CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Utility plant, at cost	$ 1,637,084	$ 1,591,532
Construction work in progress	120,881	102,420
Solar equipment, real estate properties and other, at cost	230,580	192,026
Construction work in progress	5,508	20,558
Total property, plant and equipment	1,994,053	1,906,536
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(408,746)	(421,659)
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,585,307	1,484,877
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	1,860	4,509
Customer accounts receivable
Billed	290,364	170,543
Unbilled revenues	6,956	7,017
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(5,667)	(4,797)
Regulatory assets	21,013	32,734
Gas in storage, at average cost	280,118	265,193
Materials and supplies, at average cost	17,730	7,863
Prepaid and accrued taxes	25,863	32,029
Asset held for sale	5,421	0
Derivatives, at fair value	65,478	48,021
Restricted broker margin accounts	1,350	21,929
Deferred taxes	22,033	29,074
Other	17,752	33,229
Total current assets	750,271	647,344
NONCURRENT ASSETS
Investments in equity investees	163,430	164,595
Regulatory assets	460,232	441,263
Derivatives, at fair value	1,720	2,328
Other	30,235	29,598
Total noncurrent assets	655,617	637,784
Total assets	2,991,195	2,770,005
CAPITALIZATION
Common stock equity	892,356	813,865
Long-term debt	516,173	525,169
Total capitalization	1,408,529	1,339,034
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current maturities of long-term debt	68,492	7,760
Short-term debt	296,900	279,800
Gas purchases payable	269,346	182,414
Accounts payable and other	50,395	66,765
Dividends payable	16,579	16,648
Deferred and accrued taxes	15,705	2,072
Regulatory liabilities	1,191	1,169
New Jersey clean energy program	16,953	5,619
Derivatives, at fair value	36,211	42,440
Restricted broker margin accounts	6,181	0
Customers' credit balances and deposits	17,553	48,452
Total current liabilities	795,506	653,139
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Deferred income taxes	370,128	355,306
Deferred investment tax credits	5,664	5,905
Deferred revenue	4,943	5,502
Derivatives, at fair value	4,116	3,133
Manufactured gas plant remediation	182,000	182,000
Postemployment employee benefit liability	105,135	124,196
Regulatory liabilities	78,429	67,077
Asset retirement obligation	28,457	27,983
Other	8,288	6,730
Total noncurrent liabilities	787,160	777,832
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 11)
Total capitalization and liabilities	$ 2,991,195	$ 2,770,005