Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
ASSETS
Property, Plant and Equipment		$ 14,524,798	$ 13,635,303
Less — Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization		7,185,593	6,335,441
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total		7,339,205	7,299,862
Current Assets
Cash and Temporary Cash Investments		38,222	55,447
Hedging Collateral Deposits		0	0
Receivables — Net of Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts of $26,194 and $36,295, Respectively		127,222	160,601
Unbilled Revenue		15,521	16,622
Gas Stored Underground		35,055	32,509
Materials and Supplies - at average cost		47,670	48,989
Other Current Assets		92,229	100,260
Total Current Assets		355,919	414,428
Other Assets
Recoverable Future Taxes		80,084	69,045
Unamortized Debt Expense		5,604	7,240
Other Regulatory Assets		108,022	72,138
Deferred Charges		69,662	82,416
Other Investments		81,705	73,976
Goodwill		5,476	5,476
Prepaid Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Costs		180,230	200,301
Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments		87,905	50,487
Other		5,958	4,891
Total Other Assets		624,646	565,970
Total Assets		8,319,770	8,280,260
Comprehensive Shareholders’ Equity
Common Stock, $1 Par Value; Authorized - 200,000,000 Shares; Issued and Outstanding - 91,005,993 Shares and 91,819,405 Shares, Respectively		91,006	91,819
Paid In Capital		1,045,487	1,040,761
Earnings Reinvested in the Business		1,727,326	1,885,856
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		(15,476)	(55,060)
Total Comprehensive Shareholders’ Equity		2,848,343	2,963,376
Long-Term Debt, Net of Current Portion and Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs		2,188,243	2,384,485
Total Capitalization		5,036,586	5,347,861
Current and Accrued Liabilities
Notes Payable to Banks and Commercial Paper		90,700	287,500
Current Portion of Long-Term Debt	[1]	500,000	0
Accounts Payable		165,068	152,193
Amounts Payable to Customers		42,720	59,019
Dividends Payable		46,872	45,451
Interest Payable on Long-Term Debt		27,247	20,399
Customer Advances		19,373	21,003
Customer Security Deposits		36,265	28,764
Other Accruals and Current Liabilities		162,903	160,974
Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments		4,744	31,009
Total Current and Accrued Liabilities		1,095,892	806,312
Other Liabilities
Deferred Income Taxes		1,111,165	1,124,170
Taxes Refundable to Customers		305,645	268,562
Cost of Removal Regulatory Liability		292,477	277,694
Other Regulatory Liabilities		151,452	165,441
Other Post-Retirement Liabilities		3,511	2,915
Asset Retirement Obligations		203,006	165,492
Other Liabilities		120,036	121,813
Total Other Liabilities		2,187,292	2,126,087
Commitments and Contingencies (Note L)		0	0
Total Capitalization and Liabilities		$ 8,319,770	$ 8,280,260

[1] Current Portion of Long-Term Debt at September 30, 2024 consisted of $50.0 million of 7.38% medium-term notes and $450.0 million of 5.20% notes. None of the Company’s long-term debt as of September 30, 2023 had a maturity date within the following twelve-month period.