RATES AND REGULATORY ACTIONS	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Abstract]
RATES AND REGULATORY ACTIONS	RATES AND REGULATORY ACTIONS: SJG and ETG are subject to the rules and regulations of the BPU. ELK is subject to the rules and regulations of the MPSC. Except as described below, there have been no other significant regulatory actions or changes to the Utilities' rate structure since December 31, 2019. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI's and SJG's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. SJG: In the first quarter of 2020, the final rates were approved by the BPU on SJG's 2019-2020 annual BGSS, CIP and SBC/TIC filings. All were approved as previously requested. The BGSS and CIP approvals do not impact SJG's earnings. They represent changes in the cash requirements of SJG corresponding to cost changes and/or previous over/under recoveries from ratepayers associated with each respective mechanism. In May 2020, the BPU issued an Order resolving SJG’s 2019 Compliance Filing and 2019 Tax Act Rider petition, with a revised Rider H credit rate effective June 1, 2020. The terms of settlement include the following: •The “Unprotected” EDIT balance of approximately $44.7 million will be refunded to customers over a 5 year period through the approved rider; •The net “Protected” EDIT regulatory liability of $149.4 million (regulatory liability of $181.0 million partially offset by a regulatory asset of $31.6 million) will be refunded to customers through a proposed base rate adjustment in SJG’s next base rate case. In June 2020, SJG filed its annual EET rate adjustment petition, requesting a $5.9 million increase in revenues to continue recovering the costs of, and the allowed return on, investments associated with its EEPs. The matter is currently pending BPU approval. In July 2020, SJG filed its annual SBC petition, requesting a $5.5 million increase in revenues. The SBC is comprised of three sub-components, consisting of the RAC, CLEP and TIC. This matter is currently pending BPU approval. In September 2020, SJG filed a petition seeking authorization to implement new EEPs and to recover costs associated with the EEPs through the existing cost recovery mechanism, the EET. SJG requested to implement the new EEPs commencing July 1, 2021. SJG’s petition includes a request to recover, in the first year, $6.3 million in revenues to continue recovering the costs of, and the allowed return on, investments associated with prior period EEPs, along with investments associated with the new EEPs. This matter is currently pending BPU approval. In September 2020, the BPU approved the following: •A $59.4 million decrease in BGSS annual revenues and a $27.4 million increase in CIP annual revenues, both effective October 1, 2020, on a provisional basis; these rate adjustments are associated with our June 2020 annual filings for the 2020-2021 BGSS/CIP year, which runs from October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021. Our BGSS filing included consideration of $22.9 million of costs requested to be recovered over a two-year period related to a previous dispute on a long-term gas supply contract that was settled during 2019. The provisional rate adjustments effective October 1, 2020, include the temporary removal of these amounts to allow for a further review of these costs during the course of this proceeding which we expect to be completed during the second quarter of 2021. •The settlement of SJG's rate case petition, resulting in an increase in annual revenues from base rates effective October 1, 2020 of $39.5 million, including an approved overall rate of return of 6.9%, with a return on equity of 9.6% and a common equity component of 54.0%. Also included was recovery of $10.1 million in costs related to a previous project to re-power the former BL England facility with natural gas (see Note 8). These costs are to be amortized over a five year period commencing October 1, 2020. •An increase in annual revenues from base rates of $6.4 million to reflect the roll-in of $58.8 million of AIRP II in service investments for the period July 2019 through June 2020, effective October 1, 2020. •An increase in annual revenues from base rates of $3.7 million to reflect the roll-in of $33.3 million of SHARP II in service investments for the period July 2019 through June 2020, effective October 1, 2020. •The Statewide USF annual 2020-2021 budget for all the State’s gas utilities, which included a decrease of approximately $0.3 million in SJG’s USF recoveries, effective October 1, 2020. •A rate adjustment to SJG’s Tax Act Rider to refund approximately $14.9 million related to SJG’s unprotected EDIT. Additionally, as part of the approved settlement in its base rate case, SJG will refund an additional $1.9 million associated with the accumulated balance of the amortization of the protected excess ADIT during the period January 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019. Effective October 1, 2020, this amount will be refunded to customers through the Tax Act Rider H over its remaining three-year term. The BGSS, CIP and USF approvals discussed above do not impact SJG's earnings. They represent changes in the cash requirements of SJG corresponding to cost changes and/or previously over/under recoveries from ratepayers associated with each respective mechanism. ETG: In the first quarter of 2020, the final rates were approved by the BPU on ETG's 2019-2020 annual BGSS, RAC, EEP, WNC, CEP and OSMC filings, effective April 1, 2020. All were approved as requested with the exception of RAC (a final rate reflecting a $6.0 million increase in revenues compared to a request of $6.1 million) and EEP (a final rate reflecting a $0.9 million increase in revenues compared to a request of $1.0 million). In February 2020, ETG entered into a Stipulation with the BPU and the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel extending its EEP through June 2020 under the previously approved budget and from July 2020 through December 2021 at a total budget of approximately $4.2 million. The BPU issued an Order in February 2020 approving the Stipulation. In April 2020, ETG submitted its annual filing, pursuant to the June 2019 BPU approval of the IIP. In July 2020, ETG submitted an updated filing, reflecting rider rates to increase revenues by $6.8 million to reflect the roll-in of $63.3 million of IIP investments. The BPU issued an Order in September 2020 approving the updated IIP rates effective October 1, 2020. In June 2020, ETG submitted its annual BGSS filing. During discovery, ETG updated the rate for a revised request of a $21.1 million decrease in revenues. The BPU issued an Order in September 2020 approving the revised rate decrease on a provisional basis effective October 1, 2020. The matter is currently pending final BPU approval. In June 2020, ETG along with the other New Jersey gas utilities filed jointly for a statewide USF rate decrease and a statewide Lifeline rate increase with effective dates of October 1, 2020 resulting in a reduction in the combined rates. The proposed revenue decrease for ETG is approximately $0.3 million. The BPU issued an Order in September 2020 approving the USF and Lifeline rates effective October 1, 2020. In July 2020, ETG filed its annual RAC rate adjustment petition, requesting a $3.2 million decrease in revenues related to the recovery of costs of remediation. This matter is currently pending BPU approval. In July 2020, ETG filed its annual WNC/CEP/OSMC rate adjustment petition, requesting an $8.5 million increase in revenues to recover costs associated with these riders. The BPU issued an Order in September 2020 approving the rates on a provisional basis effective October 1, 2020. This matter is currently pending final BPU approval. In July 2020, ETG filed its annual EEP rate adjustment petition, requesting a $0.2 million decrease in revenues related to the recovery of costs of, and the allowed return on, investments associated with its EEPs. This matter is currently pending BPU approval. In September 2020, ETG filed to expand its EEPs for three years with proposed investments totaling approximately $100.0 million. ETG proposed a rate adjustment beginning in July 2021, which would initially increase annual revenues by $3.7 million. ETG also proposed to establish a CIP, similar to SJG’s CIP, which eliminates the link between usage and margin and includes a weather component. This matter is currently pending BPU approval. The BGSS, USF, Lifeline, RAC, WNC, CEP and OSMC approvals discussed above do not impact ETG's earnings. They represent changes in the cash requirements of ETG corresponding to cost changes and/or previously over/under recoveries from ratepayers associated with each respective mechanism. ELK: As discussed in Note 1, in December 2019, the Company announced it had entered into an agreement to sell ELK to a third-party buyer. This transaction was approved by the MPSC on June 29, 2020. This transaction closed on July 31, 2020 (see Note 1).

Except as described below, there have been no other significant regulatory actions or changes to the Utilities' rate structure since December 31, 2019. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of SJI's and SJG's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

In the first quarter of 2020, the final rates were approved by the BPU on SJG's 2019-2020 annual BGSS, CIP and SBC/TIC filings. All were approved as previously requested. The BGSS and CIP approvals do not impact SJG's earnings. They represent changes in the cash requirements of SJG corresponding to cost changes and/or previous over/under recoveries from ratepayers associated with each respective mechanism.

In May 2020, the BPU issued an Order resolving SJG’s 2019 Compliance Filing and 2019 Tax Act Rider petition, with a revised Rider H credit rate effective June 1, 2020. The terms of settlement include the following:

•The net “Protected” EDIT regulatory liability of $149.4 million (regulatory liability of $181.0 million partially offset by a regulatory asset of $31.6 million) will be refunded to customers through a proposed base rate adjustment in SJG’s next base rate case.

In June 2020, SJG filed its annual EET rate adjustment petition, requesting a $5.9 million increase in revenues to continue recovering the costs of, and the allowed return on, investments associated with its EEPs. The matter is currently pending BPU approval.

In July 2020, SJG filed its annual SBC petition, requesting a $5.5 million increase in revenues. The SBC is comprised of three sub-components, consisting of the RAC, CLEP and TIC. This matter is currently pending BPU approval.

In September 2020, SJG filed a petition seeking authorization to implement new EEPs and to recover costs associated with the EEPs through the existing cost recovery mechanism, the EET. SJG requested to implement the new EEPs commencing July 1, 2021. SJG’s petition includes a request to recover, in the first year, $6.3 million in revenues to continue recovering the costs of, and the allowed return on, investments associated with prior period EEPs, along with investments associated with the new EEPs. This matter is currently pending BPU approval.

•A $59.4 million decrease in BGSS annual revenues and a $27.4 million increase in CIP annual revenues, both effective October 1, 2020, on a provisional basis; these rate adjustments are associated with our June 2020 annual filings for the 2020-2021 BGSS/CIP year, which runs from October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021. Our BGSS filing included consideration of $22.9 million of costs requested to be recovered over a two-year period related to a previous dispute on a long-term gas supply contract that was settled during 2019. The provisional rate adjustments effective October 1, 2020, include the temporary removal of these amounts to allow for a further review of these costs during the course of this proceeding which we expect to be completed during the second quarter of 2021.

•The settlement of SJG's rate case petition, resulting in an increase in annual revenues from base rates effective October 1, 2020 of $39.5 million, including an approved overall rate of return of 6.9%, with a return on equity of 9.6% and a common equity component of 54.0%. Also included was recovery of $10.1 million in costs related to a previous project to re-power the former BL England facility with natural gas (see Note 8). These costs are to be amortized over a five year period commencing October 1, 2020.

•An increase in annual revenues from base rates of $6.4 million to reflect the roll-in of $58.8 million of AIRP II in service investments for the period July 2019 through June 2020, effective October 1, 2020.

•An increase in annual revenues from base rates of $3.7 million to reflect the roll-in of $33.3 million of SHARP II in service investments for the period July 2019 through June 2020, effective October 1, 2020.

•The Statewide USF annual 2020-2021 budget for all the State’s gas utilities, which included a decrease of approximately $0.3 million in SJG’s USF recoveries, effective October 1, 2020.

•A rate adjustment to SJG’s Tax Act Rider to refund approximately $14.9 million related to SJG’s unprotected EDIT. Additionally, as part of the approved settlement in its base rate case, SJG will refund an additional $1.9 million associated with the accumulated balance of the amortization of the protected excess ADIT during the period January 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019. Effective October 1, 2020, this amount will be refunded to customers through the Tax Act Rider H over its remaining three-year term.

The BGSS, CIP and USF approvals discussed above do not impact SJG's earnings. They represent changes in the cash requirements of SJG corresponding to cost changes and/or previously over/under recoveries from ratepayers associated with each respective mechanism.

In the first quarter of 2020, the final rates were approved by the BPU on ETG's 2019-2020 annual BGSS, RAC, EEP, WNC, CEP and OSMC filings, effective April 1, 2020. All were approved as requested with the exception of RAC (a final rate reflecting a $6.0 million increase in revenues compared to a request of $6.1 million) and EEP (a final rate reflecting a $0.9 million increase in revenues compared to a request of $1.0 million).

In February 2020, ETG entered into a Stipulation with the BPU and the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel extending its EEP through June 2020 under the previously approved budget and from July 2020 through December 2021 at a total budget of approximately $4.2 million. The BPU issued an Order in February 2020 approving the Stipulation.

In April 2020, ETG submitted its annual filing, pursuant to the June 2019 BPU approval of the IIP. In July 2020, ETG submitted an updated filing, reflecting rider rates to increase revenues by $6.8 million to reflect the roll-in of $63.3 million of IIP investments. The BPU issued an Order in September 2020 approving the updated IIP rates effective October 1, 2020.

In June 2020, ETG submitted its annual BGSS filing. During discovery, ETG updated the rate for a revised request of a $21.1 million decrease in revenues. The BPU issued an Order in September 2020 approving the revised rate decrease on a provisional basis effective October 1, 2020. The matter is currently pending final BPU approval.

In June 2020, ETG along with the other New Jersey gas utilities filed jointly for a statewide USF rate decrease and a statewide Lifeline rate increase with effective dates of October 1, 2020 resulting in a reduction in the combined rates. The proposed revenue decrease for ETG is approximately $0.3 million. The BPU issued an Order in September 2020 approving the USF and Lifeline rates effective October 1, 2020.

In July 2020, ETG filed its annual RAC rate adjustment petition, requesting a $3.2 million decrease in revenues related to the recovery of costs of remediation. This matter is currently pending BPU approval.

In July 2020, ETG filed its annual WNC/CEP/OSMC rate adjustment petition, requesting an $8.5 million increase in revenues to recover costs associated with these riders. The BPU issued an Order in September 2020 approving the rates on a provisional basis effective October 1, 2020. This matter is currently pending final BPU approval.

In July 2020, ETG filed its annual EEP rate adjustment petition, requesting a $0.2 million decrease in revenues related to the recovery of costs of, and the allowed return on, investments associated with its EEPs. This matter is currently pending BPU approval.

In September 2020, ETG filed to expand its EEPs for three years with proposed investments totaling approximately $100.0 million. ETG proposed a rate adjustment beginning in July 2021, which would initially increase annual revenues by $3.7 million. ETG also proposed to establish a CIP, similar to SJG’s CIP, which eliminates the link between usage and margin and includes a weather component. This matter is currently pending BPU approval.

The BGSS, USF, Lifeline, RAC, WNC, CEP and OSMC approvals discussed above do not impact ETG's earnings. They represent changes in the cash requirements of ETG corresponding to cost changes and/or previously over/under recoveries from ratepayers associated with each respective mechanism.

As discussed in Note 1, in December 2019, the Company announced it had entered into an agreement to sell ELK to a third-party buyer. This transaction was approved by the MPSC on June 29, 2020. This transaction closed on July 31, 2020 (see Note 1).