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Increase to maximum ratio of indebtedness to EBITDA.

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The interest coverage ratio.

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Ratio of debt to EBITDA.

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Aggregate dividends paid during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

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Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

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Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

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Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

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Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Percentage price of original principal amount of debt at which debt can be redeemed by the issuer.

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Percentage of principal amount of debt redeemed.

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Amount, before accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs.

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Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

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The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

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No definition available.

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Amount of cash outflow in the form of ordinary dividends to common shareholders of the parent entity.

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The remaining balance of debt issuance expenses that were capitalized and are being amortized against income over the lives of the respective bond issues. This does not include the amounts capitalized as part of the cost of the utility plant or asset.

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Debt - Credit Agreements (Details)		12 Months Ended
Debt - Credit Agreements (Details)	Sep. 14, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 26, 2021 USD ($) item $ / shares	Dec. 27, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 29, 2019 USD ($)
Debt
Outstanding debt		$ 490,000,000	$ 350,000,000
Quarterly dividend paid per common share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares		$ 1.15
Debt issuance costs		$ 9,270,000	1,708,000
Incurred amendment fees		2,100,000
Dividends paid to common shareholders		40,356,000	29,362,000	$ 28,552,000
PJI Facilities
Debt
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 600,000,000.0
Number of quarters in interest margin period \| item		4
Additional amount that company has option to increase borrowing capacity		$ 500,000,000.0
Line of credit facility, remaining availability		$ 510,000,000.0
PJI Facilities \| Minimum
Debt
Percentage of commitment fee on unused credit facility		0.18%
PJI Facilities \| Maximum
Debt
Percentage of commitment fee on unused credit facility		0.30%
PJI Facilities \| LIBOR
Debt
Interest margin rate on debt		1.00%
PJI Facilities \| LIBOR \| Minimum
Debt
Interest margin rate on debt		1.25%
PJI Facilities \| LIBOR \| Maximum
Debt
Interest margin rate on debt		2.00%
PJI Facilities \| Base rate \| Minimum
Debt
Interest margin rate on debt		0.25%
PJI Facilities \| Base rate \| Maximum
Debt
Interest margin rate on debt		1.00%
PJI Facilities \| Federal funds rate
Debt
Interest margin rate on debt		0.50%
Amendment to Credit Agreement \| Minimum
Debt
Interest coverage ratio		2.00
Amendment to Credit Agreement \| Maximum
Debt
Leverage Ratio		5.25
Increase to maximum leverage ratio		0.50
PJMF Revolving Facility
Debt
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 20,000,000.0
Outstanding debt		$ 0	$ 0
Applicable interest rate			2.70%	4.10%
PJMF Revolving Facility \| One-month LIBOR
Debt
Interest margin rate on debt		1.75%
Notes
Debt
Principal amount	$ 400,000,000.0
Outstanding debt		$ 400,000,000
Fixed interest rate	3.875%	3.875%
Unamortized debt issuance costs	$ 7,100,000
Notes \| Redemption at any time prior to September 15, 2024
Debt
Redemption price percentage	100.00%
Notes \| Redemption upto 40% at any time prior to September 15,2024
Debt
Redemption price percentage	103.875%
Notes \| Minimum \| Redemption at any time prior to September 15, 2024
Debt
Redemption price percentage	0.97%
Notes \| Maximum \| Redemption at any time prior to September 15, 2024
Debt
Redemption price percentage	1.94%
Notes \| Maximum \| Redemption upto 40% at any time prior to September 15,2024
Debt
Redemption percentage	40.00%
Swingline loans
Debt
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 40,000,000.0
Revolving line of credit
Debt
Outstanding debt		90,000,000	$ 10,000,000
Revolving line of credit \| PJI Facilities
Debt
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		50,000,000.0
Term Loan Facility
Debt
Outstanding debt			$ 340,000,000
Letter of credit
Debt
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 80,000,000.0