CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Utility plant, at cost	$ 1,615,598	$ 1,591,532
Construction work in progress	127,372	102,420
Solar equipment, real estate properties and other, at cost	227,026	192,026
Construction work in progress	2,357	20,558
Total property, plant and equipment	1,972,353	1,906,536
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(430,271)	(421,659)
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,542,082	1,484,877
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	5,996	4,509
Customer accounts receivable
Billed	361,924	170,543
Unbilled revenues	60,478	7,017
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(5,739)	(4,797)
Regulatory assets	25,978	32,734
Gas in storage, at average cost	167,663	265,193
Materials and supplies, at average cost	12,571	7,863
Prepaid and accrued taxes	1,033	32,029
Derivatives, at fair value	42,152	48,021
Restricted broker margin accounts	42,930	21,929
Deferred taxes	26,358	29,074
Other	21,217	33,229
Total current assets	762,561	647,344
NONCURRENT ASSETS
Investments in equity investees	163,914	164,595
Regulatory assets	442,208	441,263
Derivatives, at fair value	781	2,328
Other	30,112	29,598
Total noncurrent assets	637,015	637,784
Total assets	2,941,658	2,770,005
CAPITALIZATION
Common stock equity	897,771	813,865
Long-term debt	527,688	525,169
Total capitalization	1,425,459	1,339,034
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current maturities of long-term debt	8,601	7,760
Short-term debt	288,100	279,800
Gas purchases payable	270,677	182,414
Accounts payable and other	52,872	66,765
Dividends payable	16,715	16,648
Deferred and accrued taxes	16,845	2,072
Regulatory liabilities	0	1,169
New Jersey clean energy program	7,464	5,619
Derivatives, at fair value	46,525	42,440
Restricted broker margin accounts	10,805	0
Customers' credit balances and deposits	17,873	48,452
Total current liabilities	736,477	653,139
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Deferred income taxes	366,410	355,306
Deferred investment tax credits	5,744	5,905
Deferred revenue	5,124	5,502
Derivatives, at fair value	1,310	3,133
Manufactured gas plant remediation	182,000	182,000
Postemployment employee benefit liability	104,804	124,196
Regulatory liabilities	79,025	67,077
Asset retirement obligation	28,312	27,983
Other	6,993	6,730
Total noncurrent liabilities	779,722	777,832
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 11)
Total capitalization and liabilities	$ 2,941,658	$ 2,770,005