COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: GUARANTEES — The Company has recorded a liability of $1.9 million which is included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities with a corresponding increase in Investment in Affiliates on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2011 for the fair value of the following guarantees: In April 2007, SJI guaranteed certain obligations of LVE Energy Partners, LLC (LVE) an unconsolidated joint venture in which Marina has a 50% equity interest. LVE entered into a 25-year contract with a resort developer to design, build, own and operate a district energy system and central energy center for a planned resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. LVE began construction of the facility in 2007 and expected to provide full energy service in 2010 when the resort was originally scheduled to be completed. LVE suspended construction of the district energy system and central energy center in January 2009 after the resort developer’s August 2008 announcement that it was delaying the completion of construction of the resort due to the difficult environment in the capital markets and weak economic conditions. The resort developer had indicated that it was considering different strategies to move its project forward, including opening its project in phases and obtaining a partner, but that it was unlikely construction would resume during 2009. In August 2011, the resort developer, repeating previous disclosures, indicated again that it does not expect to resume construction on the project for three to five years. The resort developer stated that it remains committed to having a significant presence on the Las Vegas Strip as part of a long-term growth strategy and continues to view this site as a major strategic asset. The district energy system and central energy center are being financed by LVE with debt that is non-recourse to SJI. The outstanding balance of LVE’s bank debt is approximately $193.2 million as of September 30, 2011. As a result of the construction delay, the district energy system and central energy center were not completed by the end of 2010 as originally expected. Consequently, the full amount of LVE’s debt became due and payable in December 2010. LVE intends to seek additional financing to complete the facility once construction of the resort resumes, however, as of December 31, 2010, LVE was in default under the financing agreements with the banks. The Energy Sales Agreement between LVE and the resort developer includes a payment obligation by the resort developer to pay certain fees and expenses to LVE. A portion of this payment obligation is guaranteed to LVE’s lenders by the parent of the resort developer. In March 2011, LVE reached agreements with (a) the resort developer, that specified the payments to be made by the developer to LVE during the suspension period and provided the developer and its corporate parent with an option to purchase the assets of LVE, and (b) the banks that are financing the energy facilities to address the existing default under the financing agreements. The terms of the March 2011 agreement require the resort developer to pay certain fees and expenses to LVE on a monthly basis beginning in March 2011 until construction of the resort resumes or until the resort developer has exercised its option to purchase the energy facilities from LVE. The monthly payments that are being paid to LVE by the resort developer are expected to be sufficient to reimburse LVE for costs to maintain the energy facilities and to cover debt service costs over time. The resort developer has provided LVE with a $6.0 million letter of credit to support its monthly payment obligation. The banks that are financing the energy facilities have agreed not to exercise their rights under the financing agreements resulting from the event of default discussed above through December 2013, provided that no additional events of default occur. SJI and its joint venture partner have provided a total of $10.0 million in letters of credit to the banks to support LVE’s obligations, which can be drawn upon by the banks at the end of the existing agreement in December 2013 or upon the occurrence of an event of default by LVE prior to December 2013. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had a net liability of approximately $1.6 million included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets related to this project, in addition to unsecured Notes Receivable – Affiliate of approximately $56.1 million due from LVE. As of September 30, 2011, SJI’s capital at risk is limited to its equity contributions, letters of credit and the unsecured notes receivable totaling approximately $70.4 million. During 2011, SJI provided support to LVE of approximately $5.4 million to cover interest and other project related costs. As a result of the construction delay, management has evaluated the investment in LVE and concluded that the fair value of this investment continues to be in excess of the carrying value as of September 30, 2011. SJI has guaranteed certain performance obligations of LVE under the operating agreements between LVE and the resort developer, up to $20.0 million each year for the term of the agreement, commencing with the first year of operations. SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on this guarantee. SJI has guaranteed certain obligations of BC Landfill Energy, LLC (BCLE) and WC Landfill Energy, LLC (WCLE), unconsolidated joint ventures in which Marina has a 50% equity interest through Energenic. BCLE and WCLE have entered into agreements ranging from 15-20 years with the respective county governments to lease and operate facilities that will produce electricity from landfill methane gas. Although unlikely, the maximum amount that SJI could be obligated for, in the event that BCLE and WCLE do not meet minimum specified levels of operating performance and no mitigating action is taken, or are unable to meet certain financial obligations as they become due, is approximately $4.2 million each year. SJI and its partner in these joint ventures have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on these guarantees. SJI holds variable interests in BCLE and WCLE but is not the primary beneficiary. As of September 30, 2011, SJI had issued $4.9 million of parental guarantees on behalf of an unconsolidated subsidiary. These guarantees generally expire within the next two years and were issued to enable our subsidiary to market retail natural gas. CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION OBLIGATION - In February 2011, ACR Energy Partners, LLC (ACR), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energenic, of which Marina has a 50% equity interest, entered into a 20 year contract with a developer to build, own and operate a central energy center and energy distribution system for a planned hotel, casino and entertainment complex in Atlantic City, New Jersey. ACR is currently providing construction energy to the complex and will provide full energy services when the complex is completed in 2012. Marina and its joint venture partner will make capital contributions to ACR that will enable ACR to a) repay $42.0 million of construction advances made by the developer and b) deposit $2.8 million in a debt service reserve fund, provided, in each case, that the developer has met certain conditions. These conditions include, among others, substantial completion of the complex and demonstration of adequate financial resources to operate the complex. Marina and its joint venture partner have also agreed to provide a $5.0 million letter of credit in 2012 to support certain operating performance obligations of ACR under the operating agreements between ACR and the developer, provided the developer has met the conditions just outlined. SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI to or on behalf of ACR. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS — Unionized personnel represent approximately 49.0% of our workforce at September 30, 2011. The Company has collective bargaining agreements with two unions that represent these employees: the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1293 and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 76. SJG and SJESP employees represented by the IBEW operate under a collective bargaining agreement that runs through February 2013, with the option to extend until February 2014 at the union’s election. The remaining unionized employees represented by the IAM operate under a collective bargaining agreement that expires in August 2014. STANDBY LETTERS OF CREDIT — SJI provided $83.0 million of standby letters of credit through SJI’s revolving credit facility. Letters of credit in the amount of $62.3 million support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to finance Marina’s initial thermal plant project and $20.7 million were posted to enable SJE to market retail electricity and for various construction activities. The Company also provided an additional $25.2 million letter of credit under a separate facility outside of the revolving credit facility to support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the NJEDA to finance the expansion of SJG’s natural gas distribution system. As of December 31, 2010, these bonds were included in the current portion of long-term debt because this letter of credit expired during 2011. The replacement letter of credit expires in August 2015, and as a result, the related bonds are now included in long-term debt as of September 30, 2011. ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION COSTS — SJI incurred and recorded costs for environmental cleanup of 12 sites where SJG or its predecessors operated gas manufacturing plants. SJG stopped manufacturing gas in the 1950s. SJI and some of its nonutility subsidiaries also recorded costs for environmental cleanup of sites where SJF previously operated a fuel oil business and Morie maintained equipment, fueling stations and storage. There have been no changes to the status of the Company’s environmental remediation efforts since December 31, 2010 as described in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2010.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

GUARANTEES — The Company has recorded a liability of $1.9 million which is included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities with a corresponding increase in Investment in Affiliates on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2011 for the fair value of the following guarantees:

In April 2007, SJI guaranteed certain obligations of LVE Energy Partners, LLC (LVE) an unconsolidated joint venture in which Marina has a 50% equity interest. LVE entered into a 25-year contract with a resort developer to design, build, own and operate a district energy system and central energy center for a planned resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. LVE began construction of the facility in 2007 and expected to provide full energy service in 2010 when the resort was originally scheduled to be completed. LVE suspended construction of the district energy system and central energy center in January 2009 after the resort developer’s August 2008 announcement that it was delaying the completion of construction of the resort due to the difficult environment in the capital markets and weak economic conditions. The resort developer had indicated that it was considering different strategies to move its project forward, including opening its project in phases and obtaining a partner, but that it was unlikely construction would resume during 2009. In August 2011, the resort developer, repeating previous disclosures, indicated again that it does not expect to resume construction on the project for three to five years. The resort developer stated that it remains committed to having a significant presence on the Las Vegas Strip as part of a long-term growth strategy and continues to view this site as a major strategic asset.

The district energy system and central energy center are being financed by LVE with debt that is non-recourse to SJI. The outstanding balance of LVE’s bank debt is approximately $193.2 million as of September 30, 2011. As a result of the construction delay, the district energy system and central energy center were not completed by the end of 2010 as originally expected. Consequently, the full amount of LVE’s debt became due and payable in December 2010. LVE intends to seek additional financing to complete the facility once construction of the resort resumes, however, as of December 31, 2010, LVE was in default under the financing agreements with the banks. The Energy Sales Agreement between LVE and the resort developer includes a payment obligation by the resort developer to pay certain fees and expenses to LVE. A portion of this payment obligation is guaranteed to LVE’s lenders by the parent of the resort developer.

In March 2011, LVE reached agreements with (a) the resort developer, that specified the payments to be made by the developer to LVE during the suspension period and provided the developer and its corporate parent with an option to purchase the assets of LVE, and (b) the banks that are financing the energy facilities to address the existing default under the financing agreements. The terms of the March 2011 agreement require the resort developer to pay certain fees and expenses to LVE on a monthly basis beginning in March 2011 until construction of the resort resumes or until the resort developer has exercised its option to purchase the energy facilities from LVE. The monthly payments that are being paid to LVE by the resort developer are expected to be sufficient to reimburse LVE for costs to maintain the energy facilities and to cover debt service costs over time. The resort developer has provided LVE with a $6.0 million letter of credit to support its monthly payment obligation.

The banks that are financing the energy facilities have agreed not to exercise their rights under the financing agreements resulting from the event of default discussed above through December 2013, provided that no additional events of default occur. SJI and its joint venture partner have provided a total of $10.0 million in letters of credit to the banks to support LVE’s obligations, which can be drawn upon by the banks at the end of the existing agreement in December 2013 or upon the occurrence of an event of default by LVE prior to December 2013.

As of September 30, 2011, the Company had a net liability of approximately $1.6 million included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets related to this project, in addition to unsecured Notes Receivable – Affiliate of approximately $56.1 million due from LVE. As of September 30, 2011, SJI’s capital at risk is limited to its equity contributions, letters of credit and the unsecured notes receivable totaling approximately $70.4 million. During 2011, SJI provided support to LVE of approximately $5.4 million to cover interest and other project related costs.

As a result of the construction delay, management has evaluated the investment in LVE and concluded that the fair value of this investment continues to be in excess of the carrying value as of September 30, 2011.

SJI has guaranteed certain performance obligations of LVE under the operating agreements between LVE and the resort developer, up to $20.0 million each year for the term of the agreement, commencing with the first year of operations. SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on this guarantee.

SJI has guaranteed certain obligations of BC Landfill Energy, LLC (BCLE) and WC Landfill Energy, LLC (WCLE), unconsolidated joint ventures in which Marina has a 50% equity interest through Energenic. BCLE and WCLE have entered into agreements ranging from 15-20 years with the respective county governments to lease and operate facilities that will produce electricity from landfill methane gas. Although unlikely, the maximum amount that SJI could be obligated for, in the event that BCLE and WCLE do not meet minimum specified levels of operating performance and no mitigating action is taken, or are unable to meet certain financial obligations as they become due, is approximately $4.2 million each year. SJI and its partner in these joint ventures have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on these guarantees. SJI holds variable interests in BCLE and WCLE but is not the primary beneficiary.

As of September 30, 2011, SJI had issued $4.9 million of parental guarantees on behalf of an unconsolidated subsidiary. These guarantees generally expire within the next two years and were issued to enable our subsidiary to market retail natural gas.

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION OBLIGATION - In February 2011, ACR Energy Partners, LLC (ACR), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energenic, of which Marina has a 50% equity interest, entered into a 20 year contract with a developer to build, own and operate a central energy center and energy distribution system for a planned hotel, casino and entertainment complex in Atlantic City, New Jersey. ACR is currently providing construction energy to the complex and will provide full energy services when the complex is completed in 2012. Marina and its joint venture partner will make capital contributions to ACR that will enable ACR to a) repay $42.0 million of construction advances made by the developer and b) deposit $2.8 million in a debt service reserve fund, provided, in each case, that the developer has met certain conditions. These conditions include, among others, substantial completion of the complex and demonstration of adequate financial resources to operate the complex. Marina and its joint venture partner have also agreed to provide a $5.0 million letter of credit in 2012 to support certain operating performance obligations of ACR under the operating agreements between ACR and the developer, provided the developer has met the conditions just outlined. SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI to or on behalf of ACR.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS — Unionized personnel represent approximately 49.0% of our workforce at September 30, 2011. The Company has collective bargaining agreements with two unions that represent these employees: the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1293 and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 76. SJG and SJESP employees represented by the IBEW operate under a collective bargaining agreement that runs through February 2013, with the option to extend until February 2014 at the union’s election. The remaining unionized employees represented by the IAM operate under a collective bargaining agreement that expires in August 2014.

STANDBY LETTERS OF CREDIT — SJI provided $83.0 million of standby letters of credit through SJI’s revolving credit facility. Letters of credit in the amount of $62.3 million support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to finance Marina’s initial thermal plant project and $20.7 million were posted to enable SJE to market retail electricity and for various construction activities. The Company also provided an additional $25.2 million letter of credit under a separate facility outside of the revolving credit facility to support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the NJEDA to finance the expansion of SJG’s natural gas distribution system. As of December 31, 2010, these bonds were included in the current portion of long-term debt because this letter of credit expired during 2011. The replacement letter of credit expires in August 2015, and as a result, the related bonds are now included in long-term debt as of September 30, 2011.

ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION COSTS — SJI incurred and recorded costs for environmental cleanup of 12 sites where SJG or its predecessors operated gas manufacturing plants. SJG stopped manufacturing gas in the 1950s. SJI and some of its nonutility subsidiaries also recorded costs for environmental cleanup of sites where SJF previously operated a fuel oil business and Morie maintained equipment, fueling stations and storage. There have been no changes to the status of the Company’s environmental remediation efforts since December 31, 2010 as described in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2010.