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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2018 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2018 | Mar. 31, 2017
Operating revenues [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Operating revenues | $ 1,219,409 | $ 988,186 | $ 2,108,601 | $ 1,768,354
Purchase Gas Cost [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Purchased gas cost | 626,960 | 427,494 | 993,877 | 738,799
Operation and maintenance expense | 161,073 | 132,239 | 290,640 | 257,177
Depreciation and amortization expense | 89,381 | 77,667 | 177,755 | 154,625
Taxes, other than income, expense | 73,007 | 65,614 | 135,780 | 122,663
Operating income | 268,988 | 285,172 | 510,549 | 495,090
Miscellaneous income (expense) | (253) | 833 | (2,288) | (161)
Interest charges | 27,304 | 26,944 | 58,813 | 57,974
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes | 241,431 | 259,061 | 449,448 | 436,955
Income tax expense (benefit) | 62,439 | 97,049 | (43,676) | 160,905
Income from continuing operations | 178,992 | 162,012 | 493,124 | 276,050
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax | 0 | 2,716 | 0 | 2,716
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax |  |  | 0 | 10,994
Net income (loss) | $ 178,992 | $ 164,728 | $ 493,124 | $ 289,760
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic and Diluted Share | $ 1.60 | $ 1.52 | $ 4.47 | $ 2.61
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax, Per Basic and Diluted Share | 0.00 | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.13
Basic and diluted net income per share | 1.60 | 1.55 | 4.47 | 2.74
Cash dividends per share | $ 0.485 | $ 0.450 | $ 0.97 | $ 0.90
Weighted average shares outstanding: |  |  |  |
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic and Diluted | 111,706 | 105,935 | 110,135 | 105,610
Distribution Segment [Member] |  |  |  |
Operating revenues [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Operating revenues | $ 1,199,291 | $ 962,541 | $ 2,060,083 | $ 1,717,197
Purchase Gas Cost [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Purchased gas cost | 727,053 | 513,096 | 1,190,811 | 908,442
Operation and maintenance expense | 131,991 | 103,703 | 235,728 | 196,417
Depreciation and amortization expense | 65,649 | 61,302 | 131,083 | 122,459
Taxes, other than income, expense | 64,692 | 57,636 | 119,799 | 108,182
Operating income | 209,906 | 226,804 | 382,662 | 381,697
Miscellaneous income (expense) | 393 | 1,029 | (1,007) | 396
Interest charges | 16,898 | 16,925 | 38,266 | 38,043
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes | 193,401 | 210,908 | 343,389 | 344,050
Income tax expense (benefit) | 48,158 | 79,763 | (50,953) | 127,541
Income from continuing operations |  | 131,145 |  | 216,509
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax |  | 0 |  | 0
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax |  |  |  | 0
Net income (loss) | 145,243 | 131,145 | 394,342 | 216,509
Pipeline and Storage Segment [Member] |  |  |  |
Operating revenues [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Operating revenues | 120,955 | 111,972 | 247,418 | 221,924
Purchase Gas Cost [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Purchased gas cost | 433 | 725 | 1,345 | 1,080
Operation and maintenance expense | 29,393 | 28,536 | 55,533 | 60,804
Depreciation and amortization expense | 23,732 | 16,365 | 46,672 | 32,166
Taxes, other than income, expense | 8,315 | 7,978 | 15,981 | 14,481
Operating income | 59,082 | 58,368 | 127,887 | 113,393
Miscellaneous income (expense) | (646) | (196) | (1,281) | (557)
Interest charges | 10,406 | 10,019 | 20,547 | 19,931
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes | 48,030 | 48,153 | 106,059 | 92,905
Income tax expense (benefit) | 14,281 | 17,286 | 7,277 | 33,364
Income from continuing operations |  | 30,867 |  | 59,541
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax |  | 0 |  | 0
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax |  |  |  | 0
Net income (loss) | 33,749 | 30,867 | 98,782 | 59,541
Intersegment Elimination [Member] |  |  |  |
Operating revenues [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Operating revenues | (100,837) | (86,327) | (198,900) | (170,767)
Purchase Gas Cost [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Purchased gas cost | (100,526) | (86,327) | (198,279) | (170,723)
Operation and maintenance expense | (311) | 0 | (621) | (44)
Depreciation and amortization expense | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Taxes, other than income, expense | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Operating income | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Miscellaneous income (expense) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Interest charges | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Income tax expense (benefit) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Income from continuing operations |  | 0 |  | 0
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax |  | 0 |  | 0
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax |  |  |  | 0
Net income (loss) | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0

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