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REGULATION | 9 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 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) | June 30, 2014 | September 30, 2013
Regulatory assets-current |  |
Conservation Incentive Program | $ | — |  | $ | 18,887 |
Underrecovered gas costs | 12,635 |  | 953 |
New Jersey Clean Energy Program | 15,429 |  | 14,532 |
Total current | $ | 28,064 |  | $ | 34,372 |
Regulatory assets-noncurrent |  |
Environmental remediation costs |  |
Expended, net of recoveries | $ | 31,284 |  | $ | 46,968 |
Liability for future expenditures | 183,600 |  | 183,600 |
Deferred income taxes | 10,718 |  | 10,718 |
Derivatives at fair value, net | — |  | 19 |
SAVEGREEN | 26,054 |  | 30,004 |
Postemployment and other benefit costs | 96,337 |  | 101,415 |
Deferred Superstorm Sandy costs | 15,207 |  | 14,822 |
Other | 6,317 |  | 14,656 |
Total noncurrent | $ | 369,517 |  | $ | 402,202 |
Regulatory liability-current |  |
Conservation Incentive Program | $ | 5,958 |  | $ | — |
Derivatives at fair value, net | 5,752 |  | 1,456 |
Total current | $ | 11,710 |  | $ | 1,456 |
Regulatory liabilities-noncurrent |  |
Cost of removal obligation | $ | 69,000 |  | $ | 79,315 |
Derivatives at fair value, net | 3 |  | — |
Other | 117 |  | 332 |
Total noncurrent | $ | 69,120 |  | $ | 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 heat customer's bill effective October 1, 2013.
• | On October 16, 2013, the BPU provisionally approved NJNG’s fiscal 2014 BGSS/CIP 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 heat customer's bill. On July 23, 2014, the BPU approved these rates on a final basis.
• | 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's bill 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 July 23, 2014, the BPU approved these rates on a final basis.
• | 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.
• | On May 21, 2014, the BPU approved the continuation of the CIP program with no expiration date; however, it will be subject to review in a rate filing in 2017.
• | On June 2, 2014, NJNG submitted its fiscal 2015 BGSS/CIP filing, which proposes a 4.3 percent reduction to an average residential heat customer's bill related to the CIP factor for fiscal 2015.
• | On June 2, 2014, NJNG submitted an EE rate filing for the recovery of SAVEGREEN costs, which proposes to maintain the existing rate.
• | On June 20, 2014, NJNG submitted its annual USF compliance filing proposing to increase the statewide USF rate, resulting in a .4 percent increase to the average residential heat customer’s bill effective October 1, 2014.
• | On July 23, 2014, the BPU approved a Stipulation of Settlement related to the NJ RISE capital infrastructure program. NJNG will invest $102.5 million over a five-year period in six capital projects designed to enhance the resiliency of its natural gas distribution and transmission systems and help diminish the impact of major weather events in the future. In May 2015, NJNG will submit a filing to recover costs through July 31, 2015, associated with NJ RISE, through an adjustment to base rates as of November 1, 2015. Additional cost recovery will be included in NJNG’s next base rate case scheduled to be filed no later than November 15, 2015.

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