10. Details of Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Captions

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Details Of Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Captions Disclosure Abstract

10. Details of Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Captions

The following tables provide additional information regarding the composition of certain of our balance sheet captions.

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable was comprised of the following at September 30, 2011 and 2010:

	September 30
	2011		2010
		(In thousands)

Billed accounts receivable	$	216,145	$	223,129
Unbilled revenue		48,006		47,423
Other accounts receivable		16,592		15,356
Total accounts receivable		280,743		285,908
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts		(7,440)		(12,701)
Net accounts receivable	$	273,303	$	273,207

Other current assets

Other current assets as of September 30, 2011 and 2010 were comprised of the following accounts.

	September 30
	2011		2010
	(In thousands)

Assets from risk management activities	$	18,344	$	20,575
Deferred gas costs		33,976		22,701
Taxes receivable		9,215		19,382
Current deferred tax asset		76,725		53,926
Prepaid expenses		22,499		24,754
Current portion of leased assets receivable		2,013		2,973
Materials and supplies		4,113		3,940
Assets held for sale		140,571		-
Other		9,015		2,744

Total	$	316,471	$	150,995

As discussed in Note 6, assets and liabilities related to our Missouri, Illinois and Iowa operations are classified as “assets held for sale” in other current assets and liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2011.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment was comprised of the following as of September 30, 2011 and 2010:

		September 30
		2011		2010
		(In thousands)

Production plant		$	7,412	$	17,360
Storage plant			198,422		193,155
Transmission plant			1,126,509		1,108,398
Distribution plant			4,496,263		4,339,277
General plant			737,850		671,953
Intangible plant			41,096		54,253
			6,607,552		6,384,396
Construction in progress			209,242		157,922
			6,816,794		6,542,318
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization			(1,668,876)		(1,749,243)
	Net property, plant and equipment	$	5,147,918	$	4,793,075

Deferred charges and other assets

Deferred charges and other assets as of September 30, 2011 and 2010 were comprised of the following accounts.

	September 30
	2011		2010
	(In thousands)

Marketable securities	$	52,633	$	41,466
Regulatory assets		278,920		254,809
Deferred financing costs		35,149		35,761
Assets from risk management activities		998		937
Other		16,093		22,403

Total	$	383,793	$	355,376

Other current liabilities

Other current liabilities as of September 30, 2011 and 2010 were comprised of the following accounts.

	September 30
	2011		2010
	(In thousands)

Customer deposits	$	106,743	$	114,215
Accrued employee costs		38,558		40,642
Deferred gas costs		8,130		43,333
Accrued interest		37,557		42,901
Liabilities from risk management activities		15,453		49,673
Taxes payable		57,853		56,616
Pension and postretirement obligations		33,036		14,815
Regulatory cost of removal accrual		35,078		30,953
Liabilities held for sale		18,445		-
Other		16,710		20,492

Total	$	367,563	$	413,640

Deferred credits and other liabilities

Deferred credits and other liabilities as of September 30, 2011 and 2010 were comprised of the following accounts.

	September 30
	2011		2010
	(In thousands)

Postretirement obligations	$	202,709	$	167,899
Retirement plan obligations		236,227		207,234
Customer advances for construction		13,967		15,466
Regulatory liabilities		13,823		6,112
Asset retirement obligation		13,574		11,432
Uncertain tax positions		-		6,731
Liabilities from risk management activities		78,089		8,924
Other		6,306		6,366

Total	$	564,695	$	430,164