Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

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


	September 30
	2022		2021
	(In thousands)
Regulatory assets:
Pension and postretirement benefit costs	$	31,122	$	45,922
Infrastructure mechanisms (1)	235,972		222,795
Winter Storm Uri incremental costs (2)	2,109,454		2,100,728
Deferred gas costs	119,742		66,395
Regulatory excess deferred taxes (3)	47,311		45,370
Recoverable loss on reacquired debt	3,406		3,789
Deferred pipeline record collection costs	36,898		32,099


Other	21,467		4,343
	$	2,605,372	$	2,521,441
Regulatory liabilities:
Regulatory excess deferred taxes (3)	$	545,021	$	705,084

Regulatory cost of removal obligation	568,307		541,511
Deferred gas costs	28,834		52,553
Asset retirement obligation	5,737		18,373
APT annual adjustment mechanism	31,138		31,110
Pension and postretirement benefit costs	156,857		56,201
Other	23,013		19,363
	$	1,358,907	$	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 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, 2022 and 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, 2022 and 2021 included the following:


	September 30
	2022		2021
	(In thousands)
Regulatory assets:
Pension and postretirement benefit costs	$	31,122	$	45,922
Infrastructure mechanisms (1)	235,972		222,795
Winter Storm Uri incremental costs (2)	2,109,454		2,100,728
Deferred gas costs	119,742		66,395
Regulatory excess deferred taxes (3)	47,311		45,370
Recoverable loss on reacquired debt	3,406		3,789
Deferred pipeline record collection costs	36,898		32,099


Other	21,467		4,343
	$	2,605,372	$	2,521,441
Regulatory liabilities:
Regulatory excess deferred taxes (3)	$	545,021	$	705,084

Regulatory cost of removal obligation	568,307		541,511
Deferred gas costs	28,834		52,553
Asset retirement obligation	5,737		18,373
APT annual adjustment mechanism	31,138		31,110
Pension and postretirement benefit costs	156,857		56,201
Other	23,013		19,363
	$	1,358,907	$	1,424,195

Schedule of Capitalization

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


		2022		2021		2020
Component of AFUDC	Statement of Comprehensive Income Location	(In thousands)
Debt	Interest charges	$	12,153	$	11,414	$	8,436
Equity	Other non-operating income (expense)	45,505		32,749		23,493
		$	57,658	$	44,163	$	31,929