CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Utility plant, at cost	$ 4,132,835	$ 3,843,037
Construction work in progress	203,460	237,428
Nonutility plant and equipment, at cost	1,804,670	1,767,306
Construction work in progress	205,979	142,768
Total property, plant and equipment	6,346,944	5,990,539
Accumulated depreciation and amortization, utility plant	(770,867)	(714,087)
Accumulated depreciation and amortization, nonutility plant and equipment	(291,143)	(254,397)
Property, plant and equipment, net	5,284,934	5,022,055
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	22,399	954
Customer accounts receivable
Billed	128,264	97,540
Unbilled revenues	20,564	19,100
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(10,738)	(11,036)
Regulatory assets	89,572	73,587
Natural gas in storage, at average cost	132,244	199,501
Materials and supplies, at average cost	31,635	27,022
Prepaid expenses	13,643	9,741
Prepaid taxes	54,880	43,046
Derivatives, at fair value	4,771	30,755
Restricted broker margin accounts	18,894	20,796
Other current assets	28,266	21,071
Total current assets	534,394	532,077
NONCURRENT ASSETS
Investments in equity method investees	100,824	104,134
Regulatory assets	557,280	584,830
Operating lease assets	185,506	175,740
Derivatives, at fair value	979	1,564
Software costs	10,254	8,375
Deferred income taxes	22,575	28,383
Postemployment employee benefit assets	18,585	18,684
Other noncurrent assets	68,790	61,654
Total noncurrent assets	964,793	983,364
Total assets	6,784,121	6,537,496
CAPITALIZATION
Common stock, $2.50 par value; authorized 150,000,000 shares; outstanding shares June 30, 2024 — 99,091,574; September 30, 2023 — 97,584,455	247,234	243,458
Premium on common stock	618,140	558,654
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	217	(9,959)
Treasury stock at cost and other; shares June 30, 2024 — 16,302; September 30, 2023 — 13,041	25,027	20,748
Retained earnings	1,252,400	1,177,834
Common stock equity	2,143,018	1,990,735
Long-term debt	2,793,672	2,768,017
Total capitalization	4,936,690	4,758,752
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current maturities of long-term debt	197,448	116,155
Short-term debt	254,800	252,100
Natural gas purchases payable	53,371	51,277
Natural gas purchases payable to related parties	875	859
Deferred revenue	99,566	61,404
Accounts payable and other	144,579	151,790
Dividends payable	41,618	40,981
Accrued taxes	8,614	10,090
Regulatory liabilities	31,573	32,287
New Jersey Clean Energy Program	20,265	15,804
Derivatives, at fair value	7,632	16,145
Operating lease liabilities	5,125	4,772
Restricted broker margin accounts	0	8,029
Customers' credit balances and deposits	28,881	44,910
Total current liabilities	894,347	806,603
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Deferred income taxes	331,829	285,427
Deferred investment tax credits	2,226	2,434
Deferred revenue	588	659
Derivatives, at fair value	11,962	7,967
Manufactured gas plant remediation	153,818	169,390
Postemployment employee benefit liability	42,308	102,528
Regulatory liabilities	176,720	180,458
Operating lease liabilities	159,988	148,023
Asset retirement obligations	63,245	61,993
Other noncurrent liabilities	10,400	13,262
Total noncurrent liabilities	953,084	972,141
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 13)
Total capitalization and liabilities	6,784,121	6,537,496
Related Party
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Natural gas purchases payable to related parties	$ 875	$ 859