National Fuel Gas (NFG) 10-Q 4 Feb 22 2022 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document And Entity Information

Document And Entity Information - $ / shares	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Jan. 31, 2022
Cover [Abstract]
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2022
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2021
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Type	10-Q
Entity Address, Address Line One	6363 Main Street
Entity Address, City or Town	Williamsville,
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	14221
Entity Central Index Key	0000070145
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		91,443,921
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity File Number	1-3880
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	NJ
Entity Registrant Name	NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Tax Identification Number	13-1086010
City Area Code	716
Local Phone Number	857-7000
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share
Trading Symbol	NFG
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Listing, Par Value Per Share	$ 1

Consolidated Statements Of Inco

Consolidated Statements Of Income And Earnings Reinvested In The Business (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
INCOME
Operating Revenues	$ 546,557	$ 441,160
Operating Expenses:
Purchased Gas	101,628	51,620
Property, Franchise and Other Taxes	24,501	22,781
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	88,578	83,120
Impairment of Oil and Gas Producing Properties	0	76,152
Total Operating Expenses	336,898	348,684
Gain on Sale of Timber Properties	0	51,066
Operating Income	209,659	143,542
Other Income (Expense):
Other Income (Deductions)	(1,079)	(2,176)
Interest Expense on Long-Term Debt	(30,130)	(32,256)
Other Interest Expense	(1,161)	(1,919)
Income Before Income Taxes	177,289	107,191
Income Tax Expense	44,897	29,417
Net Income Available for Common Stock	132,392	77,774
EARNINGS REINVESTED IN THE BUSINESS
Balance at Beginning of Period	1,191,175	991,630
Beginning Retained Earnings Unappropriated And Current Period Net Income	1,323,567	1,069,404
Dividends on Common Stock	(41,604)	(40,560)
Balance at December 31	$ 1,281,963	$ 1,028,844
Earnings Per Common Share, Basic:
Net Income Available for Common Stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.45	$ 0.85
Earnings Per Common Share, Diluted:
Net Income Available for Common Stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.44	$ 0.85
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Used in Basic Calculation (shares)	91,266,300	91,007,657
Used in Diluted Calculation (shares)	92,032,775	91,508,259
Dividends Per Common Share:
Dividends Declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.455	$ 0.445
Utility and Energy Marketing [Member]
INCOME
Operating Revenues	$ 236,684	$ 189,466
Operating Expenses:
Operation and Maintenance	46,644	44,886
Exploration and Production and Other [Member]
INCOME
Operating Revenues	244,281	192,035
Operating Expenses:
Operation and Maintenance	45,619	42,027
Pipeline and Storage and Gathering [Member]
INCOME
Operating Revenues	65,592	59,659
Operating Expenses:
Operation and Maintenance	$ 29,928	$ 28,098

Consolidated Statements Of Comp

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Income Available for Common Stock	$ 132,392	$ 77,774
Other Comprehensive Income, Before Tax:
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Financial Instruments Arising During the Period	163,132	48,021
Reclassification Adjustment for Realized (Gains) Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments in Net Income	162,588	311
Other Comprehensive Income, Before Tax	325,720	48,332
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Related to Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Financial Instruments Arising During the Period	44,649	13,230
Reclassification Adjustment for Income Tax Benefit (Expense) on Realized Losses (Gains) from Derivative Financial Instruments in Net Income	44,500	86
Income Taxes – Net	89,149	13,316
Other Comprehensive Income	236,571	35,016
Comprehensive Income	$ 368,963	$ 112,790

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Un

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021
ASSETS
Property, Plant and Equipment	$ 13,293,191	$ 13,103,639
Less - Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	6,802,436	6,719,356
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total	6,490,755	6,384,283
Current Assets
Cash and Temporary Cash Investments	79,065	31,528
Hedging Collateral Deposits	0	88,610	[1]
Receivables - Net of Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts of $35,599 and $31,639, Respectively	264,255	205,294
Unbilled Revenue	56,836	17,000
Gas Stored Underground	22,767	33,669
Materials, Supplies and Emission Allowances	47,351	53,560
Unrecovered Purchased Gas Costs	32,602	33,128
Other Current Assets	64,314	59,660
Total Current Assets	567,190	522,449
Other Assets
Recoverable Future Taxes	124,439	121,992
Unamortized Debt Expense	10,162	10,589
Other Regulatory Assets	57,178	60,145
Deferred Charges	69,981	59,939
Other Investments	106,483	149,632
Goodwill	5,476	5,476
Prepaid Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Costs	158,009	149,151
Other	0	1,169
Total Other Assets	531,728	558,093
Total Assets	7,589,673	7,464,825
Capitalization:
Common Stock, $1 Par Value Authorized - 200,000,000 Shares; Issued and Outstanding - 91,436,837 Shares and 91,181,549 Shares, Respectively	91,437	91,182
Paid in Capital	1,013,821	1,017,446
Earnings Reinvested in the Business	1,281,963	1,191,175
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	(277,026)	(513,597)
Total Comprehensive Shareholders’ Equity	2,110,195	1,786,206
Long-Term Debt, Net of Current Portion and Unamortized Discount and Debt Issuance Costs	2,629,602	2,628,687
Total Capitalization	4,739,797	4,414,893
Current and Accrued Liabilities
Notes Payable to Banks and Commercial Paper	166,000	158,500
Accounts Payable	129,934	171,655
Amounts Payable to Customers	36	21
Dividends Payable	41,604	41,487
Interest Payable on Long-Term Debt	45,017	17,376
Customer Advances	14,620	17,223
Customer Security Deposits	20,273	19,292
Other Accruals and Current Liabilities	187,965	194,169
Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments	290,690	616,410
Total Current and Accrued Liabilities	896,139	1,236,133
Other Liabilities
Deferred Income Taxes	799,599	660,420
Taxes Refundable to Customers	350,628	354,089
Cost of Removal Regulatory Liability	249,208	245,636
Other Regulatory Liabilities	204,476	200,643
Pension and Other Post-Retirement Liabilities	4,775	7,526
Asset Retirement Obligations	208,128	209,639
Other Liabilities	136,923	135,846
Total Other Liabilities	1,953,737	1,813,799
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 8)	0	0
Total Capitalization and Liabilities	$ 7,589,673	$ 7,464,825
[1]	Netting Adjustments represent the impact of legally-enforceable master netting arrangements that allow the Company to net gain and loss positions held with the same counterparties. The net asset or net liability for each counterparty is recorded as an asset or liability on the Company’s balance sheet.

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Receivables, Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts	$ 35,599	$ 31,639
Common Stock, Par Value	$ 1	$ 1
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common Stock, Shares Issued	91,436,837	91,181,549
Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	91,436,837	91,181,549

Consolidated Statements Of Cash

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income Available for Common Stock	$ 132,392	$ 77,774
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:
Gain on Sale of Timber Properties	0	(51,066)
Impairment of Oil and Gas Producing Properties	0	76,152
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	88,578	83,120
Deferred Income Taxes	44,122	26,591
Stock-Based Compensation	5,487	3,933
Other	4,675	2,887
Change in:
Receivables and Unbilled Revenue	(98,688)	(63,606)
Gas Stored Underground and Materials, Supplies and Emission Allowances	17,111	13,873
Unrecovered Purchased Gas Costs	526	(367)
Other Current Assets	(4,654)	(251)
Accounts Payable	(10,888)	(541)
Amounts Payable to Customers	15	(4,965)
Customer Advances	(2,603)	713
Customer Security Deposits	981	424
Other Accruals and Current Liabilities	5,044	27,615
Other Assets	(6,838)	10,066
Other Liabilities	(3,777)	2,391
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	171,483	204,743
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	(213,491)	(183,301)
Net Proceeds from Sale of Timber Properties	0	104,582
Sale of Fixed Income Mutual Fund Shares in Grantor Trust	30,000	0
Other	13,781	11,849
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(169,710)	(66,870)
Financing Activities
Changes in Notes Payable to Banks and Commercial Paper	7,500	(5,000)
Dividends Paid on Common Stock	(41,487)	(40,475)
Net Repurchases of Common Stock	(8,859)	(3,526)
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities	(42,846)	(49,001)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash	(41,073)	88,872
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at October 1	120,138	20,541
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at December 31	79,065	109,413
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information, Non-Cash Investing Activities:
Non-Cash Capital Expenditures	$ 81,010	$ 52,142

Summary Of Significant Accounti

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Principles of Consolidation. The Company consolidates all entities in which it has a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated. The Company uses proportionate consolidation when accounting for drilling arrangements related to oil and gas producing properties accounted for under the full cost method of accounting. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Earnings for Interim Periods. The Company, in its opinion, has included all adjustments (which consist of only normally recurring adjustments, unless otherwise disclosed in this Form 10-Q) that are necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations for the reported periods. The consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, included herein, should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes for the years ended September 30, 2021, 2020 and 2019 that are included in the Company's 2021 Form 10-K. The consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2022 will be audited by the Company's independent registered public accounting firm after the end of the fiscal year. The earnings for the three months ended December 31, 2021 should not be taken as a prediction of earnings for the entire fiscal year ending September 30, 2022. Most of the business of the Utility segment is seasonal in nature and is influenced by weather conditions. Due to the seasonal nature of the heating business in the Utility segment, earnings during the winter months normally represent a substantial part of the earnings that this business is expected to achieve for the entire fiscal year. The Company’s business segments are discussed more fully in Note 9 – Business Segment Information. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The components, as reported on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, of the total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash presented on the Statement of Cash Flows are as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended Three Months Ended Balance at October 1, 2021 Balance at Balance at October 1, 2020 Balance at Cash and Temporary Cash Investments $ 31,528 $ 79,065 $ 20,541 $ 109,413 Hedging Collateral Deposits 88,610 — — — Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash $ 120,138 $ 79,065 $ 20,541 $ 109,413 The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with a maturity date of generally three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company’s restricted cash is composed entirely of amounts reported as Hedging Collateral Deposits on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Hedging Collateral Deposits is an account title for cash held in margin accounts funded by the Company to serve as collateral for hedging positions. In accordance with its accounting policy, the Company does not offset hedging collateral deposits paid or received against related derivative financial instruments liability or asset balances. Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts. The allowance for uncollectible accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the existing accounts receivable. The allowance is determined based on historical experience, the age of customer accounts, other specific information about customer accounts, and the economic environment. Account balances are charged off against the allowance twelve months after the account is final billed or when it is anticipated that the receivable will not be recovered. Activity in the allowance for uncollectible accounts for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows (in thousands): Balance at Beginning of Period Additions Charged to Costs and Expenses Discounts on Purchased Receivables Net Accounts Receivable Recovered (Written-Off) Balance at End of Period Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts $ 31,639 $ 3,742 $ 161 $ 57 $ 35,599 Three Months Ended December 31, 2020 Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts $ 22,810 $ 4,679 $ 170 $ (1,438) $ 26,221 Gas Stored Underground. In the Utility segment, gas stored underground is carried at lower of cost or net realizable value, on a LIFO method. Gas stored underground normally declines during the first and second quarters of the year and is replenished during the third and fourth quarters. In the Utility segment, the current cost of replacing gas withdrawn from storage is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income and a reserve for gas replacement is recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets under the caption “Other Accruals and Current Liabilities.” Such reserve, which amounted to $2.7 million at December 31, 2021, is reduced to zero by September 30 of each year as the inventory is replenished. Materials, Supplies and Emission Allowances. The components of the Company's materials, supplies and emission allowances are as follows (in thousands): At December 31, 2021 At September 30, 2021 Materials and Supplies - at average cost $ 36,233 $ 34,880 Emission Allowances 11,118 18,680 $ 47,351 $ 53,560 Property, Plant and Equipment. In the Company’s Exploration and Production segment, oil and gas property acquisition, exploration and development costs are capitalized under the full cost method of accounting. Under this methodology, all costs associated with property acquisition, exploration and development activities are capitalized, including internal costs directly identified with acquisition, exploration and development activities. The internal costs that are capitalized do not include any costs related to production, general corporate overhead, or similar activities. The Company does not recognize any gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of oil and gas properties unless the gain or loss would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves of oil and gas attributable to a cost center. The Company's capitalized costs relating to oil and gas producing activities, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization, were $2.0 billion and $1.9 billion at December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021, respectively. Capitalized costs include costs related to unproved properties, which are excluded from amortization until proved reserves are found or it is determined that the unproved properties are impaired. Such costs amounted to $120.0 million and $103.8 million at December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021, respectively. All costs related to unproved properties are reviewed quarterly to determine if impairment has occurred. The amount of any impairment is transferred to the pool of capitalized costs being amortized. Capitalized costs are subject to the SEC full cost ceiling test. The ceiling test, which is performed each quarter, determines a limit, or ceiling, on the amount of property acquisition, exploration and development costs that can be capitalized. The ceiling under this test represents (a) the present value of estimated future net cash flows, excluding future cash outflows associated with settling asset retirement obligations that have been accrued on the balance sheet, using a discount factor of 10%, which is computed by applying prices of oil and gas (as adjusted for hedging) to estimated future production of proved oil and gas reserves as of the date of the latest balance sheet, less estimated future expenditures, plus (b) the cost of unproved properties not being depleted, less (c) income tax effects related to the differences between the book and tax basis of the properties. The gas and oil prices used to calculate the full cost ceiling are based on an unweighted arithmetic average of the first day of the month oil and gas prices for each month within the twelve-month period prior to the end of the reporting period. If capitalized costs, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization and related deferred income taxes, exceed the ceiling at the end of any quarter, a permanent non-cash impairment is required to be charged to earnings in that quarter. At December 31, 2021, the ceiling exceeded the book value of the oil and gas properties by approximately $1.3 billion. In adjusting estimated future net cash flows for hedging under the ceiling test at December 31, 2021, estimated future net cash flows were decreased by $297.8 million. The principal assets of the Utility, Pipeline and Storage and Gathering segments, consisting primarily of gas distribution pipelines, transmission pipelines, storage facilities, gathering lines and compressor stations, are recorded at historical cost. There were no indications of any impairments to property, plant and equipment in the Utility, Pipeline and Storage and Gathering segments at December 31, 2021. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. The components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss and changes for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, net of related tax effect, are as follows (amounts in parentheses indicate debits) (in thousands): Gains and Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments Funded Status of the Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans Total Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 Balance at October 1, 2021 $ (449,962) $ (63,635) $ (513,597) Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications 118,483 — 118,483 Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income 118,088 — 118,088 Balance at December 31, 2021 $ (213,391) $ (63,635) $ (277,026) Three Months Ended December 31, 2020 Balance at October 1, 2020 $ (24,865) $ (89,892) $ (114,757) Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications 34,791 — 34,791 Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income 225 — 225 Balance at December 31, 2020 $ 10,151 $ (89,892) $ (79,741) Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. The details about the reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows (amounts in parentheses indicate debits to the income statement) (in thousands): Details About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Components Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Affected Line Item in the Statement Where Net Income is Presented Three Months Ended 2021 2020 Gains (Losses) on Derivative Financial Instrument Cash Flow Hedges: Commodity Contracts ($162,629) ($310) Operating Revenues Foreign Currency Contracts 41 (1) Operating Revenues (162,588) (311) Total Before Income Tax 44,500 86 Income Tax Expense ($118,088) ($225) Net of Tax Other Current Assets . The components of the Company’s Other Current Assets are as follows (in thousands): At December 31, 2021 At September 30, 2021 Prepayments $ 12,997 $ 14,164 Prepaid Property and Other Taxes 15,366 14,788 State Income Taxes Receivable 3,516 1,502 Regulatory Assets 32,435 29,206 $ 64,314 $ 59,660 Other Accruals and Current Liabilities . The components of the Company’s Other Accruals and Current Liabilities are as follows (in thousands): At December 31, 2021 At September 30, 2021 Accrued Capital Expenditures $ 51,685 $ 42,541 Regulatory Liabilities 22,937 60,860 Reserve for Gas Replacement 2,724 — Liability for Royalty and Working Interests 43,138 31,483 Federal Income Taxes Payable 79 154 Non-Qualified Benefit Plan Liability 15,408 15,408 Other 51,994 43,723 $ 187,965 $ 194,169 Earnings Per Common Share. Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing income or loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per common share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. For purposes of determining earnings per common share, the potentially dilutive securities the Company had outstanding were SARs, restricted stock units and performance shares. For the quarter ended December 31, 2021, the diluted weighted average shares outstanding shown on the Consolidated Statements of Income reflects the potential dilution as a result of these securities as determined using the Treasury Stock Method. SARs, restricted stock units and performance shares that are antidilutive are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share. There were 8,732 securities and 373,378 securities excluded as being antidilutive for the quarters ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Stock-Based Compensation. The Company granted 195,397 performance shares during the quarter ended December 31, 2021. The weighted average fair value of such performance shares was $65.39 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2021. Performance shares are an award constituting units denominated in common stock of the Company, the number of which may be adjusted over a performance cycle based upon the extent to which performance goals have been satisfied. Earned performance shares may be distributed in the form of shares of common stock of the Company, an equivalent value in cash or a combination of cash and shares of common stock of the Company, as determined by the Company. The performance shares do not entitle the participant to receive dividends during the vesting period. The performance shares granted during the quarter ended December 31, 2021 include awards that must meet a performance goal related to either relative return on capital over a three-year performance cycle ("ROC performance shares"), methane intensity and greenhouse gas emissions reductions over a three-year performance cycle ("ESG performance shares") or relative shareholder return over a three-year performance cycle ("TSR performance shares"). The performance goal related to the ROC performance shares over the three-year performance cycle is the Company’s total return on capital relative to the total return on capital of other companies in a group selected by the Compensation Committee (“Report Group”). Total return on capital for a given company means the average of the Report Group companies’ returns on capital for each twelve month period corresponding to each of the Company’s fiscal years during the performance cycle, based on data reported for the Report Group companies in the Bloomberg database. The number of these ROC performance shares that will vest and be paid will depend upon the Company’s performance relative to the Report Group and not upon the absolute level of return achieved by the Company. The fair value of the ROC performance shares is calculated by multiplying the expected number of shares that will be issued by the average market price of Company common stock on the date of grant reduced by the present value of forgone dividends over the vesting term of the award. The fair value is recorded as compensation expense over the vesting term of the award. The performance goal related to the ESG performance shares over the three-year performance cycle consists of two parts: reductions in the rates of intensity of methane emissions for each of the Company's operating segments, and reduction of the consolidated Company's total greenhouse gas emissions. The Company's Compensation Committee set specific target levels for methane intensity rates and total greenhouse gas emissions, and the performance goal is intended to incentivize and reward performance that helps position the Company to meet or exceed its 2030 methane intensity and greenhouse gas reduction targets. The number of these ESG performance shares that will vest and be paid out will depend upon the number of methane intensity segment targets achieved and whether the Company meets the total greenhouse gas emissions target. The fair value of these ESG performance shares is calculated by multiplying the expected number of shares that will be issued by the average market price of Company common stock on the date of grant reduced by the present value of forgone dividends over the vesting term of the award. The fair value is recorded as compensation expense over the vesting term of the award. The performance goal related to the TSR performance shares over the three-year performance cycle is the Company’s three-year total shareholder return relative to the three-year total shareholder return of the other companies in the Report Group. Three-year total shareholder return for a given company will be based on the data reported for that company (with the starting and ending stock prices over the performance cycle calculated as the average closing stock price for the prior calendar month and with dividends reinvested in that company’s securities at each ex-dividend date) in the Bloomberg database. The number of these TSR performance shares that will vest and be paid will depend upon the Company’s performance relative to the Report Group and not upon the absolute level of return achieved by the Company. The fair value price at the date of grant for the TSR performance shares is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation technique, which includes a reduction in value for the present value of forgone dividends over the vesting term of the award. This price is multiplied by the number of TSR performance shares awarded, the result of which is recorded as compensation expense over the vesting term of the award.

Asset Acquisitions and Divestit

Asset Acquisitions and Divestitures	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Asset Acquisition [Abstract]
Asset Acquisitions and Divestitures	Asset Acquisitions and Divestitures     On December 10, 2020, the Company completed the sale of substantially all timber properties in Pennsylvania to Lyme Emporium Highlands III LLC and Lyme Allegheny Land Company II LLC for net proceeds of $104.6 million. At September 30, 2020, these assets, amounting to $53.4 million, which previously were recorded as Net Property, Plant and Equipment, were presented as Assets Held for Sale, Net on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. These assets were a component of the Company’s All Other category and did not have a major impact on the Company’s operations or financial results. After purchase price adjustments and transaction costs, a gain of $51.1 million was recognized on the sale of these assets. Since the sale did not represent a strategic shift in focus for the Company, the financial results associated with operating these assets as well as the gain on sale have not been reported as discontinued operations.    The sale of the timber properties completed a reverse like-kind exchange pursuant to Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (“Reverse 1031 Exchange”). On July 31, 2020, the Company completed its acquisition of certain upstream assets and midstream gathering assets in Pennsylvania from SWEPI LP, a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc (“Shell”) for total consideration of $506.3 million. The purchase and sale agreement with Shell was structured, in part, as a Reverse 1031 Exchange. In connection with the Reverse 1031 Exchange, the Company, through a subsidiary, assigned the rights to acquire legal title to certain oil and natural gas properties to a Variable Interest Entity ("VIE") formed by an exchange accommodation titleholder. From July 31, 2020 to December 10, 2020, a subsidiary of the Company operated the properties pursuant to a lease agreement with the VIE. As the Company was deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE, the VIE was included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company. Upon completion of the sale of the timber properties on December 10, 2020, the affected properties were conveyed to the Company and the VIE structure was terminated. Refer to Note B – Asset Acquisitions and Divestitures of the Company’s 2021 Form 10-K for additional information concerning the Company’s acquisition of certain upstream assets and midstream gathering assets from Shell.

Revenue from Contracts with Cus

Revenue from Contracts with Customers	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	Revenue from Contracts with Customers The following tables provide a disaggregation of the Company's revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, presented by type of service from each reportable segment. Quarter Ended December 31, 2021 (Thousands) Revenues By Type of Service Exploration and Production Pipeline and Storage Gathering Utility All Other Corporate and Intersegment Eliminations Total Consolidated Production of Natural Gas $ 361,282 $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ 361,282 Production of Crude Oil 42,371 — — — — — 42,371 Natural Gas Processing 1,029 — — — — — 1,029 Natural Gas Gathering Service — — 52,225 — — (48,180) 4,045 Natural Gas Transportation Service — 66,269 — 27,775 — (17,625) 76,419 Natural Gas Storage Service — 20,800 — — — (9,024) 11,776 Natural Gas Residential Sales — — — 179,011 — — 179,011 Natural Gas Commercial Sales — — — 23,998 — — 23,998 Natural Gas Industrial Sales — — — 1,147 — — 1,147 Other 2,145 1,281 — (2,000) 6 (152) 1,280 Total Revenues from Contracts with Customers 406,827 88,350 52,225 229,931 6 (74,981) 702,358 Alternative Revenue Programs — — — 6,828 — — 6,828 Derivative Financial Instruments (162,629) — — — — — (162,629) Total Revenues $ 244,198 $ 88,350 $ 52,225 $ 236,759 $ 6 $ (74,981) $ 546,557 Quarter Ended December 31, 2020 (Thousands) Revenues By Type of Service Exploration and Production Pipeline and Storage Gathering Utility All Other Corporate and Intersegment Eliminations Total Consolidated Production of Natural Gas $ 166,442 $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ 166,442 Production of Crude Oil 24,499 — — — — — 24,499 Natural Gas Processing 553 — — — — — 553 Natural Gas Gathering Service — — 47,009 — — (46,658) 351 Natural Gas Transportation Service — 64,825 — 29,021 — (19,590) 74,256 Natural Gas Storage Service — 20,517 — — — (8,763) 11,754 Natural Gas Residential Sales — — — 137,881 — — 137,881 Natural Gas Commercial Sales — — — 17,195 — — 17,195 Natural Gas Industrial Sales — — — 922 — — 922 Natural Gas Marketing — — — — 585 (20) 565 Other 211 2,422 — (1,612) 545 (108) 1,458 Total Revenues from Contracts with Customers 191,705 87,764 47,009 183,407 1,130 (75,139) 435,876 Alternative Revenue Programs — — — 5,594 — — 5,594 Derivative Financial Instruments (310) — — — — — (310) Total Revenues $ 191,395 $ 87,764 $ 47,009 $ 189,001 $ 1,130 $ (75,139) $ 441,160 The Company records revenue related to its derivative financial instruments in the Exploration and Production segment. The Company also records revenue related to alternative revenue programs in its Utility segment. Revenue related to derivative financial instruments and alternative revenue programs are excluded from the scope of the authoritative guidance regarding revenue recognition since they are accounted for under other existing accounting guidance. The Company’s Pipeline and Storage segment expects to recognize the following revenue amounts in future periods related to “fixed” charges associated with remaining performance obligations for transportation and storage contracts: $165.2 million for the remainder of fiscal 2022; $184.1 million for fiscal 2023; $161.0 million for fiscal 2024; $153.4 million for fiscal 2025; $133.5 million for fiscal 2026; and $787.4 million thereafter.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	Fair Value Measurements The FASB authoritative guidance regarding fair value measurements establishes a fair-value hierarchy and prioritizes the inputs used in valuation techniques that measure fair value. Those inputs are prioritized into three levels. Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for assets or liabilities that the Company can access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly at the measurement date. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability at the measurement date. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, the Company's financial assets and liabilities (as applicable) that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fair value presentation for over-the-counter swaps combines gas and oil swaps because a significant number of the counterparties enter into both gas and oil swap agreements with the Company. Recurring Fair Value Measures At fair value as of December 31, 2021 (Thousands of Dollars) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Netting Adjustments (1) Total (1) Assets: Cash Equivalents – Money Market Mutual Funds $ 66,069 $ — $ — $ — $ 66,069 Derivative Financial Instruments: Over the Counter Swaps – Gas and Oil — 2,849 — (2,849) — Foreign Currency Contracts — 884 — (884) — Other Investments: Balanced Equity Mutual Fund 25,442 — — — 25,442 Fixed Income Mutual Fund 35,442 — — — 35,442 Total $ 126,953 $ 3,733 $ — $ (3,733) $ 126,953 Liabilities: Derivative Financial Instruments: Over the Counter Swaps – Gas and Oil — 286,203 — (2,849) 283,354 Over the Counter No Cost Collars – Gas — 8,025 — — 8,025 Foreign Currency Contracts — 195 — (884) (689) Total $ — $ 294,423 $ — $ (3,733) $ 290,690 Total Net Assets/(Liabilities) $ 126,953 $ (290,690) $ — $ — $ (163,737) Recurring Fair Value Measures At fair value as of September 30, 2021 (Thousands of Dollars) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Netting Adjustments (1) Total (1) Assets: Cash Equivalents – Money Market Mutual Funds $ 22,269 $ — $ — $ — $ 22,269 Hedging Collateral Deposits 88,610 — — — 88,610 Derivative Financial Instruments: Over the Counter Swaps – Gas and Oil — 1,802 — (1,802) — Foreign Currency Contracts — 938 — (938) — Other Investments: Balanced Equity Mutual Fund 34,433 — — — 34,433 Fixed Income Mutual Fund 70,639 — — — 70,639 Total $ 215,951 $ 2,740 $ — $ (2,740) $ 215,951 Liabilities: Derivative Financial Instruments: Over the Counter Swaps – Gas and Oil — 601,551 — (1,802) 599,749 Over the Counter No Cost Collars – Gas — 17,385 — — 17,385 Foreign Currency Contracts — 214 — (938) (724) Total $ — $ 619,150 $ — $ (2,740) $ 616,410 Total Net Assets/(Liabilities) $ 215,951 $ (616,410) $ — $ — $ (400,459) (1) Netting Adjustments represent the impact of legally-enforceable master netting arrangements that allow the Company to net gain and loss positions held with the same counterparties. The net asset or net liability for each counterparty is recorded as an asset or liability on the Company’s balance sheet. Derivative Financial Instruments The derivative financial instruments reported in Level 2 at December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021 consist of natural gas price swap agreements, natural gas no cost collars, crude oil price swap agreements, and foreign currency contracts, all of which are used in the Company’s Exploration and Production segment. Hedging collateral deposits of $88.6 million (at September 30, 2021), which were associated with the price swap agreements, no cost collars and foreign currency contracts, have been reported in Level 1 at September 30, 2021. There were no hedging collateral deposits at December 31, 2021. The fair value of the Level 2 price swap agreements and no cost collars is based on an internal, discounted cash flow model that uses observable inputs (i.e. LIBOR based discount rates and basis differential information, if applicable, at active natural gas and crude oil trading markets). The fair value of the Level 2 foreign currency contracts is determined using the market approach based on observable market transactions of forward Canadian currency rates. The authoritative guidance for fair value measurements and disclosures require consideration of the impact of nonperformance risk (including credit risk) from a market participant perspective in the measurement of the fair value of assets and liabilities. At December 31, 2021, the Company determined that nonperformance risk would have no material impact on its financial position or results of operation. To assess nonperformance risk, the Company considered information such as any applicable collateral posted, master netting arrangements, and applied a market-based method by using the counterparty's (assuming the derivative is in a gain position) or the Company’s (assuming the derivative is in a loss position) credit default swaps rates.

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Financial Instruments, Owned, at Fair Value [Abstract]
Financial Instruments	Financial Instruments Long-Term Debt. The fair market value of the Company’s debt, as presented in the table below, was determined using a discounted cash flow model, which incorporates the Company’s credit ratings and current market conditions in determining the yield, and subsequently, the fair market value of the debt. Based on these criteria, the fair market value of long-term debt, including current portion, was as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2021 September 30, 2021 Carrying Fair Value Carrying Fair Value Long-Term Debt $ 2,629,602 $ 2,847,638 $ 2,628,687 $ 2,898,552 The fair value amounts are not intended to reflect principal amounts that the Company will ultimately be required to pay. Carrying amounts for other financial instruments recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets approximate fair value. The fair value of long-term debt was calculated using observable inputs (U.S. Treasuries for the risk free component and company specific credit spread information – generally obtained from recent trade activity in the debt). As such, the Company considers the debt to be Level 2. Any temporary cash investments, notes payable to banks and commercial paper are stated at cost. Temporary cash investments are considered Level 1, while notes payable to banks and commercial paper are considered to be Level 2. Given the short-term nature of the notes payable to banks and commercial paper, the Company believes cost is a reasonable approximation of fair value. Other Investments. The components of the Company's Other Investments are as follows (in thousands): At December 31, 2021 At September 30, 2021 Life Insurance Contracts $ 45,599 $ 44,560 Equity Mutual Fund 25,442 34,433 Fixed Income Mutual Fund 35,442 70,639 $ 106,483 $ 149,632 Investments in life insurance contracts are stated at their cash surrender values or net present value. Investments in an equity mutual fund and a fixed income mutual fund are stated at fair value based on quoted market prices with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The insurance contracts and equity mutual fund are primarily informal funding mechanisms for various benefit obligations the Company has to certain employees. The fixed income mutual fund is primarily an informal funding mechanism for certain regulatory obligations that the Company has to Utility segment customers in its Pennsylvania jurisdiction, as discussed in Note 11 — Regulatory Matters, and for various benefit obligations the Company has to certain employees. Derivative Financial Instruments. The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage commodity price risk in the Exploration and Production segment. The Company enters into over-the-counter no cost collars and over-the-counter swap agreements for natural gas and crude oil to manage the price risk associated with forecasted sales of gas and oil. In addition, the Company also enters into foreign exchange forward contracts to manage the risk of currency fluctuations associated with transportation costs denominated in Canadian currency in the Exploration and Production segment. These instruments are accounted for as cash flow hedges. The duration of the Company’s cash flow hedges does not typically exceed 5 years while the foreign currency forward contracts do not exceed 9 years. The Company has presented its net derivative assets and liabilities as “Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments” on its Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021. Substantially all of the derivative financial instruments reported on those line items relate to commodity contracts and a small portion relates to foreign currency forward contracts. Cash Flow Hedges For derivative financial instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassified into earnings in the period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had the following commodity derivative contracts (swaps and no cost collars) outstanding: Commodity Units Natural Gas 371.2 Bcf Crude Oil 1,692,000 Bbls As of December 31, 2021, the Company was hedging a total of $56.7 million of forecasted transportation costs denominated in Canadian dollars with foreign currency forward contracts. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $290.7 million ($213.4 million after-tax) of net hedging losses included in the accumulated other comprehensive loss balance. It is expected that $197.7 million ($145.1 million after-tax) of such unrealized losses will be reclassified into the Consolidated Statement of Income within the next 12 months as the underlying hedged transactions are recorded in earnings. The Effect of Derivative Financial Instruments on the Statement of Financial Performance for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (Thousands of Dollars) Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships Amount of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on Location of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheet into the Consolidated Statement of Income Amount of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheet into the Consolidated Statement of Income for the 2021 2020 2021 2020 Commodity Contracts $ 163,126 $ 45,595 Operating Revenue $ (162,629) $ (310) Foreign Currency Contracts 6 2,426 Operating Revenue 41 (1) Total $ 163,132 $ 48,021 $ (162,588) $ (311) Credit Risk The Company has over-the-counter swap positions, no cost collars and applicable foreign currency forward contracts with seventeen counterparties. The majority of the Company’s counterparties are financial institutions and energy traders. As of December 31, 2021, fifteen of the seventeen counterparties to the Company’s outstanding derivative financial instrument contracts (specifically the over-the-counter swaps, over-the-counter no cost collars and applicable foreign currency forward contracts) had a common credit-risk related contingency feature. In the event the Company’s credit rating increases or falls below a certain threshold (applicable debt ratings), the available credit extended to the Company would either increase or decrease. A decline in the Company’s credit rating, in and of itself, would not cause the Company to be required to post or increase the level of its hedging collateral deposits (in the form of cash deposits, letters of credit or treasury debt instruments). If the Company’s outstanding derivative financial instrument contracts with a credit-risk contingency feature were in a liability position (or if the liability were larger) and/or the Company’s credit rating declined, then hedging collateral deposits or an increase to such deposits could be required. At December 31, 2021, the fair market value of the derivative financial instrument liabilities with a credit-risk related contingency feature was $235.2 million according to the Company’s internal model (discussed in Note 4 – Fair Value Measurements), and no hedging collateral deposits were required to be posted by the Company at December 31, 2021. Depending on the movement of commodity prices in the future, it is possible that these liability positions could swing into asset positions, at which point the Company would be exposed to credit risk on its derivative financial instruments. In that case, the Company's counterparties could be required to post hedging collateral deposits.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes    The effective tax rates for the quarters ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were 25.3% and 27.4%, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate is primarily due to differences between the book and tax treatment of equity compensation and the utilization of the Enhanced Oil Recovery credit in fiscal 2022 that was phased out for fiscal 2021.

Capitalization

Capitalization	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Capitalization, Long-term Debt and Equity [Abstract]
Capitalization	Capitalization Summary of Changes in Common Stock Equity Common Stock Paid In Earnings Accumulated Shares Amount (Thousands, except per share amounts) Balance at October 1, 2021 91,182 $ 91,182 $ 1,017,446 $ 1,191,175 $ (513,597) Net Income Available for Common Stock 132,392 Dividends Declared on Common Stock ($0.455 Per Share) (41,604) Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax 236,571 Share-Based Payment Expense (1) 5,039 Common Stock Issued (Repurchased) Under Stock and Benefit Plans 255 255 (8,664) Balance at December 31, 2021 91,437 $ 91,437 $ 1,013,821 $ 1,281,963 $ (277,026) Balance at October 1, 2020 90,955 $ 90,955 $ 1,004,158 $ 991,630 $ (114,757) Net Income Available for Common Stock 77,774 Dividends Declared on Common Stock ($0.445 Per Share) (40,560) Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax 35,016 Share-Based Payment Expense (1) 3,496 Common Stock Issued (Repurchased) Under Stock and Benefit Plans 198 198 (3,285) Balance at December 31, 2020 91,153 $ 91,153 $ 1,004,369 $ 1,028,844 $ (79,741) (1) Paid in Capital includes compensation costs associated with performance shares and/or restricted stock awards. The expense is included within Net Income Available For Common Stock, net of tax benefits. Common Stock. During the three months ended December 31, 2021, the Company issued 17,943 original issue shares of common stock as a result of SARs exercises, 110,339 original issue shares of common stock for restricted stock units that vested and 265,607 original issue shares of common stock for performance shares that vested. The Company also issued 8,395 original issue shares of common stock to the non-employee directors of the Company who receive compensation under the Company’s 2009 Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Plan, including the reinvestment of dividends for certain non-employee directors who elected to defer their shares pursuant to the dividend reinvestment feature of the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Officers during the three months ended December 31, 2021. Holders of stock-based compensation awards will often tender shares of common stock to the Company for payment of applicable withholding taxes. During the three months ended December 31, 2021, 146,996 shares of common stock were tendered to the Company for such purposes. The Company considers all shares tendered as cancelled shares restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares, in accordance with New Jersey law. Current Portion of Long-Term Debt. None of the Company's long-term debt as of December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021 had a maturity date within the following twelve-month period.

Commitments And Contingencies

Commitments And Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments And Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies Environmental Matters. The Company is subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. The Company has established procedures for the ongoing evaluation of its operations to identify potential environmental exposures and to comply with regulatory requirements. It is the Company’s policy to accrue estimated environmental clean-up costs (investigation and remediation) when such amounts can reasonably be estimated and it is probable that the Company will be required to incur such costs. At December 31, 2021, the Company has estimated its remaining clean-up costs related to former manufactured gas plant sites will be approximately $3.1 million. The Company's liability for such clean-up costs has been recorded in Other Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2021. The Company expects to recover its environmental clean-up costs through rate recovery over a period of approximately one year and is currently not aware of any material additional exposure to environmental liabilities. However, changes in environmental laws and regulations, new information or other factors could have an adverse financial impact on the Company. Northern Access Project. On February 3, 2017, Supply Corporation and Empire received FERC approval of the Northern Access project described herein. Shortly thereafter, the NYDEC issued a Notice of Denial of the federal Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification and other state stream and wetland permits for the New York portion of the project (the Water Quality Certification for the Pennsylvania portion of the project was received in January of 2017). Subsequently, FERC issued an Order finding that the NYDEC exceeded the statutory time frame to take action under the Clean Water Act and, therefore, waived its opportunity to approve or deny the Water Quality Certification. FERC denied rehearing requests associated with its Order and FERC's decisions were appealed. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order upholding the FERC waiver orders. In addition, in the Company's state court litigation challenging the NYDEC's actions with regard to various state permits, the New York State Supreme Court issued a decision finding these permits to be preempted. The Company remains committed to the project and, on January 28, 2022, filed with FERC a request for an extension of time to construct the project . Other. The Company is involved in other litigation and regulatory matters arising in the normal course of business. These other matters may include, for example, negligence claims and tax, regulatory or other governmental audits, inspections, investigations and other proceedings. These matters may involve state and federal taxes, safety, compliance with regulations, rate base, cost of service and purchased gas cost issues, among other things. While these other matters arising in the normal course of business could have a material effect on earnings and cash flows in the period in which they are resolved, an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss, if any, cannot be made at this time.

Business Segment Information

Business Segment Information	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Business Segment Information	Business Segment Information The Company reports financial results for four segments: Exploration and Production, Pipeline and Storage, Gathering and Utility. The division of the Company’s operations into reportable segments is based upon a combination of factors including differences in products and services, regulatory environment and geographic factors. The data presented in the tables below reflect financial information for the segments and reconcile to consolidated amounts. As stated in the 2021 Form 10-K, the Company evaluates segment performance based on income before discontinued operations (when applicable). When this is not applicable, the Company evaluates performance based on net income. There have not been any changes in the basis of segmentation nor in the basis of measuring segment profit or loss from those used in the Company’s 2021 Form 10-K. A listing of segment assets at December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021 is shown in the tables below. Quarter Ended December 31, 2021 (Thousands) Exploration and Production Pipeline and Storage Gathering Utility Total Reportable Segments All Other Corporate and Intersegment Eliminations Total Consolidated Revenue from External Customers $244,198 $61,547 $4,045 $236,684 $546,474 $— $83 $546,557 Intersegment Revenues $— $26,803 $48,180 $75 $75,058 $6 $(75,064) $— Segment Profit: Net Income (Loss) $62,369 $25,168 $23,137 $22,130 $132,804 $(7) $(405) $132,392 (Thousands) Exploration and Production Pipeline and Storage Gathering Utility Total Reportable Segments All Other Corporate and Intersegment Eliminations Total Consolidated Segment Assets: At December 31, 2021 $2,340,592 $2,318,287 $843,850 $2,197,361 $7,700,090 $4,737 $(115,154) $7,589,673 At September 30, 2021 $2,286,058 $2,296,030 $837,729 $2,148,267 $7,568,084 $4,146 $(107,405) $7,464,825 Quarter Ended December 31, 2020 (Thousands) Exploration and Production Pipeline and Storage Gathering Utility Total Reportable Segments All Other Corporate and Intersegment Eliminations Total Consolidated Revenue from External Customers $191,395 $59,308 $351 $188,901 $439,955 $1,110 $95 $441,160 Intersegment Revenues $— $28,456 $46,658 $100 $75,214 $20 $(75,234) $— Segment Profit: Net Income (Loss) $(29,623) $24,183 $20,550 $23,037 $38,147 $37,560 $2,067 $77,774

Retirement Plan And Other Post-

Retirement Plan And Other Post-Retirement Benefits	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Retirement Plan and Other Post-Retirement Benefits	Retirement Plan and Other Post-Retirement Benefits Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (in thousands): Retirement Plan Other Post-Retirement Benefits Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2021 2020 Service Cost $ 2,190 $ 2,466 $ 332 $ 400 Interest Cost 5,707 5,422 2,267 2,326 Expected Return on Plan Assets (13,074) (14,537) (7,340) (7,241) Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit) 134 158 (107) (107) Amortization of (Gains) Losses 6,601 9,203 (1,903) 212 Net Amortization and Deferral for Regulatory Purposes (Including Volumetric Adjustments) (1) 4,420 3,713 6,246 6,854 Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Income) $ 5,978 $ 6,425 $ (505) $ 2,444 (1) The Company’s policy is to record retirement plan and other post-retirement benefit costs in the Utility segment on a volumetric basis to reflect the fact that the Utility segment experiences higher throughput of natural gas in the winter months and lower throughput of natural gas in the summer months. The components of net periodic benefit cost other than service cost are presented in Other Income (Deductions) on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Regulatory Matters

Regulatory Matters	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Other Disclosures [Abstract]
Regulatory Matters	Regulatory Matters New York Jurisdiction Distribution Corporation's current delivery rates in its New York jurisdiction were approved by the NYPSC in an order issued on April 20, 2017 with rates becoming effective May 1, 2017. The order provided for a return on equity of 8.7%. The order also directed the implementation of an earnings sharing mechanism to be in place beginning on April 1, 2018. On August 13, 2021, the NYPSC issued an order extending the date through which qualified pipeline replacement costs incurred by the Company can be recovered using the existing system modernization tracker for two years (until March 31, 2023). The extension is contingent on the Company not filing a base rate case that would result in new rates becoming effective prior to April 1, 2023. In New York, on March 13, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company agreed to NYPSC Staff’s request that the Company suspend service terminations and disconnections. Thereafter, on June 17, 2020, New York enacted a law that prohibited utilities from terminating or disconnecting services to any residential customer for non-payment for the duration of the state disaster emergency. While that legislation expired on March 31, 2021, new legislation was enacted in May 2021 that prohibited utility terminations for non-payment for residential and small commercial customers who experienced a change in financial circumstances due to the COVID-19 state of emergency, with such prohibition running for a period of one hundred eighty days after either the New York State COVID-19 state of emergency is lifted or expires or December 31, 2021, whichever is earlier. On June 24, 2021, the New York State COVID-19 state of emergency expired. Updated guidance issued by the NYPSC on July 6, 2021 confirmed that qualified customers are protected from termination through December 21, 2021 and are eligible for a deferred payment agreement without the requirement of a down payment, late fees, penalties or interest on arrears incurred during the COVID-19 state of emergency. On December 20, 2021, NYPSC Staff requested, and the Company agreed, to refrain from terminating residential customers with a pending application for arrears payments through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program administered by the Office of Temporary Disability. Pennsylvania Jurisdiction Distribution Corporation’s current delivery rates in its Pennsylvania jurisdiction were approved by the PaPUC on November 30, 2006 as part of a settlement agreement that became effective January 1, 2007. The rate settlement does not specify any requirement to file a future rate case. On July 22, 2021, Distribution Corporation filed a supplement to its current Pennsylvania tariff proposing to reduce base rates effective October 1, 2021 by $7.7 million in order to stop collecting other post-employment benefit (“OPEB”) expenses from customers at this time, to begin to refund to customers overcollected OPEB expenses in the amount of $50.0 million, and to make certain other adjustments to further reduce Distribution Corporation’s regulatory liability associated with OPEB expenses. The PaPUC issued an order approving this tariff supplement on September 15, 2021 and new rates went into effect on October 1, 2021. On September 21, 2021, a complaint was filed in this proceeding. While new rates, including associated refunds, went into effect on October 1, 2021, certain other adjustments called for by the tariff supplement that allow Distribution Corporation to reduce its regulatory liability and its OPEB expenses will not be recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements until the complaint is resolved. The PaPUC assigned the matter to an Administrative Law Judge who, on January 6, 2022, issued a Recommended Decision approving a settlement reached by parties to the complaint proceeding. The matter currently sits with the PaPUC for final determination. The refunds specified in the tariff supplement will be funded entirely by grantor trust assets held by the Company, most of which are included in a fixed income mutual fund that is a component of Other Investments on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. With the elimination of OPEB expenses in base rates, Distribution Corporation will no longer fund the grantor trust or its VEBA trusts in its Pennsylvania jurisdiction. FERC Jurisdiction Supply Corporation’s 2020 rate settlement provides that no party may make a rate filing for new rates to be effective before February 1, 2024, except that Supply Corporation may file an NGA general Section 4 rate case to change rates if the corporate federal income tax rate is increased. If no case has been filed, Supply Corporation must file for rates to be effective February 1, 2025. Empire’s 2019 rate settlement provides that Empire must make a rate case filing no later than May 1, 2025.

Leases

Leases	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Leases [Abstract]
Leases	Leases    In October 2021, the Company executed two lease contracts for drilling rig services in Pennsylvania with lease terms of greater than one year. One of the new lease contracts commenced in December 2021 with estimated lease payments of $8.4 million over the lease term. This lease has been recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2021. A right-of-use operating lease asset of $8.1 million is recorded in Deferred Charges, the current portion of the operating lease liability ($7.2 million) is recorded in Other Accruals and Current Liabilities, and the noncurrent portion of the operating lease liability ($0.9 million) is recorded in Other Liabilities. The second lease contract, which is also an operating lease, commenced in January 2022 with estimated lease payments of $11.9 million over the lease term.

Summary Of Significant Accoun_2

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation. The Company consolidates all entities in which it has a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated. The Company uses proportionate consolidation when accounting for drilling arrangements related to oil and gas producing properties accounted for under the full cost method of accounting. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Earnings For Interim Periods	Earnings for Interim Periods. The Company, in its opinion, has included all adjustments (which consist of only normally recurring adjustments, unless otherwise disclosed in this Form 10-Q) that are necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations for the reported periods. The consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, included herein, should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes for the years ended September 30, 2021, 2020 and 2019 that are included in the Company's 2021 Form 10-K. The consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2022 will be audited by the Company's independent registered public accounting firm after the end of the fiscal year.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The components, as reported on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, of the total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash presented on the Statement of Cash Flows are as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended Three Months Ended Balance at October 1, 2021 Balance at Balance at October 1, 2020 Balance at Cash and Temporary Cash Investments $ 31,528 $ 79,065 $ 20,541 $ 109,413 Hedging Collateral Deposits 88,610 — — — Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash $ 120,138 $ 79,065 $ 20,541 $ 109,413 The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with a maturity date of generally three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company’s restricted cash is composed entirely of amounts reported as Hedging Collateral Deposits on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Hedging Collateral Deposits is an account title for cash held in margin accounts funded by the Company to serve as collateral for hedging positions. In accordance with its accounting policy, the Company does not offset hedging collateral deposits paid or received against related derivative financial instruments liability or asset balances.
Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts	Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts. The allowance for uncollectible accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the existing accounts receivable. The allowance is determined based on historical experience, the age of customer accounts, other specific information about customer accounts, and the economic environment. Account balances are charged off against the allowance twelve months after the account is final billed or when it is anticipated that the receivable will not be recovered. Activity in the allowance for uncollectible accounts for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows (in thousands): Balance at Beginning of Period Additions Charged to Costs and Expenses Discounts on Purchased Receivables Net Accounts Receivable Recovered (Written-Off) Balance at End of Period Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts $ 31,639 $ 3,742 $ 161 $ 57 $ 35,599 Three Months Ended December 31, 2020 Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts $ 22,810 $ 4,679 $ 170 $ (1,438) $ 26,221
Gas Stored Underground	Gas Stored Underground. In the Utility segment, gas stored underground is carried at lower of cost or net realizable value, on a LIFO method. Gas stored underground normally declines during the first and second quarters of the year and is replenished during the third and fourth quarters. In the Utility segment, the current cost of replacing gas withdrawn from storage is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income and a reserve for gas replacement is recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets under the caption “Other Accruals and Current Liabilities.” Such reserve, which amounted to $2.7 million at December 31, 2021, is reduced to zero by September 30 of each year as the inventory is replenished.
Materials, Supplies and Emission Allowances	Materials, Supplies and Emission Allowances. The components of the Company's materials, supplies and emission allowances are as follows (in thousands): At December 31, 2021 At September 30, 2021 Materials and Supplies - at average cost $ 36,233 $ 34,880 Emission Allowances 11,118 18,680 $ 47,351 $ 53,560
Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, Plant and Equipment. In the Company’s Exploration and Production segment, oil and gas property acquisition, exploration and development costs are capitalized under the full cost method of accounting. Under this methodology, all costs associated with property acquisition, exploration and development activities are capitalized, including internal costs directly identified with acquisition, exploration and development activities. The internal costs that are capitalized do not include any costs related to production, general corporate overhead, or similar activities. The Company does not recognize any gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of oil and gas properties unless the gain or loss would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves of oil and gas attributable to a cost center. The Company's capitalized costs relating to oil and gas producing activities, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization, were $2.0 billion and $1.9 billion at December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021, respectively. Capitalized costs include costs related to unproved properties, which are excluded from amortization until proved reserves are found or it is determined that the unproved properties are impaired. Such costs amounted to $120.0 million and $103.8 million at December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021, respectively. All costs related to unproved properties are reviewed quarterly to determine if impairment has occurred. The amount of any impairment is transferred to the pool of capitalized costs being amortized. Capitalized costs are subject to the SEC full cost ceiling test. The ceiling test, which is performed each quarter, determines a limit, or ceiling, on the amount of property acquisition, exploration and development costs that can be capitalized. The ceiling under this test represents (a) the present value of estimated future net cash flows, excluding future cash outflows associated with settling asset retirement obligations that have been accrued on the balance sheet, using a discount factor of 10%, which is computed by applying prices of oil and gas (as adjusted for hedging) to estimated future production of proved oil and gas reserves as of the date of the latest balance sheet, less estimated future expenditures, plus (b) the cost of unproved properties not being depleted, less (c) income tax effects related to the differences between the book and tax basis of the properties. The gas and oil prices used to calculate the full cost ceiling are based on an unweighted arithmetic average of the first day of the month oil and gas prices for each month within the twelve-month period prior to the end of the reporting period. If capitalized costs, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization and related deferred income taxes, exceed the ceiling at the end of any quarter, a permanent non-cash impairment is required to be charged to earnings in that quarter. At December 31, 2021, the ceiling exceeded the book value of the oil and gas properties by approximately $1.3 billion. In adjusting estimated future net cash flows for hedging under the ceiling test at December 31, 2021, estimated future net cash flows were decreased by $297.8 million.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. The components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss and changes for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, net of related tax effect, are as follows (amounts in parentheses indicate debits) (in thousands): Gains and Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments Funded Status of the Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans Total Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 Balance at October 1, 2021 $ (449,962) $ (63,635) $ (513,597) Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications 118,483 — 118,483 Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income 118,088 — 118,088 Balance at December 31, 2021 $ (213,391) $ (63,635) $ (277,026) Three Months Ended December 31, 2020 Balance at October 1, 2020 $ (24,865) $ (89,892) $ (114,757) Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications 34,791 — 34,791 Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income 225 — 225 Balance at December 31, 2020 $ 10,151 $ (89,892) $ (79,741)
Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. The details about the reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows (amounts in parentheses indicate debits to the income statement) (in thousands): Details About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Components Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Affected Line Item in the Statement Where Net Income is Presented Three Months Ended 2021 2020 Gains (Losses) on Derivative Financial Instrument Cash Flow Hedges: Commodity Contracts ($162,629) ($310) Operating Revenues Foreign Currency Contracts 41 (1) Operating Revenues (162,588) (311) Total Before Income Tax 44,500 86 Income Tax Expense ($118,088) ($225) Net of Tax
Other Current Assets	Other Current Assets . The components of the Company’s Other Current Assets are as follows (in thousands): At December 31, 2021 At September 30, 2021 Prepayments $ 12,997 $ 14,164 Prepaid Property and Other Taxes 15,366 14,788 State Income Taxes Receivable 3,516 1,502 Regulatory Assets 32,435 29,206 $ 64,314 $ 59,660
Other Accruals and Current Liabilities	Other Accruals and Current Liabilities . The components of the Company’s Other Accruals and Current Liabilities are as follows (in thousands): At December 31, 2021 At September 30, 2021 Accrued Capital Expenditures $ 51,685 $ 42,541 Regulatory Liabilities 22,937 60,860 Reserve for Gas Replacement 2,724 — Liability for Royalty and Working Interests 43,138 31,483 Federal Income Taxes Payable 79 154 Non-Qualified Benefit Plan Liability 15,408 15,408 Other 51,994 43,723 $ 187,965 $ 194,169
Earnings Per Common Share	Earnings Per Common Share.  Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing income or loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per common share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock.  For purposes of determining earnings per common share, the potentially dilutive securities the Company had outstanding were SARs, restricted stock units and performance shares. For the quarter ended December 31, 2021, the diluted weighted average shares outstanding shown on the Consolidated Statements of Income reflects the potential dilution as a result of these securities as determined using the Treasury Stock Method. SARs, restricted stock units and performance shares that are antidilutive are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share. There were 8,732 securities and 373,378 securities excluded as being antidilutive for the quarters ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
Stock-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation. The Company granted 195,397 performance shares during the quarter ended December 31, 2021. The weighted average fair value of such performance shares was $65.39 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2021. Performance shares are an award constituting units denominated in common stock of the Company, the number of which may be adjusted over a performance cycle based upon the extent to which performance goals have been satisfied. Earned performance shares may be distributed in the form of shares of common stock of the Company, an equivalent value in cash or a combination of cash and shares of common stock of the Company, as determined by the Company. The performance shares do not entitle the participant to receive dividends during the vesting period. The performance shares granted during the quarter ended December 31, 2021 include awards that must meet a performance goal related to either relative return on capital over a three-year performance cycle ("ROC performance shares"), methane intensity and greenhouse gas emissions reductions over a three-year performance cycle ("ESG performance shares") or relative shareholder return over a three-year performance cycle ("TSR performance shares"). The performance goal related to the ROC performance shares over the three-year performance cycle is the Company’s total return on capital relative to the total return on capital of other companies in a group selected by the Compensation Committee (“Report Group”). Total return on capital for a given company means the average of the Report Group companies’ returns on capital for each twelve month period corresponding to each of the Company’s fiscal years during the performance cycle, based on data reported for the Report Group companies in the Bloomberg database. The number of these ROC performance shares that will vest and be paid will depend upon the Company’s performance relative to the Report Group and not upon the absolute level of return achieved by the Company. The fair value of the ROC performance shares is calculated by multiplying the expected number of shares that will be issued by the average market price of Company common stock on the date of grant reduced by the present value of forgone dividends over the vesting term of the award. The fair value is recorded as compensation expense over the vesting term of the award. The performance goal related to the ESG performance shares over the three-year performance cycle consists of two parts: reductions in the rates of intensity of methane emissions for each of the Company's operating segments, and reduction of the consolidated Company's total greenhouse gas emissions. The Company's Compensation Committee set specific target levels for methane intensity rates and total greenhouse gas emissions, and the performance goal is intended to incentivize and reward performance that helps position the Company to meet or exceed its 2030 methane intensity and greenhouse gas reduction targets. The number of these ESG performance shares that will vest and be paid out will depend upon the number of methane intensity segment targets achieved and whether the Company meets the total greenhouse gas emissions target. The fair value of these ESG performance shares is calculated by multiplying the expected number of shares that will be issued by the average market price of Company common stock on the date of grant reduced by the present value of forgone dividends over the vesting term of the award. The fair value is recorded as compensation expense over the vesting term of the award. The performance goal related to the TSR performance shares over the three-year performance cycle is the Company’s three-year total shareholder return relative to the three-year total shareholder return of the other companies in the Report Group. Three-year total shareholder return for a given company will be based on the data reported for that company (with the starting and ending stock prices over the performance cycle calculated as the average closing stock price for the prior calendar month and with dividends reinvested in that company’s securities at each ex-dividend date) in the Bloomberg database. The number of these TSR performance shares that will vest and be paid will depend upon the Company’s performance relative to the Report Group and not upon the absolute level of return achieved by the Company. The fair value price at the date of grant for the TSR performance shares is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation technique, which includes a reduction in value for the present value of forgone dividends over the vesting term of the award. This price is multiplied by the number of TSR performance shares awarded, the result of which is recorded as compensation expense over the vesting term of the award.

Summary Of Significant Accoun_3

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Schedule of Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash	The components, as reported on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, of the total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash presented on the Statement of Cash Flows are as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended Three Months Ended Balance at October 1, 2021 Balance at Balance at October 1, 2020 Balance at Cash and Temporary Cash Investments $ 31,528 $ 79,065 $ 20,541 $ 109,413 Hedging Collateral Deposits 88,610 — — — Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash $ 120,138 $ 79,065 $ 20,541 $ 109,413
Schedule of Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts	Activity in the allowance for uncollectible accounts for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows (in thousands): Balance at Beginning of Period Additions Charged to Costs and Expenses Discounts on Purchased Receivables Net Accounts Receivable Recovered (Written-Off) Balance at End of Period Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts $ 31,639 $ 3,742 $ 161 $ 57 $ 35,599 Three Months Ended December 31, 2020 Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts $ 22,810 $ 4,679 $ 170 $ (1,438) $ 26,221
Schedule of Materials, Supplies and Emission Allowances	The components of the Company's materials, supplies and emission allowances are as follows (in thousands): At December 31, 2021 At September 30, 2021 Materials and Supplies - at average cost $ 36,233 $ 34,880 Emission Allowances 11,118 18,680 $ 47,351 $ 53,560
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	The components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss and changes for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, net of related tax effect, are as follows (amounts in parentheses indicate debits) (in thousands): Gains and Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments Funded Status of the Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans Total Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 Balance at October 1, 2021 $ (449,962) $ (63,635) $ (513,597) Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications 118,483 — 118,483 Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income 118,088 — 118,088 Balance at December 31, 2021 $ (213,391) $ (63,635) $ (277,026) Three Months Ended December 31, 2020 Balance at October 1, 2020 $ (24,865) $ (89,892) $ (114,757) Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications 34,791 — 34,791 Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income 225 — 225 Balance at December 31, 2020 $ 10,151 $ (89,892) $ (79,741)
Schedule of Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	The details about the reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows (amounts in parentheses indicate debits to the income statement) (in thousands): Details About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Components Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Affected Line Item in the Statement Where Net Income is Presented Three Months Ended 2021 2020 Gains (Losses) on Derivative Financial Instrument Cash Flow Hedges: Commodity Contracts ($162,629) ($310) Operating Revenues Foreign Currency Contracts 41 (1) Operating Revenues (162,588) (311) Total Before Income Tax 44,500 86 Income Tax Expense ($118,088) ($225) Net of Tax
Schedule of Other Current Assets	The components of the Company’s Other Current Assets are as follows (in thousands): At December 31, 2021 At September 30, 2021 Prepayments $ 12,997 $ 14,164 Prepaid Property and Other Taxes 15,366 14,788 State Income Taxes Receivable 3,516 1,502 Regulatory Assets 32,435 29,206 $ 64,314 $ 59,660
Schedule of Other Accruals and Current Liabilities	The components of the Company’s Other Accruals and Current Liabilities are as follows (in thousands): At December 31, 2021 At September 30, 2021 Accrued Capital Expenditures $ 51,685 $ 42,541 Regulatory Liabilities 22,937 60,860 Reserve for Gas Replacement 2,724 — Liability for Royalty and Working Interests 43,138 31,483 Federal Income Taxes Payable 79 154 Non-Qualified Benefit Plan Liability 15,408 15,408 Other 51,994 43,723 $ 187,965 $ 194,169

Revenue from Contracts with C_2

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Disaggregation of Revenue	The following tables provide a disaggregation of the Company's revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, presented by type of service from each reportable segment. Quarter Ended December 31, 2021 (Thousands) Revenues By Type of Service Exploration and Production Pipeline and Storage Gathering Utility All Other Corporate and Intersegment Eliminations Total Consolidated Production of Natural Gas $ 361,282 $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ 361,282 Production of Crude Oil 42,371 — — — — — 42,371 Natural Gas Processing 1,029 — — — — — 1,029 Natural Gas Gathering Service — — 52,225 — — (48,180) 4,045 Natural Gas Transportation Service — 66,269 — 27,775 — (17,625) 76,419 Natural Gas Storage Service — 20,800 — — — (9,024) 11,776 Natural Gas Residential Sales — — — 179,011 — — 179,011 Natural Gas Commercial Sales — — — 23,998 — — 23,998 Natural Gas Industrial Sales — — — 1,147 — — 1,147 Other 2,145 1,281 — (2,000) 6 (152) 1,280 Total Revenues from Contracts with Customers 406,827 88,350 52,225 229,931 6 (74,981) 702,358 Alternative Revenue Programs — — — 6,828 — — 6,828 Derivative Financial Instruments (162,629) — — — — — (162,629) Total Revenues $ 244,198 $ 88,350 $ 52,225 $ 236,759 $ 6 $ (74,981) $ 546,557 Quarter Ended December 31, 2020 (Thousands) Revenues By Type of Service Exploration and Production Pipeline and Storage Gathering Utility All Other Corporate and Intersegment Eliminations Total Consolidated Production of Natural Gas $ 166,442 $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ 166,442 Production of Crude Oil 24,499 — — — — — 24,499 Natural Gas Processing 553 — — — — — 553 Natural Gas Gathering Service — — 47,009 — — (46,658) 351 Natural Gas Transportation Service — 64,825 — 29,021 — (19,590) 74,256 Natural Gas Storage Service — 20,517 — — — (8,763) 11,754 Natural Gas Residential Sales — — — 137,881 — — 137,881 Natural Gas Commercial Sales — — — 17,195 — — 17,195 Natural Gas Industrial Sales — — — 922 — — 922 Natural Gas Marketing — — — — 585 (20) 565 Other 211 2,422 — (1,612) 545 (108) 1,458 Total Revenues from Contracts with Customers 191,705 87,764 47,009 183,407 1,130 (75,139) 435,876 Alternative Revenue Programs — — — 5,594 — — 5,594 Derivative Financial Instruments (310) — — — — — (310) Total Revenues $ 191,395 $ 87,764 $ 47,009 $ 189,001 $ 1,130 $ (75,139) $ 441,160

Fair Value Measurements (Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, the Company's financial assets and liabilities (as applicable) that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fair value presentation for over-the-counter swaps combines gas and oil swaps because a significant number of the counterparties enter into both gas and oil swap agreements with the Company. Recurring Fair Value Measures At fair value as of December 31, 2021 (Thousands of Dollars) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Netting Adjustments (1) Total (1) Assets: Cash Equivalents – Money Market Mutual Funds $ 66,069 $ — $ — $ — $ 66,069 Derivative Financial Instruments: Over the Counter Swaps – Gas and Oil — 2,849 — (2,849) — Foreign Currency Contracts — 884 — (884) — Other Investments: Balanced Equity Mutual Fund 25,442 — — — 25,442 Fixed Income Mutual Fund 35,442 — — — 35,442 Total $ 126,953 $ 3,733 $ — $ (3,733) $ 126,953 Liabilities: Derivative Financial Instruments: Over the Counter Swaps – Gas and Oil — 286,203 — (2,849) 283,354 Over the Counter No Cost Collars – Gas — 8,025 — — 8,025 Foreign Currency Contracts — 195 — (884) (689) Total $ — $ 294,423 $ — $ (3,733) $ 290,690 Total Net Assets/(Liabilities) $ 126,953 $ (290,690) $ — $ — $ (163,737) Recurring Fair Value Measures At fair value as of September 30, 2021 (Thousands of Dollars) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Netting Adjustments (1) Total (1) Assets: Cash Equivalents – Money Market Mutual Funds $ 22,269 $ — $ — $ — $ 22,269 Hedging Collateral Deposits 88,610 — — — 88,610 Derivative Financial Instruments: Over the Counter Swaps – Gas and Oil — 1,802 — (1,802) — Foreign Currency Contracts — 938 — (938) — Other Investments: Balanced Equity Mutual Fund 34,433 — — — 34,433 Fixed Income Mutual Fund 70,639 — — — 70,639 Total $ 215,951 $ 2,740 $ — $ (2,740) $ 215,951 Liabilities: Derivative Financial Instruments: Over the Counter Swaps – Gas and Oil — 601,551 — (1,802) 599,749 Over the Counter No Cost Collars – Gas — 17,385 — — 17,385 Foreign Currency Contracts — 214 — (938) (724) Total $ — $ 619,150 $ — $ (2,740) $ 616,410 Total Net Assets/(Liabilities) $ 215,951 $ (616,410) $ — $ — $ (400,459) (1) Netting Adjustments represent the impact of legally-enforceable master netting arrangements that allow the Company to net gain and loss positions held with the same counterparties. The net asset or net liability for each counterparty is recorded as an asset or liability on the Company’s balance sheet.

Financial Instruments (Tables)

Financial Instruments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Financial Instruments, Owned, at Fair Value [Abstract]
Long-Term Debt	Based on these criteria, the fair market value of long-term debt, including current portion, was as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2021 September 30, 2021 Carrying Fair Value Carrying Fair Value Long-Term Debt $ 2,629,602 $ 2,847,638 $ 2,628,687 $ 2,898,552
Schedule Of Other Investments	The components of the Company's Other Investments are as follows (in thousands): At December 31, 2021 At September 30, 2021 Life Insurance Contracts $ 45,599 $ 44,560 Equity Mutual Fund 25,442 34,433 Fixed Income Mutual Fund 35,442 70,639 $ 106,483 $ 149,632
Schedule of Derivative Financial Instruments Designated And Qualifying As Cash Flow Hedges On The Statement Of Financial Performance	The Effect of Derivative Financial Instruments on the Statement of Financial Performance for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (Thousands of Dollars) Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships Amount of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on Location of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheet into the Consolidated Statement of Income Amount of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheet into the Consolidated Statement of Income for the 2021 2020 2021 2020 Commodity Contracts $ 163,126 $ 45,595 Operating Revenue $ (162,629) $ (310) Foreign Currency Contracts 6 2,426 Operating Revenue 41 (1) Total $ 163,132 $ 48,021 $ (162,588) $ (311)

Capitalization (Tables)

Capitalization (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Capitalization, Long-term Debt and Equity [Abstract]
Summary of Changes in Common Stock Equity	Summary of Changes in Common Stock Equity Common Stock Paid In Earnings Accumulated Shares Amount (Thousands, except per share amounts) Balance at October 1, 2021 91,182 $ 91,182 $ 1,017,446 $ 1,191,175 $ (513,597) Net Income Available for Common Stock 132,392 Dividends Declared on Common Stock ($0.455 Per Share) (41,604) Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax 236,571 Share-Based Payment Expense (1) 5,039 Common Stock Issued (Repurchased) Under Stock and Benefit Plans 255 255 (8,664) Balance at December 31, 2021 91,437 $ 91,437 $ 1,013,821 $ 1,281,963 $ (277,026) Balance at October 1, 2020 90,955 $ 90,955 $ 1,004,158 $ 991,630 $ (114,757) Net Income Available for Common Stock 77,774 Dividends Declared on Common Stock ($0.445 Per Share) (40,560) Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax 35,016 Share-Based Payment Expense (1) 3,496 Common Stock Issued (Repurchased) Under Stock and Benefit Plans 198 198 (3,285) Balance at December 31, 2020 91,153 $ 91,153 $ 1,004,369 $ 1,028,844 $ (79,741) (1) Paid in Capital includes compensation costs associated with performance shares and/or restricted stock awards. The expense is included within Net Income Available For Common Stock, net of tax benefits.

Business Segment Information (T

Business Segment Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Financial Segment Information By Segment	Quarter Ended December 31, 2021 (Thousands) Exploration and Production Pipeline and Storage Gathering Utility Total Reportable Segments All Other Corporate and Intersegment Eliminations Total Consolidated Revenue from External Customers $244,198 $61,547 $4,045 $236,684 $546,474 $— $83 $546,557 Intersegment Revenues $— $26,803 $48,180 $75 $75,058 $6 $(75,064) $— Segment Profit: Net Income (Loss) $62,369 $25,168 $23,137 $22,130 $132,804 $(7) $(405) $132,392 (Thousands) Exploration and Production Pipeline and Storage Gathering Utility Total Reportable Segments All Other Corporate and Intersegment Eliminations Total Consolidated Segment Assets: At December 31, 2021 $2,340,592 $2,318,287 $843,850 $2,197,361 $7,700,090 $4,737 $(115,154) $7,589,673 At September 30, 2021 $2,286,058 $2,296,030 $837,729 $2,148,267 $7,568,084 $4,146 $(107,405) $7,464,825 Quarter Ended December 31, 2020 (Thousands) Exploration and Production Pipeline and Storage Gathering Utility Total Reportable Segments All Other Corporate and Intersegment Eliminations Total Consolidated Revenue from External Customers $191,395 $59,308 $351 $188,901 $439,955 $1,110 $95 $441,160 Intersegment Revenues $— $28,456 $46,658 $100 $75,214 $20 $(75,234) $— Segment Profit: Net Income (Loss) $(29,623) $24,183 $20,550 $23,037 $38,147 $37,560 $2,067 $77,774

Retirement Plan And Other Pos_2

Retirement Plan And Other Post-Retirement Benefits (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost	Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (in thousands): Retirement Plan Other Post-Retirement Benefits Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2021 2020 Service Cost $ 2,190 $ 2,466 $ 332 $ 400 Interest Cost 5,707 5,422 2,267 2,326 Expected Return on Plan Assets (13,074) (14,537) (7,340) (7,241) Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit) 134 158 (107) (107) Amortization of (Gains) Losses 6,601 9,203 (1,903) 212 Net Amortization and Deferral for Regulatory Purposes (Including Volumetric Adjustments) (1) 4,420 3,713 6,246 6,854 Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Income) $ 5,978 $ 6,425 $ (505) $ 2,444 (1) The Company’s policy is to record retirement plan and other post-retirement benefit costs in the Utility segment on a volumetric basis to reflect the fact that the Utility segment experiences higher throughput of natural gas in the winter months and lower throughput of natural gas in the summer months.

Summary Of Significant Accoun_4

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Gas Stored Underground	$ 22,767		$ 33,669
Capitalized Costs Oil and Gas Producing Activities Net	2,000,000		1,900,000
Capitalized costs of unproved properties excluded from amortization	$ 120,000		103,800
Full cost ceiling test discount factor	10.00%
Amount Full Cost Ceiling Exceeds Book Value Of Oil And Gas Properties	$ 1,300,000
Decrease estimated future net cash flows	$ (297,800)
Antidilutive securities	8,732	373,378
Reserve For Gas Replacement [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Gas Stored Underground	$ 2,724		$ 0
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Share based compensation other than options grants in period	127,295
Granted in fiscal year, weighted average grant date fair value	$ 54.06
Performance Shares [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Share based compensation other than options grants in period	195,397
Granted in fiscal year, weighted average grant date fair value	$ 65.39
Subsequent Event [Member] | Reserve For Gas Replacement [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Gas Stored Underground				$ 0

Summary Of Significant Accoun_5

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021		Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Line Items]
Cash and Temporary Cash Investments	$ 79,065	$ 31,528		$ 109,413	$ 20,541
Hedging Collateral Deposits	0	88,610	[1]	0	0
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash	$ 79,065	$ 120,138		$ 109,413	$ 20,541
[1]	Netting Adjustments represent the impact of legally-enforceable master netting arrangements that allow the Company to net gain and loss positions held with the same counterparties. The net asset or net liability for each counterparty is recorded as an asset or liability on the Company’s balance sheet.

Summary Of Significant Accoun_6

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts [Roll Forward]
Balance at Beginning of Period	$ 31,639	$ 22,810
Additions Charged to Costs and Expenses	3,742	4,679
Discounts on Purchased Receivables	161	170
Net Accounts Receivable Recovered	57
Net Accounts Receivable Written-Off		(1,438)
Balance at End of Period	$ 35,599	$ 26,221

Summary of Significant Account

Summary of Significant Account Policies (Materials, Supplies and Emission Allowances) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021
Materials, Supplies and Emission Allowances [Line Items]
Materials and Supplies - at average cost	$ 36,233	$ 34,880
Emission Allowances	11,118	18,680
Materials, Supplies and Emission Allowances	$ 47,351	$ 53,560

Summary Of Significant Accoun_7

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Components Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Roll Forward]
Balance at Beginning of Period	$ (513,597)	$ (114,757)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	118,483	34,791
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income	118,088	225
Balance at End of Period	(277,026)	(79,741)
Gains And Losses On Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Roll Forward]
Balance at Beginning of Period	(449,962)	(24,865)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	118,483	34,791
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income	118,088	225
Balance at End of Period	(213,391)	10,151
Funded Status Of The Pension And Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Roll Forward]
Balance at Beginning of Period	(63,635)	(89,892)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	0	0
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income	0	0
Balance at End of Period	$ (63,635)	$ (89,892)

Summary Of Significant Accoun_8

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Reclassification Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	$ 546,557	$ 441,160
Income Before Income Taxes	177,289	107,191
Income Tax Expense	(44,897)	(29,417)
Net Income Available for Common Stock	132,392	77,774
Amount Of Gain Or (Loss) Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Income Before Income Taxes	(162,588)	(311)
Income Tax Expense	44,500	86
Net Income Available for Common Stock	(118,088)	(225)
Amount Of Gain Or (Loss) Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member] | Commodity Contracts [Member] | Gains And Losses On Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	(162,629)	(310)
Foreign Currency Contracts [Member] | Amount Of Gain Or (Loss) Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member] | Gains And Losses On Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	$ 41	$ (1)

Summary Of Significant Accoun_9

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Components Of Other Current Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Prepayments	$ 12,997	$ 14,164
Prepaid Property and Other Taxes	15,366	14,788
Regulatory Assets	32,435	29,206
Other Current Assets	64,314	59,660
State [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Income Taxes Receivable	$ 3,516	$ 1,502

Summary Of Significant Accou_10

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Schedule Of Other Accruals And Current Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Regulatory Liabilities	$ 22,937	$ 60,860
Reserve for Gas Replacement	22,767	33,669
Liability for Royalty and Working Interests	43,138	31,483
Other Accruals and Current Liabilities	187,965	194,169
Accrued Capital Expenditures [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Other	51,685	42,541
Reserve For Gas Replacement [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Reserve for Gas Replacement	2,724	0
Other Accruals [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Other	51,994	43,723
Federal [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Income Taxes Payable	79	154
Non-Qualified [Member] | Current [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Non-Qualified Benefit Plan Liability	$ 15,408	$ 15,408

Asset Acquisitions and Divest_2

Asset Acquisitions and Divestitures (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020
Asset Acquisition [Abstract]
Total Consideration for Asset Acquisition			$ 506,300
Assets Held for Sale, Net			$ 53,400
Net Proceeds from Sale of Timber Properties	$ 0	$ 104,582
Gain on Sale of Timber Properties	$ 0	$ 51,066

Revenue from Contracts with C_3

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2021USD ($)
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2022-01-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Future Revenue Amounts Related to Remaining Performance Obligations	$ 165.2
Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction	9 months
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2022-10-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Future Revenue Amounts Related to Remaining Performance Obligations	$ 184.1
Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction	1 year
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2023-10-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Future Revenue Amounts Related to Remaining Performance Obligations	$ 161
Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction	1 year
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2024-10-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Future Revenue Amounts Related to Remaining Performance Obligations	$ 153.4
Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction	1 year
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2025-10-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Future Revenue Amounts Related to Remaining Performance Obligations	$ 133.5
Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction	1 year
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2026-10-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Future Revenue Amounts Related to Remaining Performance Obligations	$ 787.4
Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction

Revenue from Contracts with C_4

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Disaggregation of Revenue) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 546,557	$ 441,160
Exploration And Production [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	406,827	191,705
Alternative Revenue Programs Outside Scope of Authoritative Guidance on Revenue Recognition	0	0
Derivative Financial Instruments Outside Scope of Authoritative Guidance on Revenue Recognition	(162,629)	(310)
Revenue	244,198	191,395
Pipeline And Storage [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	88,350	87,764
Alternative Revenue Programs Outside Scope of Authoritative Guidance on Revenue Recognition	0	0
Derivative Financial Instruments Outside Scope of Authoritative Guidance on Revenue Recognition	0	0
Revenue	88,350	87,764
Gathering [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	52,225	47,009
Alternative Revenue Programs Outside Scope of Authoritative Guidance on Revenue Recognition	0	0
Derivative Financial Instruments Outside Scope of Authoritative Guidance on Revenue Recognition	0	0
Revenue	52,225	47,009
Utility [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	229,931	183,407
Alternative Revenue Programs Outside Scope of Authoritative Guidance on Revenue Recognition	6,828	5,594
Derivative Financial Instruments Outside Scope of Authoritative Guidance on Revenue Recognition	0	0
Revenue	236,759	189,001
All Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	6	1,130
Alternative Revenue Programs Outside Scope of Authoritative Guidance on Revenue Recognition	0	0
Derivative Financial Instruments Outside Scope of Authoritative Guidance on Revenue Recognition	0	0
Revenue	6	1,130
Corporate And Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	(74,981)	(75,139)
Alternative Revenue Programs Outside Scope of Authoritative Guidance on Revenue Recognition	0	0
Derivative Financial Instruments Outside Scope of Authoritative Guidance on Revenue Recognition	0	0
Revenue	(74,981)	(75,139)
Total Consolidated [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	702,358	435,876
Alternative Revenue Programs Outside Scope of Authoritative Guidance on Revenue Recognition	6,828	5,594
Derivative Financial Instruments Outside Scope of Authoritative Guidance on Revenue Recognition	(162,629)	(310)
Revenue	546,557	441,160
Production of Natural Gas [Member] | Exploration And Production [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	361,282	166,442
Production of Natural Gas [Member] | Pipeline And Storage [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Production of Natural Gas [Member] | Gathering [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Production of Natural Gas [Member] | Utility [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Production of Natural Gas [Member] | All Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Production of Natural Gas [Member] | Corporate And Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Production of Natural Gas [Member] | Total Consolidated [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	361,282	166,442
Production of Crude Oil [Member] | Exploration And Production [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	42,371	24,499
Production of Crude Oil [Member] | Pipeline And Storage [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Production of Crude Oil [Member] | Gathering [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Production of Crude Oil [Member] | Utility [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Production of Crude Oil [Member] | All Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Production of Crude Oil [Member] | Corporate And Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Production of Crude Oil [Member] | Total Consolidated [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	42,371	24,499
Natural Gas Processing [Member] | Exploration And Production [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	1,029	553
Natural Gas Processing [Member] | Pipeline And Storage [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Processing [Member] | Gathering [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Processing [Member] | Utility [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Processing [Member] | All Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Processing [Member] | Corporate And Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Processing [Member] | Total Consolidated [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	1,029	553
Natural Gas Gathering Service [Member] | Exploration And Production [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Gathering Service [Member] | Pipeline And Storage [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Gathering Service [Member] | Gathering [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	52,225	47,009
Natural Gas Gathering Service [Member] | Utility [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Gathering Service [Member] | All Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Gathering Service [Member] | Corporate And Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	(48,180)	(46,658)
Natural Gas Gathering Service [Member] | Total Consolidated [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	4,045	351
Natural Gas Transportation Service [Member] | Exploration And Production [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Transportation Service [Member] | Pipeline And Storage [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	66,269	64,825
Natural Gas Transportation Service [Member] | Gathering [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Transportation Service [Member] | Utility [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	27,775	29,021
Natural Gas Transportation Service [Member] | All Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Transportation Service [Member] | Corporate And Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	(17,625)	(19,590)
Natural Gas Transportation Service [Member] | Total Consolidated [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	76,419	74,256
Natural Gas Storage Service [Member] | Exploration And Production [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Storage Service [Member] | Pipeline And Storage [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	20,800	20,517
Natural Gas Storage Service [Member] | Gathering [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Storage Service [Member] | Utility [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Storage Service [Member] | All Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Storage Service [Member] | Corporate And Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	(9,024)	(8,763)
Natural Gas Storage Service [Member] | Total Consolidated [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	11,776	11,754
Natural Gas Residential Sales [Member] | Exploration And Production [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Residential Sales [Member] | Pipeline And Storage [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Residential Sales [Member] | Gathering [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Residential Sales [Member] | Utility [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	179,011	137,881
Natural Gas Residential Sales [Member] | All Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Residential Sales [Member] | Corporate And Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Residential Sales [Member] | Total Consolidated [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	179,011	137,881
Natural Gas Commercial Sales [Member] | Exploration And Production [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Commercial Sales [Member] | Pipeline And Storage [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Commercial Sales [Member] | Gathering [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Commercial Sales [Member] | Utility [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	23,998	17,195
Natural Gas Commercial Sales [Member] | All Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Commercial Sales [Member] | Corporate And Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Commercial Sales [Member] | Total Consolidated [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	23,998	17,195
Natural Gas Industrial Sales [Member] | Exploration And Production [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Industrial Sales [Member] | Pipeline And Storage [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Industrial Sales [Member] | Gathering [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Industrial Sales [Member] | Utility [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	1,147	922
Natural Gas Industrial Sales [Member] | All Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Industrial Sales [Member] | Corporate And Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Natural Gas Industrial Sales [Member] | Total Consolidated [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	1,147	922
Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Exploration And Production [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers		0
Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Pipeline And Storage [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers		0
Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Gathering [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers		0
Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Utility [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers		0
Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | All Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers		585
Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Corporate And Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers		(20)
Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Total Consolidated [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers		565
Other [Member] | Exploration And Production [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	2,145	211
Other [Member] | Pipeline And Storage [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	1,281	2,422
Other [Member] | Gathering [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	0	0
Other [Member] | Utility [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	(2,000)	(1,612)
Other [Member] | All Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	6	545
Other [Member] | Corporate And Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	(152)	(108)
Other [Member] | Total Consolidated [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	$ 1,280	$ 1,458

Fair Value Measurements (Narrat

Fair Value Measurements (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021		Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Hedging Collateral Deposits		$ 0	$ 88,610,000	[1]	$ 0	$ 0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Hedging Collateral Deposits	[1]		$ 88,610,000
Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Level 3 Fair Value		$ 0			$ 0
[1]	Netting Adjustments represent the impact of legally-enforceable master netting arrangements that allow the Company to net gain and loss positions held with the same counterparties. The net asset or net liability for each counterparty is recorded as an asset or liability on the Company’s balance sheet.

Fair Value Measurements (Recurr

Fair Value Measurements (Recurring Fair Value Measures Of Assets And Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2021		Sep. 30, 2021		Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash Equivalents - Money Market Mutual Funds	[1]	$ 66,069		$ 22,269
Hedging Collateral Deposits		0		88,610	[1]	$ 0	$ 0
Total Assets	[1]	126,953		215,951
Total Liabilities	[1]	290,690		616,410
Total Net Assets/(Liabilities)	[1]	(163,737)		(400,459)
Over The Counter Swaps - Gas And Oil [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Asset	[1]	0		0
Derivative Liability	[1]	283,354		599,749
Over the Counter No Cost Collars - Gas [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Liability		8,025	[1]	17,385
Foreign Currency Contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Asset	[1]	0		0
Derivative Liability	[1]	(689)		(724)
Balanced Equity Mutual Fund [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Investments	[1]	25,442		34,433
Fixed Income Mutual Fund [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Investments	[1]	35,442		70,639
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash Equivalents - Money Market Mutual Funds		66,069		22,269
Hedging Collateral Deposits	[1]			88,610
Total Assets		126,953		215,951
Total Liabilities		0		0
Total Net Assets/(Liabilities)		126,953		215,951
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Over The Counter Swaps - Gas And Oil [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Asset		0		0
Derivative Liability		0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Over the Counter No Cost Collars - Gas [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Liability		0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Foreign Currency Contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Asset		0		0
Derivative Liability		0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Balanced Equity Mutual Fund [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Investments		25,442		34,433
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Fixed Income Mutual Fund [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Investments		35,442		70,639
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash Equivalents - Money Market Mutual Funds		0		0
Hedging Collateral Deposits	[1]			0
Total Assets		3,733		2,740
Total Liabilities		294,423		619,150
Total Net Assets/(Liabilities)		(290,690)		(616,410)
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Over The Counter Swaps - Gas And Oil [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Asset		2,849		1,802
Derivative Liability		286,203		601,551
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Over the Counter No Cost Collars - Gas [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Liability		8,025		17,385
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Foreign Currency Contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Asset		884		938
Derivative Liability		195		214
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Balanced Equity Mutual Fund [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Investments		0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Fixed Income Mutual Fund [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Investments		0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash Equivalents - Money Market Mutual Funds		0		0
Hedging Collateral Deposits	[1]			0
Total Assets		0		0
Total Liabilities		0		0
Total Net Assets/(Liabilities)		0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Over The Counter Swaps - Gas And Oil [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Asset		0		0
Derivative Liability		0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Over the Counter No Cost Collars - Gas [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Liability		0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Foreign Currency Contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Asset		0		0
Derivative Liability		0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Balanced Equity Mutual Fund [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Investments		0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Fixed Income Mutual Fund [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Investments		0		0
Netting Adjustments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash Equivalents - Money Market Mutual Funds	[1]	0		0
Hedging Collateral Deposits	[1]			0
Total Assets	[1]	(3,733)		(2,740)
Total Liabilities	[1]	(3,733)		(2,740)
Total Net Assets/(Liabilities)	[1]	0		0
Netting Adjustments [Member] | Over The Counter Swaps - Gas And Oil [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Asset	[1]	(2,849)		(1,802)
Derivative Liability	[1]	(2,849)		(1,802)
Netting Adjustments [Member] | Over the Counter No Cost Collars - Gas [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Liability		0	[1]	0
Netting Adjustments [Member] | Foreign Currency Contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative Asset	[1]	(884)		(938)
Derivative Liability	[1]	(884)		(938)
Netting Adjustments [Member] | Balanced Equity Mutual Fund [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Investments	[1]	0		0
Netting Adjustments [Member] | Fixed Income Mutual Fund [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Investments	[1]	$ 0		$ 0
[1]	Netting Adjustments represent the impact of legally-enforceable master netting arrangements that allow the Company to net gain and loss positions held with the same counterparties. The net asset or net liability for each counterparty is recorded as an asset or liability on the Company’s balance sheet.

Financial Instruments (Narrativ

Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021USD ($)counterpartyMMcfbbl	Sep. 30, 2021USD ($)	[1]	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020USD ($)
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Foreign Currency Forward Contract Hedge Duration	9 years
Net hedging gains (losses) in accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (290,700)
After tax net hedging gains (losses) in accumulated other comprehensive loss	(213,400)
Pre-Tax Net Hedging Gains (Losses) Reclassified Within Twelve Months	(197,700)
After Tax Net Hedging Gains (Losses) Reclassified Within Twelve Months	(145,100)
Fair market value of derivative liability with a credit-risk related contingency	235,200
Hedging Collateral Deposits	$ 0	$ 88,610		$ 0	$ 0
Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Hedge Duration	5 years
Over the Counter Swaps, No Cost Collars and Foreign Currency Forward Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Number of counterparties in which the company holds over-the-counter swap positions | counterparty	17
Hedging Collateral Deposits	$ 0
Natural Gas MMCf [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Nonmonetary notional amount of price risk cash flow hedge derivatives, natural gas | MMcf	371,200
Crude Oil Bbls [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Nonmonetary notional amount of price risk cash flow hedge derivatives, crude oil | bbl	1,692,000
Foreign Currency Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	$ 56,700
Credit Risk Related Contingency Feature [Member] | Over the Counter Swaps, No Cost Collars and Foreign Currency Forward Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Number of counterparties with a common credit-risk related contingency | counterparty	15
[1]	Netting Adjustments represent the impact of legally-enforceable master netting arrangements that allow the Company to net gain and loss positions held with the same counterparties. The net asset or net liability for each counterparty is recorded as an asset or liability on the Company’s balance sheet.

Financial Instruments (Long-Ter

Financial Instruments (Long-Term Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021
Financial Instruments, Owned, at Fair Value [Abstract]
Carrying Amount	$ 2,629,602	$ 2,628,687
Fair Value	$ 2,847,638	$ 2,898,552

Financial Investments (Other In

Financial Investments (Other Investments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Life Insurance Contracts	$ 45,599	$ 44,560
Other Investments	106,483	149,632
Equity Mutual Fund [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Fair Value	25,442	34,433
Fixed Income Mutual Fund [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 35,442	$ 70,639

Financial Instruments (Schedule

Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Derivative Financial Instruments Designated And Qualifying As Cash Flow Hedges On The Statement Of Financial Performance) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$ 163,132	$ 48,021
Amount of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheet into the Consolidated Statement of Income	(162,588)	(311)
Foreign Currency Contracts [Member] | Operating Revenues [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)	6	2,426
Amount of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheet into the Consolidated Statement of Income	41	(1)
Commodity Contracts [Member] | Operating Revenues [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)	163,126	45,595
Amount of Derivative Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheet into the Consolidated Statement of Income	$ (162,629)	$ (310)

Income Taxes (Details)

Income Taxes (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Effective Tax Rate	25.30%	27.40%

Capitalization (Narrative) (Det

Capitalization (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Common stock shares issued due to SARs exercises	17,943
Shares tendered	146,996
Current Portion of Long-Term Debt	$ 0	$ 0
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Common stock issued	110,339
Performance Shares [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Common stock issued	265,607
Board Of Directors [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Common stock issued	8,395

Capitalization and Short-Term B

Capitalization and Short-Term Borrowings (Summary of Changes in Common Stock Equity) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance (shares)		91,181,549
Beginning balance		$ 1,017,446
Balance at Beginning of Period		1,191,175	$ 991,630
Balance at Beginning of Period		(513,597)	(114,757)
Net Income Available for Common Stock		132,392	77,774
Dividends Declared on Common Stock		(41,604)	(40,560)
Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax		$ 236,571	35,016
Ending balance (shares)		91,436,837
Ending balance		$ 1,013,821
Balance at December 31		1,281,963	1,028,844
Balance at End of Period		$ (277,026)	$ (79,741)
Dividends per share		$ 0.455	$ 0.445
Paid-in Capital [Member]
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance		$ 1,017,446	$ 1,004,158
Share-Based Payment Expense	[1]	5,039	3,496
Stock Repurchased under Stock and Benefit Plans		(8,664)	(3,285)
Ending balance		1,013,821	1,004,369
Earnings Reinvested in The Business [Member]
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]
Balance at Beginning of Period		1,191,175	991,630
Net Income Available for Common Stock		132,392	77,774
Dividends Declared on Common Stock		(41,604)	(40,560)
Balance at December 31		1,281,963	1,028,844
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]
Balance at Beginning of Period		(513,597)	(114,757)
Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax		236,571	35,016
Balance at End of Period		$ (277,026)	$ (79,741)
Common Stock [Member]
Schedule of Capitalization, Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance (shares)		91,182,000	90,955,000
Beginning balance (value)		$ 91,182	$ 90,955
Common Stock Issued Under Stock and Benefit Plans (Shares)		255,000	198,000
Common Stock Issued Under Stock and Benefit Plans		$ 255	$ 198
Ending balance (shares)		91,437,000	91,153,000
Ending balance (value)		$ 91,437	$ 91,153
[1]	Paid in Capital includes compensation costs associated with performance shares and/or restricted stock awards. The expense is included within Net Income Available For Common Stock, net of tax benefits.

Commitments And Contingencies (

Commitments And Contingencies (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Estimated minimum liability for environmental remediation	$ 3.1
Rate recovery period	1 year

Business Segment Information (N

Business Segment Information (Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	4

Business Segment Information (F

Business Segment Information (Financial Segment Information By Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 546,557	$ 441,160
Segment Profit: Net Income (Loss)	132,392	77,774
Segment Assets	7,589,673		$ 7,464,825
Revenue from External Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	546,557	441,160
Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Exploration And Production [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	244,198	191,395
Segment Profit: Net Income (Loss)	62,369	(29,623)
Segment Assets	2,340,592		2,286,058
Exploration And Production [Member] | Revenue from External Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	244,198	191,395
Exploration And Production [Member] | Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Pipeline And Storage [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	88,350	87,764
Segment Profit: Net Income (Loss)	25,168	24,183
Segment Assets	2,318,287		2,296,030
Pipeline And Storage [Member] | Revenue from External Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	61,547	59,308
Pipeline And Storage [Member] | Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	26,803	28,456
Gathering [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	52,225	47,009
Segment Profit: Net Income (Loss)	23,137	20,550
Segment Assets	843,850		837,729
Gathering [Member] | Revenue from External Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	4,045	351
Gathering [Member] | Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	48,180	46,658
Utility [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	236,759	189,001
Segment Profit: Net Income (Loss)	22,130	23,037
Segment Assets	2,197,361		2,148,267
Utility [Member] | Revenue from External Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	236,684	188,901
Utility [Member] | Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	75	100
Total Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Profit: Net Income (Loss)	132,804	38,147
Segment Assets	7,700,090		7,568,084
Total Reportable Segments [Member] | Revenue from External Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	546,474	439,955
Total Reportable Segments [Member] | Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	75,058	75,214
All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	6	1,130
Segment Profit: Net Income (Loss)	(7)	37,560
Segment Assets	4,737		4,146
All Other [Member] | Revenue from External Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	0	1,110
All Other [Member] | Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	6	20
Corporate And Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	(74,981)	(75,139)
Segment Profit: Net Income (Loss)	(405)	2,067
Segment Assets	(115,154)		$ (107,405)
Corporate And Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Revenue from External Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	83	95
Corporate And Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ (75,064)	$ (75,234)

Retirement Plan And Other Pos_3

Retirement Plan And Other Post-Retirement Benefits (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021USD ($)
Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Company's contributions	$ 5.2
VEBA Trusts [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Company's contributions	0.7
Minimum [Member] | Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated future contributions in remainder of fiscal year	15
Minimum [Member] | VEBA Trusts [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated future contributions in remainder of fiscal year	2
Maximum [Member] | Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated future contributions in remainder of fiscal year	20
Maximum [Member] | VEBA Trusts [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated future contributions in remainder of fiscal year	$ 2.5

Retirement Plan And Other Pos_4

Retirement Plan And Other Post-Retirement Benefits (Components Of Net Periodic Benefit Cost) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service Cost		$ 2,190	$ 2,466
Interest Cost		5,707	5,422
Expected Return on Plan Assets		(13,074)	(14,537)
Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)		134	158
Amortization of (Gains) Losses		6,601	9,203
Net Amortization and Deferral for Regulatory Purposes (Including Volumetric Adjustments)	[1]	4,420	3,713
Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Income)		5,978	6,425
Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service Cost		332	400
Interest Cost		2,267	2,326
Expected Return on Plan Assets		(7,340)	(7,241)
Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)		(107)	(107)
Amortization of (Gains) Losses		(1,903)	212
Net Amortization and Deferral for Regulatory Purposes (Including Volumetric Adjustments)	[1]	6,246	6,854
Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Income)		$ (505)	$ 2,444
[1]	The Company’s policy is to record retirement plan and other post-retirement benefit costs in the Utility segment on a volumetric basis to reflect the fact that the Utility segment experiences higher throughput of natural gas in the winter months and lower throughput of natural gas in the summer months.

Regulatory Matters (Details)

Regulatory Matters (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021USD ($)
NEW YORK
Regulatory Matters [Line Items]
Approved Return on Equity	8.70%
PENNSYLVANIA
Regulatory Matters [Line Items]
Proposed Base Rate Reduction	$ (7.7)
Proposed refund to customers from over-collection of OPEB expenses	$ 50

Leases (Narrative) (Details)

Leases (Narrative) (Details) - Drilling Rigs [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jan. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Estimated Lease Payments		$ 8.4
Deferred Charges [Member]
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating Lease Asset		8.1
Other Accruals and Current Liabilities [Member]
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating Lease Liability - Current		7.2
Other Liabilities [Member]
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating Lease Liability - Noncurrent		$ 0.9
Subsequent Event [Member]
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Estimated Lease Payments	$ 11.9
Minimum [Member]
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Lease Term		1 year