Consolidated Statements Of Income And Earnings Reinvested In The Business (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
INCOME
Operating Revenues	$ 525,361	$ 658,859
Operating Expenses:
Purchased Gas	56,552	171,197
Property, Franchise and Other Taxes	22,416	26,205
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	115,790	96,600
Total Operating Expenses	318,251	404,489
Operating Income	207,110	254,370
Other Income (Expense):
Other Income (Deductions)	3,732	6,318
Interest Expense on Long-Term Debt	(28,462)	(29,604)
Other Interest Expense	(6,273)	(3,843)
Income Before Income Taxes	176,107	227,241
Income Tax Expense	43,087	57,552
Net Income Available for Common Stock	133,020	169,689
EARNINGS REINVESTED IN THE BUSINESS
Balance at Beginning of Period	1,885,856	1,587,085
Beginning Retained Earnings Unappropriated And Current Period Net Income	2,018,876	1,756,774
Dividends on Common Stock	(45,597)	(43,598)
Balance at December 31	$ 1,973,279	$ 1,713,176
Basic:
Net Income Available for Common Stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.45	$ 1.85
Diluted:
Net Income Available for Common Stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.44	$ 1.84
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Used in Basic Calculation (shares)	91,910,244	91,579,814
Used in Diluted Calculation (shares)	92,442,145	92,268,210
Dividends Per Common Share:
Dividends Declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.495	$ 0.475
Utility
INCOME
Operating Revenues	$ 201,920	$ 311,619
Operating Expenses:
Operation and Maintenance	53,705	50,352
Exploration and Production and Other Revenues
INCOME
Operating Revenues	254,019	276,973
Operating Expenses:
Operation and Maintenance	34,826	26,874
Pipeline and Storage and Gathering Revenues
INCOME
Operating Revenues	69,422	70,267
Operating Expenses:
Operation and Maintenance	$ 34,962	$ 33,261