CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Utility plant, at cost	$ 2,883,656	$ 2,800,052
Construction work in progress	456,513	379,846
Nonutility plant and equipment, at cost	1,121,155	1,108,512
Construction work in progress	229,923	176,556
Total property, plant and equipment	4,691,247	4,464,966
Accumulated depreciation and amortization, utility plant	(620,028)	(601,635)
Accumulated depreciation and amortization, nonutility plant and equipment	(156,063)	(140,562)
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,915,156	3,722,769
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	57,654	117,012
Customer accounts receivable
Billed	237,229	134,173
Unbilled revenues	41,941	9,226
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(17,325)	(7,242)
Regulatory assets	23,527	36,530
Natural gas in storage, at average cost	74,853	167,504
Materials and supplies, at average cost	18,824	20,406
Prepaid expenses	14,729	6,639
Prepaid and accrued taxes	3,432	24,301
Derivatives, at fair value	17,433	23,310
Restricted broker margin accounts	45,916	69,444
Other	17,015	21,029
Total current assets	535,228	622,332
NONCURRENT ASSETS
Investments in equity method investees	214,521	208,375
Regulatory assets	522,027	527,459
Operating lease assets	144,326	131,769
Derivatives, at fair value	1,977	3,349
Intangible assets, net	6,462	10,060
Software costs	5,485	4,707
Other noncurrent assets	79,952	85,657
Total noncurrent assets	974,750	971,376
Total assets	5,425,134	5,316,477
CAPITALIZATION
Common stock, $2.50 par value; authorized 150,000,000 shares; outstanding March 31, 2021 — 96,262,016; September 30, 2020 — 95,949,183	240,497	240,243
Premium on common stock	497,167	491,982
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(42,196)	(44,315)
Treasury stock at cost and other; shares March 31, 2021 — 16,313; September 30, 2020 — 148,310	11,983	8,485
Retained earnings	1,114,382	947,501
Common stock equity	1,821,833	1,643,896
Long-term debt	2,265,202	2,259,466
Total capitalization	4,087,035	3,903,362
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current maturities of long-term debt	22,635	27,236
Short-term debt	8,500	125,350
Natural gas purchases payable	129,136	95,945
Natural gas purchases payable to related parties	853	791
Accounts payable and other	126,154	141,500
Dividends payable	32,007	31,902
Accrued taxes	41,462	2,717
Regulatory liabilities	717	26,188
New Jersey Clean Energy Program	6,148	15,570
Derivatives, at fair value	23,690	33,865
Operating lease liabilities	4,001	6,724
Customers' credit balances and deposits	20,763	25,934
Total current liabilities	416,066	533,722
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Deferred income taxes	166,238	138,081
Deferred investment tax credits	3,171	3,332
Deferred gain	894	1,035
Derivatives, at fair value	20,506	13,352
Manufactured gas plant remediation	143,490	150,590
Postemployment employee benefit liability	236,432	237,221
Regulatory liabilities	193,817	196,450
Operating lease liabilities	111,034	95,030
Asset retirement obligation	34,102	33,723
Other	12,349	10,579
Total noncurrent liabilities	922,033	879,393
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 13)
Total capitalization and liabilities	$ 5,425,134	$ 5,316,477