INCOME TAXES (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract]
Tax at Statutory Rate	$ 28,481,000	$ 37,791,000	$ 20,633,000
Increase (Decrease) Resulting from:
State Income Taxes	11,666,000	7,896,000	7,813,000
Federal and State Valuation Allowance	15,069,000	7,392,000	0
ESOP Dividend	(608,000)	(627,000)	(697,000)
Impairment on Investment in Equity Method Investee	4,172,000	0	0
AFUDC	(1,327,000)	(1,901,000)	(1,546,000)
Amortization of Excess Deferred Taxes	(5,354,000)	(6,174,000)	(3,475,000)
Investment and Other Tax Credits	(5,993,000)	(23,439,000)	(953,000)
Other - Net	1,001,000	1,726,000	(714,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract]
Total Income Taxes	47,107,000	22,664,000	21,061,000
Discontinued Operations	14,000	(66,000)	(70,000)
Total Income Tax Expense	47,121,000	22,598,000	20,991,000
Current:
Federal	0	0	0
State	(235,000)	823,000	(482,000)
Total Current	(235,000)	823,000	(482,000)
Deferred:
Federal	31,209,000	3,312,000	11,171,000
State	16,133,000	18,529,000	10,372,000
Total Deferred	47,342,000	21,841,000	21,543,000
Total Income Taxes	47,107,000	22,664,000	21,061,000
Discontinued Operations	14,000	(66,000)	(70,000)
Total Income Tax Expense	47,121,000	22,598,000	20,991,000
Deferred Tax Assets:
Net Operating Loss Carryforward	179,518,000	141,252,000
Investment and Other Tax Credits	251,541,000	243,827,000
Deferred State Tax	30,567,000	24,338,000
Income Taxes Recoverable Through Rates	88,201,000	92,739,000
Pension & Other Post Retirement Benefits	16,575,000	34,558,000
Deferred Revenues	5,355,000	4,530,000
Provision for Uncollectibles	11,979,000	8,763,000
Other	15,461,000	17,691,000
Total Deferred Tax Asset	599,197,000	567,698,000
Valuation Allowance	(22,484,000)	(7,392,000)
Total Deferred Tax Asset, net of Valuation Allowance	576,713,000	560,306,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Book versus Tax Basis of Property	586,081,000	512,357,000
Deferred Gas Costs - Net	14,102,000	13,737,000
Derivatives / Unrealized Gain	2,567,000	1,215,000
Environmental Remediation	49,378,000	50,262,000
Deferred Regulatory Costs	19,165,000	13,360,000
Budget Billing - Customer Accounts	6,310,000	5,248,000
Deferred Pension & Other Post Retirement Benefits	21,973,000	33,307,000
CIP	5,196,000	6,178,000
Equity In Loss Of Affiliated Companies	3,744,000	16,019,000
Goodwill Amortization	41,517,000	28,013,000
Other	8,176,000	8,977,000
Total Deferred Tax Liability	758,209,000	688,673,000
Deferred Tax Liability - Net	181,496,000	128,367,000
Valuation allowance	22,484,000	7,392,000
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Increase as a result of tax positions taken in prior years	13,900,000
Accrued interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits	1,900,000	900,000	800,000
Federal
Deferred Tax Assets:
Valuation Allowance	(14,200,000)
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	586,213,000
Investment Tax Credit Carryforwards	238,284,000
Research and development credits	7,700,000
Valuation allowance	14,200,000
Federal | 2030
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Investment Tax Credit Carryforwards	11,628,000
Federal | 2031
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	0
Investment Tax Credit Carryforwards	25,664,000
Federal | 2032
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	21,541,000
Investment Tax Credit Carryforwards	32,031,000
Federal | 2033
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	57,515,000
Investment Tax Credit Carryforwards	45,606,000
Federal | 2034
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	107,043,000
Investment Tax Credit Carryforwards	37,699,000
Federal | 2035
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	51,385,000
Investment Tax Credit Carryforwards	45,005,000
Federal | 2036
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	102,256,000
Investment Tax Credit Carryforwards	11,744,000
Federal | 2037
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	85,444,000
Investment Tax Credit Carryforwards	636,000
Federal | 2038
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	0
Investment Tax Credit Carryforwards	93,000
Federal | 2039
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	0
Investment Tax Credit Carryforwards	0
Federal | 2040
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	0
Investment Tax Credit Carryforwards	23,814,000
Federal | 2041
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	0
Investment Tax Credit Carryforwards	4,364,000
Federal | Indefinite
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	161,029,000
State
Deferred Tax Assets:
Valuation Allowance		(7,400,000)
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	767,480,000
Research and development credits	6,800,000
Valuation allowance		7,400,000
State | 2031
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	11,395,000
State | 2032
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	3,108,000
State | 2033
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	18,557,000
State | 2034
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	13,658,000
State | 2035
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	25,063,000
State | 2036
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	126,344,000
State | 2037
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	96,697,000
State | 2038
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	127,846,000
State | 2039
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	129,940,000
State | 2040
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	82,476,000
State | 2041
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	132,396,000
State | Indefinite
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	0
South Jersey Gas Company
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract]
Tax at Statutory Rate	34,871,000	30,111,000	25,245,000
Increase (Decrease) Resulting from:
State Income Taxes	8,311,000	8,965,000	9,542,000
ESOP Dividend	(517,000)	(533,000)	(592,000)
AFUDC	(461,000)	(821,000)	(591,000)
Amortization of Excess Deferred Taxes	(3,075,000)	(3,154,000)	0
Other - Net	(715,000)	756,000	(782,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract]
Total Income Taxes	38,414,000	35,324,000	32,822,000
Current:
Federal	0	0	0
State	0	0	0
Total Current	0	0	0
Deferred:
Federal	27,894,000	23,976,000	20,744,000
State	10,520,000	11,348,000	12,078,000
Total Deferred	38,414,000	35,324,000	32,822,000
Total Income Taxes	38,414,000	35,324,000	32,822,000
Deferred Tax Assets:
Net Operating Loss and Tax Credits	27,688,000	35,301,000
Deferred State Tax	25,039,000	22,918,000
Income Taxes Recoverable Through Rates	54,900,000	58,573,000
Pension & Other Post Retirement Benefits	8,742,000	20,857,000
Deferred Revenues	5,479,000	4,739,000
Provision for Uncollectibles	6,997,000	4,887,000
Other	2,717,000	2,813,000
Total Deferred Tax Asset	131,562,000	150,088,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Book versus Tax Basis of Property	456,216,000	435,764,000
Deferred Gas Costs - Net	18,015,000	10,189,000
Environmental Remediation	45,496,000	46,857,000
Deferred Regulatory Costs	17,209,000	15,087,000
Budget Billing - Customer Accounts	6,310,000	5,248,000
Deferred Pension & Other Post Retirement Benefits	13,064,000	21,398,000
Section 461 Prepayments	1,528,000	1,469,000
CIP	5,196,000	6,178,000
Other	11,930,000	11,507,000
Total Deferred Tax Liability	574,964,000	553,697,000
Deferred Tax Liability - Net	443,402,000	403,609,000
Income taxes due to or from related party	0	0
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,129,000	1,104,000	1,063,000
Increase as a result of tax positions taken in prior years	14,023,000	25,000	41,000
Ending balance	15,152,000	1,129,000	1,104,000
Accrued interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits	1,900,000	900,000	800,000
South Jersey Gas Company | Federal
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	33,600,000	67,700,000
Research and development credits	3,200,000
South Jersey Gas Company | State
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards	192,000,000	212,800,000
Research and development credits	3,800,000
South Jersey Industries Inc.
Deferred Tax Assets:
Valuation Allowance	(22,500,000)	(7,400,000)
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Valuation allowance	22,500,000	7,400,000
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	2,372,000	1,566,000	1,147,000
Increase as a result of tax positions taken in prior years	14,611,000	806,000	419,000
Ending balance	$ 16,983,000	$ 2,372,000	$ 1,566,000