LEASES (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Leases [Abstract]

Lease, Cost

The following table presents the Company's lease costs included in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations:

		Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
		March 31,				March 31,
(Thousands)	Income Statement Location	2023		2022		2023		2022
Operating lease cost (1)	Operation and maintenance	$	2,307	$	2,915	$	4,724	$	5,034
Finance lease cost (2)
Amortization of right-of-use assets	Depreciation and amortization	540		457		1,025		$	853
Interest on lease liabilities	Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	298		104		533		$	184
Total finance lease cost		838		561		1,558		$	1,037
Short-term lease cost	Operation and maintenance	—		12		—		$	23
Variable lease cost	Operation and maintenance	272		172		495		$	363
Total lease cost		$	3,417	$	3,660	$	6,777	$	6,457

(1)Net of capitalized costs.

(2)Includes immaterial costs associated with the sale leaseback of natural gas meters, certain of which are considered financing transactions for accounting purposes.

The following table presents supplemental cash flow information related to leases:

	Six Months Ended
	March 31,
(Thousands)	2023		2022
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
Operating cash flows for operating leases	$	3,652	$	3,557
Operating cash flows for finance leases (1)	$	533	$	404
Financing cash flows for finance leases (1)	$	3,577	$	3,947

(1)Includes immaterial activity associated with the sale leaseback of natural gas meters, certain of which are considered financing transactions for accounting purposes.

Assets and Liabilities, Lessee

The following table presents the balance and classifications of the Company's right of use assets and lease liabilities included in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:

(Thousands)	Balance Sheet Location	March 31, 2023		September 30, 2022
Assets
Noncurrent
Operating lease assets	Operating lease assets	$	165,783	$	168,520
Finance lease assets (1)	Utility plant	29,328		21,913
Total lease assets (1)		$	195,111	$	190,433
Liabilities
Current
Operating lease liabilities	Operating lease liabilities	$	5,308	$	4,562
Finance lease liabilities (1)	Current maturities of long-term debt	8,773		6,538
Noncurrent
Operating lease liabilities	Operating lease liabilities	136,789		138,382
Finance lease liabilities (1)	Long-term debt	26,380		23,752
Total lease liabilities (1)		$	177,250	$	173,234

(1)Includes immaterial amounts associated with the sale leaseback of natural gas meters, certain of which are considered financing transactions for accounting purposes.