SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Available for Sale Securities

Available for Sale Securities

Included in available for sale securities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are investments in two publicly traded energy companies.

Loans Receivable

Loans Receivable

NJNG currently provides loans, with terms ranging from three to 10 years, to customers that elect to purchase and install certain energy efficient equipment in accordance with its BPU-approved SAVEGREEN program. The loans are recognized at net present value on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company recorded $8.6 million and $7.8 million in other current assets and $40.9 million and $39.5 million in other noncurrent assets as of June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively, on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, related to the loans.

NJNG's policy is to establish an allowance for doubtful accounts when loan balances are in arrears for more than 60 days. As of June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, there was no allowance for doubtful accounts established for the SAVEGREEN loans.

Recently Adopted Updates to the Accounting Standards Codification

Recently Adopted Updates to the Accounting Standards Codification

Stock Compensation

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, an amendment to ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, which clarifies the accounting for performance awards when the terms of the award provide that a performance target could be achieved after the requisite service period. The Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 and applied the new provisions on a prospective basis, which did not impact its financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption.

Consolidation

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, an amendment to ASC 810, Consolidation, which changes the consolidation analysis required under GAAP and reevaluates whether limited partnerships and similar entities must be consolidated. The Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 and applied the new provisions on a full retrospective basis, which did not impact its financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption.

Interest

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, an amendment to ASC 835, Interest - Imputation of Interest, which simplifies the presentation of debt issuance costs by requiring them to be presented on the balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying amount of the liability. The amendment does not affect the recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, which clarified that the amendment contained within ASU No. 2015-03 does not require companies to modify their accounting for costs incurred in obtaining revolving credit facilities. The Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 and applied the new provisions on a full retrospective basis.

In addition, the following amounts on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets have been adjusted, retrospectively, as of September 30, 2016.

(Thousands)	As Previously Reported		Effect of Change			As Adjusted
Assets
Other noncurrent assets	$	68,708	$	(8,512	)	$	60,196
Total noncurrent assets	$	712,166	$	(8,512	)	$	703,654
Total assets	$	3,727,082	$	(8,512	)	$	3,718,570
Capitalization and Liabilities
Long-term debt	$	1,063,550	$	(8,512	)	$	1,055,038
Total capitalization	$	2,230,141	$	(8,512	)	$	2,221,629
Total capitalization and liabilities	$	3,727,082	$	(8,512	)	$	3,718,570

Intangibles

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05, an amendment to ASC 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software, which clarifies the accounting for fees in a cloud computing arrangement. The amendment provides guidance on how an entity should evaluate the accounting for fees paid in a cloud computing arrangement to determine whether an arrangement includes the sale or license of software. The Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 and applied the new provisions on a prospective basis, which did not impact its financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption.

Other Recent Updates to the Accounting Standards Codification

Revenue

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, and added Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, to the ASC. ASC 606 supersedes ASC 605, Revenue Recognition, as well as most industry-specific guidance, and prescribes a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model designed to improve financial reporting comparability across entities, industries, jurisdictions and capital markets. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, which defers the implementation of the new guidance for one year. The new guidance will not be early adopted and will become effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and interim periods within that year. The Company continues to evaluate the provisions of ASC 606, however, based on the review of customer contracts to date, it is not anticipating a material impact to its financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption. The Company anticipates significant new disclosures as a result of the new standard and currently expects to transition to the new guidance using the modified retrospective approach. The Company is also monitoring industry specific developments that may have an impact.

Inventory

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, an amendment to ASC 330, Inventory, which requires entities to measure most inventory “at the lower of cost or net realizable value,” thereby simplifying the current guidance under which an entity must measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and interim periods within that year. Upon adoption, the amendment will be applied on a prospective basis. The Company does not expect any impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows upon adoption.

Financial Instruments

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, an amendment to ASC 825, Financial Instruments, to address certain aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. The standard affects investments in equity securities that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method and the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. It also simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without a readily determinable fair value by requiring a qualitative assessment. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and interim periods within that year. Upon adoption, the amendment will be applied on a modified-retrospective basis. The Company evaluated the amendment and noted that, upon adoption, subsequent changes to the fair value of the Company’s available for sale securities will be recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as opposed to other comprehensive income. The Company does not expect any other material impacts to its financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, an amendment to ASC 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, which changes the impairment model for certain financial assets that have a contractual right to receive cash, including trade and loan receivables. The new model requires recognition based upon an estimation of expected credit losses rather than recognition of losses when it is probable that they have been incurred. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, and interim periods within that year, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the amendment to understand the impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows upon adoption and will apply the new guidance to its trade and loan receivables on a modified retrospective basis.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, an amendment to ASC 842, Leases, which provides for a comprehensive overhaul of the lease accounting model and changes the definition of a lease within the accounting literature. Under the new standard, all leases with a term greater than one year will be recorded on the balance sheet. Amortization of the related asset will be accounted for using one of two approaches prescribed by the guidance. Additional disclosures will be required to allow the user to assess the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leasing activities. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for leases existing at the time of adoption. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and interim periods within that year, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the amendment to understand the impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows upon adoption.

Statement of Cash Flows

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, an amendment to ASC 230, Statement of Cash Flows, which addresses eight specific cash flow issues for which there has been diversity in practice. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and interim periods within that year with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, the amendment will be applied on a retrospective basis. The Company does not expect any material impacts to its cash flows upon adoption.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, an amendment to ASC 230, Statement of Cash Flows, which requires that any amounts that are deemed to be restricted cash or restricted cash-equivalents be included in cash and cash-equivalent balances on the cash flow statement and, therefore, transfers between cash and restricted cash accounts will no longer be recognized within the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, the amendment will be applied on a retrospective basis. Based on the Company's historical restricted cash balances, it does not expect any material impacts to its financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption.

Business Combinations

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, an amendment to ASC 805, Business Combinations, clarifying the definition of a business in the ASC, which is intended to reduce the complexity surrounding the assessment of a transaction as an asset acquisition or business combination. The amendment provides an initial fair value screen to reduce the number of transactions that would fit the definition of a business, and when the screen threshold is not met, provides an updated model that further clarifies the characteristics of a business. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and interim periods within that year with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, the amendment will be applied on a prospective basis. The amendment could potentially have material impacts on future transactions that the Company may enter into by altering the Company’s conclusion on what accounting to apply to acquisitions.

Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-05, an amendment to ASC 610-20, Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets, which clarifies the scope and accounting related to the derecognition of nonfinancial assets, including partial sales and contributions of nonfinancial assets to a joint venture or other non-controlled investee. The guidance is effective concurrently with ASC 606, which is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and interim periods within that year with early adoption permitted. ASU No. 2017-05 may be applied retrospectively for all periods presented or retrospectively with a cumulative-effect adjustment at the date of adoption. The Company has determined that to the extent a deferred gain exists on the balance sheet upon adoption, it would be recognized under the new accounting guidance as a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings for the earliest period presented.

Compensation - Retirement Benefits

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, an amendment to ASC 715, Compensation - Retirement Benefits, which changes the presentation of net periodic benefit cost on the income statement by requiring companies to present all components of net periodic benefit cost, other than service cost, outside a subtotal of income from operations. The amendment also states that only the service cost component of net periodic benefits costs is eligible for capitalization, when applicable. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and interim periods within that year with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, the amendment will be applied on a retrospective basis for presentation and changes to capitalization of costs will be applied on a prospective basis. The Company is continuing to evaluate the amendment to fully understand the impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows upon adoption. The Company is also monitoring industry specific developments on the new guidance to determine the appropriate treatment of these changes in a rate regulated environment.

Stock Compensation

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, an amendment to ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, which clarifies the accounting for changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payments. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and interim periods within that year with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, the amendments will be applied prospectively to awards modified on or after the adoption date. The Company is currently evaluating the amendments to understand the impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows upon adoption.

Derivative Instruments

The Company is subject to commodity price risk due to fluctuations in the market price of natural gas, SRECs and electricity. To manage this risk, the Company enters into a variety of derivative instruments including, but not limited to, futures contracts, physical forward contracts, financial options and swaps to economically hedge the commodity price risk associated with its existing and anticipated commitments to purchase and sell natural gas, SRECs and electricity. In addition, the Company may utilize foreign currency derivatives to hedge Canadian dollar denominated gas purchases and/or sales. Therefore, the Company's primary underlying risks include commodity prices, interest rates and foreign currency. These contracts are accounted for as derivatives. Accordingly, all of the financial and certain of the Company's physical derivative instruments are recorded at fair value on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. For a more detailed discussion of the Company's fair value measurement policies and level disclosures associated with NJR's derivative instruments, see Note 5. Fair Value.

NJRES

Since NJRES chooses not to designate its financial commodity and physical forward commodity derivatives as accounting hedges or to elect NPNS, the changes in the fair value of these derivatives are recorded as a component of gas purchases or operating revenues, as appropriate for NJRES, on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as unrealized gains or (losses). For NJRES at settlement, realized gains and (losses) on all financial derivative instruments are recognized as a component of gas purchases and realized gains and (losses) on all physical derivatives follow the presentation of the related unrealized gains and (losses) as a component of either gas purchases or operating revenues.

NJRES also enters into natural gas transactions in Canada and, consequently, is exposed to fluctuations in the value of Canadian currency relative to the U.S. dollar. NJRES may utilize foreign currency derivatives to lock in the exchange rate associated with natural gas transactions denominated in Canadian currency. The derivatives may include currency forwards, futures, or swaps and are accounted for as derivatives. These derivatives are typically used to hedge demand fee payments on pipeline capacity, storage and gas purchase agreements. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of foreign exchange contracts are recognized in gas purchases on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. For transactions occurring on or before December 31, 2015, NJRES' foreign exchange contracts were designated as cash flow hedges, and the effective portion of the hedges were recorded in OCI.

As a result of NJRES entering into transactions to borrow natural gas, commonly referred to as “park and loans,” an embedded derivative is recognized relating to differences between the fair value of the amount borrowed and the fair value of the amount that will ultimately be repaid, based on changes in the forward price for natural gas prices at the borrowed location over the contract term. This embedded derivative is accounted for as a forward sale in the month in which the repayment of the borrowed gas is expected to occur, and is considered a derivative transaction that is recorded at fair value on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, with changes in value recognized in current period earnings.

Expected production of SRECs is hedged through the use of forward and futures contracts. All contracts require the Company to physically deliver SRECs through the transfer of certificates as per contractual settlement schedules. The Company applies NPNS accounting to SREC forward and futures contracts entered into on or before December 31, 2015. Effective for contracts executed on or after January 1, 2016, NJRES no longer elects NPNS accounting treatment on all SREC forward sales contracts and recognizes changes in the fair value of these derivatives as a component of operating revenues. Upon settlement of the contract, the related revenue is recognized when the SREC is transferred to the counterparty.

NPNS is a contract-by-contract election and, where it makes sense to do so, we can and may elect normal accounting for certain contracts.

NJNG

Changes in fair value of NJNG's financial commodity derivatives are recorded as a component of regulatory assets or liabilities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company elects NPNS accounting treatment on all physical commodity contracts that NJNG entered into on or before December 31, 2015, and accounts for these contracts on an accrual basis. Accordingly, physical natural gas purchases are recognized in regulatory assets or liabilities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets when the contract settles and the natural gas is delivered. The average cost of natural gas is charged to expense in the current period earnings based on the BGSS factor times the therm sales. Effective for contracts executed on or after January 1, 2016, NJNG no longer elects NPNS accounting treatment on all physical forward commodity contracts. However, since NPNS is a contract-by-contract election, where it makes sense to do so, we can and may elect certain contracts to be normal. Because NJNG recovers these amounts through future BGSS rates as increases or decreases to the cost of natural gas in NJNG’s tariff for gas service, the changes in fair value of these contracts are deferred as a component of regulatory assets or liabilities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In an April 2014 BPU Order, NJNG received regulatory approval to enter into interest rate risk management transactions related to long-term debt securities. On June 1, 2015, NJNG entered into a treasury lock transaction to fix a benchmark treasury rate of 3.26 percent associated with a forecasted $125 million debt issuance expected in May 2018. This forecasted debt issuance coincides with the maturity of NJNG's existing $125 million, 5.6 percent notes due May 15, 2018. The change in fair value of NJNG's treasury lock agreement is recorded as a component of regulatory assets or liabilities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets since NJNG believes that the market value upon settlement will be recovered in future rates. Upon settlement, any gain or loss will be amortized into earnings over the life of the future underlying debt issuance.

Fair Value Hierarchy

Fair Value Hierarchy

NJR applies fair value measurement guidance to its financial assets and liabilities, as appropriate, which include financial derivatives and physical commodity contracts qualifying as derivatives, available for sale securities and other financial assets and liabilities. In addition, authoritative accounting literature prescribes the use of a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value based on the source of the data used to develop the price inputs. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to inputs that are based on unobservable market data and include the following:

Level 1 Unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. NJR's Level 1 assets and liabilities include exchange traded natural gas futures and options contracts, listed equities and money market funds. Exchange traded futures and options contracts include all energy contracts traded on the NYMEX, CME and ICE that NJR refers internally to as basis swaps, fixed swaps, futures and financial options that are cleared through a FCM.

Level 2 Other significant observable inputs such as interest rates or price data, including both commodity and basis pricing that is observed either directly or indirectly from publications or pricing services. NJR's Level 2 assets and liabilities include over-the-counter physical forward commodity contracts and swap contracts, SREC forward sales or derivatives that are initially valued using observable quotes and are subsequently adjusted to include time value, credit risk or estimated transport pricing components for which no basis price is available. Level 2 financial derivatives consist of transactions with non-FCM counterparties (basis swaps, fixed swaps and/or options). NJNG's treasury lock is also considered Level 2 as valuation is based on quoted market interest and swap rates as inputs to the valuation model. Inputs are verifiable and do not require significant management judgment. For some physical commodity contracts the Company utilizes transportation tariff rates that are publicly available and that it considers to be observable inputs that are equivalent to market data received from an independent source. There are no significant judgments or adjustments applied to the transportation tariff inputs and no market perspective is required. Even if the transportation tariff input were considered to be a “model,” it would still be considered to be a Level 2 input as the data is:

• widely accepted and public;

• non-proprietary and sourced from an independent third party; and

• observable and published.

These additional adjustments are generally not considered to be significant to the ultimate recognized values.

Level 3 Inputs derived from a significant amount of unobservable market data. These include NJR's best estimate of fair value and are derived primarily through the use of internal valuation methodologies.