Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income Available for Common Stock	$ 245,134	$ 403,189
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:
Impairment of Exploration and Production Properties	200,696	0
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	348,179	299,973
Deferred Income Taxes	47,212	101,096
Stock-Based Compensation	15,984	15,807
Other	18,542	16,640
Change in:
Receivables and Unbilled Revenue	5,253	192,324
Gas Stored Underground and Materials and Supplies	18,981	11,757
Unrecovered Purchased Gas Costs	0	75,244
Other Current Assets	17,431	(12,230)
Accounts Payable	(13,705)	(52,340)
Amounts Payable to Customers	3,550	21,972
Customer Advances	(21,003)	(26,108)
Customer Security Deposits	7,910	9,741
Other Accruals and Current Liabilities	23,846	45,363
Other Assets	(35,346)	(39,367)
Other Liabilities	(14,649)	(7,949)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	868,015	1,055,112
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	(684,200)	(727,738)
Acquisition of Upstream Assets	0	(124,758)
Sale of Fixed Income Mutual Fund Shares in Grantor Trust	0	10,000
Other	(1,371)	13,397
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(685,571)	(829,099)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from Issuance of Short-Term Note Payable to Bank	0	250,000
Repayment of Short-Term Note Payable to Bank	0	(250,000)
Net Change in Other Short-Term Notes Payable to Banks and Commercial Paper	(287,500)	78,500
Net Proceeds from Issuance of Long-Term Debt	299,396	297,533
Shares Repurchased Under Repurchase Plan	(27,847)	0
Reduction of Long-Term Debt	0	(549,000)
Dividends Paid on Common Stock	(136,610)	(130,653)
Net Repurchases of Common Stock Under Stock and Benefit Plans	(3,916)	(6,696)
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities	(156,477)	(310,316)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash	25,967	(84,303)
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at October 1	55,447	137,718
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at June 30	81,414	53,415
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
Non-Cash Capital Expenditures	$ 80,468	$ 71,823