CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Utility plant, at cost	$ 3,397,776	$ 3,324,611
Construction work in progress	158,052	182,196
Nonutility plant and equipment, at cost	1,136,718	1,124,896
Construction work in progress	452,685	365,346
Total property, plant and equipment	5,145,231	4,997,049
Accumulated depreciation and amortization, utility plant	(622,934)	(611,827)
Accumulated depreciation and amortization, nonutility plant and equipment	(179,194)	(171,709)
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,343,103	4,213,513
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	1,259	4,749
Customer accounts receivable
Billed	266,815	212,838
Unbilled revenues	72,949	10,351
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(24,767)	(24,652)
Regulatory assets	38,653	30,118
Natural gas in storage, at average cost	242,692	193,606
Materials and supplies, at average cost	19,341	19,561
Prepaid expenses	15,117	8,166
Prepaid and accrued taxes	23,246	51,211
Derivatives, at fair value	39,783	35,251
Restricted broker margin accounts	42,716	72,840
Other current assets	22,518	20,235
Total current assets	760,322	634,274
NONCURRENT ASSETS
Investments in equity method investees	114,249	114,529
Regulatory assets	528,074	522,099
Operating lease assets	173,617	173,928
Derivatives, at fair value	1,978	3,403
Intangible assets, net	4,337	5,029
Software costs	5,464	5,582
Other noncurrent assets	50,013	49,921
Total noncurrent assets	877,732	874,491
Total assets	5,981,157	5,722,278
CAPITALIZATION
Common stock, $2.50 par value; authorized 150,000,000 shares; outstanding December 31, 2021 — 95,961,710; September 30, 2021 — 95,709,662	241,274	240,644
Premium on common stock	513,134	502,584
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(33,498)	(34,528)
Treasury stock at cost and other; shares December 31, 2021 — 762,344; September 30, 2021 — 762,313	(15,067)	(12,448)
Retained earnings	1,011,135	934,610
Common stock equity	1,716,978	1,630,862
Long-term debt	2,274,176	2,162,164
Total capitalization	3,991,154	3,793,026
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current maturities of long-term debt	74,461	72,840
Short-term debt	487,950	377,300
Natural gas purchases payable	149,945	168,697
Natural gas purchases payable to related parties	851	861
Deferred revenue	52,852	1,745
Accounts payable and other	168,197	223,497
Dividends payable	34,786	34,768
Accrued taxes	6,596	3,356
Regulatory liabilities	18,999	28,007
New Jersey Clean Energy Program	14,416	16,308
Derivatives, at fair value	30,049	87,145
Operating lease liabilities	4,531	4,300
Restricted broker margin accounts	15,475	0
Customers' credit balances and deposits	38,666	32,586
Total current liabilities	1,097,774	1,051,410
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Deferred income taxes	178,654	163,530
Deferred investment tax credits	2,930	3,010
Deferred revenue	14,621	847
Derivatives, at fair value	15,261	13,497
Manufactured gas plant remediation	126,872	135,012
Postemployment employee benefit liability	167,335	169,267
Regulatory liabilities	190,714	193,051
Operating lease liabilities	141,356	141,363
Asset retirement obligation	46,541	46,306
Other noncurrent liabilities	7,945	11,959
Total noncurrent liabilities	892,229	877,842
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 13)
Total capitalization and liabilities	$ 5,981,157	$ 5,722,278