CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Utility plant, at cost	$ 3,451,038	$ 3,324,611
Construction work in progress	154,978	182,196
Nonutility plant and equipment, at cost	1,154,104	1,124,896
Construction work in progress	511,351	365,346
Total property, plant and equipment	5,271,471	4,997,049
Accumulated depreciation and amortization, utility plant	(637,491)	(611,827)
Accumulated depreciation and amortization, nonutility plant and equipment	(187,141)	(171,709)
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,446,839	4,213,513
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	13,906	4,749
Customer accounts receivable
Billed	273,313	212,838
Unbilled revenues	56,270	10,351
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(21,470)	(24,652)
Regulatory assets	33,717	30,118
Natural gas in storage, at average cost	66,300	193,606
Materials and supplies, at average cost	21,855	19,561
Prepaid expenses	13,714	8,166
Prepaid and accrued taxes	4,087	51,211
Derivatives, at fair value	21,586	35,251
Restricted broker margin accounts	49,901	72,840
Other current assets	22,857	20,235
Total current assets	556,036	634,274
NONCURRENT ASSETS
Investments in equity method investees	109,980	114,529
Regulatory assets	513,006	522,099
Operating lease assets	171,207	173,928
Derivatives, at fair value	4,140	3,403
Intangible assets, net	3,445	5,029
Software costs	5,714	5,582
Other noncurrent assets	59,637	49,921
Total noncurrent assets	867,129	874,491
Total assets	5,870,004	5,722,278
CAPITALIZATION
Common stock, $2.50 par value; authorized 150,000,000 shares; outstanding March 31, 2022 — 96,081,796; September 30, 2021 — 95,709,662	241,593	240,644
Premium on common stock	517,843	502,584
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(32,467)	(34,528)
Treasury stock at cost and other; shares March 31, 2022 — 769,835; September 30, 2021 — 762,313	(15,025)	(12,448)
Retained earnings	1,072,343	934,610
Common stock equity	1,784,287	1,630,862
Long-term debt	2,319,434	2,162,164
Total capitalization	4,103,721	3,793,026
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current maturities of long-term debt	24,539	72,840
Short-term debt	302,210	377,300
Natural gas purchases payable	142,733	168,697
Natural gas purchases payable to related parties	855	861
Deferred revenue	54,113	1,745
Accounts payable and other	123,190	223,497
Dividends payable	34,830	34,768
Accrued taxes	32,153	3,356
Regulatory liabilities	88,064	28,007
New Jersey Clean Energy Program	6,608	16,308
Derivatives, at fair value	45,216	87,145
Operating lease liabilities	4,878	4,300
Restricted broker margin accounts	2,464	0
Customers' credit balances and deposits	20,284	32,586
Total current liabilities	882,137	1,051,410
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Deferred income taxes	181,875	163,530
Deferred investment tax credits	2,849	3,010
Deferred revenue	5,088	847
Derivatives, at fair value	19,632	13,497
Manufactured gas plant remediation	121,605	135,012
Postemployment employee benefit liability	166,887	169,267
Regulatory liabilities	191,450	193,051
Operating lease liabilities	140,036	141,363
Asset retirement obligation	46,753	46,306
Other noncurrent liabilities	7,971	11,959
Total noncurrent liabilities	884,146	877,842
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 13)
Total capitalization and liabilities	$ 5,870,004	$ 5,722,278