of $61,000 and $61,000 as of June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013, respectively.

In December 2009, NJNG and NJRES entered into an asset management agreement that began in January 2010 and ends in March 2015. Under the terms of this agreement, NJNG released certain transportation and storage contracts to NJRES for the entire term of the agreement. NJNG also sold approximately 1 Bcf of natural gas in storage at cost to NJRES. In return, NJNG has the option to purchase index priced gas from NJRES at NJNG's city gate and other delivery locations to maintain operational reliability. In September 2010, NJNG and NJRES entered into an asset management agreement that began in November 2010 and ends October 2014, whereby NJNG released additional transportation contracts to NJRES for the entire term of the agreement and has the option to purchase index priced gas from NJRES at NJNG's city gate. In March 2014, NJNG and NJRES entered into an another asset management agreement that began in April 2014 and ends March 2016, whereby NJNG released additional transportation contracts to NJRES for the entire term of the agreement and has the option to purchase index priced gas from NJRES at NJNG's city gate.