CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
ASSETS
Property, plant and equipment		$ 8,959,702	$ 8,200,121
Construction in progress		280,398	247,579
Total property, plant and equipment and construction in progress		9,240,100	8,447,700
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		1,809,520	1,721,794
Net property, plant and equipment	[1]	7,430,580	6,725,906
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		28,653	42,258
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $15,283 in 2015 and $23,992 in 2014		295,160	343,400
Gas stored underground		236,603	278,917
Other current assets		70,569	111,265
Total current assets		630,985	775,840
Goodwill		742,702	742,029
Deferred charges and other assets		288,678	350,929
Total assets		9,092,945	8,594,704
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, no par value (stated at $.005 per share); 200,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding: 2015 — 101,478,818 shares, 2014 — 100,388,092 shares		507	502
Additional paid-in capital		2,230,591	2,180,151
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(109,330)	(12,393)
Retained earnings		1,073,029	917,972
Shareholders' equity		3,194,797	3,086,232
Long-term debt		2,455,388	2,455,986
Total capitalization		5,650,185	5,542,218
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		238,942	308,086
Other current liabilities		457,954	405,869
Short-term debt		457,927	196,695
Total current liabilities		1,154,823	910,650
Deferred income taxes		1,411,315	1,286,616
Regulatory cost of removal obligation		427,553	445,387
Pension and postretirement liabilities		287,373	340,963
Deferred credits and other liabilities		161,696	68,870
Total shareholders' equity and liabilities		$ 9,092,945	$ 8,594,704

[1] Net property, plant and equipment includes plant acquisition adjustments of $(68.1) million and $(76.4) million at September 30, 2015 and 2014.