CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
OPERATING REVENUES
Utility	$ 185,556	$ 151,606
Nonutility	355,472	292,652
Total operating revenues	541,028	444,258
OPERATING EXPENSES
Gas Purchases - Utility	61,320	46,665
Gas Purchases - Nonutility	337,932	254,088
Gas Purchases - Related parties	2,111	2,074
Operation and maintenance	52,228	46,233
Regulatory rider expenses	12,601	9,628
Depreciation and amortization	19,260	16,482
Energy and other taxes	14,101	9,637
Total operating expenses	499,553	384,807
OPERATING INCOME	41,475	59,451
Other income, net	3,776	1,924
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	10,615	6,777
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	34,636	54,598
Income tax provision	2,018	6,722
Equity in earnings of affiliates	2,311	2,406
NET INCOME	$ 34,929	$ 50,282
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.41	$ 0.59
Diluted (usd per share)	0.40	0.58
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE (usd per share)	$ 0.255	$ 0.24
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING
Basic (in shares)	86,084	85,675
Diluted (in shares)	86,855	86,676