COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: GUARANTEES — The Company has recorded a liability of $0.3 million which is included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities with a corresponding increase in Investment in Affiliates on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2013 for the fair value of the following guarantees: In April 2007, SJI guaranteed certain obligations of LVE Energy Partners, LLC (LVE), an unconsolidated joint venture in which Marina has a 50% equity interest. LVE entered into a 25-year contract with a resort developer to design, build, own and operate a district energy system and central energy center for a planned resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. LVE began construction of the facility in 2007 and expected to provide full energy service in 2010 when the resort was originally scheduled to be completed. LVE suspended construction of the district energy system and central energy center in January 2009 after the resort developer’s announcement that it was delaying the completion of construction of the resort. In March 2013, the resort developer purchased substantially all of the assets of LVE. As a result, the guarantees provided by SJI of certain performance obligations of LVE under the operating agreements between LVE and the resort developer were canceled. During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company received $57.6 million of repayments of advances from LVE. As of June 30, 2013, the Company had remaining unsecured Notes Receivable - Affiliate of approximately $7.0 million due from LVE on the condensed consolidated balance sheets related to this project. During 2013, SJI provided support to LVE of approximately $1.8 million to cover interest and other project related costs. As a result of the sale of substantially all of the assets, management has evaluated the investment in LVE and concluded that the fair value of this investment continues to be in excess of the carrying value as of June 30, 2013. SJI and its joint venture partner have guaranteed the repayment of interest rate derivative contracts held by LVE which mature in November 2013. As of June 30, 2013 the amount required to satisfy these contracts is approximately $3.2 million. LVE is expected to have sufficient resources to satisfy these interest rate derivative contracts upon the liquidation of its remaining assets. SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on this guarantee. SJI has guaranteed certain obligations of WC Landfill Energy, LLC (WCLE) and BC Landfill Energy, LLC (BCLE), unconsolidated joint ventures in which Marina has a 50% equity interest through Energenic. WCLE and BCLE have entered into agreements through 2018 and 2027, respectively, with the respective county governments to lease and operate facilities that will produce electricity from landfill methane gas. Although unlikely, the maximum amount that SJI could be obligated for, in the event that WCLE and BCLE do not meet minimum specified levels of operating performance and no mitigating action is taken, or are unable to meet certain financial obligations as they become due, is approximately $4.2 million each year. SJI and its partner in these joint ventures have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on these guarantees. SJI holds variable interests in WCLE and BCLE but is not the primary beneficiary. In February 2011, ACR Energy Partners, LLC (ACR), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energenic, of which Marina has a 50% equity interest, entered into a 20 year contract with a developer to build, own and operate a central energy center and energy distribution system for a new hotel, casino and entertainment complex in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The complex commenced operations in April 2012 and as a result, ACR is providing full energy services to the complex. Marina and its joint venture partner have agreed to provide a $5.0 million letter of credit to support certain operating performance obligations of ACR under the operating agreements between ACR and the developer. SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI to or on behalf of ACR. In May 2012, UMM Energy Partners, LLC (UMM), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energenic, of which Marina has a 50% equity interest, entered into a 30 year contract with a public university to build, own and operate a combined heating, cooling and power system for its main campus in New Jersey. The system is expected to be completed during the second half of 2013. Marina and its joint venture partner are obligated to make capital contributions to UMM, through Energenic, totaling approximately $10.0 million. In addition, SJI has guaranteed certain obligations of UMM under the operating and lease agreements between UMM and the university, for the terms of the agreements, commencing with the first year of operations. SJI has guaranteed up to $2.2 million for the first year. This amount is adjusted each year based upon the Consumer Price Index. SJI has also guaranteed certain construction obligations of UMM during the construction period, the majority of which are supported by a surety bond. SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on these guarantees. As of June 30, 2013, SJI had issued $5.1 million of guarantees on behalf of an unconsolidated subsidiary. These guarantees generally expire within the next two years and were issued to enable our subsidiary to market retail natural gas. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS — Unionized personnel represent approximately 45.0% of our workforce at June 30, 2013. The Company has collective bargaining agreements with two unions that represent these employees: the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1293 and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 76. SJG employees represented by the IBEW operate under a collective bargaining agreement that runs through February 28, 2017. SJESP employees represented by the IBEW operate under a collective bargaining agreement that runs through February 28, 2014. The remaining unionized employees are represented by the IAM and operate under collective bargaining agreements that expire in August 2014. STANDBY LETTERS OF CREDIT — As of June 30, 2013, SJI provided $27.6 million of standby letters of credit through SJI’s revolving credit facility to enable SJE to market retail electricity and for various construction activities. The Company has also provided $87.6 million of additional letters of credit under separate facilities outside of the revolving credit facility to support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to finance the expansion of SJG’s natural gas distribution system and to finance Marina's initial thermal plant project. PENDING LITIGATION — The Company is subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of business and other legal proceedings. The Company has been named in, among other actions, certain product liability claims related to our former sand mining subsidiary. We accrue liabilities related to these claims when we can reasonably estimate the amount or range of amounts of probable settlement costs or other charges for these claims. The Company has accrued approximately $3.2 million related to all claims in the aggregate as of both June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. Management does not believe that it is reasonably possible that there will be a material change in the Company's estimated liability in the near term and does not currently anticipate the disposition of any known claims that would have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION COSTS — SJI incurred and recorded costs for environmental cleanup of 12 sites where SJG or its predecessors operated gas manufacturing plants. SJG stopped manufacturing gas in the 1950s. SJI and some of its nonutility subsidiaries also recorded costs for environmental cleanup of sites where SJF previously operated a fuel oil business and Morie maintained equipment, fueling stations and storage. There have been no changes to the status of the Company’s environmental remediation efforts since December 31, 2012 as described in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2012.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

GUARANTEES — The Company has recorded a liability of $0.3 million which is included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities with a corresponding increase in Investment in Affiliates on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2013 for the fair value of the following guarantees:

In April 2007, SJI guaranteed certain obligations of LVE Energy Partners, LLC (LVE), an unconsolidated joint venture in which Marina has a 50% equity interest. LVE entered into a 25-year contract with a resort developer to design, build, own and operate a district energy system and central energy center for a planned resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. LVE began construction of the facility in 2007 and expected to provide full energy service in 2010 when the resort was originally scheduled to be completed. LVE suspended construction of the district energy system and central energy center in January 2009 after the resort developer’s announcement that it was delaying the completion of construction of the resort.

In March 2013, the resort developer purchased substantially all of the assets of LVE. As a result, the guarantees provided by SJI of certain performance obligations of LVE under the operating agreements between LVE and the resort developer were canceled.

During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company received $57.6 million of repayments of advances from LVE. As of June 30, 2013, the Company had remaining unsecured Notes Receivable - Affiliate of approximately $7.0 million due from LVE on the condensed consolidated balance sheets related to this project. During 2013, SJI provided support to LVE of approximately $1.8 million to cover interest and other project related costs.

As a result of the sale of substantially all of the assets, management has evaluated the investment in LVE and concluded that the fair value of this investment continues to be in excess of the carrying value as of June 30, 2013.

SJI and its joint venture partner have guaranteed the repayment of interest rate derivative contracts held by LVE which mature in November 2013. As of June 30, 2013 the amount required to satisfy these contracts is approximately $3.2 million. LVE is expected to have sufficient resources to satisfy these interest rate derivative contracts upon the liquidation of its remaining assets. SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on this guarantee.

SJI has guaranteed certain obligations of WC Landfill Energy, LLC (WCLE) and BC Landfill Energy, LLC (BCLE), unconsolidated joint ventures in which Marina has a 50% equity interest through Energenic. WCLE and BCLE have entered into agreements through 2018 and 2027, respectively, with the respective county governments to lease and operate facilities that will produce electricity from landfill methane gas. Although unlikely, the maximum amount that SJI could be obligated for, in the event that WCLE and BCLE do not meet minimum specified levels of operating performance and no mitigating action is taken, or are unable to meet certain financial obligations as they become due, is approximately $4.2 million each year. SJI and its partner in these joint ventures have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on these guarantees. SJI holds variable interests in WCLE and BCLE but is not the primary beneficiary.

In February 2011, ACR Energy Partners, LLC (ACR), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energenic, of which Marina has a 50% equity interest, entered into a 20 year contract with a developer to build, own and operate a central energy center and energy distribution system for a new hotel, casino and entertainment complex in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The complex commenced operations in April 2012 and as a result, ACR is providing full energy services to the complex. Marina and its joint venture partner have agreed to provide a $5.0 million letter of credit to support certain operating performance obligations of ACR under the operating agreements between ACR and the developer. SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI to or on behalf of ACR.

In May 2012, UMM Energy Partners, LLC (UMM), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energenic, of which Marina has a 50% equity interest, entered into a 30 year contract with a public university to build, own and operate a combined heating, cooling and power system for its main campus in New Jersey. The system is expected to be completed during the second half of 2013. Marina and its joint venture partner are obligated to make capital contributions to UMM, through Energenic, totaling approximately $10.0 million. In addition, SJI has guaranteed certain obligations of UMM under the operating and lease agreements between UMM and the university, for the terms of the agreements, commencing with the first year of operations. SJI has guaranteed up to $2.2 million for the first year. This amount is adjusted each year based upon the Consumer Price Index. SJI has also guaranteed certain construction obligations of UMM during the construction period, the majority of which are supported by a surety bond. SJI and its partner in this joint venture have entered into reimbursement agreements that secure reimbursement for SJI of a proportionate share of any payments made by SJI on these guarantees.

As of June 30, 2013, SJI had issued $5.1 million of guarantees on behalf of an unconsolidated subsidiary. These guarantees generally expire within the next two years and were issued to enable our subsidiary to market retail natural gas.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS — Unionized personnel represent approximately 45.0% of our workforce at June 30, 2013. The Company has collective bargaining agreements with two unions that represent these employees: the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1293 and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 76. SJG employees represented by the IBEW operate under a collective bargaining agreement that runs through February 28, 2017. SJESP employees represented by the IBEW operate under a collective bargaining agreement that runs through February 28, 2014. The remaining unionized employees are represented by the IAM and operate under collective bargaining agreements that expire in August 2014.

STANDBY LETTERS OF CREDIT — As of June 30, 2013, SJI provided $27.6 million of standby letters of credit through SJI’s revolving credit facility to enable SJE to market retail electricity and for various construction activities. The Company has also provided $87.6 million of additional letters of credit under separate facilities outside of the revolving credit facility to support variable-rate demand bonds issued through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to finance the expansion of SJG’s natural gas distribution system and to finance Marina's initial thermal plant project.

PENDING LITIGATION — The Company is subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of business and other legal proceedings. The Company has been named in, among other actions, certain product liability claims related to our former sand mining subsidiary. We accrue liabilities related to these claims when we can reasonably estimate the amount or range of amounts of probable settlement costs or other charges for these claims. The Company has accrued approximately $3.2 million related to all claims in the aggregate as of both June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. Management does not believe that it is reasonably possible that there will be a material change in the Company's estimated liability in the near term and does not currently anticipate the disposition of any known claims that would have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION COSTS — SJI incurred and recorded costs for environmental cleanup of 12 sites where SJG or its predecessors operated gas manufacturing plants. SJG stopped manufacturing gas in the 1950s. SJI and some of its nonutility subsidiaries also recorded costs for environmental cleanup of sites where SJF previously operated a fuel oil business and Morie maintained equipment, fueling stations and storage. There have been no changes to the status of the Company’s environmental remediation efforts since December 31, 2012 as described in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2012.