COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: GUARANTEES — As of September 30, 2017, SJI had issued $6.0 million of parental guarantees on behalf of an unconsolidated subsidiary. These guarantees generally expire within the next two years and were issued to enable the subsidiary to market retail natural gas. GAS SUPPLY CONTRACTS - In the normal course of business, SJG and SJRG have entered into long-term contracts for natural gas supplies, firm transportation and gas storage service. The transportation and storage service agreements with interstate pipeline suppliers were made under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved tariffs. SJG's cumulative obligation for gas supply-related demand charges and reservation fees paid to suppliers for these services averages approximately $6.1 million per month and is recovered on a current basis through the BGSS. SJRG's cumulative obligation for demand charges and reservation fees paid to suppliers for these services is approximately $0.5 million per month. SJRG has also committed to purchase a minimum of 635,000 dts/d and up to 1,029,000 dts/d of natural gas, from various suppliers, for terms ranging from 3 to 10 years at index-based prices. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS — Unionized personnel represent approximately 40% and 58% of SJI's and SJG's workforce at September 30, 2017, respectively. SJI 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 2018. SJG's remaining unionized employees are represented by the IAM and operate under a collective bargaining agreement that runs through August 2021. STANDBY LETTERS OF CREDIT — As of September 30, 2017, SJI provided $10.0 million of standby letters of credit through its revolving credit facility to enable SJE to market retail electricity and for various construction and operating activities. SJG provided a $0.8 million letter of credit under its revolving credit facility to support the remediation of environmental conditions at certain locations in SJG's service territory. SJG has provided $25.2 million of additional letters of credit under a separate facility 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. In May 2017, Marina redeemed its variable-rate demand bonds (see Note 14) and the related letters of credit reimbursement agreements, which totaled $62.3 million, were terminated. PENDING LITIGATION — SJI and SJG are subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of business and other legal proceedings. SJI has been named in, among other actions, certain gas supply and capacity management contract disputes and certain product liability claims related to our former sand mining subsidiary. SJI is currently involved in a pricing dispute related to two long-term gas supply contracts. On May 8, 2017, a jury from the United States District Court for the District of Colorado returned a verdict in favor of the supplier. On July 21, 2017, the Court entered Final Judgment against SJG and SJRG. As a result of this ruling, SJG and SJRG have accrued $19.2 million and $50.5 million, respectively, through September 30, 2017. We believe that the amount to be paid by SJG reflects a gas cost that ultimately will be recovered from SJG’s customers through adjusted rates. As such, this amount was recorded as both an Accounts Payable and a reduction of Regulatory Liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets of both SJI and SJG as of September 30, 2017. The amount associated with SJRG was also recorded as an Accounts Payable on the condensed consolidated balance sheets of SJI as of September 30, 2017, with charges of $5.5 million and $46.5 million to Cost of Sales - Nonutility on the condensed consolidated statements of income of SJI for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. SJI also recorded $4.0 million to Interest Charges on the condensed consolidated statements of income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. SJI intends to appeal this judgment. During the pendency of the appeal, SJI continues to dispute the supplier invoices received, and has created a reserve to reflect the difference between the invoiced and paid amounts. SJI was involved in a dispute in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia related to a three-year capacity management contract with a counterparty. The counterparty claimed that it was owed approximately $13.3 million, plus interest, from SJRG under a sharing credit within the contract. SJI settled with the counterparty for $9.5 million, which amount was recorded to Cost of Sales - Nonutility on the condensed consolidated statements of income during the second quarter of 2017. SJI made payment in September 2017. Liabilities related to claims are accrued when the amount or range of amounts of probable settlement costs or other charges for these claims can be reasonably estimated. For matters other than the pricing dispute related to two long-term gas supply contracts, as well as the dispute related to a three-year capacity management contract, both noted above, SJI has accrued approximately $3.0 million and $3.1 million related to all claims in the aggregate as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, of which SJG has accrued approximately $0.7 million and $0.6 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Although SJI and SJG do not presently believe that these matters will have a material adverse effect on its business, given the inherent uncertainties in such situations, SJI and SJG can provide no assurance regarding the outcome of litigation. ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION COSTS — SJG 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. Other than the changes discussed in Note 8 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, there have been no changes to the status of SJI’s environmental remediation efforts since December 31, 2016, as described in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and in Note 12 to the Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJG’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

GUARANTEES — As of September 30, 2017, SJI had issued $6.0 million of parental guarantees on behalf of an unconsolidated subsidiary. These guarantees generally expire within the next two years and were issued to enable the subsidiary to market retail natural gas.

GAS SUPPLY CONTRACTS - In the normal course of business, SJG and SJRG have entered into long-term contracts for natural gas supplies, firm transportation and gas storage service. The transportation and storage service agreements with interstate pipeline suppliers were made under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved tariffs. SJG's cumulative obligation for gas supply-related demand charges and reservation fees paid to suppliers for these services averages approximately $6.1 million per month and is recovered on a current basis through the BGSS. SJRG's cumulative obligation for demand charges and reservation fees paid to suppliers for these services is approximately $0.5 million per month. SJRG has also committed to purchase a minimum of 635,000 dts/d and up to 1,029,000 dts/d of natural gas, from various suppliers, for terms ranging from 3 to 10 years at index-based prices.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS — Unionized personnel represent approximately 40% and 58% of SJI's and SJG's workforce at September 30, 2017, respectively. SJI 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 2018. SJG's remaining unionized employees are represented by the IAM and operate under a collective bargaining agreement that runs through August 2021.

STANDBY LETTERS OF CREDIT — As of September 30, 2017, SJI provided $10.0 million of standby letters of credit through its revolving credit facility to enable SJE to market retail electricity and for various construction and operating activities. SJG provided a $0.8 million letter of credit under its revolving credit facility to support the remediation of environmental conditions at certain locations in SJG's service territory. SJG has provided $25.2 million of additional letters of credit under a separate facility 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. In May 2017, Marina redeemed its variable-rate demand bonds (see Note 14) and the related letters of credit reimbursement agreements, which totaled $62.3 million, were terminated.

PENDING LITIGATION — SJI and SJG are subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of business and other legal proceedings. SJI has been named in, among other actions, certain gas supply and capacity management contract disputes and certain product liability claims related to our former sand mining subsidiary.

SJI is currently involved in a pricing dispute related to two long-term gas supply contracts. On May 8, 2017, a jury from the United States District Court for the District of Colorado returned a verdict in favor of the supplier. On July 21, 2017, the Court entered Final Judgment against SJG and SJRG. As a result of this ruling, SJG and SJRG have accrued $19.2 million and $50.5 million, respectively, through September 30, 2017. We believe that the amount to be paid by SJG reflects a gas cost that ultimately will be recovered from SJG’s customers through adjusted rates. As such, this amount was recorded as both an Accounts Payable and a reduction of Regulatory Liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets of both SJI and SJG as of September 30, 2017. The amount associated with SJRG was also recorded as an Accounts Payable on the condensed consolidated balance sheets of SJI as of September 30, 2017, with charges of $5.5 million and $46.5 million to Cost of Sales - Nonutility on the condensed consolidated statements of income of SJI for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. SJI also recorded $4.0 million to Interest Charges on the condensed consolidated statements of income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. SJI intends to appeal this judgment. During the pendency of the appeal, SJI continues to dispute the supplier invoices received, and has created a reserve to reflect the difference between the invoiced and paid amounts.

SJI was involved in a dispute in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia related to a three-year capacity management contract with a counterparty. The counterparty claimed that it was owed approximately $13.3 million, plus interest, from SJRG under a sharing credit within the contract. SJI settled with the counterparty for $9.5 million, which amount was recorded to Cost of Sales - Nonutility on the condensed consolidated statements of income during the second quarter of 2017. SJI made payment in September 2017.

Liabilities related to claims are accrued when the amount or range of amounts of probable settlement costs or other charges for these claims can be reasonably estimated. For matters other than the pricing dispute related to two long-term gas supply contracts, as well as the dispute related to a three-year capacity management contract, both noted above, SJI has accrued approximately $3.0 million and $3.1 million related to all claims in the aggregate as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, of which SJG has accrued approximately $0.7 million and $0.6 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Although SJI and SJG do not presently believe that these matters will have a material adverse effect on its business, given the inherent uncertainties in such situations, SJI and SJG can provide no assurance regarding the outcome of litigation.

ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION COSTS — SJG 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. Other than the changes discussed in Note 8 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, there have been no changes to the status of SJI’s environmental remediation efforts since December 31, 2016, as described in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and in Note 12 to the Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJG’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.