CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
ASSETS
Property, plant and equipment	$ 24,784,285	$ 21,958,447
Construction in progress	1,063,798	939,927
Total property, plant and equipment and construction in progress	25,848,083	22,898,374
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	3,643,716	3,291,791
Net property, plant and equipment	22,204,367	19,606,583
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	307,340	15,404
Restricted cash and cash equivalents (See Note 10)	1,516	3,844
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents	308,856	19,248
Accounts receivable, less allowance for uncollectible accounts of $37,056 in 2024 and $40,840 in 2023	365,882	328,654
Gas stored underground	169,508	245,830
Other current assets	288,068	292,036
Total current assets	1,132,314	885,768
Securitized intangible asset, less accumulated amortization of $10,756 in 2024 and $1,398 in 2023 (See Note 10)	82,844	92,202
Goodwill	731,257	731,257
Deferred charges and other assets	1,043,683	1,201,158
Total assets	25,194,465	22,516,968
Shareholders’ equity
Common stock, no par value (stated at $0.005 per share); 200,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding: 2024 — 155,258,845 shares; 2023 — 148,492,783 shares	776	742
Additional paid-in capital	7,474,559	6,684,120
Accumulated other comprehensive income	465,715	518,528
Retained earnings	4,216,619	3,666,674
Shareholders’ equity	12,157,669	10,870,064
Long-term debt	7,783,646	6,554,133
Securitized long-term debt (See Note 10)	76,871	85,078
Total capitalization	20,018,186	17,509,275
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 14)
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	445,397	336,083
Other current liabilities	750,620	763,086
Short-term debt	0	241,933
Current maturities of long-term debt	1,651	1,568
Current maturities of securitized long-term debt (See Note 10)	8,207	9,922
Total current liabilities	1,205,875	1,352,592
Deferred income taxes	2,593,342	2,304,974
Regulatory excess deferred taxes (See Note 15)	177,315	253,212
Regulatory cost of removal obligation	507,815	497,017
Deferred credits and other liabilities	691,932	599,898
Total shareholders' equity and liabilities	$ 25,194,465	$ 22,516,968