Unaudited Financial Information (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2022

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of Regulatory Assets

Significant regulatory assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2022 and September 30, 2021 included the following:

	March 31, 2022		September 30, 2021
	(In thousands)
Regulatory assets:
Pension and postretirement benefit costs	$	37,927	$	45,922
Infrastructure mechanisms (1)	204,915		222,795
Winter Storm Uri incremental costs (2)	2,106,521		2,100,728
Deferred gas costs	21,366		66,395
Regulatory excess deferred taxes	48,352		45,370
Recoverable loss on reacquired debt	3,521		3,789
Deferred pipeline record collection costs	34,149		32,099
Other	18,794		4,343
	$	2,475,545	$	2,521,441
Regulatory liabilities:
Regulatory excess deferred taxes	$	626,874	$	705,084
Regulatory cost of removal obligation	552,100		541,511
Deferred gas costs	83,834		52,553
Asset retirement obligation	18,373		18,373
APT annual adjustment mechanism	27,397		31,110
Pension and postretirement benefit costs	53,370		56,201
Other	27,571		19,363
	$	1,389,519	$	1,424,195

(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 deferred expenses until the next rate proceeding (rate case or annual rate filing), at which time investment and costs would be recoverable through base rates.

(2)Includes extraordinary gas costs subject to securitization incurred during Winter Storm Uri and permissible carrying costs. See Note 8 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for further information. This amount is recorded within other current assets and deferred charges and other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2022.

Schedule of Regulatory Liabilities

Significant regulatory assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2022 and September 30, 2021 included the following:

	March 31, 2022		September 30, 2021
	(In thousands)
Regulatory assets:
Pension and postretirement benefit costs	$	37,927	$	45,922
Infrastructure mechanisms (1)	204,915		222,795
Winter Storm Uri incremental costs (2)	2,106,521		2,100,728
Deferred gas costs	21,366		66,395
Regulatory excess deferred taxes	48,352		45,370
Recoverable loss on reacquired debt	3,521		3,789
Deferred pipeline record collection costs	34,149		32,099
Other	18,794		4,343
	$	2,475,545	$	2,521,441
Regulatory liabilities:
Regulatory excess deferred taxes	$	626,874	$	705,084
Regulatory cost of removal obligation	552,100		541,511
Deferred gas costs	83,834		52,553
Asset retirement obligation	18,373		18,373
APT annual adjustment mechanism	27,397		31,110
Pension and postretirement benefit costs	53,370		56,201
Other	27,571		19,363
	$	1,389,519	$	1,424,195

(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 deferred expenses until the next rate proceeding (rate case or annual rate filing), at which time investment and costs would be recoverable through base rates.

(2)Includes extraordinary gas costs subject to securitization incurred during Winter Storm Uri and permissible carrying costs. See Note 8 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for further information. This amount is recorded within other current assets and deferred charges and other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2022.