Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income Available for Common Stock	$ 133,020	$ 169,689
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	115,790	96,600
Deferred Income Taxes	38,362	53,457
Stock-Based Compensation	4,660	5,575
Other	8,041	4,078
Change in:
Receivables and Unbilled Revenue	(58,459)	(29,522)
Gas Stored Underground and Materials and Supplies	6,915	5,622
Unrecovered Purchased Gas Costs	0	20,603
Other Current Assets	892	(1,748)
Accounts Payable	(3,355)	6,091
Amounts Payable to Customers	1,013	(265)
Customer Advances	2,083	5,206
Customer Security Deposits	2,079	4,546
Other Accruals and Current Liabilities	28,612	4,523
Other Assets	(6,306)	(20,238)
Other Liabilities	(2,403)	3,122
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	270,944	327,339
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	(246,938)	(233,473)
Sale of Fixed Income Mutual Fund Shares in Grantor Trust	0	10,000
Other	(920)	14,637
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(247,858)	(208,836)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from Issuance of Short-Term Note Payable to Bank	0	250,000
Net Change in Other Short-Term Notes Payable to Banks and Commercial Paper	12,500	(60,000)
Reduction of Long-Term Debt	0	(150,000)
Dividends Paid on Common Stock	(45,451)	(43,452)
Net Repurchases of Common Stock	(3,897)	(6,694)
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities	(36,848)	(10,146)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash	(13,762)	108,357
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at October 1	55,447	137,718
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at December 31	41,685	246,075
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
Non-Cash Capital Expenditures	$ 97,922	$ 110,314