Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Nov. 01, 2017
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000091928
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		79,549,080
South Jersey Gas Company
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	SOUTH JERSEY GAS Co
Entity Central Index Key	0001035216
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,339,139