PREFERRED STOCK	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Equity [Abstract]
PREFERRED STOCK	PREFERRED STOCK: REDEEMABLE CUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK - SJI has 2,500,000 authorized shares of Preference Stock, no par value, which has not been issued.

The entire disclosure for terms, amounts, nature of changes, rights and privileges, dividends, and other matters related to preferred stock.

No definition available.

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