CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
ASSETS
Property, plant and equipment	$ 21,958,447	$ 19,402,271
Construction in progress	939,927	835,868
Total property, plant and equipment and construction in progress	22,898,374	20,238,139
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	3,291,791	2,997,900
Net property, plant and equipment	19,606,583	17,240,239
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	15,404	51,554
Restricted cash and cash equivalents (See Note 10)	3,844	0
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents	19,248	51,554
Accounts receivable, less allowance for uncollectible accounts of $40,840 in 2023 and $49,993 in 2022	328,654	363,708
Gas stored underground	245,830	357,941
Other current assets (See Note 3)	292,036	2,274,490
Total current assets	885,768	3,047,693
Securitized intangible asset, less accumulated amortization of $1,398 in 2023 (See Note 10)	92,202	0
Goodwill	731,257	731,257
Deferred charges and other assets	1,201,158	1,173,800
Total assets	22,516,968	22,192,989
Shareholders’ equity
Common stock, no par value (stated at $0.005 per share); 200,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding: 2023 — 148,492,783 shares; 2022 — 140,896,598 shares	742	704
Additional paid-in capital	6,684,120	5,838,118
Accumulated other comprehensive income	518,528	369,112
Retained earnings	3,666,674	3,211,157
Shareholders’ equity	10,870,064	9,419,091
Long-term debt	6,554,133	5,760,647
Securitized long-term debt (See Note 10)	85,078	0
Total capitalization	17,509,275	15,179,738
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 14)
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	336,083	496,019
Other current liabilities	763,086	720,157
Short-term debt	241,933	184,967
Current maturities of long-term debt	1,568	2,201,457
Current maturities of securitized long-term debt (See Note 10)	9,922	0
Total current liabilities	1,352,592	3,602,600
Deferred income taxes	2,304,974	1,999,505
Regulatory excess deferred taxes (See Note 15)	253,212	385,213
Regulatory cost of removal obligation	497,017	487,631
Deferred credits and other liabilities	599,898	538,302
Total shareholders' equity and liabilities	$ 22,516,968	$ 22,192,989