Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Table)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Significant regulatory assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2021 and 2020 included the following:


	September 30
	2021		2020
	(In thousands)
Regulatory assets:
Pension and postretirement benefit costs	$	45,922	$	149,089
Infrastructure mechanisms (1)	222,795		183,943
Winter Storm Uri incremental costs (2)	2,100,728		—
Deferred gas costs	66,395		40,593
Regulatory excess deferred taxes (3)	45,370		—
Recoverable loss on reacquired debt	3,789		4,894
Deferred pipeline record collection costs	32,099		29,839


Other	4,343		6,283
	$	2,521,441	$	414,641
Regulatory liabilities:
Regulatory excess deferred taxes (3)	$	705,084	$	718,651

Regulatory cost of removal obligation	541,511		531,096
Deferred gas costs	52,553		19,985
Asset retirement obligation	18,373		20,348
APT annual adjustment mechanism	31,110		57,379
Pension and postretirement benefit costs	56,201		—
Other	19,363		19,554
	$	1,424,195	$	1,367,013

(1)Infrastructure mechanisms in Texas, Louisiana and Tennessee allow for the deferral of all eligible expenses associated with capital expenditures incurred pursuant to these rules, including the recording of interest on the deferred expenses until the next rate proceeding (rate case or annual rate filing), at which time investment and costs would be recovered through base rates.

(2)Includes extraordinary gas costs incurred during Winter Storm Uri and related carrying costs. See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for further information. This amount is recorded within other current assets and deferred charges and other assets on the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2021.

(3)Regulatory excess deferred taxes represent changes in our net deferred tax liability related to our cost of service ratemaking due to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "TCJA") and a Kansas legislative change enacted in fiscal 2020. See Notes 12 and 14 to the consolidated financial statements for further information.

Schedule of Regulatory Liabilities

Significant regulatory assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2021 and 2020 included the following:


	September 30
	2021		2020
	(In thousands)
Regulatory assets:
Pension and postretirement benefit costs	$	45,922	$	149,089
Infrastructure mechanisms (1)	222,795		183,943
Winter Storm Uri incremental costs (2)	2,100,728		—
Deferred gas costs	66,395		40,593
Regulatory excess deferred taxes (3)	45,370		—
Recoverable loss on reacquired debt	3,789		4,894
Deferred pipeline record collection costs	32,099		29,839


Other	4,343		6,283
	$	2,521,441	$	414,641
Regulatory liabilities:
Regulatory excess deferred taxes (3)	$	705,084	$	718,651

Regulatory cost of removal obligation	541,511		531,096
Deferred gas costs	52,553		19,985
Asset retirement obligation	18,373		20,348
APT annual adjustment mechanism	31,110		57,379
Pension and postretirement benefit costs	56,201		—
Other	19,363		19,554
	$	1,424,195	$	1,367,013

Schedule of Capitalization

The following table details amounts capitalized for the fiscal year ended September 30.


		2021		2020		2019
Component of AFUDC	Statement of Comprehensive Income Location	(In thousands)
Debt	Interest charges	$	11,414	$	8,436	$	7,643
Equity	Other non-operating income (expense)	32,749		23,493		11,165
		$	44,163	$	31,929	$	18,808