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REGULATION | 6 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2014
Regulated Operations [Abstract] |
REGULATION | REGULATION NJNG is subject to cost-based regulation, therefore, it is permitted to recover authorized operating expenses and earn a reasonable return on its utility investment based on the BPU's approval, in accordance with accounting guidance applicable to regulated operations. The impact of the ratemaking process and decisions authorized by the BPU allows NJNG to capitalize or defer certain costs that are expected to be recovered from its customers as regulatory assets and to recognize certain obligations representing amounts that are probable future expenditures as regulatory liabilities. Regulatory assets and liabilities included on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are comprised of the following:
(Thousands) | March 31, 2014 | September 30, 2013
Regulatory assets-current |  |
Conservation Incentive Program | $ | — |  | $ | 18,887 |
Underrecovered gas costs | 12,991 |  | 953 |
New Jersey Clean Energy Program | 5,979 |  | 14,532 |
Total current | $ | 18,970 |  | $ | 34,372 |
Regulatory assets-noncurrent |  |
Environmental remediation costs |  |
Expended, net of recoveries | $ | 32,661 |  | $ | 46,968 |
Liability for future expenditures | 183,600 |  | 183,600 |
Deferred income taxes | 10,718 |  | 10,718 |
Derivatives at fair value, net | — |  | 19 |
SAVEGREEN | 23,988 |  | 30,004 |
Postemployment and other benefit costs | 98,029 |  | 101,415 |
Deferred Superstorm Sandy costs | 15,207 |  | 14,822 |
Other | 4,116 |  | 14,656 |
Total noncurrent | $ | 368,319 |  | $ | 402,202 |
Regulatory liability-current |  |
Conservation Incentive Program | $ | 5,964 |  | $ | — |
Derivatives at fair value, net | 14,396 |  | 1,456 |
Total current | $ | 20,360 |  | $ | 1,456 |
Regulatory liabilities-noncurrent |  |
Cost of removal obligation | $ | 75,327 |  | $ | 79,315 |
Other | 1,530 |  | 332 |
Total noncurrent | $ | 76,857 |  | $ | 79,647 |
NJNG's recovery of costs is facilitated through its base tariff rates, BGSS and other regulatory tariff riders. As recovery of regulatory assets is subject to BPU approval, if there are any changes in regulatory positions that indicate recovery is not probable, the related cost would be charged to income in the period of such determination. Recent regulatory filings and/or actions include the following:
• | On September 18, 2013, the BPU approved NJNG's filing to reduce the USF recovery rate resulting in a .5 percent decrease for the average residential heating customer effective October 1, 2013.
• | On October 16, 2013, the BPU provisionally approved NJNG's filing to maintain its current BGSS rate along with reductions to its CIP factors effective November 1, 2013 which resulted in a 1 percent reduction to an average residential heat customer's bill.
• | On November 21, 2013, NJNG notified the BPU of its intent to reduce its BGSS rate, effective December 1, 2013, resulting in a 6 percent decrease to the average residential heating customer bill.
• | On November 22, 2013, the BPU provisionally approved a Stipulation of Settlement for SBC factors that included recovery of MGP expenditures through June 30, 2013 and a .2 percent reduction to the average residential heat customer related to the SBC RA factor to recover $18.7 million annually, and a 1.9 percent increase related to its NJCEP factor, effective December 1, 2013.
• | On December 18, 2013, the BPU approved a gas service agreement which will allow NJNG to provide transportation service to Red Oak Power, LLC, an electric generation facility, through September 2022.
• | On April 23, 2014, the BPU approved a petition filed by NJNG requesting authorization over a three-year period to issue up to $300 million of medium-term notes with a maturity of not more than 30 years, renew its revolving credit facility expiring August 2014 for up to five years, enter into interest rate risk management transactions related to debt securities and redeem, refinance or defease any of NJNG’s outstanding long-term debt securities.

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