10-Q

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

(Mark One)

þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2018

or

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                    to                    

Commission File Number 1-10042

Atmos Energy Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Texas and Virginia	75-1743247
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(IRS employer identification no.)
Three Lincoln Centre, Suite 1800 5430 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, Texas	75240 (Zip code)
(Address of principal executive offices)

(972) 934-9227

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yesþ No¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes þNo ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large Accelerated Filer  þ Accelerated Filer  ¨ Non-Accelerated Filer  ¨ Smaller Reporting Company  ¨ Emerging growth company ¨

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)    Yes ¨ No þ

Number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of August 3, 2018.

Class	Shares Outstanding
No Par Value	111,200,632

GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS

Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations	Non-GAAP measure defined as diluted earnings per share from continuing operations before the one-time, non-cash income tax benefit
Adjusted income from continuing operations	Non-GAAP measure defined as income from continuing operations before the one-time, non-cash income tax benefit
AEC	Atmos Energy Corporation
AEH	Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc.
AEM	Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC
AOCI	Accumulated other comprehensive income
ARM	Annual Rate Mechanism
Bcf	Billion cubic feet
Contribution Margin	Non-GAAP measure defined as operating revenues less purchased gas cost
DARR	Dallas Annual Rate Review
ERISA	Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
FASB	Financial Accounting Standards Board
GAAP	Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
GRIP	Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program
GSRS	Gas System Reliability Surcharge
Mcf	Thousand cubic feet
MMcf	Million cubic feet
Moody’s	Moody’s Investors Services, Inc.
NTSB	National Transportation Safety Board
PPA	Pension Protection Act of 2006
PRP	Pipeline Replacement Program
RRC	Railroad Commission of Texas
RRM	Rate Review Mechanism
RSC	Rate Stabilization Clause
S&P	Standard & Poor’s Corporation
SAVE	Steps to Advance Virginia Energy
SEC	United States Securities and Exchange Commission
SGR	Supplemental Growth Filing
SIR	System Integrity Rider
SRF	Stable Rate Filing
SSIR	System Safety and Integrity Rider
TCJA	Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
WNA	Weather Normalization Adjustment

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

	June 30, 2018			September 30, 2017
	(Unaudited)
	(In thousands, except share data)
ASSETS
Property, plant and equipment	$	12,260,376		$	11,301,304
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	2,188,516			2,042,122
Net property, plant and equipment	10,071,860			9,259,182
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	20,930			26,409
Accounts receivable, net	253,546			222,263
Gas stored underground	126,010			184,653
Other current assets	52,369			106,321
Total current assets	452,855			539,646
Goodwill	730,132			730,132
Deferred charges and other assets	252,777			220,636
	$	11,507,624		$	10,749,596
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
Shareholders’ equity
Common stock, no par value (stated at $0.005 per share); 200,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding: June 30, 2018 — 111,195,448 shares; September 30, 2017 — 106,104,634 shares	$	556		$	531
Additional paid-in capital	2,964,043			2,536,365
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(76,381		)	(105,254		)
Retained earnings	1,871,334			1,467,024
Shareholders’ equity	4,759,552			3,898,666
Long-term debt	2,618,315			3,067,045
Total capitalization	7,377,867			6,965,711
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	198,172			233,050
Other current liabilities	573,012			332,648
Short-term debt	244,777			447,745
Current maturities of long-term debt	450,000			—
Total current liabilities	1,465,961			1,013,443
Deferred income taxes	1,133,622			1,878,699
Regulatory excess deferred taxes (See Note 6)	733,509			—
Regulatory cost of removal obligation	482,001			485,420
Pension and postretirement liabilities	239,946			230,588
Deferred credits and other liabilities	74,718			175,735
	$	11,507,624		$	10,749,596

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

	Three Months Ended   June 30
	2018			2017
	(Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data)
Operating revenues
Distribution segment	$	535,488		$	494,060
Pipeline and storage segment	127,633			117,283
Intersegment eliminations	(100,876		)	(84,842		)
Total operating revenues	562,245			526,501
Purchased gas cost
Distribution segment	230,887			197,767
Pipeline and storage segment	561			1,251
Intersegment eliminations	(100,562		)	(84,842		)
Total purchased gas cost	130,886			114,176
Operation and maintenance expense	145,075			128,690
Depreciation and amortization expense	90,671			80,023
Taxes, other than income	72,620			62,948
Operating income	122,993			140,664
Miscellaneous expense	(2,003		)	(289		)
Interest charges	23,349			28,498
Income before income taxes	97,641			111,877
Income tax expense	26,448			41,069
Net income	$	71,193		$	70,808
Basic and diluted net income per share	$	0.64		$	0.67
Cash dividends per share	$	0.485		$	0.450
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	111,851			106,364

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

	Nine Months Ended   June 30
	2018			2017
	(Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data)
Operating revenues
Distribution segment	$	2,595,571		$	2,211,257
Pipeline and storage segment	375,051			339,207
Intersegment eliminations	(299,776		)	(255,609		)
Total operating revenues	2,670,846			2,294,855
Purchased gas cost
Distribution segment	1,421,698			1,106,209
Pipeline and storage segment	1,906			2,331
Intersegment eliminations	(298,841		)	(255,565		)
Total purchased gas cost	1,124,763			852,975
Operation and maintenance expense	435,715			385,867
Depreciation and amortization expense	268,426			234,648
Taxes, other than income	208,400			185,611
Operating income	633,542			635,754
Miscellaneous expense	(4,291		)	(450		)
Interest charges	82,162			86,472
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	547,089			548,832
Income tax (benefit) expense	(17,228		)	201,974
Income from continuing operations	564,317			346,858
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax ($0 and $6,841)	—			10,994
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax ($0 and $10,215)	—			2,716
Net income	$	564,317		$	360,568
Basic and diluted net income per share
Income per share from continuing operations	$	5.09		$	3.27
Income per share from discontinued operations	—			0.13
Net income per share - basic and diluted	$	5.09		$	3.40
Cash dividends per share	$	1.455		$	1.350
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	110,707			105,862

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

	Three Months Ended   June 30					Nine Months Ended   June 30
	2018		2017			2018			2017
	(Unaudited) (In thousands)
Net income	$	71,193	$	70,808		$	564,317		$	360,568
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax of $92, $490, $(246) and $893	310		851			(736		)	1,553
Cash flow hedges:
Amortization and unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate agreements, net of tax of $2,460, $(10,667), $8,486 and $44,194	8,320		(18,556		)	29,609			76,888
Net unrealized gains on commodity cash flow hedges, net of tax of $0, $0, $0 and $3,183	—		—			—			4,982
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	8,630		(17,705		)	28,873			83,423
Total comprehensive income	$	79,823	$	53,103		$	593,190		$	443,991

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

	Nine Months Ended   June 30
	2018			2017
	(Unaudited) (In thousands)
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net income	$	564,317		$	360,568
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	268,426			234,833
Deferred income taxes	139,852			188,256
One-time income tax benefit	(165,522		)	—
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	—			(12,931		)
Discontinued cash flow hedging for natural gas marketing commodity contracts	—			(10,579		)
Other	18,007			14,892
Net assets / liabilities from risk management activities	912			25,661
Net change in operating assets and liabilities	209,304			(55,139		)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,035,296			745,561
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(1,088,472		)	(812,148		)
Acquisition	—			(86,128		)
Proceeds from the sale of discontinued operations	3,000			140,253
Available-for-sale securities activities, net	(7,857		)	(14,329		)
Use tax refund	—			18,562
Other, net	6,105			6,435
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,087,224		)	(747,355		)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Net decrease in short-term debt	(202,968		)	(571,238		)
Net proceeds from equity offering	395,092			98,755
Issuance of common stock through stock purchase and employee retirement plans	15,850			22,673
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	—			884,911
Settlement of interest rate agreements	—			(36,996		)
Interest rate agreements cash collateral	—			25,670
Repayment of long-term debt	—			(250,000		)
Cash dividends paid	(160,007		)	(143,075		)
Debt issuance costs	—			(6,663		)
Other	(1,518		)	—
Net cash provided by financing activities	46,449			24,037
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(5,479		)	22,243
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	26,409			47,534
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	20,930		$	69,777

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

June 30, 2018

1.    Nature of Business

Atmos Energy Corporation (“Atmos Energy” or the “Company”) is engaged in the regulated natural gas distribution and pipeline and storage businesses. Our distribution business is subject to federal and state regulation and/or regulation by local authorities in each of the states in which our regulated divisions and subsidiaries operate.

Our distribution business delivers natural gas through sales and transportation arrangements to over three million residential, commercial, public authority and industrial customers through our six regulated distribution divisions, which at June 30, 2018, covered service areas located in eight states.

Our pipeline and storage business, which is also subject to federal and state regulations, includes the transportation of natural gas to our Texas and Louisiana distribution systems and the management of our underground storage facilities used to support our distribution business in various states.

2.    Unaudited Financial Information

These consolidated interim-period financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States on the same basis as those used for the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation have been made to the unaudited consolidated interim-period financial statements. These consolidated interim-period financial statements are condensed as permitted by the instructions to Form 10-Q and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of Atmos Energy Corporation included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. Because of seasonal and other factors, the results of operations for the nine-month period ended June 30, 2018 are not indicative of our results of operations for the full 2018 fiscal year, which ends September 30, 2018.

No events have occurred subsequent to the balance sheet date that would require recognition or disclosure in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Significant accounting policies

Our accounting policies are described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2018, we completed our annual goodwill impairment assessment. Based on the assessment performed, we determined that our goodwill was not impaired.

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard that will supersede virtually all existing revenue recognition guidance under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Under the new standard, an entity will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In doing so, companies may need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under current guidance. The new guidance will become effective for us October 1, 2018 and can be applied either retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption.

As of June 30, 2018, we had substantially completed the evaluation of our sources of revenue and the impact that the new guidance will have on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and business processes. Based on this evaluation, we currently do not believe the implementation of the new guidance will have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows or business processes. We expect to apply the new guidance using the modified retrospective method on the date of adoption. We are currently still evaluating the impact on our financial statement presentation and related disclosures.

In January 2016, the FASB issued guidance related to the classification and measurement of financial instruments. The amendments modify the accounting and presentation for certain financial liabilities and equity investments not consolidated or reported using the equity method. The guidance is effective for us beginning October 1, 2018; limited early adoption is permitted. The standard will require that changes in fair value of our available-for-sale equity securities be recorded in net income. The new guidance will be applied by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. We do not anticipate the new standard will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We are currently still evaluating the impact on our financial statement presentation and related disclosures.

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In February 2016, the FASB issued a comprehensive new leasing standard that will require lessees to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases, including operating leases, with a term greater than 12 months on its balance sheet. The new standard will be effective for us beginning on October 1, 2019; early adoption is permitted. The new leasing standard requires modified retrospective transition, which requires application of the new guidance at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the year of adoption. Additionally, in January 2018, the FASB issued amendments to the standard that provides a practical expedient for entities to not evaluate existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases under the current guidance. In July 2018, the FASB issued an amendment to the standard that provides an additional and optional transition method to adopt the standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. We are currently evaluating the effect of this standard and amendments on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which will require credit losses on most financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain other instruments to be measured using an expected credit loss model. Under this model, entities will estimate credit losses over the entire contractual term of the instrument from the date of initial recognition of that instrument. In contrast, current U.S. GAAP is based on an incurred loss model that delays recognition of credit losses until it is probable the loss has been incurred. The new guidance also introduces a new impairment recognition model for available-for-sale securities that will require credit losses for available-for-sale debt securities to be recorded through an allowance account. The new standard will be effective for us beginning on October 1, 2021; early adoption is permitted beginning on October 1, 2019. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of this new guidance on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. 

In March 2017, the FASB issued new guidance related to the income statement presentation of the components of net periodic benefit cost for an entity’s sponsored defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The new guidance requires entities to disaggregate the current service cost component of the net benefit cost from the other components and present it with other current compensation costs for related employees in the statement of income. The other components of net benefit cost will be presented outside of income from operations on the statement of income. In addition, only the service cost component of net benefit cost is eligible for capitalization (e.g., as part of inventory or property, plant, and equipment). The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”), which regulates interstate transmission pipelines and also establishes, through its Uniform System of Accounts, accounting practices of rate-regulated entities, has issued guidance that states it will permit an election to either continue to capitalize non-service benefit costs or to cease capitalizing such costs for regulatory purposes.  Accounting guidelines by the FERC are typically also followed by state commissions.  As such, we plan to continue to capitalize all components of net periodic benefit cost for ratemaking purposes and will defer the non-service cost components as a regulatory asset for U.S. GAAP reporting purposes. The new guidance will be effective for us in the fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2018 and for interim periods within that year.  The standard requires retrospective application of the amendment related to the presentation of non-service cost components outside of income from operations in the statement of income and prospective application of the change in eligible costs for capitalization. We do not anticipate the new standard will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In February 2018, the FASB issued new guidance as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "TCJA"), related to the treatment of certain tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income. The new guidance allows entities to reclassify from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings the stranded tax effects resulting from the adoption of the TCJA. The new guidance will be effective for us in the fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2019 and for interim periods within that year. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period for public business entities for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued and should be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is recognized. We plan to early adopt the new standard effective as of September 30, 2018, and reclassify the stranded tax effects resulting from the TCJA from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. We do not anticipate the new standard will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Regulatory assets and liabilities

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States require cost-based, rate-regulated entities that meet certain criteria to reflect the authorized recovery of costs due to regulatory decisions in their financial statements. As a result, certain costs are permitted to be capitalized rather than expensed because they can be recovered through rates. We record certain costs as regulatory assets when future recovery through customer rates is considered probable. Regulatory liabilities are recorded when it is probable that revenues will be reduced for amounts that will be credited to customers through the ratemaking process. Substantially all of our regulatory assets are recorded as a component of deferred charges and other assets and a portion of our regulatory liabilities are recorded as a component of other current liabilities and deferred credits and other liabilities. Deferred gas costs are recorded either in other current assets or liabilities and our regulatory excess deferred taxes and regulatory cost of removal obligation is reported separately.

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Significant regulatory assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 included the following:

	June 30, 2018		September 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Regulatory assets:
Pension and postretirement benefit costs(1)	$	17,546	$	26,826
Infrastructure mechanisms(2)	77,387		46,437
Deferred gas costs	347		65,714
Recoverable loss on reacquired debt	9,328		11,208
Deferred pipeline record collection costs	16,963		11,692
APT annual adjustment mechanism	—		2,160
Rate case costs	3,041		2,629
Other	5,131		10,132
	$	129,743	$	176,798
Regulatory liabilities:
Regulatory excess deferred taxes(3)	$	737,746	$	—
Regulatory cost of service reserve(4)	30,930		—
Regulatory cost of removal obligation	528,709		521,330
Deferred gas costs	159,201		15,559
Asset retirement obligation	12,827		12,827
APT annual adjustment mechanism	20,551		—
Other	9,783		5,941
	$	1,499,747	$	555,657

(1) Includes $7.1 million and $9.4 million of pension and postretirement expense deferred pursuant to regulatory authorization.

(2) Infrastructure mechanisms in Texas and Louisiana allow for the deferral of all eligible expenses associated with capital expenditures incurred pursuant to these rules, including the recording of interest on deferred expenses until the next rate proceeding (rate case or annual rate filing), at which time investment and costs would be recoverable through base rates.

(3) The TCJA resulted in the remeasurement of the net deferred tax liability included in our rate base. Of this amount, $4.2 million is recorded in Other current liabilities. The period and timing of the return of the excess deferred taxes is being determined by regulators in each of our jurisdictions. See Note 6 for further information.

(4) Effective January 1, 2018, regulators in each of our service areas required us to establish a regulatory liability for the difference in recoverable federal taxes included in revenues based on the former 35% federal statutory rate and the new 21% federal statutory rate for service provided on or after January 1, 2018. The period and timing of the return of this liability to utility customers is being determined by regulators in each of our jurisdictions. See Note 6 for further information.

3.    Segment Information

 We manage and review our consolidated operations through the following reportable segments:

• The distribution segment is primarily comprised of our regulated natural gas distribution and related sales operations in eight states.

• The pipeline and storage segment is comprised primarily of the pipeline and storage operations of our Atmos Pipeline-Texas division and our natural gas transmission operations in Louisiana.

• Thenatural gas marketing segment was comprised of our discontinued natural gas marketing business.

Our determination of reportable segments considers the strategic operating units under which we manage sales of various products and services to customers in differing regulatory environments. Although our distribution segment operations are geographically dispersed, they are aggregated and reported as a single segment as each natural gas distribution division has similar economic characteristics. In addition, because the pipeline and storage operations of our Atmos Pipeline-Texas division and our natural gas transmission operations in Louisiana have similar economic characteristics, they have been aggregated and reported as a single segment.

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. We evaluate performance based on net

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income or loss of the respective operating units. We allocate interest and pension expense to the pipeline and storage segment; however, there is no debt or pension liability recorded on the pipeline and storage segment balance sheet. All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated; however, we have not eliminated intercompany profits when such amounts are probable of recovery under the affiliates’ rate regulation process. Income taxes are allocated to each segment as if each segment’s taxes were calculated on a separate return basis.

Income statements and capital expenditures for the three and nine months endedJune 30, 2018 and 2017 by segment are presented in the following tables:

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
	Distribution			Pipeline and Storage			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Operating revenues from external parties	$	534,816		$	27,429		$	—		$	562,245
Intersegment revenues	672			100,204			(100,876		)	—
Total operating revenues	535,488			127,633			(100,876		)	562,245
Purchased gas cost	230,887			561			(100,562		)	130,886
Operation and maintenance expense	111,895			33,494			(314		)	145,075
Depreciation and amortization expense	66,504			24,167			—			90,671
Taxes, other than income	64,420			8,200			—			72,620
Operating income	61,782			61,211			—			122,993
Miscellaneous expense	(1,191		)	(812		)	—			(2,003		)
Interest charges	13,315			10,034			—			23,349
Income before income taxes	47,276			50,365			—			97,641
Income tax expense	11,932			14,516			—			26,448
Net income	$	35,344		$	35,849		$	—		$	71,193
Capital expenditures	$	284,209		$	110,285		$	—		$	394,494

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
	Distribution			Pipeline and Storage			Natural Gas Marketing		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Operating revenues from external parties	$	493,738		$	32,763		$	—	$	—		$	526,501
Intersegment revenues	322			84,520			—		(84,842		)	—
Total operating revenues	494,060			117,283			—		(84,842		)	526,501
Purchased gas cost	197,767			1,251			—		(84,842		)	114,176
Operation and maintenance expense	99,631			29,059			—		—			128,690
Depreciation and amortization expense	62,760			17,263			—		—			80,023
Taxes, other than income	56,850			6,098			—		—			62,948
Operating income	77,052			63,612			—		—			140,664
Miscellaneous expense	(62		)	(227		)	—		—			(289		)
Interest charges	18,394			10,104			—		—			28,498
Income before income taxes	58,596			53,281			—		—			111,877
Income tax expense	22,082			18,987			—		—			41,069
Net income	$	36,514		$	34,294		$	—	$	—		$	70,808
Capital expenditures	$	205,780		$	46,983		$	—	$	—		$	252,763

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	Nine Months Ended June 30, 2018
	Distribution			Pipeline and Storage			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Operating revenues from external parties	$	2,593,578		$	77,268		$	—		$	2,670,846
Intersegment revenues	1,993			297,783			(299,776		)	—
Total operating revenues	2,595,571			375,051			(299,776		)	2,670,846
Purchased gas cost	1,421,698			1,906			(298,841		)	1,124,763
Operation and maintenance expense	347,623			89,027			(935		)	435,715
Depreciation and amortization expense	197,587			70,839			—			268,426
Taxes, other than income	184,219			24,181			—			208,400
Operating income	444,444			189,098			—			633,542
Miscellaneous expense	(2,198		)	(2,093		)	—			(4,291		)
Interest charges	51,581			30,581			—			82,162
Income before income taxes	390,665			156,424			—			547,089
Income tax (benefit) expense	(39,021		)	21,793			—			(17,228		)
Net income	$	429,686		$	134,631		$	—		$	564,317
Capital expenditures	$	749,693		$	338,779		$	—		$	1,088,472

	Nine Months Ended June 30, 2017
	Distribution		Pipeline and Storage			Natural Gas Marketing		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Operating revenues from external parties	$	2,210,221	$	84,634		$	—	$	—		$	2,294,855
Intersegment revenues	1,036		254,573			—		(255,609		)	—
Total operating revenues	2,211,257		339,207			—		(255,609		)	2,294,855
Purchased gas cost	1,106,209		2,331			—		(255,565		)	852,975
Operation and maintenance expense	296,048		89,863			—		(44		)	385,867
Depreciation and amortization expense	185,219		49,429			—		—			234,648
Taxes, other than income	165,032		20,579			—		—			185,611
Operating income	458,749		177,005			—		—			635,754
Miscellaneous income (expense)	334		(784		)	—		—			(450		)
Interest charges	56,437		30,035			—		—			86,472
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	402,646		146,186			—		—			548,832
Income tax expense	149,623		52,351			—		—			201,974
Income from continuing operations	253,023		93,835			—		—			346,858
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	—		—			10,994		—			10,994
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	—		—			2,716		—			2,716
Net income	$	253,023	$	93,835		$	13,710	$	—		$	360,568
Capital expenditures	$	636,449	$	175,699		$	—	$	—		$	812,148

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Balance sheet information at June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 by segment is presented in the following tables:

	June 30, 2018
	Distribution		Pipeline and Storage		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	7,427,486	$	2,644,374	$	—		$	10,071,860
Total assets	$	10,840,846	$	2,866,266	$	(2,199,488	)	$	11,507,624

	September 30, 2017
	Distribution		Pipeline and Storage		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	6,849,517	$	2,409,665	$	—		$	9,259,182
Total assets	$	10,050,164	$	2,621,601	$	(1,922,169	)	$	10,749,596

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4.    Earnings Per Share

We use the two-class method of computing earnings per share because we have participating securities in the form of non-vested restricted stock units with a nonforfeitable right to dividend equivalents, for which vesting is predicated solely on the passage of time. The calculation of earnings per share using the two-class method excludes income attributable to these participating securities from the numerator and excludes the dilutive impact of those shares from the denominator. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 are calculated as follows:

	Three Months Ended   June 30				Nine Months Ended   June 30
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share from continuing operations
Income from continuing operations	$	71,193	$	70,808	$	564,317	$	346,858
Less: Income from continuing operations allocated to participating securities	59		75		545		424
Income from continuing operations available to common shareholders	$	71,134	$	70,733	$	563,772	$	346,434
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	111,851		106,364		110,707		105,862
Income from continuing operations per share — Basic and Diluted	$	0.64	$	0.67	$	5.09	$	3.27
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share from discontinued operations
Income from discontinued operations	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	13,710
Less: Income from discontinued operations allocated to participating securities	—		—		—		15
Income from discontinued operations available to common shareholders	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	13,695
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	111,851		106,364		110,707		105,862
Income from discontinued operations per share — Basic and Diluted	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	0.13
Net income per share — Basic and Diluted	$	0.64	$	0.67	$	5.09	$	3.40

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5.    Debt

The nature and terms of our debt instruments and credit facilities are described in detail in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. There were no material changes in the terms of our debt instruments during the nine months ended June 30, 2018.

Long-term debt at June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 consisted of the following:

	June 30, 2018			September 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Unsecured 8.50% Senior Notes, due March 2019	$	450,000		$	450,000
Unsecured 3.00% Senior Notes, due 2027	500,000			500,000
Unsecured 5.95% Senior Notes, due 2034	200,000			200,000
Unsecured 5.50% Senior Notes, due 2041	400,000			400,000
Unsecured 4.15% Senior Notes, due 2043	500,000			500,000
Unsecured 4.125% Senior Notes, due 2044	750,000			750,000
Medium-term note Series A, 1995-1, 6.67%, due 2025	10,000			10,000
Unsecured 6.75% Debentures, due 2028	150,000			150,000
Floating-rate term loan, due September 2019(1)	125,000			125,000
Total long-term debt	3,085,000			3,085,000
Less:
Original issue (premium) / discount on unsecured senior notes and debentures	(4,425		)	(4,384		)
Debt issuance cost	21,110			22,339
Current maturities	450,000			—
	$	2,618,315		$	3,067,045

(1) Up to $200 million can be drawn under this term loan.

We utilize short-term debt to provide cost-effective, short-term financing until it can be replaced with a balance of long-term debt and equity financing that achieves the Company’s desired capital structure with an equity-to-total-capitalization ratio between 50% and 60%, inclusive of long-term and short-term debt. Our short-term borrowing requirements are affected primarily by the seasonal nature of the natural gas business. Changes in the price of natural gas and the amount of natural gas we need to supply our customers’ needs could significantly affect our borrowing requirements. Our short-term borrowings typically reach their highest levels in the winter months.

Currently, our short-term borrowing requirements are satisfied through a combination of a $1.5 billion commercial paper program and three committed revolving credit facilities with third-party lenders that provide approximately $1.5 billion of total working capital funding. The primary source of our funding is our commercial paper program, which is supported by a five-year unsecured $1.5 billion credit facility. On March 26, 2018, we executed one of our two one-year extension options which extended the maturity date from September 25, 2021 to September 25, 2022. The facility bears interest at a base rate or at a LIBOR-based rate for the applicable interest period, plus a spread ranging from zero percent to 1.25 percent, based on the Company’s credit ratings. Additionally, the facility contains a $250 million accordion feature, which provides the opportunity to increase the loan, total committed availability to $1.75 billion. At June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, a total of $244.8 million and $447.7 million was outstanding under our commercial paper program.

Additionally, we have a $25 million 364-day unsecured facility, which was renewed effective April 1, 2018 and expires March 31, 2019, and a $10 million 364-day unsecured revolving credit facility, which is used primarily to issue letters of credit. At June 30, 2018, there were no borrowings outstanding under either of these facilities; however, outstanding letters of credit reduced the total amount available to us under our $10 million facility to $4.4 million.

The availability of funds under these credit facilities is subject to conditions specified in the respective credit agreements, all of which we currently satisfy. These conditions include our compliance with financial covenants and the continued accuracy of representations and warranties contained in these agreements. We are required by the financial covenants in each of these facilities to maintain, at the end of each fiscal quarter, a ratio of total-debt-to-total-capitalization of no greater than 70 percent. At June 30, 2018, our total-debt-to-total-capitalization ratio, as defined in the agreements, was 42 percent. In addition, both the

15

interest margin and the fee that we pay on unused amounts under certain of these facilities are subject to adjustment depending upon our credit ratings.

These credit facilities and our public indentures contain usual and customary covenants for our business, including covenants substantially limiting liens, substantial asset sales and mergers. Additionally, our public debt indentures relating to our senior notes and debentures, as well as certain of our revolving credit agreements, each contain a default provision that is triggered if outstanding indebtedness arising out of any other credit agreements in amounts ranging from in excess of $15 million to in excess of $100 million becomes due by acceleration or is not paid at maturity. We were in compliance with all of our debt covenants as of June 30, 2018. If we were unable to comply with our debt covenants, we would likely be required to repay our outstanding balances on demand, provide additional collateral or take other corrective actions.

6.    Impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "TCJA") was signed into law. The TCJA introduced several significant changes to corporate income tax laws in the United States. The most significant change that affects Atmos Energy is the reduction of the federal statutory income tax rate from 35% to 21%. As a rate-regulated entity, the accelerated capital expensing and the limitation on interest deductibility provisions included in the TCJA are not applicable to us.

Under generally accepted accounting principles, we use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

At September 30, 2017, we measured our net deferred tax liability using the enacted federal statutory tax rate of 35%. The enactment of the TCJA on December 22, 2017 required us to remeasure our deferred tax assets and liabilities, including our U.S. federal income tax net operating loss carryforwards, at the newly enacted federal statutory income tax rate. As the Company’s fiscal year end is September 30, the Internal Revenue Code requires the Company to use a blended statutory federal corporate income tax rate of 24.5% for fiscal 2018.

The decrease in the federal statutory income tax rate reduced our net deferred tax liability by $903.7 million. Of this amount, $738.2 million relates to regulated operations and has been recorded as a regulatory liability, a portion of which is currently being returned to utility customers. The period and timing of these revenue adjustments are subject to Internal Revenue Code provisions and regulatory actions in each of the eight states in which we operate. During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company amortized $0.5 million of this regulatory liability. The remaining $165.5 million has been reflected as a one-time income tax benefit in our condensed consolidated statement of income for the nine months ended June 30, 2018, because these taxes are not related to our cost of service ratemaking.

At June 30, 2018, we had $270.7 million of remeasured federal net operating loss carryforwards. The federal net operating loss carryforwards are available to offset future taxable income and will begin to expire in 2029. The Company also has $10.1 million of federal alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards that do not expire and are expected to be fully refunded to us between 2019 and 2022 as a result of changes introduced by the TCJA. These credit carryforwards are now reflected as taxes receivable within the deferred charges and other assets line item on our condensed consolidated balance sheet. In addition, the Company has $5.3 million in remeasured charitable contribution carryforwards to offset future taxable income. The Company’s charitable contribution carryforwards expire between 2018 and 2023.

The Company also has $21.2 million of state net operating loss carryforwards and $1.5 million of state tax credit carryforwards (net of $5.6 million and $0.4 million of remeasured federal effects). Depending on the jurisdiction in which the state net operating loss was generated, the carryforwards will begin to expire between 2018 and 2032.

Due to the changes introduced by the TCJA, we now believe it is more likely than not that the benefit from certain charitable contribution carryforwards for which a valuation allowance was previously established will be realized. As a result, we reduced our valuation allowance by $4.2 million during the first quarter. This amount is included in the $165.5 million one-time income tax benefit.

The SEC issued guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 (SAB 118), which allows us to record provisional amounts during a one-year measurement period, similar to the measurement period in accounting for business combinations. The Company has determined a reasonable estimate for the measurement and accounting for certain effects of the TCJA, including the remeasurement of our net deferred tax liabilities and the establishment of a regulatory liability, which have been reflected as provisional amounts in the June 30, 2018 condensed consolidated financial statements and are described in further detail above. The amounts represent our best estimates based upon records, information and current guidance. We are still analyzing certain aspects of the TCJA, refining our calculations and expecting additional guidance relating to the TCJA from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service.  Any additional guidance issued or future actions of our

16

regulators could potentially affect the final determination of the accounting effects arising from the implementation of the TCJA.

We are actively working with our regulators in each jurisdiction to address the impact of the TCJA on our cost of service based rates. Accounting orders were issued for all our service areas that required us to establish, effective January 1, 2018, a separate regulatory liability for the difference in taxes included in our rates that have been calculated based on a 35% statutory income tax rate and the new 21% statutory income tax rate. The establishment of this regulatory liability relating to our cost of service rates resulted in a reduction to our revenues beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2018. The period and timing of the return of these liabilities to utility customers is being determined by regulators in each of our jurisdictions. As of June 30, 2018, this regulatory liability was $30.9 million.

We have received approval from regulators to update our cost of service rates to reflect the decrease in the statutory income tax rate in our Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Texas service areas. We are still working with regulators in Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia to reflect the effects of the lower statutory income tax rate in our cost of service in rates. During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, we received approval from regulators to return amounts to customers related to the regulatory liabilities recorded for differences in our cost of service rates due to change in the federal statutory income tax rate in Colorado and Kansas, in accordance with regulatory proceedings within one year.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, we received approval from regulators to return amounts to customers related to the regulatory liabilities recorded for the excess deferred taxes created upon implementation of the TCJA in Colorado, Kentucky and Louisiana in accordance with regulatory proceedings on a provisional basis over periods ranging from 18 to 40 years. In our remaining jurisdictions, the treatment of the effects of the TCJA in rates is being addressed in ongoing or will be addressed in future regulatory proceedings.

7.    Shareholders' Equity

Shelf Registration, At-the-Market Equity Sales Program and Equity Issuance

On March 28, 2016, we filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that originally permitted us to issue, from time to time, up to $2.5 billion in common stock and/or debt securities, which expires March 28, 2019. At June 30, 2018, approximately $650 million of securities remained available for issuance under the shelf registration statement.

On November 14, 2017, we filed a prospectus supplement under the registration statement relating to an at-the-market (ATM) equity sales program under which we may issue and sell shares of our common stock up to an aggregate offering price of $500 million, which expires March 28, 2019. During the nine months ended June 30, 2018, no shares of common stock were sold under the ATM program.

On November 30, 2017, we filed a prospectus supplement under the registration statement relating to an underwriting agreement to sell 4,558,404 shares of our common stock for $400 million. After expenses, net proceeds from the offering were $395.1 million.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

We record deferred gains (losses) in AOCI related to available-for-sale securities, interest rate cash flow hedges and prior to the sale of Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC (AEM) on January 1, 2017, commodity contract cash flow hedges. Deferred gains (losses) for our available-for-sale securities and commodity contract cash flow hedges are recognized in earnings upon settlement, while deferred gains (losses) related to our interest rate agreement cash flow hedges are recognized in earnings as they are amortized. The following tables provide the components of our accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) balances, net of the related tax effects allocated to each component of other comprehensive income (loss):

	Available- for-Sale Securities			Interest Rate Agreement Cash Flow Hedges			Total
	(In thousands)
September 30, 2017	$	7,048		$	(112,302	)	$	(105,254	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	148			28,315			28,463
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	(884		)	1,294			410
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	(736		)	29,609			28,873
June 30, 2018	$	6,312		$	(82,693	)	$	(76,381	)

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	Available- for-Sale Securities		Interest Rate Agreement Cash Flow Hedges			Commodity Contracts Cash Flow Hedges			Total
	(In thousands)
September 30, 2016	$	4,484	$	(187,524	)	$	(4,982	)	$	(188,022	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	1,485		76,602			9,847			87,934
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	68		286			(4,865		)	(4,511		)
Net current-period other comprehensive income	1,553		76,888			4,982			83,423
June 30, 2017	$	6,037	$	(110,636	)	$	—		$	(104,599	)

The following tables detail reclassifications out of AOCI for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. Amounts in parentheses below indicate decreases to net income in the statement of income:

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Affected Line Item in the Statement of Income
	(In thousands)
Available-for-sale securities	$	7		Operation and maintenance expense
	7			Total before tax
	(2		)	Tax expense
	$	5		Net of tax
Cash flow hedges
Interest rate agreements	$	(594	)	Interest charges
	(594		)	Total before tax
	135			Tax benefit
	$	(459	)	Net of tax
Total reclassifications	$	(454	)	Net of tax

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Affected Line Item in the Statement of Income
	(In thousands)
Cash flow hedges
Interest rate agreements	$	(177	)	Interest charges
	(177		)	Total before tax
	64			Tax benefit
Total reclassifications	$	(113	)	Net of tax

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	Nine Months Ended June 30, 2018
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Affected Line Item in  the Statement of Income
	(In thousands)
Available-for-sale securities	$	1,146		Operation and maintenance expense
	1,146			Total before tax
	(262		)	Tax expense
	$	884		Net of tax
Cash flow hedges
Interest rate agreements	$	(1,781	)	Interest charges
	(1,781		)	Total before tax
	487			Tax benefit
	$	(1,294	)	Net of tax
Total reclassifications	$	(410	)	Net of tax

	Nine Months Ended June 30, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Affected Line Item in  the Statement of Income
	(In thousands)
Available-for-sale securities	$	(107	)	Operation and maintenance expense
	(107		)	Total before tax
	39			Tax benefit
	$	(68	)	Net of tax
Cash flow hedges
Interest rate agreements	$	(450	)	Interest charges
Commodity contracts	7,967			Purchased gas cost(1)
	7,517			Total before tax
	(2,938		)	Tax expense
	$	4,579		Net of tax
Total reclassifications	$	4,511		Net of tax

(1) Amount is presented as part of income from discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated statement of income.

8.     Interim Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Information

The components of our net periodic pension cost for our pension and other postretirement benefit plans for the three and nine months endedJune 30, 2018 and 2017 are presented in the following tables. Most of these costs are recoverable through our tariff rates. A portion of these costs is capitalized into our rate base. The remaining costs are recorded as a component of operation and maintenance expense.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2018, due to the retirement of certain executives, we recognized a settlement loss of $2.4 million associated with our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and revalued the net periodic pension cost for the remainder of fiscal 2018. The revaluation of the net periodic pension cost for our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan resulted in an increase in the discount rate, effective March 1, 2018, to 4.12% from 3.89%, which will increase our net periodic pension cost by approximately $0.1 million for the remainder of the fiscal year.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2018, due to the retirement of one of our executives, we recognized a settlement loss of $0.9 million associated with our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and revalued the net periodic pension cost for the remainder of fiscal 2018. The revaluation of the net periodic pension cost for our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan resulted in an increase in the discount rate, effective June 5, 2018, to 4.29% from 4.12%, which will increase our net periodic pension cost by approximately $0.2 million for the remainder of the fiscal year.

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	Three Months Ended June 30
	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
Service cost	$	4,794		$	5,216		$	3,020		$	3,109
Interest cost	6,448			6,296			2,726			2,669
Expected return on assets	(6,917		)	(6,993		)	(2,002		)	(1,796		)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	(57		)	(57		)	2			(411		)
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss	3,050			4,248			(1,618		)	(706		)
Settlements	888			—			—			—
Net periodic pension cost	$	8,206		$	8,710		$	2,128		$	2,865

	Nine Months Ended June 30
	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
Service cost	$	13,929		$	15,649		$	9,059		$	9,327
Interest cost	19,311			18,890			8,180			8,009
Expected return on assets	(20,750		)	(20,981		)	(6,005		)	(5,389		)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	(173		)	(173		)	8			(1,233		)
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss	9,224			12,746			(4,855		)	(2,120		)
Settlements	3,303			—			—			—
Net periodic pension cost	$	24,844		$	26,131		$	6,387		$	8,594

The assumptions used to develop our net periodic pension cost for the three and nine months endedJune 30, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:

	Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan		Pension Benefits		Other Benefits
	2018	2017	2018	2017	2018	2017
Discount rate	4.29%	3.73%	3.89%	3.73%	3.89%	3.73%
Rate of compensation increase	3.50%	3.50%	3.50%	3.50%	N/A	N/A
Expected return on plan assets	N/A	N/A	6.75%	7.00%	4.29%	4.45%

The discount rate used to compute the present value of a plan’s liabilities generally is based on rates of high-grade corporate bonds with maturities similar to the average period over which the benefits will be paid. Generally, our funding policy has been to contribute annually an amount in accordance with the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In accordance with the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA), we determined the funded status of our plan as of January 1, 2018. Based on that determination, we are not required to make a minimum contribution to our defined benefit plan during fiscal 2018; however, we may consider whether a voluntary contribution is prudent to maintain certain funding levels.

We contributed $11.4 million to our other post-retirement benefit plans during the nine months ended June 30, 2018. We expect to contribute a total of between $10 million and $20 million to these plans during fiscal 2018.

9.    Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation and Environmental Matters

In the normal course of business, we are subject to various legal and regulatory proceedings. For such matters, we record liabilities when they are considered probable and estimable, based on currently available facts, our historical experience, and our estimates of the ultimate outcome or resolution of the liability in the future. While the outcome of these proceedings is uncertain and a loss in excess of the amount we have accrued is possible though not reasonably estimable, it is the opinion of management that any amounts exceeding the accruals will not have a material adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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We maintain liability insurance for various risks associated with the operation of our natural gas pipelines and facilities, including for property damage and bodily injury. These liability insurance policies generally require us to be responsible for the first $1.0 million (self-insured retention) of each incident.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating an incident that occurred at a Dallas, Texas residence on February 23, 2018 that resulted in one fatality and injuries to four other residents. Together with the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Atmos Energy is a party to the investigation and in that capacity is working closely with the NTSB to help determine the cause of this incident.

On March 29, 2018, a civil action was filed in Dallas, Texas against Atmos Energy in response to the February 23rd incident. The plaintiffs seek over $1.0 million in damages for, among with others, wrongful death and personal injury.

We are a party to various other litigation and environmental-related matters or claims that have arisen in the ordinary course of our business. While the results of such litigation and response actions to such environmental-related matters or claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we continue to believe the final outcome of such litigation and matters or claims will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Purchase Commitments

Our distribution divisions maintain supply contracts with several vendors that generally cover a period of up to one year. Commitments for estimated base gas volumes are established under these contracts on a monthly basis at contractually negotiated prices. Commitments for incremental daily purchases are made as necessary during the month in accordance with the terms of the individual contract.

Our Mid-Tex Division also maintains a limited number of long-term supply contracts to ensure a reliable source of gas for our customers in its service area, which obligate it to purchase specified volumes at prices indexed to natural gas hubs. At June 30, 2018, we were committed to purchase 53.6 Bcf within one year and 51.2 Bcf within two to three years under indexed contracts.

Regulatory Matters

Various regulatory agencies, including the SEC and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, continue to adopt regulations implementing many of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010. We continue to enact new procedures and modify existing business practices and contractual arrangements to comply with such regulations.  Additional rulemakings are pending which we believe will result in new reporting and disclosure obligations. The costs associated with hedging certain risks inherent in our business may be further increased when these expected additional regulations are adopted.

As of June 30, 2018, formula rate mechanisms were pending regulatory approval in our Louisiana, Mid-Tex, Tennessee and West Texas service areas, infrastructure mechanisms were pending regulatory approval in our Mississippi service area and rate cases were pending regulatory approval in our Mid-Tex, Virginia and West Texas service areas. These regulatory proceedings are discussed in further detail below in Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Recent Ratemaking Developments. Additionally, as discussed in further detail in Note 6, all jurisdictions are addressing impacts of the TCJA.

10.    Financial Instruments

We currently use financial instruments to mitigate commodity price risk and interest rate risk. The objectives and strategies for using financial instruments and the related accounting for these financial instruments are fully described in Notes 2 and 13 to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. During the nine months ended June 30, 2018, there were no material changes in our objectives, strategies and accounting for using financial instruments. Our financial instruments do not contain any credit-risk-related or other contingent features that could cause payments to be accelerated when our financial instruments are in net liability positions. The following summarizes those objectives and strategies.

Commodity Risk Management Activities

Our purchased gas cost adjustment mechanisms essentially insulate our distribution segment from commodity price risk; however, our customers are exposed to the effects of volatile natural gas prices. We manage this exposure through a combination of physical storage, fixed-price forward contracts and financial instruments, primarily over-the-counter swap and option contracts, in an effort to minimize the impact of natural gas price volatility on our customers during the winter heating season.

We typically seek to hedge between 25 and 50 percent of anticipated heating season gas purchases using financial instruments. For the 2017-2018 heating season (generally October through March), in the jurisdictions where we are permitted

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to utilize financial instruments, we hedged approximately 26 percent, or 15.0 Bcf of the winter flowing gas requirements. We have not designated these financial instruments as hedges for accounting purposes.

Interest Rate Risk Management Activities

We periodically manage interest rate risk by entering into financial instruments to effectively fix the Treasury yield component of the interest cost associated with anticipated financings.

As of June 30, 2018, we had forward starting interest rate swaps to effectively fix the Treasury yield component associated with the anticipated issuance of $450 million unsecured senior notes in fiscal 2019 at 3.78%, which we designated as a cash flow hedge at the time the swaps were executed. As of June 30, 2018, we had $48.7 million of net realized losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) associated with the settlement of financial instruments used to fix the Treasury yield component of the interest cost of financing various issuances of long-term debt and senior notes, which will be recognized as a component of interest expense over the life of the associated notes from the date of settlement. The remaining amortization periods for these settled amounts extend through fiscal 2045.

Quantitative Disclosures Related to Financial Instruments

The following tables present detailed information concerning the impact of financial instruments on our condensed consolidated balance sheet and income statements.

As of June 30, 2018, our financial instruments were comprised of both long and short commodity positions. A long position is a contract to purchase the commodity, while a short position is a contract to sell the commodity. As of June 30, 2018, we had 11,446 MMcf of net long commodity contracts outstanding. These contracts have not been designated as hedges.

Financial Instruments on the Balance Sheet

The following tables present the fair value and balance sheet classification of our financial instruments as of June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017. The gross amounts of recognized assets and liabilities are netted within our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets to the extent that we have netting arrangements with our counterparties.

	Balance Sheet Location	Assets		Liabilities
		(In thousands)
June 30, 2018
Designated As Hedges:
Interest rate contracts	Other current assets / Other current liabilities	$	—	$	(75,763	)
Total		—		(75,763		)
Not Designated As Hedges:
Commodity contracts	Other current assets / Other current liabilities	869		(741		)
Commodity contracts	Deferred charges and other assets / Deferred credits and other liabilities	108		—
Total		977		(741		)
Gross Financial Instruments		977		(76,504		)
Gross Amounts Offset on Consolidated Balance Sheet:
Contract netting		—		—
Net Financial Instruments		977		(76,504		)
Cash collateral		—		—
Net Assets/Liabilities from Risk Management Activities		$	977	$	(76,504	)

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	Balance Sheet Location	Assets		Liabilities
		(In thousands)
September 30, 2017
Designated As Hedges:
Interest rate contracts	Deferred charges and other assets / Deferred credits and other liabilities	$	—	$	(112,076	)
Total		—		(112,076		)
Not Designated As Hedges:
Commodity contracts	Other current assets / Other current liabilities	2,436		(322		)
Commodity contracts	Deferred charges and other assets / Deferred credits and other liabilities	803		—
Total		3,239		(322		)
Gross Financial Instruments		3,239		(112,398		)
Gross Amounts Offset on Consolidated Balance Sheet:
Contract netting		—		—
Net Financial Instruments		3,239		(112,398		)
Cash collateral		—		—
Net Assets/Liabilities from Risk Management Activities		$	3,239	$	(112,398	)

Impact of Financial Instruments on the Income Statement

Cash Flow Hedges

As discussed above, our distribution segment has interest rate swap agreements, which we designated as a cash flow hedge at the time the swaps were executed. The net loss on settled interest rate agreements reclassified from AOCI into interest charges on our condensed consolidated statements of income for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was $0.6 million and $0.2 million and for the nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was $1.8 million and $0.5 million.

The following table summarizes the gains and losses arising from hedging transactions that were recognized as a component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes, for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. The amounts included in the table below exclude gains and losses arising from ineffectiveness because those amounts are immediately recognized in the income statement as incurred.

	Three Months Ended   June 30					Nine Months Ended   June 30
	2018		2017 (1)			2018		2017 (1)
	(In thousands)
Increase (decrease) in fair value:
Interest rate agreements	$	7,861	$	(18,669	)	$	28,315	$	76,602
Forward commodity contracts(2)	—		—			—		9,847
Recognition of (gains) losses in earnings due to settlements:
Interest rate agreements	459		113			1,294		286
Forward commodity contracts(2)	—		—			—		(4,865		)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) from hedging, net of tax	$	8,320	$	(18,556	)	$	29,609	$	81,870

(1) Utilizing an income tax rate ranging from 37 percent to 39 percent based on the effective rates in each taxing jurisdiction for the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017.

(2) Due to the sale of AEM, these amounts are included in income from discontinued operations.

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Deferred gains (losses) recorded in AOCI associated with our interest rate agreements are recognized in earnings as they are amortized over the terms of the underlying debt instruments. The following amounts, net of deferred taxes, represent the expected recognition in earnings, as of June 30, 2018, of the deferred losses recorded in AOCI associated with our financial instruments, based upon the fair values of these financial instruments at the date of settlement. However, the table below does not include the expected recognition in earnings of our outstanding interest rate agreements as those instruments have not yet settled.

	Interest Rate Agreements
	(In thousands)
Next twelve months	$	(1,848	)
Thereafter	(46,808		)
Total	$	(48,656	)

Financial Instruments Not Designated as Hedges

As discussed above, financial instruments used in our distribution segment are not designated as hedges. However, there is no earnings impact on our distribution segment as a result of the use of these financial instruments because the gains and losses arising from the use of these financial instruments are recognized in the consolidated statement of income as a component of purchased gas cost when the related costs are recovered through our rates and recognized in revenue. Accordingly, the impact of these financial instruments is excluded from this presentation.

11.    Fair Value Measurements

We report certain assets and liabilities at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). We record cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable at carrying value, which substantially approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities. For other financial assets and liabilities, we primarily use quoted market prices and other observable market pricing information to minimize the use of unobservable pricing inputs in our measurements when determining fair value. The methods used to determine fair value for our assets and liabilities are fully described in Note 2 to the financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. During the nine months ended June 30, 2018, there were no changes in these methods.

Fair value measurements also apply to the valuation of our pension and postretirement plan assets. Current accounting guidance requires employers to annually disclose information about fair value measurements of the assets of a defined benefit pension or other postretirement plan. The fair value of these assets is presented in Note 7 to the financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.

Quantitative Disclosures

Financial Instruments

The classification of our fair value measurements requires judgment regarding the degree to which market data is observable or corroborated by observable market data. Authoritative accounting literature establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value based on observable and unobservable data. The hierarchy categorizes the inputs into three levels, with the highest priority given to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1), with the lowest priority given to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The following tables summarize, by level within the fair value hierarchy, our assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017. Assets and liabilities are categorized in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

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	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)(1)		Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Netting and Cash Collateral		June 30, 2018
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Financial instruments	$	—	$	977	$	—	$	—	$	977
Available-for-sale securities
Registered investment companies	43,548		—		—		—		43,548
Bond mutual funds	21,378		—		—		—		21,378
Bonds	—		30,303		—		—		30,303
Money market funds	—		2,195		—		—		2,195
Total available-for-sale securities	64,926		32,498		—		—		97,424
Total assets	$	64,926	$	33,475	$	—	$	—	$	98,401
Liabilities:
Financial instruments	$	—	$	76,504	$	—	$	—	$	76,504

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)(1)		Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Netting and Cash Collateral		September 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Financial instruments	$	—	$	3,239	$	—	$	—	$	3,239
Available-for-sale securities
Registered investment companies	41,097		—		—		—		41,097
Bond mutual funds	16,371		—		—		—		16,371
Bonds	—		29,104		—		—		29,104
Money market funds	—		1,837		—		—		1,837
Total available-for-sale securities	57,468		30,941		—		—		88,409
Total assets	$	57,468	$	34,180	$	—	$	—	$	91,648
Liabilities:
Financial instruments	$	—	$	112,398	$	—	$	—	$	112,398

(1) Our Level 2 measurements consist of over-the-counter options and swaps, which are valued using a market-based approach in which observable market prices are adjusted for criteria specific to each instrument, such as the strike price, notional amount or basis differences, municipal and corporate bonds, which are valued based on the most recent available quoted market prices and money market funds that are valued at cost.

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Available-for-sale securities are comprised of the following:

	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gain		Gross Unrealized Loss			Fair Value
	(In thousands)
As of June 30, 2018
Domestic equity mutual funds	$	28,283	$	8,973	$	(293	)	$	36,963
Foreign equity mutual funds	4,656		1,929		—			6,585
Bond mutual funds	21,673		—		(295		)	21,378
Bonds	30,434		8		(139		)	30,303
Money market funds	2,195		—		—			2,195
	$	87,241	$	10,910	$	(727	)	$	97,424
As of September 30, 2017
Domestic equity mutual funds	$	25,361	$	8,920	$	—		$	34,281
Foreign equity mutual funds	4,581		2,235		—			6,816
Bond mutual funds	16,391		2		(22		)	16,371
Bonds	29,074		46		(16		)	29,104
Money market funds	1,837		—		—			1,837
	$	77,244	$	11,203	$	(38	)	$	88,409

At June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, our available-for-sale securities included $45.7 million and $42.9 million related to assets held in separate rabbi trusts for our supplemental executive benefit plans. At June 30, 2018, we maintained investments in bonds that have contractual maturity dates ranging from July 2018 through June 2021.

These securities are reported at market value with unrealized gains and losses shown as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). We regularly evaluate the performance of these investments on a fund by fund basis for impairment, taking into consideration the fund’s purpose, volatility and current returns. If a determination is made that a decline in fair value is other than temporary, the related fund is written down to its estimated fair value and the other-than-temporary impairment is recognized in the income statement.

Other Fair Value Measures

Our debt is recorded at carrying value. The fair value of our debt is determined using third party market value quotations, which are considered Level 1 fair value measurements for debt instruments with a recent, observable trade or Level 2 fair value measurements for debt instruments where fair value is determined using the most recent available quoted market price. The following table presents the carrying value and fair value of our debt as of June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017:

	June 30, 2018		September 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Carrying Amount	$	3,085,000	$	3,085,000
Fair Value	$	3,216,893	$	3,382,272

12.    Concentration of Credit Risk

Information regarding our concentration of credit risk is disclosed in Note 16 to the financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. During the nine months ended June 30, 2018, there were no material changes in our concentration of credit risk.

13. Discontinued Operations

On October 29, 2016, we entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the Agreement) with CenterPoint Energy Services, Inc., a subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CES) to sell all of the equity interests of Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC (AEM). The transaction closed on January 3, 2017, with an effective date of January 1, 2017. CES paid a cash purchase price of $38.3 million plus working capital of $109.0 million for total cash consideration of $147.3 million. Of this amount, $7.0 million was placed into escrow and was to be paid to the Company within 24 months of the closing date, net

26

of any indemnification claims agreed upon between the two companies. In January 2018, $3.0 million of this escrowed amount was released and received by the Company. We recognized a net gain of $0.03 per diluted share on the sale in the second quarter of fiscal 2017 and completed the working capital true–up during the third quarter of fiscal 2017.

The operating results of our natural gas marketing reportable segment have been reported on the condensed consolidated statement of income as income from discontinued operations, net of income tax, for the nine months ended June 30, 2017.  Accordingly, expenses related to allocable general corporate overhead and interest expense are not included in these results. 

The tables below set forth selected financial information related to discontinued operations. Operating expenses include operation and maintenance expense, provision for doubtful accounts, depreciation and amortization expense and taxes, other than income. At June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 we did not have any assets or liabilities held for sale.

The following table presents statement of income data related to discontinued operations:

	Nine Months Ended   June 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Operating revenues	$	303,474
Purchased gas cost	277,554
Operating expenses	7,874
Operating income	18,046
Other nonoperating expense	(211		)
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes	17,835
Income tax expense	6,841
Income from discontinued operations	10,994
Gain on sale from discontinued operations, net of tax ($10,215)	2,716
Net income from discontinued operations	$	13,710

The following table presents statement of cash flow data related to discontinued operations:

	Nine Months Ended   June 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Depreciation and amortization expense	$	185
Capital expenditures	$	—
Non-cash loss in commodity contract cash flow hedges	$	(8,165	)

Natural Gas Marketing Commodity Risk Management Activities

Our discontinued natural gas marketing segment was exposed to risks associated with changes in the market price of natural gas through the purchase, sale and delivery of natural gas to its customers at competitive prices. Through December 31, 2016, we managed our exposure to such risks through a combination of physical storage and financial instruments, including futures, over-the-counter and exchange-traded options and swap contracts with counterparties. Effective January 1, 2017, as a result of the sale of AEM, these activities were discontinued.

Due to the sale of AEM, we determined that the cash flows associated with our natural gas marketing commodity cash flow hedges were no longer probable of occurring; therefore, we discontinued hedge accounting as of December 31, 2016. As a result, we reclassified the gain in accumulated other comprehensive income associated with the commodity contracts into earnings as a reduction of purchased gas cost and recognized a pre-tax gain of $10.6 million, which is included in income from discontinued operations on the condensed consolidated statement of income for the nine months ended June 30, 2017.

The Company's other risk management activities are discussed in Note 10.

Impact of Financial Instruments on the Income Statement

Hedge ineffectiveness for our natural gas marketing segment was recorded as a component of purchased gas cost, which is included in discontinued operations on the condensed consolidated statements of income, and primarily results from differences in the location and timing of the derivative instrument and the hedged item. For the nine months endedJune 30,

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2017, we recognized a gain arising from fair value and cash flow hedge ineffectiveness of $3.4 million. Additional information regarding ineffectiveness recognized in the income statement is included in the tables below.

Fair Value Hedges

The impact of our natural gas marketing segment commodity contracts designated as fair value hedges and the related hedged item on the results of discontinued operations on our condensed consolidated income statement for the nine months endedJune 30, 2017 is presented below.

	Nine Months Ended   June 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Commodity contracts	$	(9,567	)
Fair value adjustment for natural gas inventory designated as the hedged item	12,858
Total decrease in purchased gas cost reflected in income from discontinued operations	$	3,291
The decrease in purchased gas cost reflected in income from discontinued operations is comprised of the following:
Basis ineffectiveness	$	(597	)
Timing ineffectiveness	3,888
	$	3,291

Basis ineffectiveness arises from natural gas market price differences between the locations of the hedged inventory and the delivery location specified in the hedge instruments. Timing ineffectiveness arises due to changes in the difference between the spot price and the futures price, as well as the difference between the timing of the settlement of the futures and the valuation of the underlying physical commodity.

Cash Flow Hedges

The impact of our natural gas marketing segment cash flow hedges on our condensed consolidated income statements for the nine months endedJune 30, 2017 is presented below:

	Nine Months Ended   June 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Loss reclassified from AOCI for effective portion of natural gas marketing commodity contracts	$	(2,612	)
Gain arising from ineffective portion of natural gas marketing commodity contracts	111
Gain on discontinuance of cash flow hedging of natural gas marketing commodity contracts reclassified from AOCI	10,579
Total impact on purchased gas cost reflected in income from discontinued operations	$	8,078

Financial Instruments Not Designated as Hedges

The impact of the natural gas marketing segment's financial instruments that had not been designated as hedges on our condensed consolidated income statements for the nine months endedJune 30, 2017 was a decrease in purchased gas cost of $6.8 million, which is included in discontinued operations on the condensed consolidated statements of income.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Atmos Energy Corporation

We have reviewed the condensed consolidated balance sheet of Atmos Energy Corporation as of June 30, 2018 and the related condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine month periods ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the condensed consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of Atmos Energy Corporation as of September 30, 2017, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended, not presented herein, and in our report dated November 13, 2017, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2017, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheets from which it has been derived.

/s/    ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Dallas, Texas

August 8, 2018

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

INTRODUCTION

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Management’s Discussion and Analysis in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2017.

Cautionary Statement for the Purposes of the Safe Harbor under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Report are forward-looking statements made in good faith by us and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this Report, or any other of our documents or oral presentations, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “goal”, “intend”, “objective”, “plan”, “projection”, “seek”, “strategy” or similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements relating to our strategy, operations, markets, services, rates, recovery of costs, availability of gas supply and other factors. These risks and uncertainties include the following: our ability to continue to access the credit and capital markets to execute our business strategy; regulatory trends and decisions, including the impact of rate proceedings before various state regulatory commissions; the impact of adverse economic conditions on our customers; the effects of inflation and changes in the availability and price of natural gas; the availability and accessibility of contracted gas supplies, interstate pipeline and/or storage services; market risks beyond our control affecting our risk management activities, including commodity price volatility, counterparty performance or creditworthiness and interest rate risk; the concentration of our operations in Texas; increased competition from energy suppliers and alternative forms of energy; adverse weather conditions; the capital-intensive nature of our business; increased costs of providing health care benefits, along with pension and postretirement health care benefits and increased funding requirements; the inability to continue to hire, train and retain operational, technical and managerial personnel; possible increased federal, state and local regulation of the safety of our operations; increased federal regulatory oversight and potential penalties; the impact of environmental regulations on our business; the impact of climate change or related additional legislation or regulation in the future; the inherent hazards and risks involved in distributing, transporting and storing natural gas; the threat of cyber-attacks or acts of cyber-terrorism that could disrupt our business operations and information technology systems or result in the loss or exposure of confidential or sensitive customer, employee or Company information; natural disasters, terrorist activities or other events and other risks and uncertainties discussed herein, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, while we believe these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will approximate actual experience or that the expectations derived from them will be realized. Further, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

OVERVIEW

Atmos Energy and our subsidiaries are engaged in the regulated natural gas distribution and pipeline and storage businesses. We distribute natural gas through sales and transportation arrangements to over three million residential, commercial, public authority and industrial customers throughout our six distribution divisions, which at June 30, 2018 covered service areas located in eight states. In addition, we transport natural gas for others through our distribution and pipeline systems.

We manage and review our consolidated operations through the following reportable segments:

• The distribution segment is primarily comprised of our regulated natural gas distribution and related sales operations in eight states.

• The pipeline and storage segment is comprised primarily of the pipeline and storage operations of our Atmos Pipeline-Texas division and our natural gas transmission operations in Louisiana.

• The natural gas marketing segment was comprised of our discontinued natural gas marketing business.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND POLICIES

Our condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. We based our estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to risk management and trading activities, the allowance for doubtful accounts, legal and environmental accruals, insurance accruals, pension and postretirement obligations, deferred income taxes and the valuation of goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and other long-lived assets. Actual results may differ from such estimates.

Our critical accounting policies used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017 and include the following:

• Regulation

• Unbilled revenue

• Pension and other postretirement plans

• Impairment assessments

Our critical accounting policies are reviewed periodically by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. There were no significant changes to these critical accounting policies during the nine months ended June 30, 2018.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Our operations are affected by the cost of natural gas, which is passed through to our customers without markup and includes commodity price, transportation, storage, injection and withdrawal fees and settlements of financial instruments used to mitigate commodity price risk. These costs are reflected in the income statement as purchased gas cost. Therefore, increases in the cost of gas are offset by a corresponding increase in revenues. Accordingly, we believe contribution margin, a non-GAAP financial measure, defined as operating revenues less purchased gas cost, is a more useful and relevant measure to analyze our financial performance than operating revenues. As such, the following discussion and analysis of our financial performance will reference contribution margin rather than operating revenues and purchased gas cost individually. Further, the term contribution margin is not intended to represent operating income, the most comparable GAAP financial measure, as an indicator of operating performance and is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

As described further in Note 6, the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "TCJA") required us to remeasure our deferred tax assets and liabilities at our new federal statutory income tax rate as of December 22, 2017. The remeasurement of our net deferred tax liabilities resulted in the recognition of a non-cash income tax benefit of $165.5 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2018. Due to the non-recurring nature of this benefit, we believe that income from continuing operations and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations before the non-cash income tax benefit provide a more relevant measure to analyze our financial performance than income from continuing operations and consolidated diluted earnings per share from continuing operations. Accordingly, the following discussion and analysis of our financial performance will reference adjusted income from continuing operations and diluted earnings per share, which is calculated as follows:

	Nine Months Ended June 30
	2018		2017		Change
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Income from continuing operations	$	564,317	$	346,858	$	217,459
TCJA non-cash income tax benefit	165,522		—		165,522
Adjusted income from continuing operations	$	398,795	$	346,858	$	51,937
Consolidated diluted EPS from continuing operations	$	5.09	$	3.27	$	1.82
Diluted EPS from TCJA non-cash income tax benefit	1.49		—		1.49
Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations	$	3.60	$	3.27	$	0.33

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Executive Summary

Atmos Energy strives to operate our businesses safely and reliably while delivering superior shareholder value. Our commitment to modernizing our natural gas distribution and transmission systems requires a significant level of capital spending. We have the ability to begin recovering a significant portion of these investments timely through rate designs and mechanisms that reduce or eliminate regulatory lag and separate the recovery of our approved rate from customer usage patterns. The execution of our capital spending program, the ability to recover these investments timely and our ability to access the capital markets to satisfy our financing needs are the primary drivers that affect our financial performance.

During the nine months ended June 30, 2018, we recorded income from continuing operations of $564.3 million, or $5.09 per diluted share, compared to income from continuing operations of $346.9 million, or $3.27 per diluted share for the nine months ended June 30, 2017.

After adjusting for the nonrecurring benefit recognized after implementing the TCJA, we recorded adjusted income from continuing operations of $398.8 million, or $3.60 per diluted share for the nine months ended June 30, 2018, compared to adjusted income from continuing operations of $346.9 million, or $3.27 per diluted share for the nine months ended June 30, 2017. The period-over-period increase of $51.9 million, or 15 percent, largely reflects positive rate outcomes, weather that was 36 percent colder than the prior year, customer growth in our distribution business and the impact of the TCJA on our effective income tax rate, partially offset by reduced revenues as a result of implementing the TCJA. During the nine months ended June 30, 2018, we completed 18 regulatory proceedings, resulting in an increase in annual operating income of $82.0 million and had nine ratemaking efforts in progress at June 30, 2018, seeking a total increase in annual operating income of $36.0 million.

Capital expenditures for the first nine months of fiscal 2018 were $1.1 billion. Over 80 percent was invested to improve the safety and reliability of our distribution and transportation systems, with a significant portion of this investment incurred under regulatory mechanisms that reduce lag to six months or less. We expect our capital expenditures to total approximately $1.4 billion for fiscal 2018. We funded our capital expenditures program primarily through operating cash flows of $1.0 billion. Additionally, we issued $400 million of common stock during the nine months ended June 30, 2018. The net proceeds from the issuance were primarily used to repay short-term debt under our commercial paper program, to fund capital spending and for general corporate purposes.

As a result of our sustained financial performance, improved cash flows and capital structure, our Board of Directors increased the quarterly dividend by 7.8 percent for fiscal 2018.

TCJA Impact

The TCJA introduced several significant changes to corporate income tax laws in the United States, which have been reflected in our condensed consolidated financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2018. As a rate regulated entity, the effects of lower tax rates included in our cost of service rates will ultimately flow through to our utility customers in the form of adjusted rates. Therefore, the favorable impact of the reduction in our federal statutory income tax rate on our financial performance will be limited to items that impact our income before income taxes in the current period that have not yet been reflected in our rates (most notably increases to and decreases in commission-approved regulatory assets and liabilities recorded on our condensed consolidated balance sheet) and market-based revenues that are earned from customers who utilize our assets. Note 6 to the condensed consolidated financial statements details the various impacts of the TCJA on our financial position and results from operations. The most significant changes are summarized as follows:

• Because our fiscal year started on October 1, 2017, our federal statutory income tax rate for fiscal 2018 was reduced from 35% to 24.5%. We anticipate our effective income tax rate for fiscal 2018 will range from 26% to 28%, before the effect of the return of the excess deferred tax liability and the one-time, non-cash income tax benefit. Our federal statutory income tax rate will decline to 21% on October 1, 2018.

• As a result of implementing the TCJA, we remeasured our net deferred tax liability using our new federal statutory income tax rate, which reduced our net deferred tax liability by $903.7 million. Of this amount, $738.2 million was reclassified to a regulatory liability, which will be, and as discussed further below is being returned to utility customers in some of our jurisdictions. During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, we amortized $0.5 million of this regulatory liability. The remaining $165.5 million was recognized as a one-time, non-cash income tax benefit in our condensed consolidated statement of income for the nine months ended June 30, 2018.

• Atmos Energy supports our regulators' efforts to ensure our utility customers receive the full benefits of changes in our cost of service rates arising from tax reform. Income taxes, like other costs, are passed through to our customers in our rates; however, changes to customer rates must be approved by our regulators. Beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2018, we established regulatory liabilities in all our jurisdictions for the difference in taxes included

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in our cost of service rates that have been calculated based on a 35% statutory income tax rate and a 21% statutory income tax rate, which reduced our revenues. As described in Note 6, as of June 30, 2018, we have received approval from most of our regulators to adjust customer rates for the lower statutory income tax rate. We have also received approval from regulators in Colorado and Kansas to return amounts to customers related to the regulatory liability recorded for differences in our cost of service rates due to the change in the statutory income tax rate within one year. Additionally, in Colorado, Louisiana and Kentucky, we have received approval from regulators to return the excess deferred taxes created upon implementation of the TCJA over a period ranging from 18 to 40 years. In our remaining jurisdictions, the treatment of the effects of the TCJA in rates is being addressed in ongoing or future regulatory proceedings.

• The enactment of the TCJA is expected to reduce our cash flows from operations primarily due to 1) the collection of taxes at a lower rate and 2) the return of regulatory liabilities established in response to the enactment of the TCJA and regulatory activities to our utility customers. We intend to externally finance this reduction in operating cash flow in a balanced fashion in order to maintain an equity-to-total-capitalization ratio ranging from 50% to 60% to maintain our current credit ratings. We currently anticipate this external financing need will range from a total of $500 million to $600 million through fiscal 2022.

The following discusses the results of operations for each of our operating segments.

Distribution Segment

The distribution segment is primarily comprised of our regulated natural gas distribution and related sales operations in eight states. The primary factors that impact the results of this segment are our ability to earn our authorized rates of return, the cost of natural gas, competitive factors in the energy industry and economic conditions in our service areas.

Our ability to earn our authorized rates of return is based primarily on our ability to improve the rate design in our various ratemaking jurisdictions by reducing or eliminating regulatory lag and, ultimately, separating the recovery of our approved margins from customer usage patterns. Improving rate design is a long-term process and is further complicated by the fact that we operate in multiple rate jurisdictions.

Seasonal weather patterns can also affect our distribution operations. However, the effect of weather that is above or below normal is substantially offset through weather normalization adjustments, known as WNA, which has been approved by state regulatory commissions for approximately 97 percent of our residential and commercial meters in the following states for the following time periods:

Kansas, West Texas	October — May
Tennessee	October — April
Kentucky, Mississippi, Mid-Tex	November — April
Louisiana	December — March
Virginia	January — December

Our distribution operations are also affected by the cost of natural gas. The cost of gas is passed through to our customers without markup. Therefore, increases in the cost of gas are offset by a corresponding increase in revenues. Contribution margin in our Texas and Mississippi service areas includes franchise fees and gross receipts taxes, which are calculated as a percentage of revenue (inclusive of gas costs). Therefore, the amount of these taxes included in revenues is influenced by the cost of gas and the level of gas sales volumes. We record the associated tax expense as a component of taxes, other than income. Although changes in these revenue-related taxes arising from changes in gas costs affect contribution margin, over time the impact is offset within operating income.

As discussed above, the cost of gas typically does not have a direct impact on our contribution margin. However, higher gas costs mean higher bills for our customers, which may adversely impact our accounts receivable collections, resulting in higher bad debt expense and may require us to increase borrowings under our credit facilities resulting in higher interest expense. In addition, higher gas costs, as well as competitive factors in the industry and general economic conditions may cause customers to conserve or, in the case of industrial consumers, to use alternative energy sources. However, gas cost risk has been mitigated in recent years through improvements in rate design that allow us to collect from our customers the gas cost portion of our bad debt expense on approximately 76 percent of our residential and commercial margins.

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Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 compared with Three Months Ended June 30, 2017

Financial and operational highlights for our distribution segment for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 are presented below.

	Three Months Ended June 30
	2018			2017			Change
	(In thousands, unless otherwise noted)
Operating revenues	$	535,488		$	494,060		$	41,428
Purchased gas cost	230,887			197,767			33,120
Contribution margin	304,601			296,293			8,308
Operating expenses	242,819			219,241			23,578
Operating income	61,782			77,052			(15,270		)
Miscellaneous expense	(1,191		)	(62		)	(1,129		)
Interest charges	13,315			18,394			(5,079		)
Income before income taxes	47,276			58,596			(11,320		)
Income tax expense	11,932			22,082			(10,150		)
Net income	$	35,344		$	36,514		$	(1,170	)
Consolidated distribution sales volumes — MMcf	49,369			42,974			6,395
Consolidated distribution transportation volumes — MMcf	33,079			33,307			(228		)
Total consolidated distribution throughput — MMcf	82,448			76,281			6,167
Consolidated distribution average cost of gas per Mcf sold	$	4.68		$	4.60		$	0.08

Income before income taxes for our distribution segment decreased 19 percent, primarily due to a $23.6 million increase in operating expenses, partially offset by an $8.3 million increase in contribution margin. The quarter-over-quarter increase in contribution margin primarily reflects:

• an $11.2 million net increase in rate adjustments, before the effect of the TCJA, primarily in our Mid-Tex and Kentucky/Mid-States Divisions.

• a $4.2 million increase in revenue-related taxes primarily in our Mid-Tex Division, offset by a corresponding $7.3 million increase in the related tax expense.

• a $2.7 million increase in transportation margin primarily in our Kentucky/Mid-States Division.

• a $12.4 million decrease in contribution margin due to the inclusion of the lower statutory federal income tax rate in our revenues due to implementation of the TCJA.

The increase in operating expenses, which includes operation and maintenance expense, provision for doubtful accounts, depreciation and amortization expense and taxes, other than income, is attributable to an increase in employee-related costs, incremental system integrity activities and increased depreciation and property taxes associated with increased capital investments.

The decrease in income tax expense reflects a reduction in our effective tax rate from 37.7% to 25.2%, as a result of the TCJA.

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The following table shows our operating income by distribution division, in order of total rate base, for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. The presentation of our distribution operating income is included for financial reporting purposes and may not be appropriate for ratemaking purposes.

	Three Months Ended June 30
	2018		2017		Change
	(In thousands)
Mid-Tex	$	24,612	$	37,055	$	(12,443	)
Kentucky/Mid-States	11,546		13,073		(1,527		)
Louisiana	10,821		11,051		(230		)
West Texas	5,135		6,639		(1,504		)
Mississippi	5,421		3,437		1,984
Colorado-Kansas	2,043		3,842		(1,799		)
Other	2,204		1,955		249
Total	$	61,782	$	77,052	$	(15,270	)

Nine Months Ended June 30, 2018 compared with Nine Months Ended June 30, 2017

Financial and operational highlights for our distribution segment for the nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 are presented below.

	Nine Months Ended June 30
	2018			2017		Change
	(In thousands, unless otherwise noted)
Operating revenues	$	2,595,571		$	2,211,257	$	384,314
Purchased gas cost	1,421,698			1,106,209		315,489
Contribution margin	1,173,873			1,105,048		68,825
Operating expenses	729,429			646,299		83,130
Operating income	444,444			458,749		(14,305		)
Miscellaneous (expense) income	(2,198		)	334		(2,532		)
Interest charges	51,581			56,437		(4,856		)
Income before income taxes	390,665			402,646		(11,981		)
One-time, non-cash income tax benefit	(143,789		)	—		(143,789		)
Income tax expense	104,768			149,623		(44,855		)
Net income	$	429,686		$	253,023	$	176,663
Consolidated regulated distribution sales volumes — MMcf	269,722			215,158		54,564
Consolidated regulated distribution transportation volumes — MMcf	117,061			109,397		7,664
Total consolidated regulated distribution throughput — MMcf	386,783			324,555		62,228
Consolidated regulated distribution average cost of gas per Mcf sold	$	5.27		$	5.14	$	0.13

Income before income taxes for our distribution segment decreased three percent, primarily due to an $83.1 million increase in operating expenses, partially offset with a $68.8 million increase in contribution margin. The year-over-year increase in contribution margin primarily reflects:

• a $64.4 million net increase in rate adjustments, excluding rate adjustments resulting from the TCJA, primarily in our Mid-Tex, Kentucky/Mid-States, Mississippi and West Texas Divisions.

• a $14.2 million increase in residential and commercial net consumption, primarily in our Mid-Tex and Kentucky/Mid-States Divisions.

• a $15.4 million increase in revenue-related taxes primarily in our Mid-Tex Division, offset by a corresponding $15.0 million increase in the related tax expense.

• an $8.6 million increase in transportation margin primarily in our Kentucky/Mid-States Division.

• a $5.8 million increase from customer growth, primarily in our Mid-Tex Division.

• a $38.7 million decrease in contribution margin due to the inclusion of the lower statutory federal income tax rate in our revenues due to implementation of the TCJA. Of this amount, $17.3 million has been reflected in customer

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bills. The remaining $21.4 million relates to the establishment of regulatory liabilities for the difference between the former 35% federal statutory income tax rate and the current 21% rate.

The increase in operating expenses largely reflects expenses incurred after we decided to undertake a planned outage of our natural gas distribution system in Northwest Dallas. In late February 2018, there were gas-related incidents in Northwest Dallas, one of which resulted in a fatality and injuries to four other residents.  The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the latter incident. Together with the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, we are a party to the investigation and in that capacity we are working closely with the NTSB to help determine the cause of this incident.  On March 1, 2018, we initiated a planned outage of a portion of our natural gas distribution system in Northwest Dallas that affected approximately 2,400 homes.  The outage was initiated after we experienced a sudden and unexplainable increase in leaks in this confined geographic area in less than a week’s time.  Based upon our preliminary assessment, we believe an extraordinary combination of events and circumstances that could not have been predicted, anticipated, readily modeled or foreseen damaged our pipeline system in that area.  These events and circumstances, include, but are not limited to, geology, hydrology, soil conditions and record rainfall.  The system was replaced and placed into service by March 31, 2018.  While the system was replaced, we provided financial assistance to the affected residents and incurred other related costs of approximately $24 million.

The remaining increase in operating expenses is attributable to an increase in employee-related costs, incremental system integrity activities and increased depreciation and property taxes associated with increased capital investments.

The decrease in income tax expense reflects a reduction in our effective tax rate from 37.2% to 26.8%, as a result of the TCJA.

The following table shows our operating income by distribution division, in order of total rate base, for the nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. The presentation of our distribution operating income is included for financial reporting purposes and may not be appropriate for ratemaking purposes.

	Nine Months Ended June 30
	2018		2017		Change
	(In thousands)
Mid-Tex	$	175,727	$	200,607	$	(24,880	)
Kentucky/Mid-States	76,204		69,821		6,383
Louisiana	64,849		61,276		3,573
West Texas	42,326		42,590		(264		)
Mississippi	48,792		41,197		7,595
Colorado-Kansas	32,448		33,878		(1,430		)
Other	4,098		9,380		(5,282		)
Total	$	444,444	$	458,749	$	(14,305	)

Recent Ratemaking Developments

The amounts described in the following sections represent the operating income that was requested or received in each rate filing, which may not necessarily reflect the stated amount referenced in the final order, as certain operating costs may have changed as a result of a commission’s or other governmental authority’s final ruling. During the first nine months of fiscal 2018, we completed 16 regulatory proceedings, resulting in a $10.8 million increase in annual operating income as summarized below. The recent ratemaking activities and changes to operating income discussed below that include the impacts of tax reform are not reflective of the true economic benefit of the rate case outcome as it does not include the corresponding benefit we will receive in income tax expense due to the decrease in our statutory tax rate from 35% to 21%.

Rate Action	Annual Increase (Decrease) in Operating Income
	(In thousands)
Annual formula rate mechanisms	$	23,214
Rate case filings	(12,853		)
Other rate activity	457
	$	10,818

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The following ratemaking efforts seeking $36.0 million in increased annual operating income were in progress as of June 30, 2018:

Division	Rate Action	Jurisdiction	Operating Income Requested
			(In thousands)
Louisiana	Formula Rate Mechanism	LGS (1)(2)	$	(1,521	)
Mid-Tex	Formula Rate Mechanism	Mid-Tex Cities(2)	28,036
Mid-Tex	Rate Case	ATM Cities (2)	4,252
Mid-Tex	Rate Case	Environs (2)	(1,875		)
Mississippi	Infrastructure Mechanism	Mississippi (2)	7,976
Kentucky/Mid-States	Formula Rate Mechanism	Tennessee (2)	(5,032		)
Kentucky/Mid-States	Rate Case	Virginia (2)	605
West Texas	Formula Rate Mechanism	WT Cities (2)	4,030
West Texas	Rate Case	Environs (2)	(485		)
			$	35,986

(1) The Louisiana Public Service Commission Staff issued a report, reflecting the impact of TCJA, which recommends an operating income decrease of $1.5 million, effective July 1, 2018.

(2) The filing amount reflects a 21% federal income tax rate resulting from the TCJA.

Annual Formula Rate Mechanisms

As an instrument to reduce regulatory lag, formula rate mechanisms allow us to refresh our rates on an annual basis without filing a formal rate case. However, these filings still involve discovery by the appropriate regulatory authorities prior to the final determination of rates under these mechanisms. We currently have formula rate mechanisms in our Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee operations and in substantially all the service areas in our Texas divisions. Additionally, we have specific infrastructure programs in substantially all of our distribution divisions with tariffs in place to permit the investment associated with these programs to have their surcharge rate adjusted annually to recover approved capital costs incurred in a prior test-year period. The following table summarizes our annual formula rate mechanisms by state:

	Annual Formula Rate Mechanisms
State	Infrastructure Programs	Formula Rate Mechanisms
Colorado	System Safety and Integrity Rider (SSIR)	—
Kansas	Gas System Reliability Surcharge (GSRS)	—
Kentucky	Pipeline Replacement Program (PRP)	—
Louisiana	(1)	Rate Stabilization Clause (RSC)
Mississippi	System Integrity Rider (SIR)	Stable Rate Filing (SRF), Supplemental Growth Filing (SGR)
Tennessee	—	Annual Rate Mechanism (ARM)
Texas	Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program (GRIP), (1)	Dallas Annual Rate Review (DARR), Rate Review Mechanism (RRM)
Virginia	Steps to Advance Virginia Energy (SAVE)	—

(1) Infrastructure mechanisms in Texas and Louisiana allow for the deferral of all expenses associated with capital expenditures incurred pursuant to these rules, which primarily consists of interest, depreciation and other taxes (Texas only), until the next rate proceeding (rate case or annual rate filing), at which time investment and costs would be recoverable through base rates.

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The following annual formula rate mechanisms were approved during the nine months ended June 30, 2018:

Division	Jurisdiction	Test Year Ended	Increase (Decrease) in Annual Operating Income			Effective Date
		(In thousands)
2018 Filings:
Kentucky/Mid-States	Tennessee - ARM True-up	05/31/2017	$	382		10/15/2018
West Texas	Amarillo, Lubbock, Dalhart and Channing(1)	12/31/2017	4,418			06/08/2018
Mid-Tex	Environs(1)	12/31/2017	1,604			06/05/2018
West Texas	Environs(1)	12/31/2017	826			06/05/2018
Louisiana	Trans La(1)	09/30/2017	(1,913		)	05/01/2018
Colorado-Kansas	Kansas GSRS	09/30/2018	820			02/27/2018
Colorado-Kansas	Colorado SSIR	12/31/2018	2,228			12/20/2017
Mississippi	Mississippi - SIR	10/31/2018	7,658			12/05/2017
Mississippi	Mississippi - SGR (2)	10/31/2018	1,245			12/05/2017
Mississippi	Mississippi - SRF (2)	10/31/2018	—			12/05/2017
Kentucky/Mid-States	Kentucky - PRP	09/30/2018	5,638			10/27/2017
Kentucky/Mid-States	Virginia - SAVE (3)	09/30/2017	308			10/01/2017
Total 2018 Filings			$	23,214

(1) The operating income reflects a 21% federal income tax rate resulting from the TCJA.

(2) In our next SRF filing, the SGR rate base will be combined with the SRF rate base, per Commission order.

(3) The Company completed our Steps to Advance Virginia Energy (SAVE) program. On October 1, 2017 a refund factor was removed from the rate resulting in an operating income increase of $0.3 million.

Rate Case Filings

A rate case is a formal request from Atmos Energy to a regulatory authority to increase rates that are charged to our customers. Rate cases may also be initiated when the regulatory authorities request us to justify our rates. This process is referred to as a “show cause” action. Adequate rates are intended to provide for recovery of the Company’s costs as well as a fair rate of return and ensure that we continue to deliver reliable, reasonably priced natural gas service safely to our customers. The following table summarizes the rate cases that were completed during the nine months ended June 30, 2018.

Division	State	Increase (Decrease) in Annual Operating Income			Effective Date
		(In thousands)
2018 Rate Case Filings:
Colorado-Kansas	Colorado (1)	$	(241	)	05/03/2018
Kentucky/Mid-States	Kentucky (1)	(7,504		)	05/03/2018
Mid-Tex	City of Dallas (1)	(5,108		)	02/14/2018
Total 2018 Rate Case Filings		$	(12,853	)

(1) The operating income reflects a 21% federal income tax rate resulting from the TCJA.

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Other Ratemaking Activity

The following table summarizes other ratemaking activity during the nine months ended June 30, 2018.

Division	Jurisdiction	Rate Activity	Additional Annual Operating Income		Effective Date
			(In thousands)
2018 Other Rate Activity:
Colorado-Kansas	Kansas	Ad Valorem(1)	$	457	02/01/2018
Total 2018 Other Rate Activity			$	457

(1) The Ad Valorem filing relates to a collection of property taxes in excess of the amount included in our Kansas service area's base rates.

Pipeline and Storage Segment

Our pipeline and storage segment consists of the pipeline and storage operations of our Atmos Pipeline–Texas Division (APT) and our natural gas transmission operations in Louisiana. APT is one of the largest intrastate pipeline operations in Texas with a heavy concentration in the established natural gas producing areas of central, northern, eastern and western Texas, extending into or near the major producing areas of the Barnett Shale, the Texas Gulf Coast and the Delaware and Midland Basins of West Texas. APT provides transportation and storage services to our Mid-Tex Division, other third-party local distribution companies, industrial and electric generation customers, as well as marketers and producers. As part of its pipeline operations, APT manages five underground storage facilities in Texas.

Our natural gas transmission operations in Louisiana are comprised of a proprietary 21-mile pipeline located in the New Orleans, Louisiana area that is primarily used to aggregate gas supply for our distribution division in Louisiana under a long-term contract and on a more limited basis, to third parties. The demand fee charged to our Louisiana distribution division for these services is subject to regulatory approval by the Louisiana Public Service Commission. We also manage two asset management plans, which have been approved by applicable state regulatory commissions. Generally, these asset management plans require us to share with our distribution customers a significant portion of the cost savings earned from these arrangements.

Our pipeline and storage segment is impacted by seasonal weather patterns, competitive factors in the energy industry and economic conditions in our Texas and Louisiana service areas. Natural gas prices do not directly impact the results of this segment as revenues are derived from the transportation and storage of natural gas. However, natural gas prices and demand for natural gas could influence the level of drilling activity in the markets that we serve, which may influence the level of throughput we may be able to transport on our pipeline. Further, natural gas price differences between the various hubs that we serve in Texas could influence the volumes of gas transported for shippers through our Texas pipeline system and the rates for such transportation.

The results of APT are also significantly impacted by the natural gas requirements of its local distribution company customers. Additionally, its operations may be impacted by the timing of when costs and expenses are incurred and when these costs and expenses are recovered through its tariffs.

APT annually uses GRIP to recover capital costs incurred in the prior calendar year. Following the conclusion of its rate case in August 2017, APT made a GRIP filing that covered changes in net investment from October 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 with a requested increase in operating income of $29.0 million. On December 5, 2017, the filing was approved. On February 15, 2018, APT made a GRIP filing that covered changes in net investment from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017 with a requested increase in operating income of $42.2 million. On May 22, 2018, the filing was approved.

On December 21, 2016, the Louisiana Public Service Commission approved an annual increase of five percent to the demand fee charged by our natural gas transmission pipeline for each of the next 10 years, effective October 1, 2017.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 compared with Three Months Ended June 30, 2017

Financial and operational highlights for our pipeline and storage segment for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 are presented below.

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	Three Months Ended June 30
	2018			2017			Change
	(In thousands, unless otherwise noted)
Mid-Tex / Affiliate transportation revenue	$	83,592		$	84,594		$	(1,002	)
Third-party transportation revenue	40,515			27,369			13,146
Other revenue	3,526			5,320			(1,794		)
Total operating revenues	127,633			117,283			10,350
Total purchased gas cost	561			1,251			(690		)
Contribution margin	127,072			116,032			11,040
Operating expenses	65,861			52,420			13,441
Operating income	61,211			63,612			(2,401		)
Miscellaneous expense	(812		)	(227		)	(585		)
Interest charges	10,034			10,104			(70		)
Income before income taxes	50,365			53,281			(2,916		)
Income tax expense	14,516			18,987			(4,471		)
Net income	$	35,849		$	34,294		$	1,555
Gross pipeline transportation volumes — MMcf	215,775			192,543			23,232
Consolidated pipeline transportation volumes — MMcf	180,371			159,023			21,348

Income before income taxes for our pipeline and storage segment decreased five percent, primarily due to a $13.4 million increase in operating expenses, partially offset by an $11.0 million increase in contribution margin. The increase in contribution margin primarily reflects:

• a $23.7 million increase in rates from the approved APT rate case and the GRIP filings approved in December 2017 and May 2018.

• an $8.0 million decrease in contribution margin due to the inclusion of the lower statutory federal income tax rate in our revenues due to implementation of the TCJA. Of this amount, $3.1 million has been reflected in customer bills. The remaining $4.9 million relates to the establishment of regulatory liabilities for the difference between the former 35% federal statutory rate and the current 21% federal statutory rate as further described in Note 6.

Operating expenses increased $13.4 million, primarily due to higher depreciation expense associated with increased capital investments and higher system maintenance expense.

The decrease in income tax expense reflects a reduction in our effective tax rate from 35.6% to 28.8%, as a result of the TCJA.

Nine Months Ended June 30, 2018 compared with Nine Months Ended June 30, 2017

Financial and operational highlights for our pipeline and storage segment for the nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 are presented below.

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	Nine Months Ended June 30
	2018			2017			Change
	(In thousands, unless otherwise noted)
Mid-Tex / Affiliate transportation revenue	$	267,121		$	251,354		$	15,767
Third-party transportation revenue	97,860			72,414			25,446
Other revenue	10,070			15,439			(5,369		)
Total operating revenues	375,051			339,207			35,844
Total purchased gas cost	1,906			2,331			(425		)
Contribution margin	373,145			336,876			36,269
Operating expenses	184,047			159,871			24,176
Operating income	189,098			177,005			12,093
Miscellaneous expense	(2,093		)	(784		)	(1,309		)
Interest charges	30,581			30,035			546
Income before income taxes	156,424			146,186			10,238
One-time, non-cash income tax benefit	(21,733		)	—			(21,733		)
Income tax expense	43,526			52,351			(8,825		)
Net income	$	134,631		$	93,835		$	40,796
Gross pipeline transportation volumes — MMcf	666,079			574,556			91,523
Consolidated pipeline transportation volumes — MMcf	484,456			425,150			59,306

Income before income taxes for our pipeline and storage segment increased seven percent, primarily due to a $36.3 million increase in contribution margin, partially offset by a $24.2 million increase in operating expenses. The increase in contribution margin primarily reflects:

• a $54.0 million increase in rates from the approved APT rate case and the GRIP filings approved in December 2017 and May 2018.

• a $16.1 million decrease in contribution margin due to the inclusion of the lower statutory federal income tax rate in our revenues due to implementation of the TCJA. Of this amount, $3.4 million has been reflected in customer bills. The remaining $12.7 million relates to the establishment of regulatory liabilities, as discussed above.

Operating expenses increased $24.2 million, primarily due to higher depreciation expense associated with increased capital investments partially offset by the timing of system maintenance expense.

The decrease in income tax expense primarily reflects a reduction in our effective tax rate from 35.8% to 27.8%, as a result of the TCJA.

Natural Gas Marketing Segment

Through December 31, 2016, we were engaged in an unregulated natural gas marketing business, which was conducted by Atmos Energy Marketing (AEM). AEM’s primary business was to aggregate and purchase gas supply, arrange transportation and storage logistics and ultimately deliver gas to customers at competitive prices. Additionally, AEM utilized proprietary and customer-owned transportation and storage assets to provide various services its customers requested.

As more fully described in Note 13, effective January 1, 2017, we sold all of the equity interests of AEM to CenterPoint Energy Services, Inc. (CES), a subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy Inc. As a result of the sale, Atmos Energy fully exited the nonregulated natural gas marketing business. Accordingly, a gain on sale from discontinued operations for $2.7 million was recorded and net income of $11.0 million for AEM is reported as discontinued operations for the nine months ended June 30, 2017.Liquidity and Capital Resources

The liquidity required to fund our working capital, capital expenditures and other cash needs is provided from a combination of internally generated cash flows and external debt and equity financing. External debt financing is provided primarily through the issuance of long-term debt, a $1.5 billion commercial paper program and three committed revolving credit facilities with a total availability from third-party lenders of approximately $1.5 billion. The commercial paper program and credit facilities provide cost-effective, short-term financing until it can be replaced with a balance of long-term debt and equity financing that achieves the Company's desired capital structure with an equity-to-total-capitalization ratio between 50% and 60%, inclusive of long-term and short-term debt. Additionally, we have various uncommitted trade credit lines with our gas

41

suppliers that we utilize to purchase natural gas on a monthly basis. The liquidity provided by these sources is expected to be sufficient to fund the Company's working capital needs and capital expenditure program for the remainder of fiscal year 2018 and beyond. Please refer to the TCJA Impact section above regarding anticipated impacts on our liquidity, capital resources and cash flows.

To support our capital market activities, we have a registration statement on file with the SEC that permits us to issue a total of $2.5 billion in common stock and/or debt securities. Under the shelf registration statement, in November 2017, we filed a prospectus supplement for an at-the-market (ATM) equity distribution program under which we may issue and sell shares of our common stock up to an aggregate offering price of $500 million. At June 30, 2018, approximately $650 million of securities remained available for issuance under the shelf registration statement.

The following table presents our capitalization inclusive of short-term debt and the current portion of long-term debt as of June 30, 2018, September 30, 2017 and June 30, 2017:

	June 30, 2018				September 30, 2017				June 30, 2017
	(In thousands, except percentages)
Short-term debt	$	244,777	3.0	%	$	447,745	6.0	%	$	258,573	3.6	%
Long-term debt(1)	3,068,315		38.0	%	3,067,045		41.4	%	3,066,734		42.4	%
Shareholders’ equity	4,759,552		59.0	%	3,898,666		52.6	%	3,901,710		54.0	%
Total	$	8,072,644	100.0	%	$	7,413,456	100.0	%	$	7,227,017	100.0	%

(1) In March 2019, $450 million of long-term debt will mature. We plan to issue new senior notes to replace the maturing debt. We have executed forward starting interest rate swaps to effectively fix the Treasury yield component associated with this anticipated issuance at 3.78%.

Cash Flows

Our internally generated funds may change in the future due to a number of factors, some of which we cannot control. These factors include regulatory changes, prices for our products and services, demand for such products and services, margin requirements resulting from significant changes in commodity prices, operational risks and other factors.

Cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for the nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 are presented below.

	Nine Months Ended June 30
	2018			2017			Change
	(In thousands)
Total cash provided by (used in)
Operating activities	$	1,035,296		$	745,561		$	289,735
Investing activities	(1,087,224		)	(747,355		)	(339,869		)
Financing activities	46,449			24,037			22,412
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(5,479		)	22,243			(27,722		)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	26,409			47,534			(21,125		)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	20,930		$	69,777		$	(48,847	)

Cash flows from operating activities

Period-over-period changes in our operating cash flows are primarily attributable to changes in net income and working capital changes, particularly within our distribution segment resulting from changes in the price of natural gas and the timing of customer collections, payments for natural gas purchases and deferred gas cost recoveries.

For the nine months ended June 30, 2018, we generated cash flow from operating activities of over $1.0 billion compared with $745.6 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2017. The $289.7 million increase in operating cash flows reflects the positive cash effects of successful rate case outcomes achieved in fiscal 2017 and changes in working capital, primarily as a result of the timing of gas cost recoveries under our purchase gas cost mechanisms as a result of a period-over-period increase in sales volumes. This increase in sales volumes also contributed to the period-over-period increase in operating cash flow.

Cash flows from investing activities

In recent years, we have incurred capital expenditures to support our distribution and transmission system modernization and integrity enhancement efforts, expand our natural gas distribution services and expand our intrastate pipeline network. Over

42

the last three fiscal years, approximately 80 percent of our capital spending has been committed to improving the safety and reliability of our system.

For the nine months ended June 30, 2018, cash used for investing activities was $1.1 billion compared to $747.4 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2017. Capital spending increased by $276.3 million, or 34 percent, as a result of planned increases in our distribution segment to repair and replace vintage pipe, and increases in spending in our pipeline and storage segment to improve the reliability of gas service to our local distribution company customers. The period-over-period increase also reflects the absence in the current year period of $140.3 million in net proceeds received from the sale of AEM, $18.6 million in proceeds received from the completion of the State of Texas use tax audit and the $86.1 million used to acquire the North Texas Pipeline in December 2016.

Cash flows from financing activities

For the nine months ended June 30, 2018, our financing activities provided $46.4 million of cash compared with $24.0 million in the prior-year period. The $22.4 million increase in cash provided by financing activities primarily reflects an increase in cash used for investing activities that exceeded the increase in cash flows provided by operating activities during the nine months ended June 30, 2018.

In the nine months ended June 30, 2018, we used $395.1 million in net proceeds from equity financing to reduce short-term debt, to support our capital spending and for other general corporate purposes. Cash dividends increased due to a 7.8% increase in our dividend rate and an increase in shares outstanding.

In the nine months ended June 30, 2017, we issued $750 million of senior notes, as well as $125 million of long-term debt under our three year, $200 million term loan agreement and received $98.8 million in proceeds from the issuance of common stock under our ATM program. The net proceeds from these debt and equity issuances were used to reduce short and long-term debt, support our capital expenditures program and other general corporate purposes. Additionally, the return of cash collateral related to our forward-starting interest rate swaps due to an increase in interest rates provided cash from financing activities of $25.7 million. However, this was offset by the settlement of our forward starting interest rate swaps, which resulted in cash outflows of $37.0 million.

The following table summarizes our share issuances for the nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:

	Nine Months Ended   June 30
	2018	2017
Shares issued:
Direct Stock Purchase Plan	111,727	90,789
1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan	347,213	529,060
Retirement Savings Plan and Trust	73,470	205,972
At-the-Market (ATM) Equity Distribution Program	—	1,303,494
Equity Issuance	4,558,404	—
Total shares issued	5,090,814	2,129,315

Credit Ratings

Our credit ratings directly affect our ability to obtain short-term and long-term financing, in addition to the cost of such financing. In determining our credit ratings, the rating agencies consider a number of quantitative factors, including debt to total capitalization, operating cash flow relative to outstanding debt, operating cash flow coverage of interest and pension liabilities and funding status. In addition, the rating agencies consider qualitative factors such as consistency of our earnings over time, the quality of our management and business strategy, the risks associated with our businesses and the regulatory structures that govern our rates in the states where we operate.

Our debt is rated by two rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Corporation (S&P) and Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s). As of June 30, 2018, both rating agencies maintained a stable outlook. Our current debt ratings are all considered investment grade and are as follows:

	S&P	Moody’s
Senior unsecured long-term debt	A	A2
Short-term debt	A-1	P-1

A significant degradation in our operating performance or a significant reduction in our liquidity caused by more limited access to the private and public credit markets as a result of deteriorating global or national financial and credit conditions

43

could trigger a negative change in our ratings outlook or even a reduction in our credit ratings by the three credit rating agencies. This would mean more limited access to the private and public credit markets and an increase in the costs of such borrowings.

A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The highest investment grade credit rating is AAA for S&P and Aaa for Moody’s. The lowest investment grade credit rating is BBB- for S&P and Baa3 for Moody’s. Our credit ratings may be revised or withdrawn at any time by the rating agencies, and each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. There can be no assurance that a rating will remain in effect for any given period of time or that a rating will not be lowered, or withdrawn entirely, by a rating agency if, in its judgment, circumstances so warrant.

Debt Covenants

We were in compliance with all of our debt covenants as of June 30, 2018. Our debt covenants are described in greater detail in Note 5 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

Except as noted in Note 9 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, there were no significant changes in our contractual obligations and commercial commitments during the nine months ended June 30, 2018.

Risk Management Activities

In our distribution and pipeline and storage segments, we use a combination of physical storage, fixed physical contracts and fixed financial contracts to reduce our exposure to unusually large winter-period gas price increases. Additionally, we manage interest rate risk by entering into financial instruments to effectively fix the Treasury yield component of the interest cost associated with anticipated financings. Through December 31, 2016, we managed our exposure to the risk of natural gas price changes in our natural gas marketing segment by locking in our contribution margin through a combination of storage and financial instruments, including futures, over-the-counter and exchange-traded options and swap contracts with counterparties.

The following table shows the components of the change in fair value of our financial instruments for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:

	Three Months Ended   June 30						Nine Months Ended   June 30
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Fair value of contracts at beginning of period	$	(86,342	)	$	(114,004	)	$	(109,159	)	$	(279,543	)
Contracts realized/settled	(13		)	37,172			(1,213		)	48,928
Fair value of new contracts	109			557			(607		)	(1,040		)
Other changes in value	10,719			(29,869		)	35,452			125,511
Fair value of contracts at end of period	(75,527		)	(106,144		)	(75,527		)	(106,144		)
Netting of cash collateral	—			—			—			—
Cash collateral and fair value of contracts at period end	$	(75,527	)	$	(106,144	)	$	(75,527	)	$	(106,144	)

The fair value of our financial instruments at June 30, 2018 is presented below by time period and fair value source:

	Fair Value of Contracts at June 30, 2018
	Maturity in Years
Source of Fair Value	Less Than 1			1-3		4-5		Greater Than 5		Total Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Prices actively quoted	$	(75,635	)	$	108	$	—	$	—	$	(75,527	)
Prices based on models and other valuation methods	—			—		—		—		—
Total Fair Value	$	(75,635	)	$	108	$	—	$	—	$	(75,527	)

Pension and Postretirement Benefits Obligations

For the nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, our total net periodic pension and other benefits costs were $31.2 million and $34.7 million. Most of these costs are recoverable through our tariff rates. A portion of these costs is capitalized into our rate base. The remaining costs are recorded as a component of operation and maintenance expense.

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Our fiscal 2018 costs were determined using a September 30, 2017 measurement date. As of September 30, 2017, interest and corporate bond rates were higher than the rates as of September 30, 2016. Therefore, we increased the discount rate used to measure our fiscal 2018 net periodic cost from 3.73 percent to 3.89 percent. We lowered the expected return on plan assets to 6.75 percent in the determination of our fiscal 2018 net periodic pension cost based upon expected market returns for our targeted asset allocation. As a result of the net impact of changes in these and other assumptions, we expect our fiscal 2018 net periodic pension cost to be approximately 25 percent lower than fiscal 2017.

The amount of funding required for our defined benefit plan is determined in accordance with the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) and is influenced by the funded position of the plan when the funding requirements are determined on January 1 of each year. Based upon the determination as of January 1, 2018, we were not required to make a minimum contribution to our defined benefit plan during fiscal 2018. However, we will consider whether a voluntary contribution is prudent to maintain certain funding levels.

For the nine months ended June 30, 2018 we contributed $11.4 million to our postretirement medical plans. We anticipate contributing a total of between $10 million and $20 million to our postretirement plans during fiscal 2018.

The projected pension liability, future funding requirements and the amount of pension expense or income recognized for the plans are subject to change, depending upon the actuarial value of plan assets in the plans and the determination of future benefit obligations as of each subsequent actuarial calculation date. These amounts will be determined by actual investment returns, changes in interest rates, values of assets in the plans and changes in the demographic composition of the participants in the plans.

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OPERATING STATISTICS AND OTHER INFORMATION

The following tables present certain operating statistics for our distribution and pipeline and storage segments for the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.

Distribution Sales and Statistical Data

	Three Months Ended   June 30				Nine Months Ended   June 30
	2018		2017		2018		2017
METERS IN SERVICE, end of period
Residential	2,969,270		2,935,136		2,969,270		2,935,136
Commercial	270,455		268,734		270,455		268,734
Industrial	1,667		1,682		1,667		1,682
Public authority and other	8,388		8,301		8,388		8,301
Total meters	3,249,780		3,213,853		3,249,780		3,213,853
INVENTORY STORAGE BALANCE — Bcf	47.5		50.4		47.5		50.4
SALES VOLUMES — MMcf(1)
Gas sales volumes
Residential	21,399		17,137		150,872		115,568
Commercial	17,368		15,960		85,273		71,435
Industrial	9,325		8,719		27,491		22,859
Public authority and other	1,277		1,158		6,086		5,296
Total gas sales volumes	49,369		42,974		269,722		215,158
Transportation volumes	34,989		35,020		122,691		116,227
Total throughput	84,358		77,994		392,413		331,385
OPERATING REVENUES (000’s)(1)
Gas sales revenues
Residential	$	318,501	$	294,000	$	1,680,155	$	1,385,444
Commercial	145,685		136,611		687,577		588,273
Industrial	31,283		28,150		104,300		106,167
Public authority and other	8,581		8,591		41,150		38,307
Total gas sales revenues	504,050		467,352		2,513,182		2,118,191
Transportation revenues	23,965		20,439		79,266		67,227
Other gas revenues	7,473		6,269		3,123		25,839
Total operating revenues	$	535,488	$	494,060	$	2,595,571	$	2,211,257
Average cost of gas per Mcf sold	$	4.68	$	4.60	$	5.27	$	5.14

See footnote following these tables.

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Pipeline and Storage Operations Sales and Statistical Data

	Three Months Ended   June 30				Nine Months Ended   June 30
	2018		2017		2018		2017
CUSTOMERS, end of period
Industrial	93		92		93		92
Other	237		239		237		239
Total	330		331		330		331
INVENTORY STORAGE BALANCE — Bcf	0.5		1.1		0.5		1.1
PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION VOLUMES — MMcf(1)	215,775		192,543		666,079		574,556
OPERATING REVENUES (000’s)(1)	$	127,633	$	117,283	$	375,051	$	339,207

Note to preceding tables:

⁽¹⁾  Sales volumes and revenues reflect segment operations, including intercompany sales and transportation amounts.

RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS

Recent accounting developments and their impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows are described in Note 2 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Information regarding our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk are disclosed in Item 7A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. During the nine months ended June 30, 2018, there were no material changes in our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Management’s Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act). Based on this evaluation, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2018 to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us, including our consolidated entities, in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms, including a reasonable level of assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We did not make any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the third quarter of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

During the nine months ended June 30, 2018, except as noted in Note 9 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, there were no material changes in the status of the litigation and other matters that were disclosed in Note 11 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. We continue to believe that the final outcome of such litigation and other matters or claims will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 6. Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed as part of this Quarterly Report.

Exhibit Number	Description	Page Number or Incorporation by Reference to
2.1	Membership Interest Purchase Agreement by and between Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc. as Seller and CenterPoint Energy Services, Inc. as Buyer, dated as of October 29, 2016	Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K dated October 29, 2016 (File No. 1-10042)
10	Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2017, among Atmos Energy Corporation, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC	Exhibit 1.1 to Form 8-K dated November 14, 2017 (File No. 1-10042)
12	Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges
15	Letter regarding unaudited interim financial information
31	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications
32	Section 1350 Certifications*
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

* These certifications, which were made pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, furnished as Exhibit 32 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, will not be deemed to be filed with the Commission or incorporated by reference into any filing by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates such certifications by reference.

48

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

               (Registrant)

By: /s/    CHRISTOPHER T. FORSYTHE

Christopher T. Forsythe

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Duly authorized signatory)

Date: August 8, 2018

49

EX-12

Exhibit 12

Atmos Energy Corporation

Computation of Earnings to Fixed Charges

	Three Months Ended   June 30				Nine Months Ended   June 30
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(Dollars in thousands)
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes per statement of income	$	97,641	$	111,877	$	547,089	$	548,832
Add:
Portion of rents representative of the interest factor	3,080		3,228		9,904		9,496
Interest on debt & amortization of debt expense	23,349		28,498		82,162		86,472
Income as adjusted	$	124,070	$	143,603	$	639,155	$	644,800
Fixed charges:
Interest on debt & amortization of debt expense (1)	$	23,349	$	28,498	$	82,162	$	86,472
Capitalized interest (2)	1,890		661		4,639		1,576
Rents	9,240		9,685		29,711		28,489
Portion of rents representative of the interest factor (3)	3,080		3,228		9,904		9,496
Fixed charges (1)+(2)+(3)	$	28,319	$	32,387	$	96,705	$	97,544
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges	4.38		4.43		6.61		6.61

EX-15

Exhibit 15

Board of Directors

Atmos Energy Corporation

We are aware of the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (Form S-3, No. 33-37869; Form S-3, No. 33-58220; Form S-3D/A, No. 33-70212; Form S-3, No. 33-56915; Form S-3/A, No. 333-03339; Form S-3/A, No. 333-32475; Form S-3/A, No. 333-50477; Form S-3, No. 333-95525; Form S-3/A, No. 333-93705; Form S-3, No. 333-75576; Form S-3D, No. 333-113603; Form S-3, No. 333-118706; Form S-3D, No. 333-155666; Form S-3D, No. 333-208317; Form S-3ASR, No. 333-210424; Form S-4, No. 333-13429; Form S-8, No. 33-57687; Form S-8, No. 33-57695; Form S-8, No. 333-32343; Form S-8, No. 333-46337; Form S-8, No. 333-73143; Form S-8, No. 333-73145; Form S-8, No. 333-63738; Form S-8, No. 333-88832; Form S-8, No. 333-116367; Form S-8, No. 333-138209; Form S-8, No. 333-145817; Form S-8, No. 333-155570; Form S-8, No. 333-166639; Form S-8, No. 333-177593; Form S-8, No. 333-199301; Form S-8, No. 333-210461; and Form S-8, No. 333-217739) of Atmos Energy Corporation and in the related Prospectuses of our report dated August 8, 2018, relating to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements of Atmos Energy Corporation, which are included in its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018.

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Dallas, Texas

August 8, 2018

EX-31

EXHIBIT 31

RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) CERTIFICATIONS

I, Michael E. Haefner, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Atmos Energy Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and     

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 8, 2018

/s/ MICHAEL E. HAEFNER

Michael E. Haefner

President and

Chief Executive Officer

I, Christopher T. Forsythe, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Atmos Energy Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and     

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 8, 2018

/s/ CHRISTOPHER T. FORSYTHE

Christopher T. Forsythe

Senior Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

EX-32

Exhibit 32

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

(18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Atmos Energy Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Michael E. Haefner, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

August 8, 2018

/s/ MICHAEL E. HAEFNER

Michael E. Haefner

President and

Chief Executive Officer

A signed original of this written statement has been provided to Atmos Energy Corporation and will be retained by Atmos Energy Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

(18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Atmos Energy Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the thrid quarter of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Christopher T. Forsythe, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

August 8, 2018

/s/ CHRISTOPHER T. FORSYTHE

Christopher T. Forsythe

Senior Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

A signed original of this written statement has been provided to Atmos Energy Corporation and will be retained by Atmos Energy Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

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Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Aug. 03, 2018
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Atmos Energy Corporation
Entity Central Index Key	0000731802
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		111,200,632

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
ASSETS
Property, plant and equipment	$ 12,260,376	$ 11,301,304
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	2,188,516	2,042,122
Net property, plant and equipment	10,071,860	9,259,182
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	20,930	26,409
Accounts receivable, net	253,546	222,263
Gas stored underground	126,010	184,653
Other current assets	52,369	106,321
Total current assets	452,855	539,646
Goodwill	730,132	730,132
Deferred charges and other assets	252,777	220,636
Total assets	11,507,624	10,749,596
Shareholders’ equity
Common stock, no par value (stated at $0.005 per share); 200,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding: June 30, 2018 — 111,195,448 shares; September 30, 2017 — 106,104,634 shares	556	531
Additional paid-in capital	2,964,043	2,536,365
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(76,381)	(105,254)
Retained earnings	1,871,334	1,467,024
Shareholders’ equity	4,759,552	3,898,666
Long-term debt	2,618,315	3,067,045
Total capitalization	7,377,867	6,965,711
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	198,172	233,050
Other current liabilities	573,012	332,648
Short-term debt	244,777	447,745
Current maturities of long-term debt	450,000	0
Total current liabilities	1,465,961	1,013,443
Deferred income taxes	1,133,622	1,878,699
Regulatory excess deferred taxes (See Note 6)	733,509	0
Regulatory cost of removal obligation	482,001	485,420
Pension and postretirement liabilities	239,946	230,588
Deferred credits and other liabilities	74,718	175,735
Total shareholders' equity and liabilities	$ 11,507,624	$ 10,749,596

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (PARENTHETICAL) - $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Common stock stated value (USD per share)	$ 0.005	$ 0.005
Common stock authorized (in shares)	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common stock issued (in shares)	111,195,448	106,104,634
Common stock outstanding (in shares)	111,195,448	106,104,634

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 562,245	$ 526,501	$ 2,670,846	$ 2,294,855
Purchased gas cost
Total purchased gas cost	130,886	114,176	1,124,763	852,975
Operation and maintenance expense	145,075	128,690	435,715	385,867
Depreciation and amortization expense	90,671	80,023	268,426	234,648
Taxes, other than income	72,620	62,948	208,400	185,611
Operating income	122,993	140,664	633,542	635,754
Miscellaneous expense	(2,003)	(289)	(4,291)	(450)
Interest charges	23,349	28,498	82,162	86,472
Income before income taxes	97,641	111,877	547,089	548,832
Income tax expense	26,448	41,069	(17,228)	201,974
Income from continuing operations	71,193	70,808	564,317	346,858
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax ($0 and $6,841)			0	10,994
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax ($0 and $10,215)			0	2,716
Net income	$ 71,193	$ 70,808	$ 564,317	$ 360,568
Income per share from continuing operations (USD per share)	$ 0.64	$ 0.67	$ 5.09	$ 3.27
Income per share from discontinued operations (USD per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.13
Net income per share - basic and diluted (USD per share)	0.64	0.67	5.09	3.40
Cash dividends per share (USD per share)	$ 0.485	$ 0.450	$ 1.455	$ 1.350
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	111,851	106,364	110,707	105,862
Operating Segments | Distribution segment
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 535,488	$ 494,060	$ 2,595,571	$ 2,211,257
Purchased gas cost
Total purchased gas cost	230,887	197,767	1,421,698	1,106,209
Operation and maintenance expense	111,895	99,631	347,623	296,048
Depreciation and amortization expense	66,504	62,760	197,587	185,219
Taxes, other than income	64,420	56,850	184,219	165,032
Operating income	61,782	77,052	444,444	458,749
Miscellaneous expense	(1,191)	(62)	(2,198)	334
Interest charges	13,315	18,394	51,581	56,437
Income before income taxes	47,276	58,596	390,665	402,646
Income tax expense	11,932	22,082	(39,021)	149,623
Income from continuing operations				253,023
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax ($0 and $6,841)				0
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax ($0 and $10,215)				0
Net income	35,344	36,514	429,686	253,023
Operating Segments | Pipeline and storage segment
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	127,633	117,283	375,051	339,207
Purchased gas cost
Total purchased gas cost	561	1,251	1,906	2,331
Operation and maintenance expense	33,494	29,059	89,027	89,863
Depreciation and amortization expense	24,167	17,263	70,839	49,429
Taxes, other than income	8,200	6,098	24,181	20,579
Operating income	61,211	63,612	189,098	177,005
Miscellaneous expense	(812)	(227)	(2,093)	(784)
Interest charges	10,034	10,104	30,581	30,035
Income before income taxes	50,365	53,281	156,424	146,186
Income tax expense	14,516	18,987	21,793	52,351
Income from continuing operations				93,835
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax ($0 and $6,841)				0
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax ($0 and $10,215)				0
Net income	35,849	34,294	134,631	93,835
Intersegment eliminations
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	(100,876)	(84,842)	(299,776)	(255,609)
Purchased gas cost
Total purchased gas cost	(100,562)	(84,842)	(298,841)	(255,565)
Operation and maintenance expense	(314)	0	(935)	(44)
Depreciation and amortization expense	0	0	0	0
Taxes, other than income	0	0	0	0
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Miscellaneous expense	0	0	0	0
Interest charges	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations				0
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax ($0 and $6,841)				0
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax ($0 and $10,215)				0
Net income	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (PARENTHETICAL) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Income from discontinued operations, tax	$ 0	$ 6,841
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, tax	$ 0	$ 10,215

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 71,193	$ 70,808	$ 564,317	$ 360,568
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax of $92, $490, $(246) and $893	310	851	(736)	1,553
Cash flow hedges:
Amortization and unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate agreements, net of tax of $2,460, $(10,667), $8,486 and $44,194	8,320	(18,556)	29,609	76,888
Net unrealized gains on commodity cash flow hedges, net of tax of $0, $0, $0 and $3,183	0	0	0	4,982
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	8,630	(17,705)	28,873	83,423
Total comprehensive income	$ 79,823	$ 53,103	$ 593,190	$ 443,991

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (PARENTHETICAL) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, tax	$ 92	$ 490	$ (246)	$ 893
Amortization and unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate agreements, tax	2,460	(10,667)	8,486	44,194
Net unrealized gains on commodity cash flow hedges, tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 3,183

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net income	$ 564,317	$ 360,568
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	268,426	234,833
Deferred income taxes	139,852	188,256
One-time income tax benefit	(165,522)	0
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	0	(12,931)
Discontinued cash flow hedging for natural gas marketing commodity contracts	0	(10,579)
Other	18,007	14,892
Net assets / liabilities from risk management activities	912	25,661
Net change in operating assets and liabilities	209,304	(55,139)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,035,296	745,561
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(1,088,472)	(812,148)
Acquisition	0	(86,128)
Proceeds from the sale of discontinued operations	3,000	140,253
Available-for-sale securities activities, net	(7,857)	(14,329)
Use tax refund	0	18,562
Other, net	6,105	6,435
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,087,224)	(747,355)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Net decrease in short-term debt	(202,968)	(571,238)
Net proceeds from equity offering	395,092	98,755
Issuance of common stock through stock purchase and employee retirement plans	15,850	22,673
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	0	884,911
Settlement of interest rate agreements	0	(36,996)
Interest rate agreements cash collateral	0	25,670
Repayment of long-term debt	0	(250,000)
Cash dividends paid	(160,007)	(143,075)
Debt issuance costs	0	(6,663)
Other	(1,518)	0
Net cash provided by financing activities	46,449	24,037
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(5,479)	22,243
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	26,409	47,534
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 20,930	$ 69,777

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Nature of Business

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Nature of Business

Nature of Business

Atmos Energy Corporation (“Atmos Energy” or the “Company”) is engaged in the regulated natural gas distribution and pipeline and storage businesses. Our distribution business is subject to federal and state regulation and/or regulation by local authorities in each of the states in which our regulated divisions and subsidiaries operate.

Our distribution business delivers natural gas through sales and transportation arrangements to over three million residential, commercial, public authority and industrial customers through our six regulated distribution divisions, which at June 30, 2018, covered service areas located in eight states.

Our pipeline and storage business, which is also subject to federal and state regulations, includes the transportation of natural gas to our Texas and Louisiana distribution systems and the management of our underground storage facilities used to support our distribution business in various states.

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Unaudited Financial Information

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Unaudited Financial Information

Unaudited Financial Information

These consolidated interim-period financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States on the same basis as those used for the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation have been made to the unaudited consolidated interim-period financial statements. These consolidated interim-period financial statements are condensed as permitted by the instructions to Form 10-Q and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of Atmos Energy Corporation included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. Because of seasonal and other factors, the results of operations for the nine-month period ended June 30, 2018 are not indicative of our results of operations for the full 2018 fiscal year, which ends September 30, 2018.

No events have occurred subsequent to the balance sheet date that would require recognition or disclosure in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Significant accounting policies

Our accounting policies are described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2018, we completed our annual goodwill impairment assessment. Based on the assessment performed, we determined that our goodwill was not impaired.

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard that will supersede virtually all existing revenue recognition guidance under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Under the new standard, an entity will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In doing so, companies may need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under current guidance. The new guidance will become effective for us October 1, 2018 and can be applied either retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption.

As of June 30, 2018, we had substantially completed the evaluation of our sources of revenue and the impact that the new guidance will have on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and business processes. Based on this evaluation, we currently do not believe the implementation of the new guidance will have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows or business processes. We expect to apply the new guidance using the modified retrospective method on the date of adoption. We are currently still evaluating the impact on our financial statement presentation and related disclosures.

In January 2016, the FASB issued guidance related to the classification and measurement of financial instruments. The amendments modify the accounting and presentation for certain financial liabilities and equity investments not consolidated or reported using the equity method. The guidance is effective for us beginning October 1, 2018; limited early adoption is permitted. The standard will require that changes in fair value of our available-for-sale equity securities be recorded in net income. The new guidance will be applied by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. We do not anticipate the new standard will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We are currently still evaluating the impact on our financial statement presentation and related disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued a comprehensive new leasing standard that will require lessees to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases, including operating leases, with a term greater than 12 months on its balance sheet. The new standard will be effective for us beginning on October 1, 2019; early adoption is permitted. The new leasing standard requires modified retrospective transition, which requires application of the new guidance at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the year of adoption. Additionally, in January 2018, the FASB issued amendments to the standard that provides a practical expedient for entities to not evaluate existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases under the current guidance. In July 2018, the FASB issued an amendment to the standard that provides an additional and optional transition method to adopt the standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. We are currently evaluating the effect of this standard and amendments on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which will require credit losses on most financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain other instruments to be measured using an expected credit loss model. Under this model, entities will estimate credit losses over the entire contractual term of the instrument from the date of initial recognition of that instrument. In contrast, current U.S. GAAP is based on an incurred loss model that delays recognition of credit losses until it is probable the loss has been incurred. The new guidance also introduces a new impairment recognition model for available-for-sale securities that will require credit losses for available-for-sale debt securities to be recorded through an allowance account. The new standard will be effective for us beginning on October 1, 2021; early adoption is permitted beginning on October 1, 2019. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of this new guidance on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. 

In March 2017, the FASB issued new guidance related to the income statement presentation of the components of net periodic benefit cost for an entity’s sponsored defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The new guidance requires entities to disaggregate the current service cost component of the net benefit cost from the other components and present it with other current compensation costs for related employees in the statement of income. The other components of net benefit cost will be presented outside of income from operations on the statement of income. In addition, only the service cost component of net benefit cost is eligible for capitalization (e.g., as part of inventory or property, plant, and equipment). The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”), which regulates interstate transmission pipelines and also establishes, through its Uniform System of Accounts, accounting practices of rate-regulated entities, has issued guidance that states it will permit an election to either continue to capitalize non-service benefit costs or to cease capitalizing such costs for regulatory purposes.  Accounting guidelines by the FERC are typically also followed by state commissions.  As such, we plan to continue to capitalize all components of net periodic benefit cost for ratemaking purposes and will defer the non-service cost components as a regulatory asset for U.S. GAAP reporting purposes. The new guidance will be effective for us in the fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2018 and for interim periods within that year.  The standard requires retrospective application of the amendment related to the presentation of non-service cost components outside of income from operations in the statement of income and prospective application of the change in eligible costs for capitalization. We do not anticipate the new standard will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In February 2018, the FASB issued new guidance as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "TCJA"), related to the treatment of certain tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income. The new guidance allows entities to reclassify from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings the stranded tax effects resulting from the adoption of the TCJA. The new guidance will be effective for us in the fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2019 and for interim periods within that year. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period for public business entities for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued and should be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is recognized. We plan to early adopt the new standard effective as of September 30, 2018, and reclassify the stranded tax effects resulting from the TCJA from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. We do not anticipate the new standard will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Regulatory assets and liabilities

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States require cost-based, rate-regulated entities that meet certain criteria to reflect the authorized recovery of costs due to regulatory decisions in their financial statements. As a result, certain costs are permitted to be capitalized rather than expensed because they can be recovered through rates. We record certain costs as regulatory assets when future recovery through customer rates is considered probable. Regulatory liabilities are recorded when it is probable that revenues will be reduced for amounts that will be credited to customers through the ratemaking process. Substantially all of our regulatory assets are recorded as a component of deferred charges and other assets and a portion of our regulatory liabilities are recorded as a component of other current liabilities and deferred credits and other liabilities. Deferred gas costs are recorded either in other current assets or liabilities and our regulatory excess deferred taxes and regulatory cost of removal obligation is reported separately.

Significant regulatory assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 included the following:

	June 30, 2018		September 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Regulatory assets:
Pension and postretirement benefit costs(1)	$	17,546	$	26,826
Infrastructure mechanisms(2)	77,387		46,437
Deferred gas costs	347		65,714
Recoverable loss on reacquired debt	9,328		11,208
Deferred pipeline record collection costs	16,963		11,692
APT annual adjustment mechanism	—		2,160
Rate case costs	3,041		2,629
Other	5,131		10,132
	$	129,743	$	176,798
Regulatory liabilities:
Regulatory excess deferred taxes(3)	$	737,746	$	—
Regulatory cost of service reserve(4)	30,930		—
Regulatory cost of removal obligation	528,709		521,330
Deferred gas costs	159,201		15,559
Asset retirement obligation	12,827		12,827
APT annual adjustment mechanism	20,551		—
Other	9,783		5,941
	$	1,499,747	$	555,657

(1) Includes $7.1 million and $9.4 million of pension and postretirement expense deferred pursuant to regulatory authorization.

(2) Infrastructure mechanisms in Texas and Louisiana allow for the deferral of all eligible expenses associated with capital expenditures incurred pursuant to these rules, including the recording of interest on deferred expenses until the next rate proceeding (rate case or annual rate filing), at which time investment and costs would be recoverable through base rates.

(3) The TCJA resulted in the remeasurement of the net deferred tax liability included in our rate base. Of this amount, $4.2 million is recorded in Other current liabilities. The period and timing of the return of the excess deferred taxes is being determined by regulators in each of our jurisdictions. See Note 6 for further information.

(4) Effective January 1, 2018, regulators in each of our service areas required us to establish a regulatory liability for the difference in recoverable federal taxes included in revenues based on the former 35% federal statutory rate and the new 21% federal statutory rate for service provided on or after January 1, 2018. The period and timing of the return of this liability to utility customers is being determined by regulators in each of our jurisdictions. See Note 6 for further information.

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Segment Information

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Information

Segment Information

 We manage and review our consolidated operations through the following reportable segments:

• The distribution segment is primarily comprised of our regulated natural gas distribution and related sales operations in eight states.

• The pipeline and storage segment is comprised primarily of the pipeline and storage operations of our Atmos Pipeline-Texas division and our natural gas transmission operations in Louisiana.

• Thenatural gas marketing segment was comprised of our discontinued natural gas marketing business.

Our determination of reportable segments considers the strategic operating units under which we manage sales of various products and services to customers in differing regulatory environments. Although our distribution segment operations are geographically dispersed, they are aggregated and reported as a single segment as each natural gas distribution division has similar economic characteristics. In addition, because the pipeline and storage operations of our Atmos Pipeline-Texas division and our natural gas transmission operations in Louisiana have similar economic characteristics, they have been aggregated and reported as a single segment.

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. We evaluate performance based on net income or loss of the respective operating units. We allocate interest and pension expense to the pipeline and storage segment; however, there is no debt or pension liability recorded on the pipeline and storage segment balance sheet. All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated; however, we have not eliminated intercompany profits when such amounts are probable of recovery under the affiliates’ rate regulation process. Income taxes are allocated to each segment as if each segment’s taxes were calculated on a separate return basis.

Income statements and capital expenditures for the three and nine months endedJune 30, 2018 and 2017 by segment are presented in the following tables:

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
	Distribution			Pipeline and Storage			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Operating revenues from external parties	$	534,816		$	27,429		$	—		$	562,245
Intersegment revenues	672			100,204			(100,876		)	—
Total operating revenues	535,488			127,633			(100,876		)	562,245
Purchased gas cost	230,887			561			(100,562		)	130,886
Operation and maintenance expense	111,895			33,494			(314		)	145,075
Depreciation and amortization expense	66,504			24,167			—			90,671
Taxes, other than income	64,420			8,200			—			72,620
Operating income	61,782			61,211			—			122,993
Miscellaneous expense	(1,191		)	(812		)	—			(2,003		)
Interest charges	13,315			10,034			—			23,349
Income before income taxes	47,276			50,365			—			97,641
Income tax expense	11,932			14,516			—			26,448
Net income	$	35,344		$	35,849		$	—		$	71,193
Capital expenditures	$	284,209		$	110,285		$	—		$	394,494

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
	Distribution			Pipeline and Storage			Natural Gas Marketing		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Operating revenues from external parties	$	493,738		$	32,763		$	—	$	—		$	526,501
Intersegment revenues	322			84,520			—		(84,842		)	—
Total operating revenues	494,060			117,283			—		(84,842		)	526,501
Purchased gas cost	197,767			1,251			—		(84,842		)	114,176
Operation and maintenance expense	99,631			29,059			—		—			128,690
Depreciation and amortization expense	62,760			17,263			—		—			80,023
Taxes, other than income	56,850			6,098			—		—			62,948
Operating income	77,052			63,612			—		—			140,664
Miscellaneous expense	(62		)	(227		)	—		—			(289		)
Interest charges	18,394			10,104			—		—			28,498
Income before income taxes	58,596			53,281			—		—			111,877
Income tax expense	22,082			18,987			—		—			41,069
Net income	$	36,514		$	34,294		$	—	$	—		$	70,808
Capital expenditures	$	205,780		$	46,983		$	—	$	—		$	252,763

	Nine Months Ended June 30, 2018
	Distribution			Pipeline and Storage			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Operating revenues from external parties	$	2,593,578		$	77,268		$	—		$	2,670,846
Intersegment revenues	1,993			297,783			(299,776		)	—
Total operating revenues	2,595,571			375,051			(299,776		)	2,670,846
Purchased gas cost	1,421,698			1,906			(298,841		)	1,124,763
Operation and maintenance expense	347,623			89,027			(935		)	435,715
Depreciation and amortization expense	197,587			70,839			—			268,426
Taxes, other than income	184,219			24,181			—			208,400
Operating income	444,444			189,098			—			633,542
Miscellaneous expense	(2,198		)	(2,093		)	—			(4,291		)
Interest charges	51,581			30,581			—			82,162
Income before income taxes	390,665			156,424			—			547,089
Income tax (benefit) expense	(39,021		)	21,793			—			(17,228		)
Net income	$	429,686		$	134,631		$	—		$	564,317
Capital expenditures	$	749,693		$	338,779		$	—		$	1,088,472

	Nine Months Ended June 30, 2017
	Distribution		Pipeline and Storage			Natural Gas Marketing		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Operating revenues from external parties	$	2,210,221	$	84,634		$	—	$	—		$	2,294,855
Intersegment revenues	1,036		254,573			—		(255,609		)	—
Total operating revenues	2,211,257		339,207			—		(255,609		)	2,294,855
Purchased gas cost	1,106,209		2,331			—		(255,565		)	852,975
Operation and maintenance expense	296,048		89,863			—		(44		)	385,867
Depreciation and amortization expense	185,219		49,429			—		—			234,648
Taxes, other than income	165,032		20,579			—		—			185,611
Operating income	458,749		177,005			—		—			635,754
Miscellaneous income (expense)	334		(784		)	—		—			(450		)
Interest charges	56,437		30,035			—		—			86,472
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	402,646		146,186			—		—			548,832
Income tax expense	149,623		52,351			—		—			201,974
Income from continuing operations	253,023		93,835			—		—			346,858
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	—		—			10,994		—			10,994
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	—		—			2,716		—			2,716
Net income	$	253,023	$	93,835		$	13,710	$	—		$	360,568
Capital expenditures	$	636,449	$	175,699		$	—	$	—		$	812,148

Balance sheet information at June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 by segment is presented in the following tables:

	June 30, 2018
	Distribution		Pipeline and Storage		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	7,427,486	$	2,644,374	$	—		$	10,071,860
Total assets	$	10,840,846	$	2,866,266	$	(2,199,488	)	$	11,507,624

	September 30, 2017
	Distribution		Pipeline and Storage		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	6,849,517	$	2,409,665	$	—		$	9,259,182
Total assets	$	10,050,164	$	2,621,601	$	(1,922,169	)	$	10,749,596

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Earnings Per Share

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share

We use the two-class method of computing earnings per share because we have participating securities in the form of non-vested restricted stock units with a nonforfeitable right to dividend equivalents, for which vesting is predicated solely on the passage of time. The calculation of earnings per share using the two-class method excludes income attributable to these participating securities from the numerator and excludes the dilutive impact of those shares from the denominator. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 are calculated as follows:

	Three Months Ended   June 30				Nine Months Ended   June 30
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share from continuing operations
Income from continuing operations	$	71,193	$	70,808	$	564,317	$	346,858
Less: Income from continuing operations allocated to participating securities	59		75		545		424
Income from continuing operations available to common shareholders	$	71,134	$	70,733	$	563,772	$	346,434
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	111,851		106,364		110,707		105,862
Income from continuing operations per share — Basic and Diluted	$	0.64	$	0.67	$	5.09	$	3.27
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share from discontinued operations
Income from discontinued operations	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	13,710
Less: Income from discontinued operations allocated to participating securities	—		—		—		15
Income from discontinued operations available to common shareholders	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	13,695
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	111,851		106,364		110,707		105,862
Income from discontinued operations per share — Basic and Diluted	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	0.13
Net income per share — Basic and Diluted	$	0.64	$	0.67	$	5.09	$	3.40

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Debt

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

Debt

The nature and terms of our debt instruments and credit facilities are described in detail in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. There were no material changes in the terms of our debt instruments during the nine months ended June 30, 2018.

Long-term debt at June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 consisted of the following:

	June 30, 2018			September 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Unsecured 8.50% Senior Notes, due March 2019	$	450,000		$	450,000
Unsecured 3.00% Senior Notes, due 2027	500,000			500,000
Unsecured 5.95% Senior Notes, due 2034	200,000			200,000
Unsecured 5.50% Senior Notes, due 2041	400,000			400,000
Unsecured 4.15% Senior Notes, due 2043	500,000			500,000
Unsecured 4.125% Senior Notes, due 2044	750,000			750,000
Medium-term note Series A, 1995-1, 6.67%, due 2025	10,000			10,000
Unsecured 6.75% Debentures, due 2028	150,000			150,000
Floating-rate term loan, due September 2019(1)	125,000			125,000
Total long-term debt	3,085,000			3,085,000
Less:
Original issue (premium) / discount on unsecured senior notes and debentures	(4,425		)	(4,384		)
Debt issuance cost	21,110			22,339
Current maturities	450,000			—
	$	2,618,315		$	3,067,045

(1) Up to $200 million can be drawn under this term loan.

We utilize short-term debt to provide cost-effective, short-term financing until it can be replaced with a balance of long-term debt and equity financing that achieves the Company’s desired capital structure with an equity-to-total-capitalization ratio between 50% and 60%, inclusive of long-term and short-term debt. Our short-term borrowing requirements are affected primarily by the seasonal nature of the natural gas business. Changes in the price of natural gas and the amount of natural gas we need to supply our customers’ needs could significantly affect our borrowing requirements. Our short-term borrowings typically reach their highest levels in the winter months.

Currently, our short-term borrowing requirements are satisfied through a combination of a $1.5 billion commercial paper program and three committed revolving credit facilities with third-party lenders that provide approximately $1.5 billion of total working capital funding. The primary source of our funding is our commercial paper program, which is supported by a five-year unsecured $1.5 billion credit facility. On March 26, 2018, we executed one of our two one-year extension options which extended the maturity date from September 25, 2021 to September 25, 2022. The facility bears interest at a base rate or at a LIBOR-based rate for the applicable interest period, plus a spread ranging from zero percent to 1.25 percent, based on the Company’s credit ratings. Additionally, the facility contains a $250 million accordion feature, which provides the opportunity to increase the loan, total committed availability to $1.75 billion. At June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, a total of $244.8 million and $447.7 million was outstanding under our commercial paper program.

Additionally, we have a $25 million 364-day unsecured facility, which was renewed effective April 1, 2018 and expires March 31, 2019, and a $10 million 364-day unsecured revolving credit facility, which is used primarily to issue letters of credit. At June 30, 2018, there were no borrowings outstanding under either of these facilities; however, outstanding letters of credit reduced the total amount available to us under our $10 million facility to $4.4 million.

The availability of funds under these credit facilities is subject to conditions specified in the respective credit agreements, all of which we currently satisfy. These conditions include our compliance with financial covenants and the continued accuracy of representations and warranties contained in these agreements. We are required by the financial covenants in each of these facilities to maintain, at the end of each fiscal quarter, a ratio of total-debt-to-total-capitalization of no greater than 70 percent. At June 30, 2018, our total-debt-to-total-capitalization ratio, as defined in the agreements, was 42 percent. In addition, both the interest margin and the fee that we pay on unused amounts under certain of these facilities are subject to adjustment depending upon our credit ratings.

These credit facilities and our public indentures contain usual and customary covenants for our business, including covenants substantially limiting liens, substantial asset sales and mergers. Additionally, our public debt indentures relating to our senior notes and debentures, as well as certain of our revolving credit agreements, each contain a default provision that is triggered if outstanding indebtedness arising out of any other credit agreements in amounts ranging from in excess of $15 million to in excess of $100 million becomes due by acceleration or is not paid at maturity. We were in compliance with all of our debt covenants as of June 30, 2018. If we were unable to comply with our debt covenants, we would likely be required to repay our outstanding balances on demand, provide additional collateral or take other corrective actions.

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Impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

Impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "TCJA") was signed into law. The TCJA introduced several significant changes to corporate income tax laws in the United States. The most significant change that affects Atmos Energy is the reduction of the federal statutory income tax rate from 35% to 21%. As a rate-regulated entity, the accelerated capital expensing and the limitation on interest deductibility provisions included in the TCJA are not applicable to us.

Under generally accepted accounting principles, we use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

At September 30, 2017, we measured our net deferred tax liability using the enacted federal statutory tax rate of 35%. The enactment of the TCJA on December 22, 2017 required us to remeasure our deferred tax assets and liabilities, including our U.S. federal income tax net operating loss carryforwards, at the newly enacted federal statutory income tax rate. As the Company’s fiscal year end is September 30, the Internal Revenue Code requires the Company to use a blended statutory federal corporate income tax rate of 24.5% for fiscal 2018.

The decrease in the federal statutory income tax rate reduced our net deferred tax liability by $903.7 million. Of this amount, $738.2 million relates to regulated operations and has been recorded as a regulatory liability, a portion of which is currently being returned to utility customers. The period and timing of these revenue adjustments are subject to Internal Revenue Code provisions and regulatory actions in each of the eight states in which we operate. During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company amortized $0.5 million of this regulatory liability. The remaining $165.5 million has been reflected as a one-time income tax benefit in our condensed consolidated statement of income for the nine months ended June 30, 2018, because these taxes are not related to our cost of service ratemaking.

At June 30, 2018, we had $270.7 million of remeasured federal net operating loss carryforwards. The federal net operating loss carryforwards are available to offset future taxable income and will begin to expire in 2029. The Company also has $10.1 million of federal alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards that do not expire and are expected to be fully refunded to us between 2019 and 2022 as a result of changes introduced by the TCJA. These credit carryforwards are now reflected as taxes receivable within the deferred charges and other assets line item on our condensed consolidated balance sheet. In addition, the Company has $5.3 million in remeasured charitable contribution carryforwards to offset future taxable income. The Company’s charitable contribution carryforwards expire between 2018 and 2023.

The Company also has $21.2 million of state net operating loss carryforwards and $1.5 million of state tax credit carryforwards (net of $5.6 million and $0.4 million of remeasured federal effects). Depending on the jurisdiction in which the state net operating loss was generated, the carryforwards will begin to expire between 2018 and 2032.

Due to the changes introduced by the TCJA, we now believe it is more likely than not that the benefit from certain charitable contribution carryforwards for which a valuation allowance was previously established will be realized. As a result, we reduced our valuation allowance by $4.2 million during the first quarter. This amount is included in the $165.5 million one-time income tax benefit.

The SEC issued guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 (SAB 118), which allows us to record provisional amounts during a one-year measurement period, similar to the measurement period in accounting for business combinations. The Company has determined a reasonable estimate for the measurement and accounting for certain effects of the TCJA, including the remeasurement of our net deferred tax liabilities and the establishment of a regulatory liability, which have been reflected as provisional amounts in the June 30, 2018 condensed consolidated financial statements and are described in further detail above. The amounts represent our best estimates based upon records, information and current guidance. We are still analyzing certain aspects of the TCJA, refining our calculations and expecting additional guidance relating to the TCJA from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service.  Any additional guidance issued or future actions of our regulators could potentially affect the final determination of the accounting effects arising from the implementation of the TCJA.

We are actively working with our regulators in each jurisdiction to address the impact of the TCJA on our cost of service based rates. Accounting orders were issued for all our service areas that required us to establish, effective January 1, 2018, a separate regulatory liability for the difference in taxes included in our rates that have been calculated based on a 35% statutory income tax rate and the new 21% statutory income tax rate. The establishment of this regulatory liability relating to our cost of service rates resulted in a reduction to our revenues beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2018. The period and timing of the return of these liabilities to utility customers is being determined by regulators in each of our jurisdictions. As of June 30, 2018, this regulatory liability was $30.9 million.

We have received approval from regulators to update our cost of service rates to reflect the decrease in the statutory income tax rate in our Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Texas service areas. We are still working with regulators in Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia to reflect the effects of the lower statutory income tax rate in our cost of service in rates. During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, we received approval from regulators to return amounts to customers related to the regulatory liabilities recorded for differences in our cost of service rates due to change in the federal statutory income tax rate in Colorado and Kansas, in accordance with regulatory proceedings within one year.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, we received approval from regulators to return amounts to customers related to the regulatory liabilities recorded for the excess deferred taxes created upon implementation of the TCJA in Colorado, Kentucky and Louisiana in accordance with regulatory proceedings on a provisional basis over periods ranging from 18 to 40 years. In our remaining jurisdictions, the treatment of the effects of the TCJA in rates is being addressed in ongoing or will be addressed in future regulatory proceedings.

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Shareholders' Equity

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Equity [Abstract]

Shareholders' Equity

Shareholders' Equity

Shelf Registration, At-the-Market Equity Sales Program and Equity Issuance

On March 28, 2016, we filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that originally permitted us to issue, from time to time, up to $2.5 billion in common stock and/or debt securities, which expires March 28, 2019. At June 30, 2018, approximately $650 million of securities remained available for issuance under the shelf registration statement.

On November 14, 2017, we filed a prospectus supplement under the registration statement relating to an at-the-market (ATM) equity sales program under which we may issue and sell shares of our common stock up to an aggregate offering price of $500 million, which expires March 28, 2019. During the nine months ended June 30, 2018, no shares of common stock were sold under the ATM program.

On November 30, 2017, we filed a prospectus supplement under the registration statement relating to an underwriting agreement to sell 4,558,404 shares of our common stock for $400 million. After expenses, net proceeds from the offering were $395.1 million.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

We record deferred gains (losses) in AOCI related to available-for-sale securities, interest rate cash flow hedges and prior to the sale of Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC (AEM) on January 1, 2017, commodity contract cash flow hedges. Deferred gains (losses) for our available-for-sale securities and commodity contract cash flow hedges are recognized in earnings upon settlement, while deferred gains (losses) related to our interest rate agreement cash flow hedges are recognized in earnings as they are amortized. The following tables provide the components of our accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) balances, net of the related tax effects allocated to each component of other comprehensive income (loss):

	Available- for-Sale Securities			Interest Rate Agreement Cash Flow Hedges			Total
	(In thousands)
September 30, 2017	$	7,048		$	(112,302	)	$	(105,254	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	148			28,315			28,463
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	(884		)	1,294			410
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	(736		)	29,609			28,873
June 30, 2018	$	6,312		$	(82,693	)	$	(76,381	)

	Available- for-Sale Securities		Interest Rate Agreement Cash Flow Hedges			Commodity Contracts Cash Flow Hedges			Total
	(In thousands)
September 30, 2016	$	4,484	$	(187,524	)	$	(4,982	)	$	(188,022	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	1,485		76,602			9,847			87,934
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	68		286			(4,865		)	(4,511		)
Net current-period other comprehensive income	1,553		76,888			4,982			83,423
June 30, 2017	$	6,037	$	(110,636	)	$	—		$	(104,599	)

The following tables detail reclassifications out of AOCI for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. Amounts in parentheses below indicate decreases to net income in the statement of income:

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Affected Line Item in the Statement of Income
	(In thousands)
Available-for-sale securities	$	7		Operation and maintenance expense
	7			Total before tax
	(2		)	Tax expense
	$	5		Net of tax
Cash flow hedges
Interest rate agreements	$	(594	)	Interest charges
	(594		)	Total before tax
	135			Tax benefit
	$	(459	)	Net of tax
Total reclassifications	$	(454	)	Net of tax

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Affected Line Item in the Statement of Income
	(In thousands)
Cash flow hedges
Interest rate agreements	$	(177	)	Interest charges
	(177		)	Total before tax
	64			Tax benefit
Total reclassifications	$	(113	)	Net of tax

	Nine Months Ended June 30, 2018
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Affected Line Item in  the Statement of Income
	(In thousands)
Available-for-sale securities	$	1,146		Operation and maintenance expense
	1,146			Total before tax
	(262		)	Tax expense
	$	884		Net of tax
Cash flow hedges
Interest rate agreements	$	(1,781	)	Interest charges
	(1,781		)	Total before tax
	487			Tax benefit
	$	(1,294	)	Net of tax
Total reclassifications	$	(410	)	Net of tax

	Nine Months Ended June 30, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Affected Line Item in  the Statement of Income
	(In thousands)
Available-for-sale securities	$	(107	)	Operation and maintenance expense
	(107		)	Total before tax
	39			Tax benefit
	$	(68	)	Net of tax
Cash flow hedges
Interest rate agreements	$	(450	)	Interest charges
Commodity contracts	7,967			Purchased gas cost(1)
	7,517			Total before tax
	(2,938		)	Tax expense
	$	4,579		Net of tax
Total reclassifications	$	4,511		Net of tax

(1) Amount is presented as part of income from discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated statement of income.

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Interim Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Information

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Retirement Benefits, Description [Abstract]

Interim Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Information

Interim Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Information

The components of our net periodic pension cost for our pension and other postretirement benefit plans for the three and nine months endedJune 30, 2018 and 2017 are presented in the following tables. Most of these costs are recoverable through our tariff rates. A portion of these costs is capitalized into our rate base. The remaining costs are recorded as a component of operation and maintenance expense.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2018, due to the retirement of certain executives, we recognized a settlement loss of $2.4 million associated with our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and revalued the net periodic pension cost for the remainder of fiscal 2018. The revaluation of the net periodic pension cost for our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan resulted in an increase in the discount rate, effective March 1, 2018, to 4.12% from 3.89%, which will increase our net periodic pension cost by approximately $0.1 million for the remainder of the fiscal year.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2018, due to the retirement of one of our executives, we recognized a settlement loss of $0.9 million associated with our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and revalued the net periodic pension cost for the remainder of fiscal 2018. The revaluation of the net periodic pension cost for our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan resulted in an increase in the discount rate, effective June 5, 2018, to 4.29% from 4.12%, which will increase our net periodic pension cost by approximately $0.2 million for the remainder of the fiscal year.

	Three Months Ended June 30
	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
Service cost	$	4,794		$	5,216		$	3,020		$	3,109
Interest cost	6,448			6,296			2,726			2,669
Expected return on assets	(6,917		)	(6,993		)	(2,002		)	(1,796		)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	(57		)	(57		)	2			(411		)
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss	3,050			4,248			(1,618		)	(706		)
Settlements	888			—			—			—
Net periodic pension cost	$	8,206		$	8,710		$	2,128		$	2,865

	Nine Months Ended June 30
	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
Service cost	$	13,929		$	15,649		$	9,059		$	9,327
Interest cost	19,311			18,890			8,180			8,009
Expected return on assets	(20,750		)	(20,981		)	(6,005		)	(5,389		)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	(173		)	(173		)	8			(1,233		)
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss	9,224			12,746			(4,855		)	(2,120		)
Settlements	3,303			—			—			—
Net periodic pension cost	$	24,844		$	26,131		$	6,387		$	8,594

The assumptions used to develop our net periodic pension cost for the three and nine months endedJune 30, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:

	Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan		Pension Benefits		Other Benefits
	2018	2017	2018	2017	2018	2017
Discount rate	4.29%	3.73%	3.89%	3.73%	3.89%	3.73%
Rate of compensation increase	3.50%	3.50%	3.50%	3.50%	N/A	N/A
Expected return on plan assets	N/A	N/A	6.75%	7.00%	4.29%	4.45%

The discount rate used to compute the present value of a plan’s liabilities generally is based on rates of high-grade corporate bonds with maturities similar to the average period over which the benefits will be paid. Generally, our funding policy has been to contribute annually an amount in accordance with the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In accordance with the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA), we determined the funded status of our plan as of January 1, 2018. Based on that determination, we are not required to make a minimum contribution to our defined benefit plan during fiscal 2018; however, we may consider whether a voluntary contribution is prudent to maintain certain funding levels.

We contributed $11.4 million to our other post-retirement benefit plans during the nine months ended June 30, 2018. We expect to contribute a total of between $10 million and $20 million to these plans during fiscal 2018.

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Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation and Environmental Matters

In the normal course of business, we are subject to various legal and regulatory proceedings. For such matters, we record liabilities when they are considered probable and estimable, based on currently available facts, our historical experience, and our estimates of the ultimate outcome or resolution of the liability in the future. While the outcome of these proceedings is uncertain and a loss in excess of the amount we have accrued is possible though not reasonably estimable, it is the opinion of management that any amounts exceeding the accruals will not have a material adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

We maintain liability insurance for various risks associated with the operation of our natural gas pipelines and facilities, including for property damage and bodily injury. These liability insurance policies generally require us to be responsible for the first $1.0 million (self-insured retention) of each incident.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating an incident that occurred at a Dallas, Texas residence on February 23, 2018 that resulted in one fatality and injuries to four other residents. Together with the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Atmos Energy is a party to the investigation and in that capacity is working closely with the NTSB to help determine the cause of this incident.

On March 29, 2018, a civil action was filed in Dallas, Texas against Atmos Energy in response to the February 23rd incident. The plaintiffs seek over $1.0 million in damages for, among with others, wrongful death and personal injury.

We are a party to various other litigation and environmental-related matters or claims that have arisen in the ordinary course of our business. While the results of such litigation and response actions to such environmental-related matters or claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we continue to believe the final outcome of such litigation and matters or claims will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Purchase Commitments

Our distribution divisions maintain supply contracts with several vendors that generally cover a period of up to one year. Commitments for estimated base gas volumes are established under these contracts on a monthly basis at contractually negotiated prices. Commitments for incremental daily purchases are made as necessary during the month in accordance with the terms of the individual contract.

Our Mid-Tex Division also maintains a limited number of long-term supply contracts to ensure a reliable source of gas for our customers in its service area, which obligate it to purchase specified volumes at prices indexed to natural gas hubs. At June 30, 2018, we were committed to purchase 53.6 Bcf within one year and 51.2 Bcf within two to three years under indexed contracts.

Regulatory Matters

Various regulatory agencies, including the SEC and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, continue to adopt regulations implementing many of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010. We continue to enact new procedures and modify existing business practices and contractual arrangements to comply with such regulations.  Additional rulemakings are pending which we believe will result in new reporting and disclosure obligations. The costs associated with hedging certain risks inherent in our business may be further increased when these expected additional regulations are adopted.

As of June 30, 2018, formula rate mechanisms were pending regulatory approval in our Louisiana, Mid-Tex, Tennessee and West Texas service areas, infrastructure mechanisms were pending regulatory approval in our Mississippi service area and rate cases were pending regulatory approval in our Mid-Tex, Virginia and West Texas service areas. These regulatory proceedings are discussed in further detail below in Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Recent Ratemaking Developments. Additionally, as discussed in further detail in Note 6, all jurisdictions are addressing impacts of the TCJA.

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Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments

We currently use financial instruments to mitigate commodity price risk and interest rate risk. The objectives and strategies for using financial instruments and the related accounting for these financial instruments are fully described in Notes 2 and 13 to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. During the nine months ended June 30, 2018, there were no material changes in our objectives, strategies and accounting for using financial instruments. Our financial instruments do not contain any credit-risk-related or other contingent features that could cause payments to be accelerated when our financial instruments are in net liability positions. The following summarizes those objectives and strategies.

Commodity Risk Management Activities

Our purchased gas cost adjustment mechanisms essentially insulate our distribution segment from commodity price risk; however, our customers are exposed to the effects of volatile natural gas prices. We manage this exposure through a combination of physical storage, fixed-price forward contracts and financial instruments, primarily over-the-counter swap and option contracts, in an effort to minimize the impact of natural gas price volatility on our customers during the winter heating season.

We typically seek to hedge between 25 and 50 percent of anticipated heating season gas purchases using financial instruments. For the 2017-2018 heating season (generally October through March), in the jurisdictions where we are permitted to utilize financial instruments, we hedged approximately 26 percent, or 15.0 Bcf of the winter flowing gas requirements. We have not designated these financial instruments as hedges for accounting purposes.

Interest Rate Risk Management Activities

We periodically manage interest rate risk by entering into financial instruments to effectively fix the Treasury yield component of the interest cost associated with anticipated financings.

As of June 30, 2018, we had forward starting interest rate swaps to effectively fix the Treasury yield component associated with the anticipated issuance of $450 million unsecured senior notes in fiscal 2019 at 3.78%, which we designated as a cash flow hedge at the time the swaps were executed. As of June 30, 2018, we had $48.7 million of net realized losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) associated with the settlement of financial instruments used to fix the Treasury yield component of the interest cost of financing various issuances of long-term debt and senior notes, which will be recognized as a component of interest expense over the life of the associated notes from the date of settlement. The remaining amortization periods for these settled amounts extend through fiscal 2045.

Quantitative Disclosures Related to Financial Instruments

The following tables present detailed information concerning the impact of financial instruments on our condensed consolidated balance sheet and income statements.

As of June 30, 2018, our financial instruments were comprised of both long and short commodity positions. A long position is a contract to purchase the commodity, while a short position is a contract to sell the commodity. As of June 30, 2018, we had 11,446 MMcf of net long commodity contracts outstanding. These contracts have not been designated as hedges.

Financial Instruments on the Balance Sheet

The following tables present the fair value and balance sheet classification of our financial instruments as of June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017. The gross amounts of recognized assets and liabilities are netted within our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets to the extent that we have netting arrangements with our counterparties.

	Balance Sheet Location	Assets		Liabilities
		(In thousands)
June 30, 2018
Designated As Hedges:
Interest rate contracts	Other current assets / Other current liabilities	$	—	$	(75,763	)
Total		—		(75,763		)
Not Designated As Hedges:
Commodity contracts	Other current assets / Other current liabilities	869		(741		)
Commodity contracts	Deferred charges and other assets / Deferred credits and other liabilities	108		—
Total		977		(741		)
Gross Financial Instruments		977		(76,504		)
Gross Amounts Offset on Consolidated Balance Sheet:
Contract netting		—		—
Net Financial Instruments		977		(76,504		)
Cash collateral		—		—
Net Assets/Liabilities from Risk Management Activities		$	977	$	(76,504	)

	Balance Sheet Location	Assets		Liabilities
		(In thousands)
September 30, 2017
Designated As Hedges:
Interest rate contracts	Deferred charges and other assets / Deferred credits and other liabilities	$	—	$	(112,076	)
Total		—		(112,076		)
Not Designated As Hedges:
Commodity contracts	Other current assets / Other current liabilities	2,436		(322		)
Commodity contracts	Deferred charges and other assets / Deferred credits and other liabilities	803		—
Total		3,239		(322		)
Gross Financial Instruments		3,239		(112,398		)
Gross Amounts Offset on Consolidated Balance Sheet:
Contract netting		—		—
Net Financial Instruments		3,239		(112,398		)
Cash collateral		—		—
Net Assets/Liabilities from Risk Management Activities		$	3,239	$	(112,398	)

Impact of Financial Instruments on the Income Statement

Cash Flow Hedges

As discussed above, our distribution segment has interest rate swap agreements, which we designated as a cash flow hedge at the time the swaps were executed. The net loss on settled interest rate agreements reclassified from AOCI into interest charges on our condensed consolidated statements of income for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was $0.6 million and $0.2 million and for the nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was $1.8 million and $0.5 million.

The following table summarizes the gains and losses arising from hedging transactions that were recognized as a component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes, for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. The amounts included in the table below exclude gains and losses arising from ineffectiveness because those amounts are immediately recognized in the income statement as incurred.

	Three Months Ended   June 30					Nine Months Ended   June 30
	2018		2017 (1)			2018		2017 (1)
	(In thousands)
Increase (decrease) in fair value:
Interest rate agreements	$	7,861	$	(18,669	)	$	28,315	$	76,602
Forward commodity contracts(2)	—		—			—		9,847
Recognition of (gains) losses in earnings due to settlements:
Interest rate agreements	459		113			1,294		286
Forward commodity contracts(2)	—		—			—		(4,865		)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) from hedging, net of tax	$	8,320	$	(18,556	)	$	29,609	$	81,870

(1) Utilizing an income tax rate ranging from 37 percent to 39 percent based on the effective rates in each taxing jurisdiction for the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017.

(2) Due to the sale of AEM, these amounts are included in income from discontinued operations.

Deferred gains (losses) recorded in AOCI associated with our interest rate agreements are recognized in earnings as they are amortized over the terms of the underlying debt instruments. The following amounts, net of deferred taxes, represent the expected recognition in earnings, as of June 30, 2018, of the deferred losses recorded in AOCI associated with our financial instruments, based upon the fair values of these financial instruments at the date of settlement. However, the table below does not include the expected recognition in earnings of our outstanding interest rate agreements as those instruments have not yet settled.

	Interest Rate Agreements
	(In thousands)
Next twelve months	$	(1,848	)
Thereafter	(46,808		)
Total	$	(48,656	)

Financial Instruments Not Designated as Hedges

As discussed above, financial instruments used in our distribution segment are not designated as hedges. However, there is no earnings impact on our distribution segment as a result of the use of these financial instruments because the gains and losses arising from the use of these financial instruments are recognized in the consolidated statement of income as a component of purchased gas cost when the related costs are recovered through our rates and recognized in revenue. Accordingly, the impact of these financial instruments is excluded from this presentation.

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Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

We report certain assets and liabilities at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). We record cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable at carrying value, which substantially approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities. For other financial assets and liabilities, we primarily use quoted market prices and other observable market pricing information to minimize the use of unobservable pricing inputs in our measurements when determining fair value. The methods used to determine fair value for our assets and liabilities are fully described in Note 2 to the financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. During the nine months ended June 30, 2018, there were no changes in these methods.

Fair value measurements also apply to the valuation of our pension and postretirement plan assets. Current accounting guidance requires employers to annually disclose information about fair value measurements of the assets of a defined benefit pension or other postretirement plan. The fair value of these assets is presented in Note 7 to the financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.

Quantitative Disclosures

Financial Instruments

The classification of our fair value measurements requires judgment regarding the degree to which market data is observable or corroborated by observable market data. Authoritative accounting literature establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value based on observable and unobservable data. The hierarchy categorizes the inputs into three levels, with the highest priority given to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1), with the lowest priority given to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The following tables summarize, by level within the fair value hierarchy, our assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017. Assets and liabilities are categorized in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)(1)		Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Netting and Cash Collateral		June 30, 2018
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Financial instruments	$	—	$	977	$	—	$	—	$	977
Available-for-sale securities
Registered investment companies	43,548		—		—		—		43,548
Bond mutual funds	21,378		—		—		—		21,378
Bonds	—		30,303		—		—		30,303
Money market funds	—		2,195		—		—		2,195
Total available-for-sale securities	64,926		32,498		—		—		97,424
Total assets	$	64,926	$	33,475	$	—	$	—	$	98,401
Liabilities:
Financial instruments	$	—	$	76,504	$	—	$	—	$	76,504

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)(1)		Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Netting and Cash Collateral		September 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Financial instruments	$	—	$	3,239	$	—	$	—	$	3,239
Available-for-sale securities
Registered investment companies	41,097		—		—		—		41,097
Bond mutual funds	16,371		—		—		—		16,371
Bonds	—		29,104		—		—		29,104
Money market funds	—		1,837		—		—		1,837
Total available-for-sale securities	57,468		30,941		—		—		88,409
Total assets	$	57,468	$	34,180	$	—	$	—	$	91,648
Liabilities:
Financial instruments	$	—	$	112,398	$	—	$	—	$	112,398

(1) Our Level 2 measurements consist of over-the-counter options and swaps, which are valued using a market-based approach in which observable market prices are adjusted for criteria specific to each instrument, such as the strike price, notional amount or basis differences, municipal and corporate bonds, which are valued based on the most recent available quoted market prices and money market funds that are valued at cost.

Available-for-sale securities are comprised of the following:

	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gain		Gross Unrealized Loss			Fair Value
	(In thousands)
As of June 30, 2018
Domestic equity mutual funds	$	28,283	$	8,973	$	(293	)	$	36,963
Foreign equity mutual funds	4,656		1,929		—			6,585
Bond mutual funds	21,673		—		(295		)	21,378
Bonds	30,434		8		(139		)	30,303
Money market funds	2,195		—		—			2,195
	$	87,241	$	10,910	$	(727	)	$	97,424
As of September 30, 2017
Domestic equity mutual funds	$	25,361	$	8,920	$	—		$	34,281
Foreign equity mutual funds	4,581		2,235		—			6,816
Bond mutual funds	16,391		2		(22		)	16,371
Bonds	29,074		46		(16		)	29,104
Money market funds	1,837		—		—			1,837
	$	77,244	$	11,203	$	(38	)	$	88,409

At June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, our available-for-sale securities included $45.7 million and $42.9 million related to assets held in separate rabbi trusts for our supplemental executive benefit plans. At June 30, 2018, we maintained investments in bonds that have contractual maturity dates ranging from July 2018 through June 2021.

These securities are reported at market value with unrealized gains and losses shown as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). We regularly evaluate the performance of these investments on a fund by fund basis for impairment, taking into consideration the fund’s purpose, volatility and current returns. If a determination is made that a decline in fair value is other than temporary, the related fund is written down to its estimated fair value and the other-than-temporary impairment is recognized in the income statement.

Other Fair Value Measures

Our debt is recorded at carrying value. The fair value of our debt is determined using third party market value quotations, which are considered Level 1 fair value measurements for debt instruments with a recent, observable trade or Level 2 fair value measurements for debt instruments where fair value is determined using the most recent available quoted market price. The following table presents the carrying value and fair value of our debt as of June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017:

	June 30, 2018		September 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Carrying Amount	$	3,085,000	$	3,085,000
Fair Value	$	3,216,893	$	3,382,272

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Concentration of Credit Risk

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk

Information regarding our concentration of credit risk is disclosed in Note 16 to the financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. During the nine months ended June 30, 2018, there were no material changes in our concentration of credit risk.

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Discontinued Operations

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations

On October 29, 2016, we entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the Agreement) with CenterPoint Energy Services, Inc., a subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CES) to sell all of the equity interests of Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC (AEM). The transaction closed on January 3, 2017, with an effective date of January 1, 2017. CES paid a cash purchase price of $38.3 million plus working capital of $109.0 million for total cash consideration of $147.3 million. Of this amount, $7.0 million was placed into escrow and was to be paid to the Company within 24 months of the closing date, net of any indemnification claims agreed upon between the two companies. In January 2018, $3.0 million of this escrowed amount was released and received by the Company. We recognized a net gain of $0.03 per diluted share on the sale in the second quarter of fiscal 2017 and completed the working capital true–up during the third quarter of fiscal 2017.

The operating results of our natural gas marketing reportable segment have been reported on the condensed consolidated statement of income as income from discontinued operations, net of income tax, for the nine months ended June 30, 2017.  Accordingly, expenses related to allocable general corporate overhead and interest expense are not included in these results. 

The tables below set forth selected financial information related to discontinued operations. Operating expenses include operation and maintenance expense, provision for doubtful accounts, depreciation and amortization expense and taxes, other than income. At June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 we did not have any assets or liabilities held for sale.

The following table presents statement of income data related to discontinued operations:

	Nine Months Ended   June 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Operating revenues	$	303,474
Purchased gas cost	277,554
Operating expenses	7,874
Operating income	18,046
Other nonoperating expense	(211		)
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes	17,835
Income tax expense	6,841
Income from discontinued operations	10,994
Gain on sale from discontinued operations, net of tax ($10,215)	2,716
Net income from discontinued operations	$	13,710

The following table presents statement of cash flow data related to discontinued operations:

	Nine Months Ended   June 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Depreciation and amortization expense	$	185
Capital expenditures	$	—
Non-cash loss in commodity contract cash flow hedges	$	(8,165	)

Natural Gas Marketing Commodity Risk Management Activities

Our discontinued natural gas marketing segment was exposed to risks associated with changes in the market price of natural gas through the purchase, sale and delivery of natural gas to its customers at competitive prices. Through December 31, 2016, we managed our exposure to such risks through a combination of physical storage and financial instruments, including futures, over-the-counter and exchange-traded options and swap contracts with counterparties. Effective January 1, 2017, as a result of the sale of AEM, these activities were discontinued.

Due to the sale of AEM, we determined that the cash flows associated with our natural gas marketing commodity cash flow hedges were no longer probable of occurring; therefore, we discontinued hedge accounting as of December 31, 2016. As a result, we reclassified the gain in accumulated other comprehensive income associated with the commodity contracts into earnings as a reduction of purchased gas cost and recognized a pre-tax gain of $10.6 million, which is included in income from discontinued operations on the condensed consolidated statement of income for the nine months ended June 30, 2017.

The Company's other risk management activities are discussed in Note 10.

Impact of Financial Instruments on the Income Statement

Hedge ineffectiveness for our natural gas marketing segment was recorded as a component of purchased gas cost, which is included in discontinued operations on the condensed consolidated statements of income, and primarily results from differences in the location and timing of the derivative instrument and the hedged item. For the nine months endedJune 30, 2017, we recognized a gain arising from fair value and cash flow hedge ineffectiveness of $3.4 million. Additional information regarding ineffectiveness recognized in the income statement is included in the tables below.

Fair Value Hedges

The impact of our natural gas marketing segment commodity contracts designated as fair value hedges and the related hedged item on the results of discontinued operations on our condensed consolidated income statement for the nine months endedJune 30, 2017 is presented below.

	Nine Months Ended   June 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Commodity contracts	$	(9,567	)
Fair value adjustment for natural gas inventory designated as the hedged item	12,858
Total decrease in purchased gas cost reflected in income from discontinued operations	$	3,291
The decrease in purchased gas cost reflected in income from discontinued operations is comprised of the following:
Basis ineffectiveness	$	(597	)
Timing ineffectiveness	3,888
	$	3,291

Basis ineffectiveness arises from natural gas market price differences between the locations of the hedged inventory and the delivery location specified in the hedge instruments. Timing ineffectiveness arises due to changes in the difference between the spot price and the futures price, as well as the difference between the timing of the settlement of the futures and the valuation of the underlying physical commodity.

Cash Flow Hedges

The impact of our natural gas marketing segment cash flow hedges on our condensed consolidated income statements for the nine months endedJune 30, 2017 is presented below:

	Nine Months Ended   June 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Loss reclassified from AOCI for effective portion of natural gas marketing commodity contracts	$	(2,612	)
Gain arising from ineffective portion of natural gas marketing commodity contracts	111
Gain on discontinuance of cash flow hedging of natural gas marketing commodity contracts reclassified from AOCI	10,579
Total impact on purchased gas cost reflected in income from discontinued operations	$	8,078

Financial Instruments Not Designated as Hedges

The impact of the natural gas marketing segment's financial instruments that had not been designated as hedges on our condensed consolidated income statements for the nine months endedJune 30, 2017 was a decrease in purchased gas cost of $6.8 million, which is included in discontinued operations on the condensed consolidated statements of income.

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Unaudited Financial Information (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant accounting policies

Significant accounting policies

Our accounting policies are described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2018, we completed our annual goodwill impairment assessment. Based on the assessment performed, we determined that our goodwill was not impaired.

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard that will supersede virtually all existing revenue recognition guidance under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Under the new standard, an entity will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In doing so, companies may need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under current guidance. The new guidance will become effective for us October 1, 2018 and can be applied either retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption.

As of June 30, 2018, we had substantially completed the evaluation of our sources of revenue and the impact that the new guidance will have on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and business processes. Based on this evaluation, we currently do not believe the implementation of the new guidance will have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows or business processes. We expect to apply the new guidance using the modified retrospective method on the date of adoption. We are currently still evaluating the impact on our financial statement presentation and related disclosures.

In January 2016, the FASB issued guidance related to the classification and measurement of financial instruments. The amendments modify the accounting and presentation for certain financial liabilities and equity investments not consolidated or reported using the equity method. The guidance is effective for us beginning October 1, 2018; limited early adoption is permitted. The standard will require that changes in fair value of our available-for-sale equity securities be recorded in net income. The new guidance will be applied by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. We do not anticipate the new standard will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We are currently still evaluating the impact on our financial statement presentation and related disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued a comprehensive new leasing standard that will require lessees to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases, including operating leases, with a term greater than 12 months on its balance sheet. The new standard will be effective for us beginning on October 1, 2019; early adoption is permitted. The new leasing standard requires modified retrospective transition, which requires application of the new guidance at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the year of adoption. Additionally, in January 2018, the FASB issued amendments to the standard that provides a practical expedient for entities to not evaluate existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases under the current guidance. In July 2018, the FASB issued an amendment to the standard that provides an additional and optional transition method to adopt the standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. We are currently evaluating the effect of this standard and amendments on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which will require credit losses on most financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain other instruments to be measured using an expected credit loss model. Under this model, entities will estimate credit losses over the entire contractual term of the instrument from the date of initial recognition of that instrument. In contrast, current U.S. GAAP is based on an incurred loss model that delays recognition of credit losses until it is probable the loss has been incurred. The new guidance also introduces a new impairment recognition model for available-for-sale securities that will require credit losses for available-for-sale debt securities to be recorded through an allowance account. The new standard will be effective for us beginning on October 1, 2021; early adoption is permitted beginning on October 1, 2019. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of this new guidance on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. 

In March 2017, the FASB issued new guidance related to the income statement presentation of the components of net periodic benefit cost for an entity’s sponsored defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The new guidance requires entities to disaggregate the current service cost component of the net benefit cost from the other components and present it with other current compensation costs for related employees in the statement of income. The other components of net benefit cost will be presented outside of income from operations on the statement of income. In addition, only the service cost component of net benefit cost is eligible for capitalization (e.g., as part of inventory or property, plant, and equipment). The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”), which regulates interstate transmission pipelines and also establishes, through its Uniform System of Accounts, accounting practices of rate-regulated entities, has issued guidance that states it will permit an election to either continue to capitalize non-service benefit costs or to cease capitalizing such costs for regulatory purposes.  Accounting guidelines by the FERC are typically also followed by state commissions.  As such, we plan to continue to capitalize all components of net periodic benefit cost for ratemaking purposes and will defer the non-service cost components as a regulatory asset for U.S. GAAP reporting purposes. The new guidance will be effective for us in the fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2018 and for interim periods within that year.  The standard requires retrospective application of the amendment related to the presentation of non-service cost components outside of income from operations in the statement of income and prospective application of the change in eligible costs for capitalization. We do not anticipate the new standard will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In February 2018, the FASB issued new guidance as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "TCJA"), related to the treatment of certain tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income. The new guidance allows entities to reclassify from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings the stranded tax effects resulting from the adoption of the TCJA. The new guidance will be effective for us in the fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2019 and for interim periods within that year. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period for public business entities for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued and should be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is recognized. We plan to early adopt the new standard effective as of September 30, 2018, and reclassify the stranded tax effects resulting from the TCJA from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. We do not anticipate the new standard will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Regulatory assets and liabilities

Regulatory assets and liabilities

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States require cost-based, rate-regulated entities that meet certain criteria to reflect the authorized recovery of costs due to regulatory decisions in their financial statements. As a result, certain costs are permitted to be capitalized rather than expensed because they can be recovered through rates. We record certain costs as regulatory assets when future recovery through customer rates is considered probable. Regulatory liabilities are recorded when it is probable that revenues will be reduced for amounts that will be credited to customers through the ratemaking process. Substantially all of our regulatory assets are recorded as a component of deferred charges and other assets and a portion of our regulatory liabilities are recorded as a component of other current liabilities and deferred credits and other liabilities. Deferred gas costs are recorded either in other current assets or liabilities and our regulatory excess deferred taxes and regulatory cost of removal obligation is reported separately.

Segment Reporting

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. We evaluate performance based on net income or loss of the respective operating units. We allocate interest and pension expense to the pipeline and storage segment; however, there is no debt or pension liability recorded on the pipeline and storage segment balance sheet. All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated; however, we have not eliminated intercompany profits when such amounts are probable of recovery under the affiliates’ rate regulation process. Income taxes are allocated to each segment as if each segment’s taxes were calculated on a separate return basis.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share

We use the two-class method of computing earnings per share because we have participating securities in the form of non-vested restricted stock units with a nonforfeitable right to dividend equivalents, for which vesting is predicated solely on the passage of time. The calculation of earnings per share using the two-class method excludes income attributable to these participating securities from the numerator and excludes the dilutive impact of those shares from the denominator.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

We report certain assets and liabilities at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). We record cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable at carrying value, which substantially approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities. For other financial assets and liabilities, we primarily use quoted market prices and other observable market pricing information to minimize the use of unobservable pricing inputs in our measurements when determining fair value. The methods used to determine fair value for our assets and liabilities are fully described in Note 2 to the financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.

Income Tax

Under generally accepted accounting principles, we use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

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Unaudited Financial Information (Table)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of Regulatory Assets

Significant regulatory assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 included the following:

	June 30, 2018		September 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Regulatory assets:
Pension and postretirement benefit costs(1)	$	17,546	$	26,826
Infrastructure mechanisms(2)	77,387		46,437
Deferred gas costs	347		65,714
Recoverable loss on reacquired debt	9,328		11,208
Deferred pipeline record collection costs	16,963		11,692
APT annual adjustment mechanism	—		2,160
Rate case costs	3,041		2,629
Other	5,131		10,132
	$	129,743	$	176,798
Regulatory liabilities:
Regulatory excess deferred taxes(3)	$	737,746	$	—
Regulatory cost of service reserve(4)	30,930		—
Regulatory cost of removal obligation	528,709		521,330
Deferred gas costs	159,201		15,559
Asset retirement obligation	12,827		12,827
APT annual adjustment mechanism	20,551		—
Other	9,783		5,941
	$	1,499,747	$	555,657

(1) Includes $7.1 million and $9.4 million of pension and postretirement expense deferred pursuant to regulatory authorization.

(2) Infrastructure mechanisms in Texas and Louisiana allow for the deferral of all eligible expenses associated with capital expenditures incurred pursuant to these rules, including the recording of interest on deferred expenses until the next rate proceeding (rate case or annual rate filing), at which time investment and costs would be recoverable through base rates.

(3) The TCJA resulted in the remeasurement of the net deferred tax liability included in our rate base. Of this amount, $4.2 million is recorded in Other current liabilities. The period and timing of the return of the excess deferred taxes is being determined by regulators in each of our jurisdictions. See Note 6 for further information.

(4) Effective January 1, 2018, regulators in each of our service areas required us to establish a regulatory liability for the difference in recoverable federal taxes included in revenues based on the former 35% federal statutory rate and the new 21% federal statutory rate for service provided on or after January 1, 2018. The period and timing of the return of this liability to utility customers is being determined by regulators in each of our jurisdictions. See Note 6 for further information.

Schedule of Regulatory Liabilities

Significant regulatory assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 included the following:

	June 30, 2018		September 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Regulatory assets:
Pension and postretirement benefit costs(1)	$	17,546	$	26,826
Infrastructure mechanisms(2)	77,387		46,437
Deferred gas costs	347		65,714
Recoverable loss on reacquired debt	9,328		11,208
Deferred pipeline record collection costs	16,963		11,692
APT annual adjustment mechanism	—		2,160
Rate case costs	3,041		2,629
Other	5,131		10,132
	$	129,743	$	176,798
Regulatory liabilities:
Regulatory excess deferred taxes(3)	$	737,746	$	—
Regulatory cost of service reserve(4)	30,930		—
Regulatory cost of removal obligation	528,709		521,330
Deferred gas costs	159,201		15,559
Asset retirement obligation	12,827		12,827
APT annual adjustment mechanism	20,551		—
Other	9,783		5,941
	$	1,499,747	$	555,657

(1) Includes $7.1 million and $9.4 million of pension and postretirement expense deferred pursuant to regulatory authorization.

(2) Infrastructure mechanisms in Texas and Louisiana allow for the deferral of all eligible expenses associated with capital expenditures incurred pursuant to these rules, including the recording of interest on deferred expenses until the next rate proceeding (rate case or annual rate filing), at which time investment and costs would be recoverable through base rates.

(3) The TCJA resulted in the remeasurement of the net deferred tax liability included in our rate base. Of this amount, $4.2 million is recorded in Other current liabilities. The period and timing of the return of the excess deferred taxes is being determined by regulators in each of our jurisdictions. See Note 6 for further information.

(4) Effective January 1, 2018, regulators in each of our service areas required us to establish a regulatory liability for the difference in recoverable federal taxes included in revenues based on the former 35% federal statutory rate and the new 21% federal statutory rate for service provided on or after January 1, 2018. The period and timing of the return of this liability to utility customers is being determined by regulators in each of our jurisdictions. See Note 6 for further information.

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Segment Information (Table)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment

Income statements and capital expenditures for the three and nine months endedJune 30, 2018 and 2017 by segment are presented in the following tables:

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
	Distribution			Pipeline and Storage			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Operating revenues from external parties	$	534,816		$	27,429		$	—		$	562,245
Intersegment revenues	672			100,204			(100,876		)	—
Total operating revenues	535,488			127,633			(100,876		)	562,245
Purchased gas cost	230,887			561			(100,562		)	130,886
Operation and maintenance expense	111,895			33,494			(314		)	145,075
Depreciation and amortization expense	66,504			24,167			—			90,671
Taxes, other than income	64,420			8,200			—			72,620
Operating income	61,782			61,211			—			122,993
Miscellaneous expense	(1,191		)	(812		)	—			(2,003		)
Interest charges	13,315			10,034			—			23,349
Income before income taxes	47,276			50,365			—			97,641
Income tax expense	11,932			14,516			—			26,448
Net income	$	35,344		$	35,849		$	—		$	71,193
Capital expenditures	$	284,209		$	110,285		$	—		$	394,494

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
	Distribution			Pipeline and Storage			Natural Gas Marketing		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Operating revenues from external parties	$	493,738		$	32,763		$	—	$	—		$	526,501
Intersegment revenues	322			84,520			—		(84,842		)	—
Total operating revenues	494,060			117,283			—		(84,842		)	526,501
Purchased gas cost	197,767			1,251			—		(84,842		)	114,176
Operation and maintenance expense	99,631			29,059			—		—			128,690
Depreciation and amortization expense	62,760			17,263			—		—			80,023
Taxes, other than income	56,850			6,098			—		—			62,948
Operating income	77,052			63,612			—		—			140,664
Miscellaneous expense	(62		)	(227		)	—		—			(289		)
Interest charges	18,394			10,104			—		—			28,498
Income before income taxes	58,596			53,281			—		—			111,877
Income tax expense	22,082			18,987			—		—			41,069
Net income	$	36,514		$	34,294		$	—	$	—		$	70,808
Capital expenditures	$	205,780		$	46,983		$	—	$	—		$	252,763

	Nine Months Ended June 30, 2018
	Distribution			Pipeline and Storage			Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Operating revenues from external parties	$	2,593,578		$	77,268		$	—		$	2,670,846
Intersegment revenues	1,993			297,783			(299,776		)	—
Total operating revenues	2,595,571			375,051			(299,776		)	2,670,846
Purchased gas cost	1,421,698			1,906			(298,841		)	1,124,763
Operation and maintenance expense	347,623			89,027			(935		)	435,715
Depreciation and amortization expense	197,587			70,839			—			268,426
Taxes, other than income	184,219			24,181			—			208,400
Operating income	444,444			189,098			—			633,542
Miscellaneous expense	(2,198		)	(2,093		)	—			(4,291		)
Interest charges	51,581			30,581			—			82,162
Income before income taxes	390,665			156,424			—			547,089
Income tax (benefit) expense	(39,021		)	21,793			—			(17,228		)
Net income	$	429,686		$	134,631		$	—		$	564,317
Capital expenditures	$	749,693		$	338,779		$	—		$	1,088,472

	Nine Months Ended June 30, 2017
	Distribution		Pipeline and Storage			Natural Gas Marketing		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Operating revenues from external parties	$	2,210,221	$	84,634		$	—	$	—		$	2,294,855
Intersegment revenues	1,036		254,573			—		(255,609		)	—
Total operating revenues	2,211,257		339,207			—		(255,609		)	2,294,855
Purchased gas cost	1,106,209		2,331			—		(255,565		)	852,975
Operation and maintenance expense	296,048		89,863			—		(44		)	385,867
Depreciation and amortization expense	185,219		49,429			—		—			234,648
Taxes, other than income	165,032		20,579			—		—			185,611
Operating income	458,749		177,005			—		—			635,754
Miscellaneous income (expense)	334		(784		)	—		—			(450		)
Interest charges	56,437		30,035			—		—			86,472
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	402,646		146,186			—		—			548,832
Income tax expense	149,623		52,351			—		—			201,974
Income from continuing operations	253,023		93,835			—		—			346,858
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	—		—			10,994		—			10,994
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	—		—			2,716		—			2,716
Net income	$	253,023	$	93,835		$	13,710	$	—		$	360,568
Capital expenditures	$	636,449	$	175,699		$	—	$	—		$	812,148

Balance sheet information at June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 by segment is presented in the following tables:

	June 30, 2018
	Distribution		Pipeline and Storage		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	7,427,486	$	2,644,374	$	—		$	10,071,860
Total assets	$	10,840,846	$	2,866,266	$	(2,199,488	)	$	11,507,624

	September 30, 2017
	Distribution		Pipeline and Storage		Eliminations			Consolidated
	(In thousands)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	6,849,517	$	2,409,665	$	—		$	9,259,182
Total assets	$	10,050,164	$	2,621,601	$	(1,922,169	)	$	10,749,596

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Earnings Per Share (Table)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted

Basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 are calculated as follows:

	Three Months Ended   June 30				Nine Months Ended   June 30
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share from continuing operations
Income from continuing operations	$	71,193	$	70,808	$	564,317	$	346,858
Less: Income from continuing operations allocated to participating securities	59		75		545		424
Income from continuing operations available to common shareholders	$	71,134	$	70,733	$	563,772	$	346,434
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	111,851		106,364		110,707		105,862
Income from continuing operations per share — Basic and Diluted	$	0.64	$	0.67	$	5.09	$	3.27
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share from discontinued operations
Income from discontinued operations	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	13,710
Less: Income from discontinued operations allocated to participating securities	—		—		—		15
Income from discontinued operations available to common shareholders	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	13,695
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	111,851		106,364		110,707		105,862
Income from discontinued operations per share — Basic and Diluted	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	0.13
Net income per share — Basic and Diluted	$	0.64	$	0.67	$	5.09	$	3.40

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Debt (Table)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments

Long-term debt at June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 consisted of the following:

	June 30, 2018			September 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Unsecured 8.50% Senior Notes, due March 2019	$	450,000		$	450,000
Unsecured 3.00% Senior Notes, due 2027	500,000			500,000
Unsecured 5.95% Senior Notes, due 2034	200,000			200,000
Unsecured 5.50% Senior Notes, due 2041	400,000			400,000
Unsecured 4.15% Senior Notes, due 2043	500,000			500,000
Unsecured 4.125% Senior Notes, due 2044	750,000			750,000
Medium-term note Series A, 1995-1, 6.67%, due 2025	10,000			10,000
Unsecured 6.75% Debentures, due 2028	150,000			150,000
Floating-rate term loan, due September 2019(1)	125,000			125,000
Total long-term debt	3,085,000			3,085,000
Less:
Original issue (premium) / discount on unsecured senior notes and debentures	(4,425		)	(4,384		)
Debt issuance cost	21,110			22,339
Current maturities	450,000			—
	$	2,618,315		$	3,067,045

(1) Up to $200 million can be drawn under this term loan.

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Shareholders' Equity (Table)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following tables provide the components of our accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) balances, net of the related tax effects allocated to each component of other comprehensive income (loss):

	Available- for-Sale Securities			Interest Rate Agreement Cash Flow Hedges			Total
	(In thousands)
September 30, 2017	$	7,048		$	(112,302	)	$	(105,254	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	148			28,315			28,463
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	(884		)	1,294			410
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	(736		)	29,609			28,873
June 30, 2018	$	6,312		$	(82,693	)	$	(76,381	)

	Available- for-Sale Securities		Interest Rate Agreement Cash Flow Hedges			Commodity Contracts Cash Flow Hedges			Total
	(In thousands)
September 30, 2016	$	4,484	$	(187,524	)	$	(4,982	)	$	(188,022	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	1,485		76,602			9,847			87,934
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	68		286			(4,865		)	(4,511		)
Net current-period other comprehensive income	1,553		76,888			4,982			83,423
June 30, 2017	$	6,037	$	(110,636	)	$	—		$	(104,599	)

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The following tables detail reclassifications out of AOCI for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. Amounts in parentheses below indicate decreases to net income in the statement of income:

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Affected Line Item in the Statement of Income
	(In thousands)
Available-for-sale securities	$	7		Operation and maintenance expense
	7			Total before tax
	(2		)	Tax expense
	$	5		Net of tax
Cash flow hedges
Interest rate agreements	$	(594	)	Interest charges
	(594		)	Total before tax
	135			Tax benefit
	$	(459	)	Net of tax
Total reclassifications	$	(454	)	Net of tax

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Affected Line Item in the Statement of Income
	(In thousands)
Cash flow hedges
Interest rate agreements	$	(177	)	Interest charges
	(177		)	Total before tax
	64			Tax benefit
Total reclassifications	$	(113	)	Net of tax

	Nine Months Ended June 30, 2018
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Affected Line Item in  the Statement of Income
	(In thousands)
Available-for-sale securities	$	1,146		Operation and maintenance expense
	1,146			Total before tax
	(262		)	Tax expense
	$	884		Net of tax
Cash flow hedges
Interest rate agreements	$	(1,781	)	Interest charges
	(1,781		)	Total before tax
	487			Tax benefit
	$	(1,294	)	Net of tax
Total reclassifications	$	(410	)	Net of tax

	Nine Months Ended June 30, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Affected Line Item in  the Statement of Income
	(In thousands)
Available-for-sale securities	$	(107	)	Operation and maintenance expense
	(107		)	Total before tax
	39			Tax benefit
	$	(68	)	Net of tax
Cash flow hedges
Interest rate agreements	$	(450	)	Interest charges
Commodity contracts	7,967			Purchased gas cost(1)
	7,517			Total before tax
	(2,938		)	Tax expense
	$	4,579		Net of tax
Total reclassifications	$	4,511		Net of tax

(1) Amount is presented as part of income from discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated statement of income.

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Interim Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Information (Table)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Retirement Benefits, Description [Abstract]

Schedule of Net Benefit Costs

The components of our net periodic pension cost for our pension and other postretirement benefit plans for the three and nine months endedJune 30, 2018 and 2017 are presented in the following tables. Most of these costs are recoverable through our tariff rates. A portion of these costs is capitalized into our rate base. The remaining costs are recorded as a component of operation and maintenance expense.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2018, due to the retirement of certain executives, we recognized a settlement loss of $2.4 million associated with our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and revalued the net periodic pension cost for the remainder of fiscal 2018. The revaluation of the net periodic pension cost for our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan resulted in an increase in the discount rate, effective March 1, 2018, to 4.12% from 3.89%, which will increase our net periodic pension cost by approximately $0.1 million for the remainder of the fiscal year.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2018, due to the retirement of one of our executives, we recognized a settlement loss of $0.9 million associated with our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and revalued the net periodic pension cost for the remainder of fiscal 2018. The revaluation of the net periodic pension cost for our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan resulted in an increase in the discount rate, effective June 5, 2018, to 4.29% from 4.12%, which will increase our net periodic pension cost by approximately $0.2 million for the remainder of the fiscal year.

	Three Months Ended June 30
	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
Service cost	$	4,794		$	5,216		$	3,020		$	3,109
Interest cost	6,448			6,296			2,726			2,669
Expected return on assets	(6,917		)	(6,993		)	(2,002		)	(1,796		)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	(57		)	(57		)	2			(411		)
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss	3,050			4,248			(1,618		)	(706		)
Settlements	888			—			—			—
Net periodic pension cost	$	8,206		$	8,710		$	2,128		$	2,865

	Nine Months Ended June 30
	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
Service cost	$	13,929		$	15,649		$	9,059		$	9,327
Interest cost	19,311			18,890			8,180			8,009
Expected return on assets	(20,750		)	(20,981		)	(6,005		)	(5,389		)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	(173		)	(173		)	8			(1,233		)
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss	9,224			12,746			(4,855		)	(2,120		)
Settlements	3,303			—			—			—
Net periodic pension cost	$	24,844		$	26,131		$	6,387		$	8,594

Schedule of Assumptions Used

The assumptions used to develop our net periodic pension cost for the three and nine months endedJune 30, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:

	Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan		Pension Benefits		Other Benefits
	2018	2017	2018	2017	2018	2017
Discount rate	4.29%	3.73%	3.89%	3.73%	3.89%	3.73%
Rate of compensation increase	3.50%	3.50%	3.50%	3.50%	N/A	N/A
Expected return on plan assets	N/A	N/A	6.75%	7.00%	4.29%	4.45%

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Financial Instruments (Table)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Derivative Instruments in Statement of Financial Position, Fair Value

The following tables present the fair value and balance sheet classification of our financial instruments as of June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017. The gross amounts of recognized assets and liabilities are netted within our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets to the extent that we have netting arrangements with our counterparties.

	Balance Sheet Location	Assets		Liabilities
		(In thousands)
June 30, 2018
Designated As Hedges:
Interest rate contracts	Other current assets / Other current liabilities	$	—	$	(75,763	)
Total		—		(75,763		)
Not Designated As Hedges:
Commodity contracts	Other current assets / Other current liabilities	869		(741		)
Commodity contracts	Deferred charges and other assets / Deferred credits and other liabilities	108		—
Total		977		(741		)
Gross Financial Instruments		977		(76,504		)
Gross Amounts Offset on Consolidated Balance Sheet:
Contract netting		—		—
Net Financial Instruments		977		(76,504		)
Cash collateral		—		—
Net Assets/Liabilities from Risk Management Activities		$	977	$	(76,504	)

	Balance Sheet Location	Assets		Liabilities
		(In thousands)
September 30, 2017
Designated As Hedges:
Interest rate contracts	Deferred charges and other assets / Deferred credits and other liabilities	$	—	$	(112,076	)
Total		—		(112,076		)
Not Designated As Hedges:
Commodity contracts	Other current assets / Other current liabilities	2,436		(322		)
Commodity contracts	Deferred charges and other assets / Deferred credits and other liabilities	803		—
Total		3,239		(322		)
Gross Financial Instruments		3,239		(112,398		)
Gross Amounts Offset on Consolidated Balance Sheet:
Contract netting		—		—
Net Financial Instruments		3,239		(112,398		)
Cash collateral		—		—
Net Assets/Liabilities from Risk Management Activities		$	3,239	$	(112,398	)

Schedule of Cash Flow Hedges Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following table summarizes the gains and losses arising from hedging transactions that were recognized as a component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes, for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. The amounts included in the table below exclude gains and losses arising from ineffectiveness because those amounts are immediately recognized in the income statement as incurred.

	Three Months Ended   June 30					Nine Months Ended   June 30
	2018		2017 (1)			2018		2017 (1)
	(In thousands)
Increase (decrease) in fair value:
Interest rate agreements	$	7,861	$	(18,669	)	$	28,315	$	76,602
Forward commodity contracts(2)	—		—			—		9,847
Recognition of (gains) losses in earnings due to settlements:
Interest rate agreements	459		113			1,294		286
Forward commodity contracts(2)	—		—			—		(4,865		)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) from hedging, net of tax	$	8,320	$	(18,556	)	$	29,609	$	81,870

(1) Utilizing an income tax rate ranging from 37 percent to 39 percent based on the effective rates in each taxing jurisdiction for the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017.

(2) Due to the sale of AEM, these amounts are included in income from discontinued operations.

Schedule Of Expected Deferred Gains (Losses) Recognition

The following amounts, net of deferred taxes, represent the expected recognition in earnings, as of June 30, 2018, of the deferred losses recorded in AOCI associated with our financial instruments, based upon the fair values of these financial instruments at the date of settlement. However, the table below does not include the expected recognition in earnings of our outstanding interest rate agreements as those instruments have not yet settled.

	Interest Rate Agreements
	(In thousands)
Next twelve months	$	(1,848	)
Thereafter	(46,808		)
Total	$	(48,656	)

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Fair Value Measurements (Table)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis

The following tables summarize, by level within the fair value hierarchy, our assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017. Assets and liabilities are categorized in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)(1)		Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Netting and Cash Collateral		June 30, 2018
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Financial instruments	$	—	$	977	$	—	$	—	$	977
Available-for-sale securities
Registered investment companies	43,548		—		—		—		43,548
Bond mutual funds	21,378		—		—		—		21,378
Bonds	—		30,303		—		—		30,303
Money market funds	—		2,195		—		—		2,195
Total available-for-sale securities	64,926		32,498		—		—		97,424
Total assets	$	64,926	$	33,475	$	—	$	—	$	98,401
Liabilities:
Financial instruments	$	—	$	76,504	$	—	$	—	$	76,504

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)(1)		Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Netting and Cash Collateral		September 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Financial instruments	$	—	$	3,239	$	—	$	—	$	3,239
Available-for-sale securities
Registered investment companies	41,097		—		—		—		41,097
Bond mutual funds	16,371		—		—		—		16,371
Bonds	—		29,104		—		—		29,104
Money market funds	—		1,837		—		—		1,837
Total available-for-sale securities	57,468		30,941		—		—		88,409
Total assets	$	57,468	$	34,180	$	—	$	—	$	91,648
Liabilities:
Financial instruments	$	—	$	112,398	$	—	$	—	$	112,398

(1) Our Level 2 measurements consist of over-the-counter options and swaps, which are valued using a market-based approach in which observable market prices are adjusted for criteria specific to each instrument, such as the strike price, notional amount or basis differences, municipal and corporate bonds, which are valued based on the most recent available quoted market prices and money market funds that are valued at cost.

Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities Reconciliation Table

Available-for-sale securities are comprised of the following:

	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gain		Gross Unrealized Loss			Fair Value
	(In thousands)
As of June 30, 2018
Domestic equity mutual funds	$	28,283	$	8,973	$	(293	)	$	36,963
Foreign equity mutual funds	4,656		1,929		—			6,585
Bond mutual funds	21,673		—		(295		)	21,378
Bonds	30,434		8		(139		)	30,303
Money market funds	2,195		—		—			2,195
	$	87,241	$	10,910	$	(727	)	$	97,424
As of September 30, 2017
Domestic equity mutual funds	$	25,361	$	8,920	$	—		$	34,281
Foreign equity mutual funds	4,581		2,235		—			6,816
Bond mutual funds	16,391		2		(22		)	16,371
Bonds	29,074		46		(16		)	29,104
Money market funds	1,837		—		—			1,837
	$	77,244	$	11,203	$	(38	)	$	88,409

Schedule of Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values of Debt Instruments

The following table presents the carrying value and fair value of our debt as of June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017:

	June 30, 2018		September 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Carrying Amount	$	3,085,000	$	3,085,000
Fair Value	$	3,216,893	$	3,382,272

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Discontinued Operations (Table)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations

The following table presents statement of income data related to discontinued operations:

	Nine Months Ended   June 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Operating revenues	$	303,474
Purchased gas cost	277,554
Operating expenses	7,874
Operating income	18,046
Other nonoperating expense	(211		)
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes	17,835
Income tax expense	6,841
Income from discontinued operations	10,994
Gain on sale from discontinued operations, net of tax ($10,215)	2,716
Net income from discontinued operations	$	13,710

The following table presents statement of cash flow data related to discontinued operations:

	Nine Months Ended   June 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Depreciation and amortization expense	$	185
Capital expenditures	$	—
Non-cash loss in commodity contract cash flow hedges	$	(8,165	)

Schedule of Fair Value Hedging Instruments, Statements of Financial Performance and Financial Position, Location

The impact of our natural gas marketing segment commodity contracts designated as fair value hedges and the related hedged item on the results of discontinued operations on our condensed consolidated income statement for the nine months endedJune 30, 2017 is presented below.

	Nine Months Ended   June 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Commodity contracts	$	(9,567	)
Fair value adjustment for natural gas inventory designated as the hedged item	12,858
Total decrease in purchased gas cost reflected in income from discontinued operations	$	3,291
The decrease in purchased gas cost reflected in income from discontinued operations is comprised of the following:
Basis ineffectiveness	$	(597	)
Timing ineffectiveness	3,888
	$	3,291

Schedule of Cash Flow Hedging Instruments, Statements of Financial Performance and Financial Position, Location

The impact of our natural gas marketing segment cash flow hedges on our condensed consolidated income statements for the nine months endedJune 30, 2017 is presented below:

	Nine Months Ended   June 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Loss reclassified from AOCI for effective portion of natural gas marketing commodity contracts	$	(2,612	)
Gain arising from ineffective portion of natural gas marketing commodity contracts	111
Gain on discontinuance of cash flow hedging of natural gas marketing commodity contracts reclassified from AOCI	10,579
Total impact on purchased gas cost reflected in income from discontinued operations	$	8,078

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Nature of Business (Details)	Jun. 30, 2018 customer state regulated_distribution_division
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Number of customers serviced | customer	3,000,000
Number of regulated distribution divisions | regulated_distribution_division	6
Number of states with service areas | state	8

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Unaudited Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	$ 129,743	$ 176,798
Regulatory asset - future recoverable pension costs	7,100	9,400
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities	1,499,747	555,657
Regulatory excess deferred taxes
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities	737,746	0
Regulatory cost of service reserve
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities	30,930	0
Regulatory cost of removal obligation
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities	528,709	521,330
Deferred gas costs
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities	159,201	15,559
Asset retirement obligation
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities	12,827	12,827
APT annual adjustment mechanism
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities	20,551	0
Other
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities	9,783	5,941
Pension and postretirement benefit costs
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	17,546	26,826
Infrastructure mechanisms
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	77,387	46,437
Deferred gas costs
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	347	65,714
Recoverable loss on reacquired debt
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	9,328	11,208
Deferred pipeline record collection costs
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	16,963	11,692
APT annual adjustment mechanism
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	0	2,160
Rate case costs
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	3,041	2,629
Other
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	5,131	$ 10,132
Other Current Liabilities | Regulatory excess deferred taxes
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities	$ 4,200

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Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss [Abstract]
Total operating revenues	$ 562,245	$ 526,501	$ 2,670,846	$ 2,294,855
Purchased gas cost	130,886	114,176	1,124,763	852,975
Operation and maintenance expense	145,075	128,690	435,715	385,867
Depreciation and amortization expense	90,671	80,023	268,426	234,648
Taxes, other than income	72,620	62,948	208,400	185,611
Operating income	122,993	140,664	633,542	635,754
Miscellaneous expense	(2,003)	(289)	(4,291)	(450)
Interest charges	23,349	28,498	82,162	86,472
Income before income taxes	97,641	111,877	547,089	548,832
Income tax (benefit) expense	26,448	41,069	(17,228)	201,974
Income from continuing operations	71,193	70,808	564,317	346,858
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax			0	10,994
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax			0	2,716
Net income	71,193	70,808	564,317	360,568
Capital expenditures	394,494	252,763	1,088,472	812,148
Segment Reporting Information, Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, net	10,071,860		10,071,860		$ 9,259,182
Total assets	11,507,624		11,507,624		10,749,596
Operating Segments | Distribution
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss [Abstract]
Total operating revenues	535,488	494,060	2,595,571	2,211,257
Purchased gas cost	230,887	197,767	1,421,698	1,106,209
Operation and maintenance expense	111,895	99,631	347,623	296,048
Depreciation and amortization expense	66,504	62,760	197,587	185,219
Taxes, other than income	64,420	56,850	184,219	165,032
Operating income	61,782	77,052	444,444	458,749
Miscellaneous expense	(1,191)	(62)	(2,198)	334
Interest charges	13,315	18,394	51,581	56,437
Income before income taxes	47,276	58,596	390,665	402,646
Income tax (benefit) expense	11,932	22,082	(39,021)	149,623
Income from continuing operations				253,023
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax				0
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax				0
Net income	35,344	36,514	429,686	253,023
Capital expenditures	284,209	205,780	749,693	636,449
Segment Reporting Information, Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, net	7,427,486		7,427,486		6,849,517
Total assets	10,840,846		10,840,846		10,050,164
Operating Segments | Pipeline and Storage
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss [Abstract]
Total operating revenues	127,633	117,283	375,051	339,207
Purchased gas cost	561	1,251	1,906	2,331
Operation and maintenance expense	33,494	29,059	89,027	89,863
Depreciation and amortization expense	24,167	17,263	70,839	49,429
Taxes, other than income	8,200	6,098	24,181	20,579
Operating income	61,211	63,612	189,098	177,005
Miscellaneous expense	(812)	(227)	(2,093)	(784)
Interest charges	10,034	10,104	30,581	30,035
Income before income taxes	50,365	53,281	156,424	146,186
Income tax (benefit) expense	14,516	18,987	21,793	52,351
Income from continuing operations				93,835
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax				0
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax				0
Net income	35,849	34,294	134,631	93,835
Capital expenditures	110,285	46,983	338,779	175,699
Segment Reporting Information, Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,644,374		2,644,374		2,409,665
Total assets	2,866,266		2,866,266		2,621,601
Operating Segments | Natural Gas Marketing
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss [Abstract]
Total operating revenues		0		0
Purchased gas cost		0		0
Operation and maintenance expense		0		0
Depreciation and amortization expense		0		0
Taxes, other than income		0		0
Operating income		0		0
Miscellaneous expense		0		0
Interest charges		0		0
Income before income taxes		0		0
Income tax (benefit) expense		0		0
Income from continuing operations				0
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax				10,994
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax				2,716
Net income		0		13,710
Capital expenditures		0		0
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss [Abstract]
Total operating revenues	(100,876)	(84,842)	(299,776)	(255,609)
Purchased gas cost	(100,562)	(84,842)	(298,841)	(255,565)
Operation and maintenance expense	(314)	0	(935)	(44)
Depreciation and amortization expense	0	0	0	0
Taxes, other than income	0	0	0	0
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Miscellaneous expense	0	0	0	0
Interest charges	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	0	0	0	0
Income tax (benefit) expense	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations				0
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax				0
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax				0
Net income	0	0	0	0
Capital expenditures	0	0	0	0
Segment Reporting Information, Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, net	0		0		0
Total assets	(2,199,488)		(2,199,488)		$ (1,922,169)
Reportable Subsegments
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss [Abstract]
Total operating revenues	562,245	526,501	2,670,846	2,294,855
Reportable Subsegments | Distribution
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss [Abstract]
Total operating revenues	534,816	493,738	2,593,578	2,210,221
Reportable Subsegments | Pipeline and Storage
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss [Abstract]
Total operating revenues	27,429	32,763	77,268	84,634
Reportable Subsegments | Natural Gas Marketing
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss [Abstract]
Total operating revenues		0		0
Reportable Subsegments | Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss [Abstract]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Intersubsegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss [Abstract]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Intersubsegment Eliminations | Distribution
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss [Abstract]
Total operating revenues	672	322	1,993	1,036
Intersubsegment Eliminations | Pipeline and Storage
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss [Abstract]
Total operating revenues	100,204	84,520	297,783	254,573
Intersubsegment Eliminations | Natural Gas Marketing
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss [Abstract]
Total operating revenues		0		0
Intersubsegment Eliminations | Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss [Abstract]
Total operating revenues	$ (100,876)	$ (84,842)	$ (299,776)	$ (255,609)

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Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share from continuing operations
Income from continuing operations	$ 71,193	$ 70,808	$ 564,317	$ 346,858
Less: Income from continuing operations allocated to participating securities	59	75	545	424
Income from continuing operations available to common shareholders	$ 71,134	$ 70,733	$ 563,772	$ 346,434
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	111,851	106,364	110,707	105,862
Income from continuing operations per share — Basic and Diluted (USD per share)	$ 0.64	$ 0.67	$ 5.09	$ 3.27
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share from discontinued operations
Income from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 13,710
Less: Income from discontinued operations allocated to participating securities	0	0	0	15
Income from discontinued operations available to common shareholders	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 13,695
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	111,851	106,364	110,707	105,862
Income from discontinued operations per share — Basic and Diluted (USD per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.13
Net income per share — Basic and Diluted (USD per share)	$ 0.64	$ 0.67	$ 5.09	$ 3.40

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Debt - Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments (Details) - USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 3,085,000,000	$ 3,085,000,000
Original issue (premium) / discount on unsecured senior notes and debentures	(4,425,000)	(4,384,000)
Debt issuance cost	21,110,000	22,339,000
Current maturities	450,000,000	0
Long-term debt	2,618,315,000	3,067,045,000
Unsecured 8.50% Senior Notes, due March 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 450,000,000	$ 450,000,000
Interest rate	8.50%	8.50%
Unsecured 3.00% Senior Notes, due 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 500,000,000	$ 500,000,000
Interest rate	3.00%	3.00%
Unsecured 5.95% Senior Notes, due 2034
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 200,000,000	$ 200,000,000
Interest rate	5.95%	5.95%
Unsecured 5.50% Senior Notes, due 2041
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 400,000,000	$ 400,000,000
Interest rate	5.50%	5.50%
Unsecured 4.15% Senior Notes, due 2043
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 500,000,000	$ 500,000,000
Interest rate	4.15%	4.15%
Unsecured 4.125% Senior Notes, due 2044
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 750,000,000	$ 750,000,000
Interest rate	4.125%	4.125%
Medium-term note Series A, 1995-1, 6.67%, due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 10,000,000	$ 10,000,000
Interest rate	6.67%	6.67%
Unsecured 6.75% Debentures, due 2028
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 150,000,000	$ 150,000,000
Interest rate	6.75%	6.75%
Floating-rate term loan, due September 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 125,000,000	$ 125,000,000
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 200,000,000	$ 200,000,000

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Debt - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)		9 Months Ended
	Mar. 26, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 1,500,000,000
Maximum debt-to-total-capitalization ratio		70.00%
Debt-to-total-capitalization ratio		42.00%
Minimum
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Equity-to-total-capitalization ratio		50.00%
Outstanding indebtedness		$ 15,000,000
Maximum
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Equity-to-total-capitalization ratio		60.00%
Outstanding indebtedness		$ 100,000,000
Five Year Unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Outstanding commercial paper		244,800,000	$ 447,700,000
Five Year Unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement | Commercial Paper
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 1,500,000,000
Loan term		5 years
Loan extension term	1 year
Accordion feature		$ 250,000,000
Maximum borrowing capacity post accordion feature		1,750,000,000.00
$25 Million Bank Loan Agreement | Line of Credit
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		25,000,000
Outstanding borrowings		0
$10 Million Revolving Credit Note | Revolving Credit Facility
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		10,000,000
Outstanding borrowings		0
Remaining borrowing capacity		$ 4,400,000
LIBOR | Five Year Unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement | Commercial Paper | Minimum
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate spread		0.00%
LIBOR | Five Year Unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement | Commercial Paper | Maximum
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate spread		1.25%

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Impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Effective federal tax rate			24.50%
Reduction in deferred tax liability			$ 903,700
Regulated operations recorded as a regulatory liability	$ 738,200		738,200
Regulatory liability amortized	500
One-time tax benefit			165,500
Remeasured federal net operating loss carryforwards	270,700		270,700
Federal alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards	10,100		10,100
Remeasured charitable contribution carryforwards	5,300		5,300
State net operating loss carryforwards	21,200		21,200
State tax credit carryforwards	1,500		1,500
State net operating loss carryforwards, federal effects	5,600		5,600
State tax credit carryforwards, federal effects	400		400
Valuation allowance reduction		$ 4,200
Regulatory liability	1,499,747		$ 1,499,747	$ 555,657
Minimum
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Return issuance period			18 years
Maximum
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Return issuance period			40 years
Regulatory cost of service reserve
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Regulatory liability	$ 30,930		$ 30,930	$ 0

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Shareholders' Equity - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)		9 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Nov. 14, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 28, 2016
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock authorized (in shares)		200,000,000			200,000,000
Net proceeds from equity offering		$ 395,092,000	$ 98,755,000
Shelf Registration Statement
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Debt and equity securities authorized for issuance						$ 2,500,000,000
Debt and equity securities authorized for issuance value remaining		$ 650,000,000
At-The-Market
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Value of shares authorized for issuance				$ 500,000,000
Common stock sold (in shares)		0
Underwriting Agreement
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock authorized (in shares)	4,558,404
Gross proceeds from equity offering	$ 400,000,000
Net proceeds from equity offering	$ 395,100,000

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Shareholders' Equity - Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Shareholders' equity, beginning balance	$ 3,898,666
Shareholders' equity, ending balance	4,759,552
Available- for-Sale Securities
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Shareholders' equity, beginning balance	7,048	$ 4,484
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	148	1,485
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	(884)	68
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	(736)	1,553
Shareholders' equity, ending balance	6,312	6,037
Cash Flow Hedges | Interest rate agreements
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Shareholders' equity, beginning balance	(112,302)	(187,524)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	28,315	76,602
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	1,294	286
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	29,609	76,888
Shareholders' equity, ending balance	(82,693)	(110,636)
Cash Flow Hedges | Commodity contracts
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Shareholders' equity, beginning balance		(4,982)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		9,847
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income		(4,865)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)		4,982
Shareholders' equity, ending balance		0
AOCI Attributable to Parent
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Shareholders' equity, beginning balance	(105,254)	(188,022)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	28,463	87,934
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	410	(4,511)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	28,873	83,423
Shareholders' equity, ending balance	$ (76,381)	$ (104,599)

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Shareholders' Equity - Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Operation and maintenance expense	$ 145,075	$ 128,690	$ 435,715	$ 385,867
Total before tax	97,641	111,877	547,089	548,832
Income tax (benefit) expense	(26,448)	(41,069)	17,228	(201,974)
Interest charges	(23,349)	(28,498)	(82,162)	(86,472)
Purchased gas cost	130,886	114,176	1,124,763	852,975
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net of tax	(454)	(113)	(410)	4,511
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Available- for-Sale Securities
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Operation and maintenance expense	7		1,146	(107)
Total before tax	7		1,146	(107)
Income tax (benefit) expense	(2)		(262)	39
Net of tax	5		884	(68)
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Cash Flow Hedges
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Total before tax	(594)	(177)	(1,781)	7,517
Income tax (benefit) expense	135	64	487	(2,938)
Net of tax	(459)		(1,294)	4,579
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Cash Flow Hedges | Interest rate agreements
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Interest charges	$ (594)	$ (177)	$ (1,781)	(450)
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Cash Flow Hedges | Commodity contracts
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Purchased gas cost				$ 7,967

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Interim Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Information - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Jun. 05, 2018	Mar. 01, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Settlements loss			$ 900	$ 2,400
Discount rate	4.29%	4.12%	4.29%		3.89%	3.73%	4.29%	3.73%
Increase our net periodic pension cost	$ 200	$ 100
Other Benefits
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Settlements loss			$ 0			$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Discount rate			3.89%			3.73%	3.89%	3.73%
Benefit plan contribution amount							$ 11,400
Other Benefits | Minimum
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit plan expected contribution amount			$ 10,000				10,000
Other Benefits | Maximum
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit plan expected contribution amount			$ 20,000				$ 20,000

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Interim Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Information - Schedule of Net Benefit Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Pension Benefits
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	$ 4,794	$ 5,216	$ 13,929	$ 15,649
Interest cost	6,448	6,296	19,311	18,890
Expected return on assets	(6,917)	(6,993)	(20,750)	(20,981)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	(57)	(57)	(173)	(173)
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss	3,050	4,248	9,224	12,746
Settlements loss	888	0	3,303	0
Net periodic pension cost	8,206	8,710	24,844	26,131
Other Benefits
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	3,020	3,109	9,059	9,327
Interest cost	2,726	2,669	8,180	8,009
Expected return on assets	(2,002)	(1,796)	(6,005)	(5,389)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	2	(411)	8	(1,233)
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss	(1,618)	(706)	(4,855)	(2,120)
Settlements loss	0	0	0	0
Net periodic pension cost	$ 2,128	$ 2,865	$ 6,387	$ 8,594

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Interim Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Information - Schedule of Assumptions Used (Details)			3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Jun. 05, 2018	Mar. 01, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Discount rate	4.29%	4.12%	4.29%	3.89%	3.73%	4.29%	3.73%
Rate of compensation increase			3.50%		3.50%	3.50%	3.50%
Pension Benefits
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Discount rate			3.89%		3.73%	3.89%	3.73%
Rate of compensation increase			3.50%		3.50%	3.50%	3.50%
Expected return on plan assets			6.75%		7.00%	6.75%	7.00%
Other Benefits
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Discount rate			3.89%		3.73%	3.89%	3.73%
Expected return on plan assets			4.29%		4.45%	4.29%	4.45%

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Commitments and Contingencies (Details) $ in Millions		9 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) Bcf
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Self-insurance retention expense | $		$ 1.0
Civil Action, Dallas, Texas
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought | $	$ 1.0
Supply Commitment
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Purchase commitment contract term		1 year
Within one year | Supply Commitment
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Purchase commitment contract term		1 year
Purchase commitment amount within one year | Bcf		53,600
Within two to three years | Supply Commitment
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Purchase commitment amount within one year | Bcf		51,200
Minimum | Within two to three years | Supply Commitment
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Purchase commitment contract term		2 years
Maximum | Within two to three years | Supply Commitment
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Purchase commitment contract term		3 years

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Financial Instruments - Narrative (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) Bcf MMcf	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Derivative [Line Items]
Net realized gain (loss)	$ (48,700,000)		$ (48,700,000)
Net gain (loss) on settled interest rate agreements	$ (600,000)	$ (200,000)	$ (1,800,000)	$ (500,000)
Gas Purchases | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Commodity contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Hedging percent	26.00%		26.00%
Energy measure | Bcf			15,000
Minimum | Gas Purchases | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Commodity contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Hedging percent	25.00%		25.00%
Maximum | Gas Purchases | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Commodity contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Hedging percent	50.00%		50.00%
Cash Flow Hedging | Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest Rate Swap
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	$ 450,000,000		$ 450,000,000
Interest rate hedged	3.78%		3.78%
Long | Gas Purchases | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Commodity contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Energy measure | MMcf			11,446

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Financial Instruments - Schedule of Derivative Instruments in Statement of Financial Position, Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Financial Instruments, Assets	$ 977	$ 3,239
Contract netting, Assets	0	0
Net Financial Instruments, Assets	977	3,239
Cash collateral, Assets	0	0
Net Assets/Liabilities from Risk Management Activities, Assets	977	3,239
Gross Financial Instruments, Liabilities	(76,504)	(112,398)
Contract netting, Liabilities	0	0
Net Financial Instruments, Liabilities	(76,504)	(112,398)
Cash collateral, Liabilities	0	0
Net Assets/Liabilities from Risk Management Activities, Liabilities	(76,504)	(112,398)
Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Financial Instruments, Assets	0	0
Gross Financial Instruments, Liabilities	(75,763)	(112,076)
Designated as Hedging Instrument | Other Current Assets | Interest rate agreements
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Financial Instruments, Assets	0
Designated as Hedging Instrument | Other Current Liabilities | Interest rate agreements
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Financial Instruments, Liabilities	(75,763)
Designated as Hedging Instrument | Deferred Charges and Other Assets | Interest rate agreements
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Financial Instruments, Assets		0
Designated as Hedging Instrument | Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities | Interest rate agreements
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Financial Instruments, Liabilities		(112,076)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Financial Instruments, Assets	977	3,239
Gross Financial Instruments, Liabilities	(741)	(322)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Other Current Assets | Commodity contracts
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Financial Instruments, Assets	869	2,436
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Other Current Liabilities | Commodity contracts
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Financial Instruments, Liabilities	(741)	(322)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Deferred Charges and Other Assets | Commodity contracts
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Financial Instruments, Assets	108	803
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities | Commodity contracts
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Financial Instruments, Liabilities	$ 0	$ 0

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Financial Instruments - Schedule of Cash Flow Hedges Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Increase (decrease) in fair value:
Interest rate agreements	$ 7,861	$ (18,669)	$ 28,315	$ 76,602
Forward commodity contracts	0	0	0	9,847
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Interest rate agreements	459	113	1,294	286
Forward commodity contracts	0	0	0	(4,865)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) from hedging, net of tax	$ 8,320	$ (18,556)	$ 29,609	$ 81,870
Minimum
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Effective income tax rate				37.00%
Maximum
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Effective income tax rate				39.00%

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Financial Instruments - Schedule Of Expected Deferred Gains (Losses) Recognition (Details) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest Rate Agreements	$ (48,656)
Next twelve months
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest Rate Agreements	(1,848)
Thereafter
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest Rate Agreements	$ (46,808)

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Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Netting and Cash Collateral	$ 0	$ 0
Financial instruments net assets	977	3,239
Total available-for-sale securities	97,424	88,409
Total assets	98,401	91,648
Netting and Cash Collateral	0	0
Financial instruments net liability	76,504	112,398
Registered investment companies
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale securities	43,548	41,097
Bond mutual funds
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale securities	21,378	16,371
Bonds
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale securities	30,303	29,104
Money market funds
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale securities	2,195	1,837
Fair Value Inputs Level 1
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial instruments gross assets	0	0
Total available-for-sale securities	64,926	57,468
Total assets	64,926	57,468
Financial instruments gross liability	0	0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 | Registered investment companies
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale securities	43,548	41,097
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 | Bond mutual funds
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale securities	21,378	16,371
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 | Bonds
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale securities	0	0
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 | Money market funds
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale securities	0	0
Fair Value Inputs Level 2
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial instruments gross assets	977	3,239
Total available-for-sale securities	32,498	30,941
Total assets	33,475	34,180
Financial instruments gross liability	76,504	112,398
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 | Registered investment companies
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale securities	0	0
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 | Bond mutual funds
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale securities	0	0
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 | Bonds
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale securities	30,303	29,104
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 | Money market funds
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale securities	2,195	1,837
Fair Value Inputs Level 3
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial instruments gross assets	0	0
Total available-for-sale securities	0	0
Total assets	0	0
Financial instruments gross liability	0	0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 | Registered investment companies
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale securities	0	0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 | Bond mutual funds
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale securities	0	0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 | Bonds
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale securities	0	0
Fair Value Inputs Level 3 | Money market funds
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale securities	$ 0	$ 0

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Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities Reconciliation Table (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 87,241	$ 77,244
Gross Unrealized Gain	10,910	11,203
Gross Unrealized Loss	(727)	(38)
Fair Value	97,424	88,409
Domestic equity mutual funds
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	28,283	25,361
Gross Unrealized Gain	8,973	8,920
Gross Unrealized Loss	(293)	0
Fair Value	36,963	34,281
Foreign equity mutual funds
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	4,656	4,581
Gross Unrealized Gain	1,929	2,235
Gross Unrealized Loss	0	0
Fair Value	6,585	6,816
Bond mutual funds
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	21,673	16,391
Gross Unrealized Gain	0	2
Gross Unrealized Loss	(295)	(22)
Fair Value	21,378	16,371
Bonds
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	30,434	29,074
Gross Unrealized Gain	8	46
Gross Unrealized Loss	(139)	(16)
Fair Value	30,303	29,104
Money market funds
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	2,195	1,837
Gross Unrealized Gain	0	0
Gross Unrealized Loss	0	0
Fair Value	$ 2,195	$ 1,837

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Fair Value Measurements - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Assets held in separate rabbi trusts	$ 45.7	$ 42.9

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Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values of Debt Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Total long-term debt	$ 3,085,000	$ 3,085,000
Fair Value	$ 3,216,893	$ 3,382,272

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Discontinued Operations - Narrative (Details) - Natural Gas Marketing - Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2017	Jan. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Cash purchase price	$ 38.3
Working capital	109.0
Total consideration	147.3
Escrow deposit	$ 7.0
Escrow released		$ 3.0
Net gain per diluted share (USD per share)			$ 0.03
Pretax gain recognized				$ 10.6
Cash flow hedge ineffectiveness				3.4
Decrease in purchased gas cost				$ 6.8

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Discontinued Operations - Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income tax expense			$ 0	$ 6,841
Income from discontinued operations			0	10,994
Gain on sale from discontinued operations, net of tax ($10,215)			0	2,716
Net income from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 0	0	13,710
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, tax			$ 0	10,215
Natural Gas Marketing | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Operating revenues				303,474
Purchased gas cost				277,554
Operating expenses				7,874
Operating income				18,046
Other nonoperating expense				(211)
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes				17,835
Income tax expense				6,841
Income from discontinued operations				10,994
Gain on sale from discontinued operations, net of tax ($10,215)				2,716
Net income from discontinued operations				13,710
Depreciation and amortization expense				185
Capital expenditures				0
Non-cash loss in commodity contract cash flow hedges				$ (8,165)

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Discontinued Operations - Schedule of Fair Value Hedging Instruments, Statements of Financial Performance and Financial Position, Location (Details) - Natural Gas Marketing - Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Commodity contracts	$ (9,567)
Fair value adjustment for natural gas inventory designated as the hedged item	12,858
Total decrease in purchased gas cost reflected in income from discontinued operations	3,291
The decrease in purchased gas cost reflected in income from discontinued operations is comprised of the following:
Basis ineffectiveness	(597)
Timing ineffectiveness	3,888
Total decrease in purchased gas cost reflected in income from discontinued operations	$ 3,291

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Discontinued Operations - Schedule of Cash Flow Hedging Instruments, Statements of Financial Performance and Financial Position, Location (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain on discontinuance of cash flow hedging of natural gas marketing commodity contracts reclassified from AOCI	$ 0	$ 10,579
Natural Gas Marketing | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss reclassified from AOCI for effective portion of natural gas marketing commodity contracts		(2,612)
Gain arising from ineffective portion of natural gas marketing commodity contracts		111
Gain on discontinuance of cash flow hedging of natural gas marketing commodity contracts reclassified from AOCI		10,579
Total impact on purchased gas cost reflected in income from discontinued operations		$ 8,078