PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of defined benefit plan disclosures

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, net periodic benefit cost related to the SJI employee and officer pension and other postretirement benefit plans consisted of the following components (in thousands):

	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Service Cost	$	1,591	$	1,688
Interest Cost	3,236		3,763
Expected Return on Plan Assets	(5,834)		(5,452)
Amortizations:
Prior Service Cost	25		26
Actuarial Loss	3,194		2,715
Net Periodic Benefit Cost	2,212		2,740
Capitalized Benefit Cost	(566)		(544)
Deferred Benefit Cost	(316)		(408)
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense	$	1,330	$	1,788

	Other Postretirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Service Cost	$	212	$	165
Interest Cost	475		608
Expected Return on Plan Assets	(1,436)		(1,346)
Amortizations:
Prior Service Cost	(156)		(144)
Actuarial Loss	273		192
Net Periodic Benefit Cost	(632)		(525)
Capitalized Benefit Cost	(106)		(108)
Deferred Benefit Cost	337		396
Total Net Periodic Benefit Expense	$	(401)	$	(237)