INCOME TAXES	3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	11. INCOME TAXES ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes requires the use of an estimated annual effective tax rate for purposes of determining the income tax provision during interim reporting periods. In calculating its estimated annual effective tax rate, NJR considers forecasted annual pre-tax income and estimated permanent book versus tax differences, as well as tax credits associated with solar and wind projects. For investment tax credits, the estimate is based on solar projects that are probable of being completed and placed in service during the current fiscal year based on the best information available at each reporting period. For production tax credits, the estimate is based on the forecast of electricity produced during the current fiscal year based on the best information available at each reporting period. Adjustments to the effective tax rate and management's estimates will occur as information and assumptions change. Changes in tax laws or tax rates are recognized in the financial reporting period that includes the enactment date, the date in which the act is signed into law. NJR evaluates its tax positions to determine the appropriate accounting and recognition of potential future obligations associated with unrecognized tax benefits. During the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company determined there was no need to recognize any liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions. The Tax Act On December 22, 2017, the President signed into law the Tax Act. The law made several changes to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the most impactful to the Company of which was a reduction in the federal corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent that became effective January 1, 2018. Since the Company's fiscal year end is September 30, it is required by the Internal Revenue Code to calculate a statutory rate based upon the federal tax rates in effect before and after the effective date of the change in the taxable year that includes the effective date. Accordingly, the Company will use a federal statutory tax rate of 24.5 percent during fiscal 2018 and will use the enacted rate of 21 percent beginning in fiscal 2019. As a result of the changes associated with the Tax Act, the Company revalued its deferred tax assets and liabilities at the enactment date to reflect the rates that will be in effect when the deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. The decrease of the net deferred tax liability at NJNG of $228 million, which includes $164.3 million for the revaluation of its deferred income taxes and $63.7 million for the accounting of the income tax effects on the revaluation, was recorded as a noncurrent regulatory liability on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets since it will be refunded to NJNG's ratepayers. The decrease of the net deferred tax liability for the remaining entities resulted in an income tax benefit of $57.6 million that was recognized on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended December 31, 2017. The adjustments to deferred income taxes are based on assumptions the Company made with respect to its book versus tax differences and the timing of when those differences will reverse, including estimations associated with depreciation and the settlement of derivative unrealized amounts, therefore the revaluation of net deferred tax liabilities is subject to change as information and assumptions are updated. Effective Tax Rate The forecasted effective tax rates were 13.9 percent and 8.7 percent, for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The increased effective tax rate is due primarily to an increase in forecasted pre-tax income combined with a decrease in forecasted tax credits for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, compared with the prior fiscal year, which more than offset the lower statutory rate. Forecasted tax credits, net of deferred income taxes, were $21.9 million and $36.4 million for fiscal 2018 and 2017, respectively. To the extent there are discrete tax items that are not included in the forecasted effective tax rate, the actual effective tax rate will differ from the estimated annual effective tax rate. The Company recognized $2.8 million and $1.2 million during the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, in excess tax benefits associated with the vesting of share-based awards, as a component of income tax (benefit) provision in its Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. In addition, as discussed further above, the Company recognized a tax benefit of $57.6 million during the three months ended December 31, 2017. As a result of these discrete items, NJR’s actual effective tax rate was (68.2) percent and 5.5 percent as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Other Tax Items As of December 31, 2017, the Company has federal and state income tax net operating losses of approximately $125.3 million and $526.4 million, respectively, which generally have a life of 20 years. The Company has recorded deferred federal and state tax assets of approximately $28.5 million and $27.7 million, respectively, on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, reflecting the tax benefits associated with these net operating losses. As of September 30, 2017, the Company had federal and state income tax net operating losses of approximately $125.3 million and $471.7 million, respectively, and deferred federal and state tax assets of approximately $28.5 million and $23.6 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2017, the Company recorded a valuation allowance associated with state net operating loss carryforwards of $1.3 million and $1 million, respectively, related to Clean Energy Ventures in the state of Montana. There were no other valuation allowances needed for the Company as of December 31, 2017. In addition, as of December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2017, the Company had an ITC/PTC carryforward of approximately $122.9 million and $109.3 million, respectively, which each have a life of 20 years. The Company expects to utilize this entire carryforward, which would begin to expire in fiscal 2035. In December 2015, the Consolidated Appropriations Act extended the 30 percent ITC for solar property that is under construction on or before December 31, 2019. The credit will decline to 26 percent for property under construction during 2020 and to 22 percent for property under construction during 2021. For any property that is under construction before 2022, but not placed in service before 2024, the ITC will be reduced to 10 percent. In addition, the PTC was extended for five years through December 31, 2019, with a gradual three year phase out for any project for which construction of the facility begins after December 31, 2016.

11. INCOME TAXES

ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes requires the use of an estimated annual effective tax rate for purposes of determining the income tax provision during interim reporting periods. In calculating its estimated annual effective tax rate, NJR considers forecasted annual pre-tax income and estimated permanent book versus tax differences, as well as tax credits associated with solar and wind projects. For investment tax credits, the estimate is based on solar projects that are probable of being completed and placed in service during the current fiscal year based on the best information available at each reporting period. For production tax credits, the estimate is based on the forecast of electricity produced during the current fiscal year based on the best information available at each reporting period. Adjustments to the effective tax rate and management's estimates will occur as information and assumptions change.

Changes in tax laws or tax rates are recognized in the financial reporting period that includes the enactment date, the date in which the act is signed into law.

NJR evaluates its tax positions to determine the appropriate accounting and recognition of potential future obligations associated with unrecognized tax benefits. During the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company determined there was no need to recognize any liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions.

The Tax Act

On December 22, 2017, the President signed into law the Tax Act. The law made several changes to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the most impactful to the Company of which was a reduction in the federal corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent that became effective January 1, 2018. Since the Company's fiscal year end is September 30, it is required by the Internal Revenue Code to calculate a statutory rate based upon the federal tax rates in effect before and after the effective date of the change in the taxable year that includes the effective date. Accordingly, the Company will use a federal statutory tax rate of 24.5 percent during fiscal 2018 and will use the enacted rate of 21 percent beginning in fiscal 2019.

As a result of the changes associated with the Tax Act, the Company revalued its deferred tax assets and liabilities at the enactment date to reflect the rates that will be in effect when the deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. The decrease of the net deferred tax liability at NJNG of $228 million, which includes $164.3 million for the revaluation of its deferred income taxes and $63.7 million for the accounting of the income tax effects on the revaluation, was recorded as a noncurrent regulatory liability on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets since it will be refunded to NJNG's ratepayers. The decrease of the net deferred tax liability for the remaining entities resulted in an income tax benefit of $57.6 million that was recognized on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended December 31, 2017.

The adjustments to deferred income taxes are based on assumptions the Company made with respect to its book versus tax differences and the timing of when those differences will reverse, including estimations associated with depreciation and the settlement of derivative unrealized amounts, therefore the revaluation of net deferred tax liabilities is subject to change as information and assumptions are updated.

Effective Tax Rate

The forecasted effective tax rates were 13.9 percent and 8.7 percent, for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The increased effective tax rate is due primarily to an increase in forecasted pre-tax income combined with a decrease in forecasted tax credits for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, compared with the prior fiscal year, which more than offset the lower statutory rate. Forecasted tax credits, net of deferred income taxes, were $21.9 million and $36.4 million for fiscal 2018 and 2017, respectively.

To the extent there are discrete tax items that are not included in the forecasted effective tax rate, the actual effective tax rate will differ from the estimated annual effective tax rate. The Company recognized $2.8 million and $1.2 million during the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, in excess tax benefits associated with the vesting of share-based awards, as a component of income tax (benefit) provision in its Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. In addition, as discussed further above, the Company recognized a tax benefit of $57.6 million during the three months ended December 31, 2017. As a result of these discrete items, NJR’s actual effective tax rate was (68.2) percent and 5.5 percent as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Other Tax Items

As of December 31, 2017, the Company has federal and state income tax net operating losses of approximately $125.3 million and $526.4 million, respectively, which generally have a life of 20 years. The Company has recorded deferred federal and state tax assets of approximately $28.5 million and $27.7 million, respectively, on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, reflecting the tax benefits associated with these net operating losses. As of September 30, 2017, the Company had federal and state income tax net operating losses of approximately $125.3 million and $471.7 million, respectively, and deferred federal and state tax assets of approximately $28.5 million and $23.6 million, respectively.

As of December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2017, the Company recorded a valuation allowance associated with state net operating loss carryforwards of $1.3 million and $1 million, respectively, related to Clean Energy Ventures in the state of Montana. There were no other valuation allowances needed for the Company as of December 31, 2017. In addition, as of December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2017, the Company had an ITC/PTC carryforward of approximately $122.9 million and $109.3 million, respectively, which each have a life of 20 years. The Company expects to utilize this entire carryforward, which would begin to expire in fiscal 2035.

In December 2015, the Consolidated Appropriations Act extended the 30 percent ITC for solar property that is under construction on or before December 31, 2019. The credit will decline to 26 percent for property under construction during 2020 and to 22 percent for property under construction during 2021. For any property that is under construction before 2022, but not placed in service before 2024, the ITC will be reduced to 10 percent. In addition, the PTC was extended for five years through December 31, 2019, with a gradual three year phase out for any project for which construction of the facility begins after December 31, 2016.