CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Utility plant, at cost	$ 3,843,037	$ 3,576,691
Construction work in progress	237,428	162,087
Nonutility plant and equipment, at cost	1,767,306	1,577,259
Construction work in progress	142,768	199,679
Total property, plant and equipment	5,990,539	5,515,716
Accumulated depreciation and amortization, utility plant	(714,087)	(659,737)
Accumulated depreciation and amortization, nonutility plant and equipment	(254,397)	(206,053)
Property, plant and equipment, net	5,022,055	4,649,926
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	954	1,107
Customer accounts receivable:
Billed	97,540	222,297
Unbilled revenues	19,100	13,769
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(11,036)	(19,379)
Regulatory assets	73,587	40,086
Natural gas in storage, at average cost	199,501	273,644
Materials and supplies, at average cost	27,022	20,324
Prepaid expenses	9,741	8,572
Prepaid taxes	43,046	54,501
Derivatives, at fair value	30,755	24,635
Restricted broker margin accounts	20,796	94,261
Other current assets	21,071	22,270
Total current assets	532,077	756,087
NONCURRENT ASSETS
Investments in equity method investees	104,134	106,571
Regulatory assets	584,830	500,666
Operating lease assets	175,740	168,520
Derivatives, at fair value	1,564	6,385
Intangible assets, net	77	2,348
Software costs	8,375	6,120
Deferred income taxes	28,383	2,928
Postemployment employee benefit assets	18,684	4,388
Other noncurrent assets	61,577	57,477
Total noncurrent assets	983,364	855,403
Total assets	6,537,496	6,261,416
CAPITALIZATION
Common stock, $2.50 par value; authorized 150,000,000 shares; outstanding shares September 30, 2023 — 97,584,455; September 30, 2022 — 96,249,859	243,458	241,616
Premium on common stock	558,654	519,697
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(9,959)	(4,826)
Treasury stock at cost and other; shares September 30, 2023 — 13,041; September 30, 2022 — 611,045	20,748	(6,805)
Retained earnings	1,177,834	1,067,528
Common stock equity	1,990,735	1,817,210
Long-term debt	2,768,017	2,485,402
Total capitalization	4,758,752	4,302,612
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current maturities of long-term debt	116,155	75,069
Short-term debt	252,100	423,950
Natural gas purchases payable	51,277	235,049
Deferred revenue	61,404	35,547
Accounts payable and other	151,790	156,580
Dividends payable	40,981	37,534
Accrued taxes	10,090	5,130
Regulatory liabilities	32,287	31,090
New Jersey Clean Energy Program	15,804	15,697
Derivatives, at fair value	16,145	49,848
Restricted broker margin accounts	8,029	0
Operating lease liabilities	4,772	4,562
Customers’ credit balances and deposits	44,910	33,246
Current liabilities	806,603	1,104,153
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Deferred income taxes	285,427	238,928
Deferred investment tax credits	2,434	2,710
Deferred revenue	659	753
Derivatives, at fair value	7,967	14,191
Manufactured gas plant remediation	169,390	127,060
Postemployment employee benefit liabilities	102,528	82,867
Regulatory liabilities	180,458	185,634
Operating lease liabilities	148,023	138,382
Asset retirement obligation	61,993	55,035
Other noncurrent liabilities	13,262	9,091
Total noncurrent liabilities	972,141	854,651
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 14)
Total capitalization and liabilities	6,537,496	6,261,416
Related Party
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Natural gas purchases payable to related parties	$ 859	$ 851