CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 169,505	$ 233,436	$ 132,065
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments	2,881	26,770	(11,241)
Gain on sale of available for sale securities	(1,567)	(5,332)	(7,287)
Gain on sale of businesses	(645)	(4,663)	0
Depreciation and amortization	91,730	85,701	81,841
Amortization of acquired wholesale energy contracts	8,424	18,222	762
Allowance for equity used during construction	(6,492)	(5,531)	(3,867)
Allowance for doubtful accounts	2,387	2,579	2,023
Deferred income taxes	(59,013)	15,590	41,442
Deferred income tax benefit due to tax legislation	0	(75,736)	0
Equivalent value of ITCs recognized on equipment financing	(6,482)	0	0
Manufactured gas plant remediation costs	(13,878)	(16,171)	(10,934)
Equity in earnings, net of distributions received from equity investees	(4,156)	(1,725)	(462)
Cost of removal - asset retirement obligations	(258)	(298)	(484)
Contributions to postemployment benefit plans	(8,157)	(6,359)	(6,077)
Tax benefit of delivered shares from stock based compensation	1,290	2,950	1,285
Changes in:
Components of working capital	(27,759)	97,004	17,081
Other noncurrent assets	3,415	17,860	13,978
Other noncurrent liabilities	38,125	13,989	(2,079)
Cash flows from operating activities	189,350	398,286	248,046
Expenditures for:
Utility plant	(300,031)	(206,880)	(144,106)
Solar and wind equipment	(157,828)	(123,421)	(149,400)
Midstream and other	(23,100)	(6,644)	(2,434)
Cost of removal	(40,195)	(47,643)	(32,143)
Acquisition of retail and wholesale energy contracts	0	0	(55,661)
Investments in equity investees	(4,102)	(16,151)	(27,070)
Distributions from equity investees in excess of equity in earnings	2,428	3,117	2,749
Cash paid related to acquisition	0	(10,000)	0
Proceeds from sale of property, net of closing costs	0	0	9,443
Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of closing costs	205,745	27,916	0
Proceeds from sale of available for sale securities, net	34,484	6,616	6,639
Cash flows used in investing activities	(282,599)	(373,090)	(391,983)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from long-term debt	467,900	225,000	100,000
Payments of long-term debt	(218,638)	(165,486)	(97,854)
(Payments of) proceeds from short-term debt, net	(126,500)	(114,050)	144,300
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transaction - solar	0	71,538	32,901
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transaction - gas meters	9,895	7,820	9,587
Payments of common stock dividends	(104,059)	(95,835)	(87,988)
Proceeds from waiver discount issuance of common stock	57,391	41,677	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	16,717	17,136	17,492
Purchases of treasury stock	0	0	(6,355)
Tax withholding payments related to net settled stock compensation	(7,104)	(13,755)	(4,788)
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities	95,602	(25,955)	107,295
Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	2,353	(759)	(36,642)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	1,710	2,469	39,111
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	4,063	1,710	2,469
CHANGES IN COMPONENTS OF WORKING CAPITAL
Receivables	63,795	(7,524)	(56,974)
Inventories	14,265	15,464	3,022
Recovery of gas costs	(15,733)	30,439	(90)
Gas purchases payable	(74,031)	51,187	20,663
Gas purchases payable - related parties	(360)	(1)	2
Prepaid and accrued taxes	2,271	1,254	10,366
Accounts payable and other	2,256	40,422	13,086
Restricted broker margin accounts	(22,004)	(30,974)	22,570
Customers’ credit balances and deposits	(209)	368	(5,877)
Other current assets	1,991	(3,631)	10,313
Total	(27,759)	97,004	17,081
Cash paid (received) for:
Interest (net of amounts capitalized)	50,371	44,821	44,362
Income taxes	12,647	5,577	(6,877)
Accrued capital expenditures	30,725	30,559	21,769
Inception gain on natural gas swap contract recognized as non-cash proceeds from sale of business	$ 0	$ 14,579	$ 0