CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Utility plant, at cost	$ 4,221,395	$ 3,843,037
Construction work in progress	233,295	237,428
Nonutility plant and equipment, at cost	1,834,956	1,767,306
Construction work in progress	206,869	142,768
Total property, plant and equipment	6,496,515	5,990,539
Accumulated depreciation and amortization, utility plant	(786,594)	(714,087)
Accumulated depreciation and amortization, nonutility plant and equipment	(306,698)	(254,397)
Property, plant and equipment, net	5,403,223	5,022,055
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	1,017	954
Customer accounts receivable:
Billed	105,531	97,540
Unbilled revenues	20,094	19,100
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(8,506)	(11,036)
Regulatory assets	73,070	73,587
Natural gas in storage, at average cost	199,125	199,501
Materials and supplies, at average cost	38,484	27,022
Prepaid expenses	11,754	9,741
Prepaid taxes	67,066	43,046
Derivatives, at fair value	6,813	30,755
Restricted broker margin accounts	13,243	20,796
Other current assets	26,904	21,071
Total current assets	554,595	532,077
NONCURRENT ASSETS
Investments in equity method investees	101,744	104,134
Regulatory assets	609,192	584,830
Operating lease assets	184,485	175,740
Derivatives, at fair value	806	1,564
Software costs	10,522	8,375
Deferred income taxes	20,751	28,383
Postemployment employee benefit assets	24,660	18,684
Other noncurrent assets	71,667	61,654
Total noncurrent assets	1,023,827	983,364
Total assets	6,981,645	6,537,496
CAPITALIZATION
Common stock, $2.50 par value; authorized 150,000,000 shares; outstanding shares September 30, 2024 — 99,461,448; September 30, 2023 — 97,584,455	248,159	243,458
Premium on common stock	633,811	558,654
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(6,521)	(9,959)
Treasury stock at cost and other; shares September 30, 2024 — 16,302; September 30, 2023 — 13,041	26,220	20,748
Retained earnings	1,298,774	1,177,834
Common stock equity	2,200,443	1,990,735
Long-term debt	2,879,464	2,768,017
Total capitalization	5,079,907	4,758,752
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current maturities of long-term debt	189,006	116,155
Short-term debt	291,800	252,100
Natural gas purchases payable	57,515	51,277
Deferred revenue	21,572	61,404
Accounts payable and other	169,232	151,790
Dividends payable	44,752	40,981
Accrued taxes	10,593	10,090
Regulatory liabilities	32,981	32,287
New Jersey Clean Energy Program	18,491	15,804
Derivatives, at fair value	6,271	16,145
Restricted broker margin accounts	1,146	8,029
Operating lease liabilities	4,945	4,772
Customers’ credit balances and deposits	38,595	44,910
Total current liabilities	887,774	806,603
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Deferred income taxes	358,783	285,427
Deferred investment tax credits	2,156	2,434
Deferred revenue	3,095	659
Derivatives, at fair value	11,490	7,967
Manufactured gas plant remediation	161,650	169,390
Postemployment employee benefit liabilities	64,609	102,528
Regulatory liabilities	175,847	180,458
Operating lease liabilities	159,303	148,023
Asset retirement obligations	66,698	61,993
Other noncurrent liabilities	10,333	13,262
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,013,964	972,141
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 14)
Total capitalization and liabilities	6,981,645	6,537,496
Related Party
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Natural gas purchases payable to related parties	$ 875	$ 859