10-Q 1 njr10qmar2018.htm 10-Q MARCH 2018

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10‑Q
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2018
OR
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM TO
Commission file number 001‑08359
NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New Jersey |  | 22‑2376465
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |  | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
1415 Wyckoff Road, Wall, New Jersey 07719 |  | 732‑938‑1480
(Address of principal executive offices) |  | (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:
Common Stock ‑ $2.50 Par Value |  | New York Stock Exchange
(Title of each class) |  | (Name of each exchange on which registered)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes: x No: o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes: x No: o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b‑2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer: x |  | Accelerated filer: o
Non-accelerated filer: o | (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
|  | Smaller reporting company: o
|  | Emerging growth company: o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes: o No: x
The number of shares outstanding of $2.50 par value Common Stock as of May 2, 2018 was 87,733,268.

New Jersey Resources Corporation
TABLE OF CONTENTS

|  |  | Page
Glossary of Key Terms | 1
Information Concerning Forward-Looking Statements | 3
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
| ITEM 1. | Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements | 4
|  | Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements | 8
|  | Note 1. Nature of the Business | 8
|  | Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 8
|  | Note 3. Regulation | 14
|  | Note 4. Derivative Instruments | 15
|  | Note 5. Fair Value | 21
|  | Note 6. Investments in Equity Investees | 23
|  | Note 7. Earnings Per Share | 23
|  | Note 8. Common Stock Equity | 23
|  | Note 9. Debt | 25
|  | Note 10. Employee Benefit Plans | 26
|  | Note 11. Income Taxes | 26
|  | Note 12. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities | 28
|  | Note 13. Business Segment and Other Operations Data | 30
|  | Note 14. Related Party Transactions | 33
|  | Note 15. Acquisition | 33
|  | Note 16. Disposition | 33
| ITEM 2. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 34
| ITEM 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 60
| ITEM 4. | Controls and Procedures | 63
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION |
| ITEM 1. | Legal Proceedings | 63
| ITEM 1A. | Risk Factors | 63
| ITEM 2. | Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 63
| ITEM 6. | Exhibits | 64
|  | Signatures | 65

New Jersey Resources Corporation
GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS

Adelphia | Adelphia Gateway, LLC
AFUDC | Allowance for Funds Used During Construction
AOCI | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
ASC | Accounting Standards Codification
ASU | Accounting Standards Update
Bcf | Billion Cubic Feet
BGSS | Basic Gas Supply Service
BPU | New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
CIP | Conservation Incentive Program
CME | Chicago Mercantile Exchange
CR&R | Commercial Realty & Resources Corp.
DM | Dominion Midstream Partners, L.P., a master limited partnership
DM Common Units | Common units representing limited partnership interests in DM
DRP | NJR Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan
Dths | Dekatherms
EE | Energy Efficiency
FASB | Financial Accounting Standards Board
FCM | Futures Commission Merchant
FERC | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Financial margin | A non-GAAP financial measure, which represents revenues earned from the sale of natural gas less costs of natural gas sold including any transportation and storage costs, and excludes any accounting impact from the change in the fair value of certain derivative instruments
FMB | First Mortgage Bond
GAAP | Generally Accepted Accounting Principles of the United States
Home Services and Other | Home Services and Other Operations
ICE | Intercontinental Exchange
IEC | Interstate Energy Company, LLC
Iroquois | Iroquois Gas Transmission L.P.
ISDA | The International Swaps and Derivatives Association
ITC | Federal Investment Tax Credit
MGP | Manufactured Gas Plant
Moody's | Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
Mortgage Indenture | The Amended and Restated Indenture of Mortgage, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement between NJNG and U.S. Bank National Association dated as of September 1, 2014
MW | Megawatts
MWh | Megawatt Hour
NAESB | The North American Energy Standards Board
NFE | Net Financial Earnings
NJ RISE | New Jersey Reinvestment in System Enhancement
NJCEP | New Jersey's Clean Energy Program
NJDEP | New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
NJNG | New Jersey Natural Gas Company
NJNG Credit Facility | NJNG's $250 million unsecured committed credit facility expiring in May 2019
NJR Credit Facility | NJR's $425 million unsecured committed credit facility expiring in September 2020
NJR or The Company | New Jersey Resources Corporation
NJRHS | NJR Home Services Company

1

New Jersey Resources Corporation

GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS (cont.)
Non-GAAP | Not in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles of the United States
NPNS | Normal Purchase/Normal Sale
NYMEX | New York Mercantile Exchange
O&M | Operation and Maintenance
OCI | Other Comprehensive Income
OPEB | Other Postemployment Benefit Plans
PennEast | PennEast Pipeline Company, LLC
PPA | Power Purchase Agreement
PTC | Federal Production Tax Credit
RAC | Remediation Adjustment Clause
REC | Renewable Energy Certificate
S&P | Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC
SAFE | Safety Acceleration and Facility Enhancement
SAVEGREEN | The SAVEGREEN Project®
SBC | Societal Benefits Charge
SEC | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
SREC | Solar Renewable Energy Certificate
SRL | Southern Reliability Link
Steckman Ridge | Collectively, Steckman Ridge GP, LLC and Steckman Ridge, LP
Talen | Talen Energy Marketing, LLC
Tetco | Texas Eastern Transmission
The Exchange Act | The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
The Tax Act | An Act to Provide for Reconciliation Pursuant to Titles II and V of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018, previously known as The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
Trustee | U.S. Bank National Association
U.S. | The United States of America
USF | Universal Service Fund

2

New Jersey Resources Corporation
INFORMATION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained in this report, including, without limitation, statements as to management expectations, assumptions and beliefs presented in Part I, Item 2. “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” Part I, Item 3. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” Part II, Item I. “Legal Proceedings” and in the notes to the financial statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can also be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “will” “plan,” or “should,” or comparable terminology and are made based upon management's current expectations, assumptions and beliefs as of this date concerning future developments and their potential effect on us. There can be no assurance that future developments will be in accordance with management's expectations, assumptions or beliefs, or that the effect of future developments on us will be those anticipated by management.
We caution readers that the expectations, assumptions and beliefs that form the basis for forward-looking statements regarding customer growth, customer usage, qualifications for ITCs, PTCs and SRECs, future rate case proceedings, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, capital requirements, future capital expenditures, market risk, effective tax rate and other matters for fiscal 2018 and thereafter include many factors that are beyond our ability to control or estimate precisely, such as estimates of future market conditions, the behavior of other market participants and changes in the debt and equity capital markets. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, assumptions and beliefs include, but are not limited to, those discussed in Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, as well as the following:

• | risks associated with our investments in clean energy projects, including the availability of regulatory and tax incentives, the availability of viable projects, our eligibility for ITCs and PTCs, the future market for SRECs and electricity prices and operational risks related to projects in service;

• | our ability to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals, land-use rights, electric grid connection (in the case of clean energy projects) and/or financing for the construction, development and operation of our unregulated energy investments, pipeline transportation systems and NJNG’s infrastructure projects, including SRL, NJ RISE, PennEast and Adelphia, in a timely manner;

• | risks associated with acquisitions and the related integration of acquired assets with our current operations;

• | volatility of natural gas and other commodity prices and their impact on NJNG customer usage, NJNG’s BGSS incentive programs, our Energy Services segment operations and on our risk management efforts;

• | the level and rate at which NJNG’s costs and expenses are incurred and the extent to which they are approved for recovery from customers through the regulatory process, including through future base rate case filings;

• | the impact of a disallowance of recovery of environmental-related expenditures and other regulatory changes;

• | the performance of our subsidiaries;

• | operating risks incidental to handling, storing, transporting and providing customers with natural gas;

• | access to adequate supplies of natural gas and dependence on third-party storage and transportation facilities for natural gas supply;

• | the regulatory and pricing policies of federal and state regulatory agencies;

• | timing of qualifying for ITCs due to delays or failures to complete planned solar projects and the resulting effect on our effective tax rate and earnings;

• | the results of legal or administrative proceedings with respect to claims, rates, environmental issues, gas cost prudence reviews and other matters;

• | risks related to cyberattacks or failure of information technology systems;

• | changes in rating agency requirements and/or credit ratings and their effect on availability and cost of capital to our Company;

• | our ability to comply with current and future regulatory requirements;

• | the impact of volatility in the equity and credit markets on our access to capital;

• | the impact to the asset values and resulting higher costs and funding obligations of our pension and postemployment benefit plans as a result of potential downturns in the financial markets, lower discount rates, revised actuarial assumptions or impacts associated with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act;

• | commercial and wholesale credit risks, including the availability of creditworthy customers and counterparties, and liquidity in the wholesale energy trading market;

• | accounting effects and other risks associated with hedging activities and use of derivatives contracts;

• | our ability to optimize our physical assets;

• | any potential need to record a valuation allowance for our deferred tax assets;

• | changes to tax laws and regulations;

• | weather and economic conditions;

• | our ability to comply with debt covenants;

• | demographic changes in our service territory and their effect on our customer growth;

• | the impact of natural disasters, terrorist activities and other extreme events on our operations and customers;

• | the costs of compliance with present and future environmental laws, including potential climate change-related legislation;

• | environmental-related and other uncertainties related to litigation or administrative proceedings;

• | risks related to our employee workforce; and

• | risks associated with the management of our joint ventures and partnerships, and investment in a master limited partnership.

While we periodically reassess material trends and uncertainties affecting our results of operations and financial condition in connection with the preparation of management's discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition contained in our Quarterly and Annual Reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K, respectively, we do not, by including this statement, assume any obligation to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement referenced herein in light of future events.
3

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands, except per share data) | 2018 |  | 2017 | 2018 |  | 2017
OPERATING REVENUES |  |  |  |  |  |
Utility | $ | 317,064 |  |  | $ | 295,546 |  | $ | 526,851 |  |  | $ | 481,102 |
Nonutility | 701,979 |  |  | 438,000 |  | 1,197,497 |  |  | 793,472 |
Total operating revenues | 1,019,043 |  |  | 733,546 |  | 1,724,348 |  |  | 1,274,574 |
OPERATING EXPENSES |  |  |  |  |  |
Gas purchases: |  |  |  |  |  |
Utility | 96,586 |  |  | 112,445 |  | 174,188 |  |  | 173,765 |
Nonutility | 621,223 |  |  | 367,328 |  | 1,066,307 |  |  | 705,260 |
Related parties | 2,087 |  |  | 2,072 |  | 4,236 |  |  | 4,183 |
Operation and maintenance | 57,749 |  |  | 52,342 |  | 112,860 |  |  | 104,570 |
Regulatory rider expenses | 19,604 |  |  | 19,893 |  | 31,373 |  |  | 32,494 |
Depreciation and amortization | 22,460 |  |  | 20,328 |  | 44,314 |  |  | 39,588 |
Energy and other taxes | 21,542 |  |  | 19,485 |  | 38,033 |  |  | 33,586 |
Total operating expenses | 841,251 |  |  | 593,893 |  | 1,471,311 |  |  | 1,093,446 |
OPERATING INCOME | 177,792 |  |  | 139,653 |  | 253,037 |  |  | 181,128 |
Other income, net | 1,980 |  |  | 5,338 |  | 8,907 |  |  | 9,114 |
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest | 11,798 |  |  | 11,436 |  | 23,703 |  |  | 22,051 |
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES | 167,974 |  |  | 133,555 |  | 238,241 |  |  | 168,191 |
Income tax provision (benefit) | 30,901 |  |  | 23,932 |  | (19,267 | ) |  | 25,950 |
Equity in earnings of affiliates | 3,193 |  |  | 5,079 |  | 6,457 |  |  | 7,390 |
NET INCOME | $ | 140,266 |  |  | $ | 114,702 |  | $ | 263,965 |  |  | $ | 149,631 |
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic | $1.60 |  | $1.33 | $3.02 |  | $1.74
Diluted | $1.59 |  | $1.32 | $3.01 |  | $1.72
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE | $0.2725 |  | $0.255 | $0.545 |  | $0.51
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic | 87,595 |  |  | 86,275 |  | 87,295 |  |  | 86,182 |
Diluted | 87,989 |  |  | 87,101 |  | 87,690 |  |  | 86,993 |

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)

|  | Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
|  | March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) |  | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Net income |  | $ | 140,266 |  | $ | 114,702 |  | $ | 263,965 |  | $ | 149,631 |
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax |  |  |  |  |
Unrealized (loss) gain on available for sale securities, net of tax of $7,366, $(670), $8,217 and $(4,456), respectively |  | (20,401 | ) | $ | 1,408 |  | (22,691 | ) | 6,923 |
Reclassifications of losses to net income on available for sale securities, net of tax of $(3,036), $0, $(858) and $0, respectively |  | 14,801 |  | — |  | 11,647 |  | — |
Adjustment to postemployment benefit obligation, net of tax of $(104), $(217), $(240) and $(434), respectively |  | 272 |  | 318 |  | 512 |  | 635 |
Other comprehensive (loss) income |  | $ | (5,328 | ) | $ | 1,726 |  | $ | (10,532 | ) | $ | 7,558 |
Comprehensive income |  | $ | 134,938 |  | $ | 116,428 |  | $ | 253,433 |  | $ | 157,189 |

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
4

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

| Six Months Ended
| March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES |  |  |
Net income | $ | 263,965 |  |  | $ | 149,631 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities |  |  |
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments | 23,246 |  |  | (26,553 | )
Gain on sale of available for sale securities, net | (5,332 | ) |  | (7,287 | )
Gain on sale of business, net | (3,722 | ) |  | — |
Depreciation and amortization | 44,314 |  |  | 39,588 |
Amortization of acquired wholesale energy contracts | 17,911 |  |  | — |
Allowance for equity used during construction | (2,051 | ) |  | (1,586 | )
Allowance for bad debt expense | 994 |  |  | 519 |
Deferred income taxes | 28,169 |  |  | 32,202 |
Deferred income tax benefit due to tax legislation | (58,532 | ) |  | — |
Manufactured gas plant remediation costs | (7,219 | ) |  | (3,704 | )
Distributions received from equity investees, net of equity in earnings | (272 | ) |  | (463 | )
Cost of removal - asset retirement obligations | (334 | ) |  | (242 | )
Contributions to postemployment benefit plans | (1,648 | ) |  | (1,884 | )
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation | 2,841 |  |  | 1,231 |
Changes in: |  |  |
Components of working capital | (27,122 | ) |  | (31,231 | )
Other noncurrent assets | 38,462 |  |  | 24,580 |
Other noncurrent liabilities | (1,199 | ) |  | (2,997 | )
Cash flows from operating activities | 312,471 |  |  | 171,804 |
CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES |  |  |
Expenditures for: |  |  |
Utility plant | (69,695 | ) |  | (58,761 | )
Solar and wind equipment | (58,992 | ) |  | (89,905 | )
Real estate properties and other | (3,159 | ) |  | (516 | )
Cost of removal | (33,092 | ) |  | (14,838 | )
Investments in equity investees | (11,177 | ) |  | (10,538 | )
Distribution from equity investees in excess of equity in earnings | 1,315 |  |  | 1,273 |
Cash paid related to acquisition | (10,000 | ) |  | — |
(Deposits to) withdrawal from restricted cash construction fund | (45 | ) |  | 1,337 |
Proceeds from sale of property, net of closing costs | — |  |  | 9,443 |
Proceeds from sale of business, net of closing costs | 9,399 |  |  | — |
Proceeds from sale of available for sale securities | 6,616 |  |  | 6,639 |
Cash flows used in investing activities | (168,830 | ) |  | (155,866 | )
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES |  |  |
Payments of long-term debt | (5,346 | ) |  | (41,660 | )
Net (payments of) proceeds from short-term debt | (115,100 | ) |  | 116,200 |
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transaction | 7,820 |  |  | 9,587 |
Payments of common stock dividends | (47,459 | ) |  | (43,898 | )
Proceeds from waiver discount issuance of common stock | 22,690 |  |  | — |
Proceeds from issuance of common stock | 9,876 |  |  | 9,731 |
Purchases of treasury stock | — |  |  | (6,355 | )
Tax withholding payments related to net settled stock compensation | (13,420 | ) |  | (4,354 | )
Cash flows (used in) from financing activities | (140,939 | ) |  | 39,251 |
Change in cash and cash equivalents | 2,702 |  |  | 55,189 |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 2,226 |  |  | 37,546 |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 4,928 |  |  | $ | 92,735 |
CHANGES IN COMPONENTS OF WORKING CAPITAL |  |  |
Receivables | $ | (151,220 | ) |  | $ | (137,408 | )
Inventories | 128,895 |  |  | 62,321 |
Recovery of gas costs | 20,260 |  |  | (9,616 | )
Gas purchases payable | 18,928 |  |  | 21,159 |
Prepaid and accrued taxes | 15,879 |  |  | 25,829 |
Accounts payable and other | (17,541 | ) |  | (10,027 | )
Restricted broker margin accounts | (29,164 | ) |  | 28,432 |
Customers' credit balances and deposits | (8,696 | ) |  | (12,765 | )
Other current assets | (4,463 | ) |  | 844 |
Total | $ | (27,122 | ) |  | $ | (31,231 | )
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION |  |  |
Cash paid (received) for: |  |  |
Interest (net of amounts capitalized) | $ | 23,765 |  |  | $ | 21,578 |
Income taxes | $ | 2,985 |  |  | $ | (6,431 | )
Accrued capital expenditures | $ | 14,485 |  |  | $ | 23,284 |
Inception gain on natural gas swap contract recognized as non-cash proceeds from sale of business | $ | 14,579 |  |  | $ | — |

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
5

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
ASSETS

(Thousands) | March 31, 2018 | September 30, 2017
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT |  |
Utility plant, at cost | $ | 2,295,000 |  | $ | 2,241,324 |
Construction work in progress | 134,816 |  | 119,318 |
Solar and wind equipment, real estate properties and other, at cost | 609,894 |  | 843,142 |
Construction work in progress | 52,069 |  | 7,286 |
Total property, plant and equipment | 3,091,779 |  | 3,211,070 |
Accumulated depreciation and amortization, utility plant | (507,536 | ) | (489,122 | )
Accumulated depreciation and amortization, solar and wind equipment, real estate properties and other | (108,730 | ) | (112,207 | )
Property, plant and equipment, net | 2,475,513 |  | 2,609,741 |
CURRENT ASSETS |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 4,928 |  | 2,226 |
Customer accounts receivable |  |
Billed | 298,824 |  | 196,467 |
Unbilled revenues | 55,405 |  | 7,202 |
Allowance for doubtful accounts | (5,515 | ) | (5,181 | )
Regulatory assets | 15,051 |  | 50,791 |
Gas in storage, at average cost | 71,169 |  | 202,063 |
Materials and supplies, at average cost | 13,943 |  | 11,944 |
Prepaid and accrued taxes | 14,395 |  | 24,764 |
Derivatives, at fair value | 26,897 |  | 30,081 |
Restricted broker margin accounts | 59,970 |  | 25,827 |
Assets held for sale | 224,898 |  | — |
Other | 34,660 |  | 33,260 |
Total current assets | 814,625 |  | 579,444 |
NONCURRENT ASSETS |  |
Investments in equity method investees | 183,884 |  | 172,585 |
Regulatory assets | 352,152 |  | 375,919 |
Derivatives, at fair value | 13,616 |  | 9,164 |
Available for sale securities | 28,228 |  | 65,752 |
Intangible assets, net | 23,173 |  | 41,084 |
Other noncurrent assets | 69,549 |  | 74,818 |
Total noncurrent assets | 670,602 |  | 739,322 |
Total assets | $ | 3,960,740 |  | $ | 3,928,507 |

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
6

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES

(Thousands, except share data) | March 31, 2018 | September 30, 2017
CAPITALIZATION |  |
Common stock, $2.50 par value; authorized 150,000,000 shares; outstanding March 31, 2017 — 87,656,004; September 30, 2017 — 86,555,507 | $ | 225,173 |  | $ | 222,258 |
Premium on common stock | 256,158 |  | 219,696 |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax | (13,788 | ) | (3,256 | )
Treasury stock at cost and other; shares March 31, 2017 — 2,355,338; September 30, 2017 — 2,347,380 | (84,401 | ) | (70,039 | )
Retained earnings | 1,084,232 |  | 867,984 |
Common stock equity | 1,467,374 |  | 1,236,643 |
Long-term debt | 997,925 |  | 997,080 |
Total capitalization | 2,465,299 |  | 2,233,723 |
CURRENT LIABILITIES |  |
Current maturities of long-term debt | 165,905 |  | 165,375 |
Short-term debt | 150,900 |  | 266,000 |
Gas purchases payable | 179,044 |  | 160,115 |
Gas purchases payable to related parties | 1,151 |  | 1,152 |
Accounts payable and other | 63,867 |  | 96,878 |
Dividends payable | 23,886 |  | 23,586 |
Accrued taxes | 7,541 |  | 2,031 |
Regulatory liabilities | 29,169 |  | 78 |
New Jersey clean energy program | 5,690 |  | 14,202 |
Derivatives, at fair value | 44,792 |  | 46,544 |
Liabilities held for sale | 4,262 |  | — |
Customers' credit balances and deposits | 18,261 |  | 26,957 |
Total current liabilities | 694,468 |  | 802,918 |
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES |  |
Deferred income taxes | 237,838 |  | 514,708 |
Deferred investment tax credits | 4,136 |  | 4,297 |
Deferred gain | 9,497 |  | 27,728 |
Derivatives, at fair value | 23,603 |  | 11,330 |
Manufactured gas plant remediation | 142,474 |  | 149,000 |
Postemployment employee benefit liability | 129,546 |  | 128,888 |
Regulatory liabilities | 217,510 |  | 14,507 |
Asset retirement obligation | 27,902 |  | 31,420 |
Other | 8,467 |  | 9,988 |
Total noncurrent liabilities | 800,973 |  | 891,866 |
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 12) |  |  |
Total capitalization and liabilities | $ | 3,960,740 |  | $ | 3,928,507 |

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
7

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. NATURE OF THE BUSINESS
New Jersey Resources Corporation provides regulated gas distribution services and operates certain unregulated businesses primarily through the following subsidiaries:
New Jersey Natural Gas Company provides natural gas utility service to approximately 536,900 retail customers in central and northern New Jersey and is subject to rate regulation by the BPU. NJNG comprises the Natural Gas Distribution segment;
NJR Clean Energy Ventures Corporation, the Company's clean energy subsidiary, comprises the Clean Energy Ventures segment and consists of the Company's capital investments in commercial and residential solar projects located throughout New Jersey and onshore wind investments in Montana, Iowa, Kansas, Wyoming and Pennsylvania;
NJR Energy Services Company comprises the Energy Services segment. Energy Services maintains and transacts around a portfolio of natural gas storage and transportation capacity contracts and provides physical wholesale energy and energy management services in the U.S. and Canada. From July 2017 through February 2018, NJR Retail Services Company provided retail natural gas supply and transportation services to commercial and industrial customers in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as part of the Energy Services segment. NJR Retail Services was sold to an unrelated third party on February 28, 2018, see Note 16. Disposition for more details;
NJR Midstream Holdings Corporation, which comprises the Midstream segment, invests in energy-related ventures through its subsidiaries, NJR Steckman Ridge Storage Company, which holds the Company's 50 percent combined ownership interest in Steckman Ridge, located in Pennsylvania, NJR Pipeline Company, which holds the Company's 20 percent ownership interest in PennEast and NJNR Pipeline Company, which holds the Company's 1.84 million Common Units of Dominion Midstream Partners, L.P. See Note 6. Investments in Equity Investees for more information; and
NJR Retail Holdings Corporation has two principal subsidiaries, NJR Home Services Company, which provides heating, central air conditioning, standby generators, solar and other indoor and outdoor comfort products to residential homes throughout New Jersey, and Commercial Realty & Resources Corporation, which owns commercial real estate. NJR Home Services Company and Commercial Realty & Resources Corporation are included in Home Services and Other operations.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared by NJR in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and GAAP. The September 30, 2017 Balance Sheet data is derived from the audited financial statements of the Company. These Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in NJR's 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of NJR and its subsidiaries. In the opinion of management, the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the interim periods presented. These adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. Because of the seasonal nature of NJR's utility and wholesale energy services operations, in addition to other factors, the financial results for the interim periods presented are not indicative of the results that are to be expected for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018. Intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.
Sales Tax Accounting
Sales tax that is collected from customers is presented in both operating revenues and operating expenses on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations totaled $18.7 million and $31.9 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, and $16.9 million and $28.1 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, respectively. Effective January 1, 2017, the New Jersey sales tax rate decreased from 7 percent to 6.875 percent. Effective January 1, 2018, the New Jersey sales tax rate decreased again to 6.625 percent.
8

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Gas in Storage
The following table summarizes gas in storage, at average cost by segment as of:

| March 31, 2018 | September 30, 2017
($ in thousands) | Gas in Storage |  | Bcf | Gas in Storage |  | Bcf
Energy Services |  | $ | 51,915 |  | 18.6 |  |  | $ | 122,884 |  | 53.9 |
Natural Gas Distribution |  | 19,254 |  | 4.7 |  |  | 79,179 |  | 21.8 |
Total |  | $ | 71,169 |  | 23.3 |  |  | $ | 202,063 |  | 75.7 |

Available for Sale Securities
Available for sale securities are carried at fair value on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Total unrealized gains and losses associated are included as a part of accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of common stock equity. Reclassifications of realized gains or losses out of other comprehensive income into earnings are recorded in other income, net on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations based on average cost.
Management evaluates its equity securities for other-than-temporary impairment on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic, market or other concerns warrant such evaluation. Consideration is given to the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost; the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer; whether the market decline was affected by macroeconomic conditions, changes in tax laws, regulations or other governmental policies; and whether the Company has the intent to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before the recovery of its amortized cost basis. If the decline in value of our equity securities is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment is recognized through earnings within other income, net on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
During the six months ended March 31, 2018, NJR sold shares of its available for sale securities and received proceeds of approximately $6.6 million and recognized a pre-tax gain of $5.3 million. There were no sales of available for sale securities during the three months ended March 31, 2018. During the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, NJR received proceeds of approximately $3.4 million and $6.6 million, and realized a pre-tax gain of $2.8 million and $5.4 million, respectively.
In September 2015, the Company exchanged its ownership interest in Iroquois with DM for approximately 1.84 million DM Common Units. The investment in DM is included as part of the Company's equity investments in the Midstream segment. The exchange of ownership interests in Iroquois for DM was considered a contribution of real estate into another real estate venture. As a result, the Company recorded a deferred gain of $24.6 million on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, based on the difference between the carrying amount of its investment in Iroquois and the fair value of the DM Common Units on the closing date of the transaction. The deferred gain will be recognized in other income, net on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations upon completion of the earnings process, typically through the sale of the related securities, or other earnings event.
On March 15, 2018, the FERC issued a policy revision indicating that it no longer will allow interstate natural gas and oil pipelines held by a Master Limited Partnership to recover an income tax allowance in cost-of-service rates. The policy revision had a material negative impact on the value of NJR's investment in DM Common Units. As a result, the Company evaluated the decrease in fair value of its available-for-sale securities and determined that the decline was other-than-temporary. Accordingly, the Company recognized an other-than-temporary impairment of $17.8 million, $14.8 million, net of tax.
Since the deferred gain was established based upon the difference in the fair value of the DM Common Units and the carrying value of the ownership of Iroquois, concurrent with the impairment charge to earnings, the Company reduced the amount of the deferred gain available upon the completion of the earnings process for the DM Common Units. This reduction of the deferred gain of $17.8 million was also recorded in other income, net on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
As of March 31, 2018, the Company's available for sale securities had a fair value of $28.2 million and the remaining deferred gain associated with the Company’s investment in DM Common Units totaled $6.8 million. As of September 30, 2017, the Company's available for sale securities had a fair value of $65.8 million and total unrealized gains were $12.8 million, $7.7 million, net of deferred income tax expense.
9

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Customer Accounts Receivable
Customer accounts receivable include outstanding billings from the following subsidiaries as of:

(Thousands) | March 31, 2018 |  | September 30, 2017
Energy Services | $ | 179,218 |  | 60 | % |  | $ | 150,322 |  | 77 | %
Natural Gas Distribution (1) | 112,884 |  | 38 |  |  | 37,432 |  | 19 |
Clean Energy Ventures | 2,834 |  | 1 |  |  | 2,655 |  | 1 |
NJRHS and other | 3,888 |  | 1 |  |  | 6,058 |  | 3 |
Total | $ | 298,824 |  | 100 | % |  | $ | 196,467 |  | 100 | %

(1) | Does not include unbilled revenues of $55.4 million and $7.2 million as of March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively.

Loans Receivable
NJNG currently provides loans, with terms ranging from three to 10 years, to customers that elect to purchase and install certain energy efficient equipment in accordance with its BPU-approved SAVEGREEN program. The loans are recognized at net present value on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company recorded $9.9 million and $8.9 million in other current assets and $40.3 million and $40.4 million in other noncurrent assets as of March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively, on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, related to the loans.
NJNG's policy is to establish an allowance for doubtful accounts when loan balances are in arrears for more than 60 days. As of March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017, there was no allowance for doubtful accounts established for the SAVEGREEN loans.
Assets Held for Sale
On March 2, 2018, Clean Energy Ventures entered into an agreement with NorthWestern Energy to sell its membership interest in its 9.7 MW wind farm in Two Dot, Montana for a total purchase price of $18.5 million and submitted a joint filing for authorization with FERC. The transaction is expected to close following FERC approval. The Company expects the transaction to generate a pre-tax gain of approximately $1 million, which will be recognized as a reduction to O&M on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
In March 2018, Clean Energy Ventures committed to a plan to pursue the sale of its remaining wind assets and it is probable that these sales will be completed within the next 12 months. Accordingly, the Company classified its wind assets and related liabilities as held for sale, as of March 31, 2018, on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The wind assets classified as held for sale are measured at the lower of their carrying value or fair value less cost to sell.
The major classes of assets and liabilities included within the disposal group as held for sale are as follows:

(Thousands) | March 31, 2018 |
Assets held for sale: |  |
Property, plant and equipment - wind equipment, at cost |  | $ | 244,972 |
Property, plant and equipment - accumulated depreciation, wind equipment |  | (21,561 | )
Prepaid and accrued taxes |  | 1,226 |
Other noncurrent assets |  | 261 |
|  | $ | 224,898 |
Liabilities held for sale: |  |
Asset retirement obligation |  | $ | 4,262 |

10

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Recently Adopted Updates to the Accounting Standards Codification
Inventory
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, an amendment to ASC 330, Inventory, which requires entities to measure most inventory “at the lower of cost or net realizable value,” thereby simplifying the current guidance under which an entity must measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. The Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 and applied the new provisions on a prospective basis, which did not impact its financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption.
Tax
In March 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-05, an amendment to ASC 840, Income Taxes, which provides relief to entities in their calculation of the effects of the Tax Act by allowing them to record provisional amounts for certain income tax effects to address circumstances in which an entity does not have the necessary information available, prepared or analyzed to complete the accounting. These provisional amounts are subject to change as information and assumptions are updated throughout the measurement period, which may not extend beyond one year from the enactment date. The new guidance was effective immediately upon issuance and thus, the Company adopted the new guidance in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 and applied the new provision on a prospective basis.
Other Recent Updates to the Accounting Standards Codification
Revenue
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, and added Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, to the ASC. ASC 606 supersedes ASC 605, Revenue Recognition, as well as most industry-specific guidance, and prescribes a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model designed to improve financial reporting comparability across entities, industries, jurisdictions and capital markets. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, which defers the implementation of the new guidance for one year. The new guidance will not be early adopted and will be effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and interim periods within that year.
The Company has concluded that its tariff based sales of natural gas will be within the scope of the new guidance. However, it does not anticipate any modification to the pattern of revenue recognition from such sales. The Company has also evaluated its renewable asset PPA arrangements and does not anticipate any modification to the pattern of revenue recognition of the related electricity, capacity and REC sales. Revenues from RECs sold as part of a bundled arrangement will be recognized in the same period as the related generation, consistent with current practice.
Based on the review of customer contracts to date, the Company is not anticipating a material impact to its financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption. The Company anticipates significant new disclosures as a result of the implementation of ASC 606 and currently expects to transition to the new guidance using the modified retrospective approach.
Financial Instruments
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, an amendment to ASC 825, Financial Instruments, to address certain aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. The standard affects investments in equity securities that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method and the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. It also simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without a readily determinable fair value by requiring a qualitative assessment. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and interim periods within that year. Upon adoption, the amendment will be applied on a modified retrospective basis. The Company evaluated the amendment and noted that, upon adoption, subsequent changes to the fair value of the Company’s available for sale securities will be recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as opposed to other comprehensive income. Upon adoption, any amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities will be reclassified to the opening balance of retained earnings in the year of adoption. The Company does not expect any other material impacts to its financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption.
11

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, an amendment to ASC 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, which changes the impairment model for certain financial assets that have a contractual right to receive cash, including trade and loan receivables. The new model requires recognition based upon an estimation of expected credit losses rather than recognition of losses when it is probable that they have been incurred. An entity will apply the amendment through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, and interim periods within that year, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the amendment to understand the impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows upon adoption and will apply the new guidance to its trade and loan receivables on a modified retrospective basis.
Leases
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, an amendment to ASC 842, Leases, which provides for a comprehensive overhaul of the lease accounting model and changes the definition of a lease within the accounting literature. Under the new standard, all leases with a term greater than one year will be recorded on the balance sheet. Amortization of the related asset will be accounted for using one of two approaches prescribed by the guidance. Additional disclosures will be required to allow the user to assess the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leasing activities. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for leases existing at the time of adoption.
In January 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-01, a further amendment to ASC 842, Leases, which was introduced by ASC No. 2016-02, as discussed above. This update provides an optional practical expedient that allows companies to not evaluate existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for under Topic 840 as leases. The Company expects to elect this practical expedient upon adoption.
The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and interim periods within that year, with early adoption permitted. The Company continues to evaluate the provisions of ASC 842 and is actively monitoring the outcome of the exposure draft issued by the FASB that would provide an optional transition method to ASC 842. At this time, the Company does not plan to early adopt the new guidance and expects to elect the practical expedient package in the new guidance during transition. While the Company is currently evaluating the full impact of the standard, it expects to recognize additional assets and liabilities arising from current operating leases to its financial position upon adoption.
Statement of Cash Flows
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, an amendment to ASC 230, Statement of Cash Flows, which addresses eight specific cash flow issues for which there has been diversity in practice. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and interim periods within that year with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, the amendment will be applied on a retrospective basis. The Company does not expect any material impacts to its cash flows upon adoption.
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, an amendment to ASC 230, Statement of Cash Flows, which requires that any amounts that are deemed to be restricted cash or restricted cash-equivalents be included in cash and cash-equivalent balances on the cash flow statement and, therefore, transfers between cash and restricted cash accounts will no longer be recognized within the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, the amendment will be applied on a retrospective basis. Based on the Company's historical restricted cash balances, it does not expect any material impacts to its financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption.
Business Combinations
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, an amendment to ASC 805, Business Combinations, clarifying the definition of a business in the ASC, which is intended to reduce the complexity surrounding the assessment of a transaction as an asset acquisition or business combination. The amendment provides an initial fair value screen to reduce the number of transactions that would fit the definition of a business, and when the screen threshold is not met, provides an updated model that further clarifies the characteristics of a business. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and interim periods within that year, with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, the amendment will be applied on a prospective basis. The amendment could potentially have material impacts on future transactions that the Company may enter into by altering the Company’s conclusion on the accounting applied to acquisitions.
12

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets
In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-05, an amendment to ASC 610-20, Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets, which clarifies the scope and accounting related to the derecognition of nonfinancial assets, including partial sales and contributions of nonfinancial assets to a joint venture or other non-controlled investee. The guidance is effective concurrently with ASC 606, which is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and interim periods within that year with early adoption permitted. ASU No. 2017-05 may be applied retrospectively for all periods presented or retrospectively with a cumulative-effect adjustment at the date of adoption. The Company has determined that to the extent a deferred gain exists related to nonfinancial assets on the balance sheet upon adoption, it would be recognized under the new accounting guidance as a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2019.
Compensation - Retirement Benefits
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, an amendment to ASC 715, Compensation - Retirement Benefits, which changes the presentation of net periodic benefit cost on the income statement by requiring companies to present all components of net periodic benefit cost, other than service cost, outside a subtotal of income from operations. The amendment also states that only the service cost component of net periodic benefits costs is eligible for capitalization, when applicable. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and interim periods within that year, with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, the amendment will be applied on a retrospective basis for presentation and changes to capitalization of costs will be applied on a prospective basis. The Company is continuing to evaluate the amendment to fully understand the impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows upon adoption. The Company is also monitoring industry specific developments on the new guidance to determine the appropriate treatment of these changes in a rate regulated environment.
Stock Compensation
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, an amendment to ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, which clarifies the accounting for changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payments. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and interim periods within that year, with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, the amendments will be applied prospectively to awards modified on or after the adoption date. The Company is currently evaluating the amendments to understand the impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows upon adoption.
Derivatives and Hedging
In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, an amendment to ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, which is intended to make targeted improvements to the accounting for hedging activities by better aligning an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships. These amendments modify the accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and align the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. Additionally, the amendments are intended to simplify the application of the hedge accounting guidance and provide relief to companies by easing certain hedge documentation requirements. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and interim periods within that year, with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, the transition requirements and elections will be applied to hedging relationships existing on the date of adoption. The Company does not currently apply hedge accounting to any of its risk management activities and thus does not expect the amendments to have any impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows upon adoption.
Reporting Comprehensive Income
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, an amendment to ASC 220, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income, which allows for the reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects of the Tax Act. The guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and interim periods within that year, with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, the amendments will be applied either in the period of adoption, or retrospectively to each period in which the effects of the Tax Act are recognized. The Company is currently evaluating the amendments to understand the impact on its financial position and results of operations upon adoption.
13

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
3. 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 capital investments based on the BPU's approval. 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 in accordance with accounting guidance applicable to regulated operations.
NJNG's recovery of costs is facilitated through its base rates, BGSS and other regulatory tariff riders. NJNG is required to make annual filings to the BPU for review of its BGSS, CIP and various other programs and related rates. Annual rate changes are typically requested to be effective at the beginning of the following fiscal year. All rate and program changes are subject to proper notification and BPU review and approval. In addition, NJNG is also permitted to implement certain BGSS rate changes on an interim basis with proper notification to the BPU.
Regulatory assets and liabilities included on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are comprised of the following:

(Thousands) | March 31, 2018 | September 30, 2017
Regulatory assets-current |  |
New Jersey Clean Energy Program | $ | 5,690 |  | $ | 14,202 |
Underrecovered gas costs | 7,549 |  | 9,910 |
Derivatives at fair value, net | 1,812 |  | 9,010 |
Conservation Incentive Program | — |  | 17,669 |
Total current regulatory assets | $ | 15,051 |  | $ | 50,791 |
Regulatory assets-noncurrent |  |
Environmental remediation costs |  |
Expended, net of recoveries | $ | 28,868 |  | $ | 28,547 |
Liability for future expenditures | 142,474 |  | 149,000 |
Deferred income taxes | 16,773 |  | 21,795 |
SAVEGREEN | 7,549 |  | 16,302 |
Postemployment and other benefit costs | 135,930 |  | 141,433 |
Deferred storm damage costs | 11,944 |  | 13,030 |
Other noncurrent regulatory assets | 8,614 |  | 5,812 |
Total noncurrent regulatory assets | $ | 352,152 |  | $ | 375,919 |
Regulatory liability-current |  |
Conservation Incentive Program | $ | 229 |  | $ | — |
Customer refund payable (1) | 28,878 |  | — |
Derivatives at fair value, net | 62 |  | 78 |
Total current regulatory liabilities | $ | 29,169 |  | $ | 78 |
Regulatory liabilities-noncurrent |  |
Deferred income taxes (2) | $ | 210,500 |  | $ | — |
Cost of removal obligation | — |  | 7,902 |
Derivatives at fair value, net | — |  | 146 |
New Jersey Clean Energy Program | 5,914 |  | 5,795 |
Other noncurrent regulatory liabilities | 1,096 |  | 664 |
Total noncurrent regulatory liabilities | $ | 217,510 |  | $ | 14,507 |

(1) | Includes the current portion of an adjustment related to the re-measurement of NJNG's net deferred tax liabilities to reflect the change in federal tax rates enacted in the Tax Act, which is net of sales tax collected from customers. For a more detailed discussion of the Tax Act, see Note 11. Income Taxes.

(2) | Includes the long-term portion of an adjustment related to the Tax Act.

14

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Regulatory filings and/or actions that occurred during the current fiscal year include the following:

• | On October 20, 2017, the BPU approved NJNG's filing to decrease its EE recovery rate, which will result in an annual decrease of $3.9 million, effective November 1, 2017.

• | On November 17, 2017, NJNG filed its annual SBC application requesting to recover remediation expenses incurred through June 30, 2017, a reduction in the RAC, which will result in an annual decrease of $2.4 million and to increase the NJCEP factor, which will result in an annual increase of $1.8 million, effective April 1, 2018.

• | On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act was signed into law, which resulted in a reduction in the federal corporate tax rate. As a result, NJNG recorded a regulatory liability of $228.4 million, which includes $164.3 million for the revaluation of its deferred income taxes and $64.1 million for the accounting of the income tax effects on the revaluation. The revaluation is based on certain assumptions and estimations NJNG made with respect to its deferred taxes, as well as the effects from the Tax Act, and as such are subject to change if and when assumptions are updated. See Note 11. Income Taxes for a more detailed discussion on the Tax Act.

On January 31, 2018, the BPU issued an Order which directed New Jersey utilities to submit filings to the BPU by March 2, 2018, to propose the prospective change in rates as a result of the Tax Act to be effective April 1, 2018, the method to return to customers the rate difference from January 1, 2018, through March 31, 2018, and an outline of the method by which the excess deferred taxes would be returned to customers. The excess deferred taxes are primarily related to timing differences associated with utility plant depreciation and are subject to IRS normalization rules, which require amortization over the remaining life of the utility plant.
On March 1, 2018, NJNG submitted its required filing to the BPU proposing a $19.7 million base rate reduction and customer refunds of approximately $31 million, which is inclusive of the State of New Jersey sales tax. The one-time refunds have been proposed to include interest at the Company’s short-term debt rate as specified in the Company’s last base rate case and these refunds are anticipated to be applied to customer accounts by late May 2018. On March 26, 2018, the BPU approved, on an interim basis, the $19.7 million rate reduction, effective April 1, 2018. A BPU decision on the refunds is anticipated during the third quarter of fiscal 2018.

• | On March 26, 2018, the BPU approved NJNG's petition on a final basis to maintain NJNG's BGSS rate for residential and small commercial customers, increase to its balancing charge rate, which resulted in a $3.7 million increase to the annual revenues credited to BGSS and a decrease to its CIP rates, which resulted in a $16.2 million annual recovery decrease that was effective October 1, 2017.

• | On March 28, 2018, NJNG filed a petition with the BPU requesting continuation of existing SAVEGREEN programs and the addition of new programs through December 2024, with investments of approximately $341 million.

• | On March 29, 2018, NJNG filed its annual petition with the BPU requesting a base rate increase in the amount of $6.9 million for the recovery of NJ RISE and SAFE II capital investment costs related to the 12-months ending June 30, 2018, based on estimates. The filing will be updated to reflect actual results in July 2018, with changes to base rates anticipated to be effective October 1, 2018.

4. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The Company is subject primarily to commodity price risk due to fluctuations in the market price of natural gas, SRECs and electricity. To manage this risk, the Company enters into a variety of derivative instruments including, but not limited to, futures contracts, physical forward contracts, financial options and swaps to economically hedge the commodity price risk associated with its existing and anticipated commitments to purchase and sell natural gas, SRECs and electricity. In addition, the Company is exposed to foreign currency and interest rate risk, The Company may utilize foreign currency derivatives to hedge Canadian dollar denominated gas purchases and/or sales and interest rate derivatives to reduce exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. All of these types of contracts are accounted for as derivatives. Accordingly, all of the financial and certain of the Company's physical derivative instruments are recorded at fair value on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. For a more detailed discussion of the Company's fair value measurement policies and level disclosures associated with NJR's derivative instruments, see Note 5. Fair Value.
15

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Energy Services
Energy Services chooses not to designate its financial commodity and physical forward commodity derivatives as accounting hedges or to elect NPNS. The changes in the fair value of these derivatives are recorded as a component of gas purchases or operating revenues, as appropriate for Energy Services, on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as unrealized gains or losses. For Energy Services at settlement, realized gains and losses on all financial derivative instruments are recognized as a component of gas purchases and realized gains and losses on all physical derivatives follow the presentation of the related unrealized gains and losses as a component of either gas purchases or operating revenues.
Energy Services also enters into natural gas transactions in Canada and, consequently, is exposed to fluctuations in the value of Canadian currency relative to the U.S. dollar. Energy Services may utilize foreign currency derivatives to lock in the exchange rate associated with natural gas transactions denominated in Canadian currency. The derivatives may include currency forwards, futures, or swaps and are accounted for as derivatives. These derivatives are typically used to hedge demand fee payments on pipeline capacity, storage and gas purchase agreements.
As a result of Energy Services entering into transactions to borrow natural gas, commonly referred to as “park and loans,” an embedded derivative is recognized relating to differences between the fair value of the amount borrowed and the fair value of the amount that will ultimately be repaid, based on changes in the forward price for natural gas prices at the borrowed location over the contract term. This embedded derivative is accounted for as a forward sale in the month in which the repayment of the borrowed gas is expected to occur, and is considered a derivative transaction that is recorded at fair value on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, with changes in value recognized in current period earnings.
Expected production of SRECs is hedged through the use of forward and futures contracts. All contracts require the Company to physically deliver SRECs through the transfer of certificates as per contractual settlement schedules. The Company applies NPNS accounting to SREC forward and futures contracts entered into on or before December 31, 2015. Effective for contracts executed on or after January 1, 2016, Energy Services no longer elects NPNS accounting treatment on all SREC forward sales contracts and recognizes changes in the fair value of these derivatives as a component of operating revenues. Upon settlement of the contract, the related revenue is recognized when the SREC is transferred to the counterparty. NPNS is a contract-by-contract election and, where appropriate, the Company can and may elect normal accounting for certain contracts.
Natural Gas Distribution
Changes in fair value of NJNG's financial commodity derivatives are recorded as a component of regulatory assets or liabilities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company elects NPNS accounting treatment on all physical commodity contracts that NJNG entered into on or before December 31, 2015, and accounts for these contracts on an accrual basis. Accordingly, physical natural gas purchases are recognized in regulatory assets or liabilities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets when the contract settles and the natural gas is delivered. The average cost of natural gas is charged to expense in the current period earnings based on the BGSS factor times the therm sales. Effective for contracts executed on or after January 1, 2016, NJNG no longer elects NPNS accounting treatment on all physical forward commodity contracts. However, since NPNS is a contract-by-contract election, where it makes sense to do so, NJNG can and may elect certain contracts to be normal. Because NJNG recovers these amounts through future BGSS rates as increases or decreases to the cost of natural gas in NJNG’s tariff for gas service, the changes in fair value of these contracts are deferred as a component of regulatory assets or liabilities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
In June 2015, NJNG entered into a BPU-approved treasury lock transaction to fix a benchmark treasury rate of 3.26 percent associated with a $125 million debt issuance expected in May 2018. This debt issuance coincides with the maturity of NJNG's existing $125 million, 5.6 percent notes due May 15, 2018. This treasury lock was settled on March 13, 2018, resulting in a $2.6 million loss, which is recorded as a component of regulatory assets on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and will be amortized in earnings over the life of the May 2018 debt issuance.
Home Services and Other
On January 26, 2018, NJR entered into a variable-for-fixed interest rate swap on NJR's existing $100 million variable rate term loan, which fixed the variable rate at 2.84 percent. The swap will terminate on August 16, 2019, which coincides with the maturity of the debt. The change in the fair value of the interest rate swap is recorded as interest expense on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Fair Value of Derivatives
The following table reflects the fair value of NJR's derivative assets and liabilities recognized on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of:

|  |  | Fair Value
|  | March 31, 2018 |  | September 30, 2017
(Thousands) | Balance Sheet Location | Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Natural Gas Distribution: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Physical commodity contracts | Derivatives - current |  | $ | 88 |  |  | $ | 26 |  |  | $ | 151 |  |  | $ | 72 |
Financial commodity contracts | Derivatives - current |  | 375 |  |  | 134 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,149 |
Interest rate contracts | Derivatives - current |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 8,467 |
Energy Services: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Physical commodity contracts | Derivatives - current |  | 6,036 |  |  | 16,274 |  |  | 14,588 |  |  | 16,589 |
| Derivatives - noncurrent |  | 1,249 |  |  | 14,963 |  |  | 7,127 |  |  | 8,710 |
Financial commodity contracts | Derivatives - current |  | 20,398 |  |  | 28,247 |  |  | 15,302 |  |  | 20,267 |
| Derivatives - noncurrent |  | 12,232 |  |  | 8,537 |  |  | 2,033 |  |  | 2,620 |
Foreign currency contracts | Derivatives - current |  | — |  |  | 97 |  |  | 40 |  |  | — |
| Derivatives - noncurrent |  | — |  |  | 103 |  |  | 4 |  |  | — |
Home Services and Other: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate contracts | Derivatives - current |  | — |  |  | 14 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
| Derivatives - noncurrent |  | 135 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total fair value of derivatives |  |  | $ | 40,513 |  |  | $ | 68,395 |  |  | $ | 39,245 |  |  | $ | 57,874 |

Offsetting of Derivatives
The Company transacts under master netting arrangements or equivalent agreements that allow it to offset derivative assets and liabilities with the same counterparty. However, the Company’s policy is to present its derivative assets and liabilities on a gross basis at the contract level unit of account on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
17

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
The following table summarizes the reported gross amounts, the amounts that the Company has the right to offset but elects not to, financial collateral, as well as the net amounts the Company could present on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets but elects not to.

(Thousands) | Amounts Presented on Balance Sheets (1) | Offsetting Derivative Instruments (2) | Financial Collateral Received/Pledged (3) | Net Amounts (4)
As of March 31, 2018: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Energy Services |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Physical commodity contracts |  | $ | 7,285 |  |  | $ | (1,903 | ) |  | $ | (200 | ) |  | $ | 5,182 |
Financial commodity contracts |  | 32,630 |  |  | (20,031 | ) |  | (608 | ) |  | 11,991 |
Total Energy Services |  | $ | 39,915 |  |  | $ | (21,934 | ) |  | $ | (808 | ) |  | $ | 17,173 |
Natural Gas Distribution |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Physical commodity contracts |  | $ | 88 |  |  | $ | (5 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 83 |
Financial commodity contracts |  | 375 |  |  | (134 | ) |  | — |  |  | 241 |
Total Natural Gas Distribution |  | $ | 463 |  |  | $ | (139 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 324 |
Home Services and Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate contracts |  | $ | 135 |  |  | $ | (14 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 121 |
Total Home Services and Other |  | $ | 135 |  |  | $ | (14 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 121 |
Derivative liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Energy Services |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Physical commodity contracts |  | $ | 31,237 |  |  | $ | (1,903 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 29,334 |
Financial commodity contracts |  | 36,784 |  |  | (19,492 | ) |  | (16,757 | ) |  | 535 |
Foreign currency contracts |  | 200 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 200 |
Total Energy Services |  | $ | 68,221 |  |  | $ | (21,395 | ) |  | $ | (16,757 | ) |  | $ | 30,069 |
Natural Gas Distribution |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Physical commodity contracts |  | $ | 26 |  |  | $ | (5 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 21 |
Financial commodity contracts |  | 134 |  |  | (134 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |
Total Natural Gas Distribution |  | $ | 160 |  |  | $ | (139 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 21 |
Home Services and Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate contracts |  | $ | 14 |  |  | $ | (14 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Total Home Services and Other |  | $ | 14 |  |  | $ | (14 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
As of September 30, 2017: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Energy Services |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Physical commodity contracts |  | $ | 21,715 |  |  | $ | (2,173 | ) |  | $ | (200 | ) |  | $ | 19,342 |
Financial commodity contracts |  | 17,335 |  |  | (14,121 | ) |  | — |  |  | 3,214 |
Foreign currency contracts |  | 44 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 44 |
Total Energy Services |  | $ | 39,094 |  |  | $ | (16,294 | ) |  | $ | (200 | ) |  | $ | 22,600 |
Natural Gas Distribution |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Physical commodity contracts |  | $ | 151 |  |  | $ | (20 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 131 |
Total Natural Gas Distribution |  | $ | 151 |  |  | $ | (20 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 131 |
Derivative liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Energy Services |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Physical commodity contracts |  | $ | 25,299 |  |  | $ | (2,173 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 23,126 |
Financial commodity contracts |  | 22,887 |  |  | (14,121 | ) |  | (8,766 | ) |  | — |
Total Energy Services |  | $ | 48,186 |  |  | $ | (16,294 | ) |  | $ | (8,766 | ) |  | $ | 23,126 |
Natural Gas Distribution |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Physical commodity contracts |  | $ | 72 |  |  | $ | (20 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 52 |
Financial commodity contracts |  | 1,149 |  |  | — |  |  | (1,149 | ) |  | — |
Interest rate contracts |  | 8,467 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 8,467 |
Total Natural Gas Distribution |  | $ | 9,688 |  |  | $ | (20 | ) |  | $ | (1,149 | ) |  | $ | 8,519 |

(1) | Derivative assets and liabilities are presented on a gross basis on the balance sheet as the Company does not elect balance sheet offsetting under ASC 210-20.

(2) | Includes transactions with NAESB netting election, transactions held by FCMs with net margining and transactions with ISDA netting.

(3) | Financial collateral includes cash balances at FCMs as well as cash received from or pledged to other counterparties.

(4) | Net amounts represent presentation of derivative assets and liabilities if the Company were to elect balance sheet offsetting under ASC 210-20.

18

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Energy Services utilizes financial derivatives to economically hedge the gross margin associated with the purchase of physical gas to be used for storage injection and its subsequent sale at a later date. The gains or (losses) on the financial transactions that are economic hedges of the cost of the purchased gas are recognized prior to the gains or (losses) on the physical transaction, which are recognized in earnings when the natural gas is delivered. Therefore, mismatches between the timing of the recognition of realized gains or (losses) on the financial derivative instruments and gains or (losses) associated with the actual sale of the natural gas that is being economically hedged along with fair value changes in derivative instruments creates volatility in the results of Energy Services, although the Company's intended economic results relating to the entire transaction are unaffected.
The following table reflects the effect of derivative instruments on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as of:

(Thousands) | Location of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives | Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives
|  | Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
|  | March 31, | March 31,
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: | 2018 |  | 2017 | 2018 |  | 2017
Energy Services: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Physical commodity contracts | Operating revenues | $ | (11,952 | ) |  | $ | 4,982 |  | $ | (10,742 | ) |  | $ | 6,725 |
Physical commodity contracts | Gas purchases | (44,646 | ) |  | (3,982 | ) | (67,343 | ) |  | (12,781 | )
Financial commodity contracts | Gas purchases | 13,767 |  |  | 38,121 |  | (12,230 | ) |  | 7,510 |
Foreign currency contracts | Gas purchases | (215 | ) |  | 53 |  | (263 | ) |  | (33 | )
Home Services and Other: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate contracts | Interest expense | 121 |  |  | — |  | 121 |  |  | — |
Total unrealized and realized gains (losses) | $ | (42,925 | ) |  | $ | 39,174 |  | $ | (90,457 | ) |  | $ | 1,421 |

NJNG’s derivative contracts are part of the Company's risk management activities that relate to its natural gas purchases, BGSS incentive programs and debt financing. These transactions are entered into pursuant to regulatory approval. At settlement, the resulting gains and/or losses are payable to or recoverable from utility customers and are deferred in regulatory assets or liabilities resulting in no impact to earnings. The following table reflects the (losses) gains associated with NJNG's derivative instruments as of:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017 | 2018 |  | 2017
Natural Gas Distribution: |  |  |  |  |  |
Physical commodity contracts | $ | (12,879 | ) |  | $ | (3,780 | ) | $ | (15,855 | ) |  | $ | (2,730 | )
Financial commodity contracts | 7,232 |  |  | (418 | ) | (1,576 | ) |  | 10,760 |
Interest rate contracts | 12,534 |  |  | (1,690 | ) | 8,467 |  |  | 18,681 |
Total unrealized and realized (losses) gains | $ | 6,887 |  |  | $ | (5,888 | ) | $ | (8,964 | ) |  | $ | 26,711 |

NJNG and Energy Services had the following outstanding long (short) derivatives as of:

|  |  | Volume (Bcf)
|  |  | March 31, 2018 |  | September 30, 2017
Natural Gas Distribution | Futures |  | 24.9 |  |  | 18.2 |
| Physical |  | 33.2 |  |  | 32.1 |
Energy Services | Futures |  | (13.0 | ) |  | (16.4 | )
| Physical |  | 36.5 |  |  | (13.1 | )

Not included in the previous table are Energy Services' gross notional amount of foreign currency transactions of approximately $8.8 million, NJNG’s treasury lock agreement and NJR's interest rate swap as previously discussed and 567,000 SRECs at Energy Services that are open as of March 31, 2018.
19

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Broker Margin
Futures exchanges have contract specific margin requirements that require the posting of cash or cash equivalents relating to traded contracts. Margin requirements consist of initial margin that is posted upon the initiation of a position, maintenance margin that is usually expressed as a percent of initial margin, and variation margin that fluctuates based on the daily marked-to-market relative to maintenance margin requirements. The Company maintains separate broker margin accounts for the Natural Gas Distribution and Energy Services segments. The balances are as follows:

(Thousands) | Balance Sheet Location | March 31, 2018 | September 30, 2017
Natural Gas Distribution | Broker margin - Current assets | $ | 3,612 |  | $ | 2,661 |
Energy Services | Broker margin - Current assets | $ | 56,358 |  | $ | 23,166 |

Wholesale Credit Risk
NJNG, Energy Services and Clean Energy Ventures are exposed to credit risk as a result of their sales/wholesale marketing activities. As a result of the inherent volatility in the prices of natural gas commodities, derivatives, SRECs, electricity and RECs, the market value of contractual positions with individual counterparties could exceed established credit limits or collateral provided by those counterparties. If a counterparty fails to perform the obligations under its contract (e.g., failed to deliver or pay for natural gas, SRECs, electricity or RECs), then the Company could sustain a loss.
NJR monitors and manages the credit risk of its wholesale operations through credit policies and procedures that management believes reduce overall credit risk. These policies include a review and evaluation of current and prospective counterparties' financial statements and/or credit ratings, daily monitoring of counterparties' credit limits and exposure, daily communication with traders regarding credit status and the use of credit mitigation measures, such as collateral requirements and netting agreements. Examples of collateral include letters of credit and cash received for either prepayment or margin deposit. Collateral may be requested due to NJR's election not to extend credit or because exposure exceeds defined thresholds. Most of NJR's wholesale marketing contracts contain standard netting provisions. These contracts include those governed by ISDA and the NAESB. The netting provisions refer to payment netting, whereby receivables and payables with the same counterparty are offset and the resulting net amount is paid to the party to which it is due.
Internally-rated exposure applies to counterparties that are not rated by S&P or Moody's. In these cases, the counterparty's or guarantor's financial statements are reviewed, and similar methodologies and ratios used by S&P and/or Moody's are applied to arrive at a substitute rating. Gross credit exposure is defined as the unrealized fair value of physical and financial derivative commodity contracts, plus any outstanding wholesale receivable for the value of natural gas delivered and/or financial derivative commodity contract that has settled for which payment has not yet been received.
The following is a summary of gross credit exposures grouped by investment and noninvestment grade counterparties, as of March 31, 2018. The amounts presented below have not been reduced by any collateral received or netting and exclude accounts receivable for NJNG retail natural gas sales and services and Clean Energy Ventures residential solar installations.

(Thousands) | Gross Credit Exposure
Investment grade |  | $ | 175,076 |  |
Noninvestment grade |  | 21,228 |  |
Internally rated investment grade |  | 20,818 |  |
Internally rated noninvestment grade |  | 47,079 |  |
Total |  | $ | 264,201 |  |

Conversely, certain of NJNG's and Energy Services' derivative instruments are linked to agreements containing provisions that would require cash collateral payments from the Company if certain events occur. These provisions vary based upon the terms in individual counterparty agreements and can result in cash payments if NJNG's credit rating were to fall below its current level. NJNG's credit rating, with respect to S&P, reflects the overall corporate credit profile of NJR. Specifically, most, but not all, of these additional payments will be triggered if NJNG's debt is downgraded by the major credit agencies, regardless of investment grade status. In addition, some of these agreements include threshold amounts that would result in additional collateral payments if the values of derivative liabilities were to exceed the maximum values provided for in relevant counterparty agreements. Other provisions include payment features that are not specifically linked to ratings, but are based on certain financial metrics.
20

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Collateral amounts associated with any of these conditions are determined based on a sliding scale and are contingent upon the degree to which the Company's credit rating and/or financial metrics deteriorate, and the extent to which liability amounts exceed applicable threshold limits. The aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that were in a liability position on March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017, was $1 million and $8.7 million, respectively, for which the Company had not posted collateral. If all thresholds related to the credit-risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements had been invoked on March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017, the Company would have been required to post an additional $1 million and $8.6 million, respectively, to its counterparties. These amounts differ from the respective net derivative liabilities reflected on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets because the agreements also include clauses, commonly known as “Rights of Offset,” that would permit the Company to offset its derivative assets against its derivative liabilities for determining additional collateral to be posted, as previously discussed.
5. FAIR VALUE
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities
The fair value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, current loan receivables, accounts payable, commercial paper and borrowings under revolving credit facilities are estimated to equal their carrying amounts due to the short maturity of those instruments. Non-current loan receivables are recorded based on what the Company expects to receive, which approximates fair value. The Company regularly evaluates the credit quality and collection profile of its customers to approximate fair value.
The estimated fair value of long-term debt at NJNG and NJR, including current maturities, excluding capital leases, debt issuance costs and solar asset financing obligations, is as follows:

(Thousands) | March 31, 2018 | September 30, 2017
Carrying value (1) (2) (3) | $ | 1,097,045 |  | $ | 1,097,045 |
Fair market value | $ | 1,084,268 |  | $ | 1,107,676 |

(1) | Excludes capital leases of $41.8 million and $39.7 million as of March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively.

(2) | Excludes NJNG's debt issuance costs of $6.1 million and $6.3 million as of March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively.

(3) | Excludes NJR's debt issuance costs of $768,000 and $770,000 as of March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively.

NJR utilizes a discounted cash flow method to determine the fair value of its debt. Inputs include observable municipal and corporate yields, as appropriate for the maturity of the specific issue and the Company's credit rating. As of March 31, 2018, NJR discloses its debt within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Fair Value Hierarchy
NJR applies fair value measurement guidance to its financial assets and liabilities, as appropriate, which include financial derivatives and physical commodity contracts qualifying as derivatives, available for sale securities and other financial assets and liabilities. In addition, authoritative accounting literature prescribes the use of a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value based on the source of the data used to develop the price inputs. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to inputs that are based on unobservable market data and include the following:

Level 1 | Unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. NJR's Level 1 assets and liabilities include exchange traded natural gas futures and options contracts, listed equities and money market funds. Exchange traded futures and options contracts include all energy contracts traded on the NYMEX, CME and ICE that NJR refers internally to as basis swaps, fixed swaps, futures and financial options that are cleared through a FCM.

Level 2 | Other significant observable inputs such as interest rates or price data, including both commodity and basis pricing that is observed either directly or indirectly from publications or pricing services. NJR's Level 2 assets and liabilities include over-the-counter physical forward commodity contracts and swap contracts, SREC forward sales or derivatives that are initially valued using observable quotes and are subsequently adjusted to include time value, credit risk or estimated transport pricing components for which no basis price is available. Level 2 financial derivatives consist of transactions with non-FCM counterparties (basis swaps, fixed swaps and/or options). NJNG's treasury lock is also considered Level 2 as valuation is based on quoted market interest and swap rates as inputs to the valuation model. Inputs are verifiable and do not require significant management judgment. For some physical commodity contracts the Company utilizes transportation tariff rates that are publicly available and that it considers to be observable inputs that are equivalent to market data received from an independent source. There are no significant judgments or

21

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
adjustments applied to the transportation tariff inputs and no market perspective is required. Even if the transportation tariff input were considered to be a “model,” it would still be considered to be a Level 2 input as the data is:

• | widely accepted and public;

• | non-proprietary and sourced from an independent third party; and

• | observable and published.

These additional adjustments are generally not considered to be significant to the ultimate recognized values.

Level 3 | Inputs derived from a significant amount of unobservable market data. These include NJR's best estimate of fair value and are derived primarily through the use of internal valuation methodologies.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized as follows:

| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets | Significant Other Observable Inputs | Significant Unobservable Inputs |
(Thousands) | (Level 1) | (Level 2) | (Level 3) | Total
As of March 31, 2018: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Physical commodity contracts |  | $ | — |  |  |  | $ | 7,373 |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 7,373 |
Financial commodity contracts |  | 20,443 |  |  |  | 12,562 |  |  |  | — |  |  | 33,005 |
Interest rate contracts |  | — |  |  |  | 135 |  |  |  | — |  |  | 135 |
Available for sale equity securities - energy industry |  | 28,228 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  | 28,228 |
Other (1) |  | 1,214 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  | 1,214 |
Total assets at fair value |  | $ | 49,885 |  |  |  | $ | 20,070 |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 69,955 |
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Physical commodity contracts |  | $ | — |  |  |  | $ | 31,263 |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 31,263 |
Financial commodity contracts |  | 36,353 |  |  |  | 565 |  |  |  | — |  |  | 36,918 |
Financial commodity contracts - foreign exchange |  | — |  |  |  | 200 |  |  |  | — |  |  | 200 |
Interest rate contracts |  | — |  |  |  | 14 |  |  |  | — |  |  | 14 |
Total liabilities at fair value |  | $ | 36,353 |  |  |  | $ | 32,042 |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 68,395 |
As of September 30, 2017: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Physical commodity contracts |  | $ | — |  |  |  | $ | 21,866 |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 21,866 |
Financial commodity contracts |  | 17,335 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17,335 |
Financial commodity contracts - foreign exchange |  | — |  |  |  | 44 |  |  |  | — |  |  | 44 |
Available for sale equity securities - energy industry |  | 65,752 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  | 65,752 |
Other (1) |  | 1,202 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  | 1,202 |
Total assets at fair value |  | $ | 84,289 |  |  |  | $ | 21,910 |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 106,199 |
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Physical commodity contracts |  | $ | — |  |  |  | $ | 25,371 |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 25,371 |
Financial commodity contracts |  | 24,036 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  | 24,036 |
Interest rate contracts |  | — |  |  |  | 8,467 |  |  |  | — |  |  | 8,467 |
Total liabilities at fair value |  | $ | 24,036 |  |  |  | $ | 33,838 |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 57,874 |

(1) | Includes money market funds of $11,000 and $112,000 as of March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively.

Assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis are summarized as follows:

| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets | Significant Other Observable Inputs | Significant Unobservable Inputs |
(Thousands) | (Level 1) | (Level 2) | (Level 3) | Total
As of March 31, 2018: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of available for sale securities (1) |  | $ | 17,838 |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 17,838 |
Total assets at fair value |  | $ | 17,838 |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 17,838 |

(1) | See Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for more information regarding the impairment.

22

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
6. INVESTMENTS IN EQUITY INVESTEES
NJR's investments in equity method investees include the following as of:

(Thousands) | March 31, 2018 | September 30, 2017
Steckman Ridge (1) | $ | 118,875 |  | $ | 120,262 |
PennEast | 65,009 |  | 52,323 |
Total | $ | 183,884 |  | $ | 172,585 |

(1) | Includes loans with a total outstanding principal balance of $70.4 million for both March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017. The loans accrue interest at a variable rate that resets quarterly and are due October 1, 2023.

The Company, through its subsidiary NJR Pipeline Company, is an investor in PennEast, which is expected to construct and operate a 120-mile natural gas pipeline that will extend from northeast Pennsylvania to western New Jersey. PennEast has advised that it currently expects the pipeline to be completed and operational in 2019, however the project could be delayed beyond 2019 due to factors that are beyond PennEast’s ability to control or estimate precisely, including potential delays in obtaining (or the inability to obtain) governmental and regulatory approvals and land-use rights, and unforeseen construction delays.
NJNG and Energy Services have entered into storage and park and loan agreements with Steckman Ridge. In addition, NJNG has entered into a precedent capacity agreement with PennEast. See Note 14. Related Party Transactions for more information on these intercompany transactions.
7. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The following table presents the calculation of the Company's basic and diluted earnings per share for:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands, except per share amounts) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Net income, as reported | $ | 140,266 |  | $ | 114,702 |  | $ | 263,965 |  | $ | 149,631 |
Basic earnings per share |  |  |  |
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding-basic | 87,595 |  | 86,275 |  | 87,295 |  | 86,182 |
Basic earnings per common share | $1.60 | $1.33 | $3.02 | $1.74
Diluted earnings per share |  |  |  |
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding-basic | 87,595 |  | 86,275 |  | 87,295 |  | 86,182 |
Incremental shares (1) | 394 |  | 826 |  | 395 |  | 811 |
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding-diluted | 87,989 |  | 87,101 |  | 87,690 |  | 86,993 |
Diluted earnings per common share (2) | $1.59 | $1.32 | $3.01 | $1.72

(1) | Incremental shares consist primarily of unvested stock awards and performance shares.

(2) | There were no anti-dilutive shares excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

8. COMMON STOCK EQUITY
Changes in common stock equity during the six months ended March 31, 2018, were as follows:

(Thousands) | Number of Shares | Common Stock | Premium on Common Stock | Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income | Treasury Stock And Other | Retained Earnings | Total
Balance at September 30, 2017 | 86,556 |  | $ | 222,258 |  | $ | 219,696 |  |  | $ | (3,256 | ) |  | $ | (70,039 | ) | $ | 867,984 |  | $ | 1,236,643 |
Net income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 263,965 |  | 263,965 |
Other comprehensive loss |  |  |  |  | (10,532 | ) |  |  |  | (10,532 | )
Common stock issued: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Incentive plan | 555 |  | 1,531 |  | 14,998 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16,529 |
Dividend reinvestment plan (1) | 242 |  |  | 172 |  |  |  |  | 9,583 |  |  | 9,755 |
Waiver discount | 554 |  | 1,384 |  | 21,306 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 22,690 |
Cash dividend declared ($.545 per share) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (47,717 | ) | (47,717 | )
Treasury stock and other | (251 | ) |  | (14 | ) |  |  |  | (23,945 | ) |  | (23,959 | )
Balance at March 31, 2018 | 87,656 |  | $ | 225,173 |  | $ | 256,158 |  |  | $ | (13,788 | ) |  | $ | (84,401 | ) | $ | 1,084,232 |  | $ | 1,467,374 |

(1) | Shares sold through the DRP are issued from treasury stock at average cost, which may differ from the actual market price paid.

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New Jersey Resources Corporation
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NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
NJR satisfies its external common equity requirements, if any, through issuances of its common stock, including the proceeds from stock issuances under its DRP. The DRP allows NJR, at its option, to use treasury shares or newly issued shares to raise capital. NJR raised $9.9 million and $9.7 million of equity through the DRP, by issuing approximately 242,000 and 279,000 shares of treasury stock, during the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. During the six months ended March 31, 2018, NJR raised approximately $22.7 million of equity by issuing approximately 554,000 new shares through the waiver discount feature of the DRP. NJR issued no new shares during the three months ended March 31, 2017.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The following table presents the changes in the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of related tax effects during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

(Thousands) | Available for Sale Securities | Postemployment Benefit Obligation | Total
Balance at December 31, 2017 | $ | 5,600 |  |  | $ | (14,060 | ) |  | $ | (8,460 | )
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax |  |  |  |  |
Other comprehensive (loss),before reclassifications, net of tax of $7,366, $0, $7,366 | (20,401 | ) |  | — |  |  | (20,401 | )
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax of $(3,036), $(104), $(3,140) | 14,801 |  |  | 272 |  | (1) | 15,073 |
Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax of $4,330, $(104), $4,226 | (5,600 | ) |  | 272 |  |  | (5,328 | )
Balance at March 31, 2018 | $ | — |  |  | $ | (13,788 | ) |  | $ | (13,788 | )
Balance at December 31, 2016 | $ | 9,713 |  |  | $ | (19,036 | ) |  | $ | (9,323 | )
Other comprehensive income, net of tax |  |  |  |  |
Other comprehensive income, before reclassifications, net of tax of $(1,808), $0, $(1,808) | 3,054 |  |  | — |  |  | 3,054 |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax of $1,138, $(217), $921 | (1,646 | ) |  | 318 |  | (1) | (1,328 | )
Net current-period other comprehensive income, net of tax of $(670), $(217), $(887) | 1,408 |  |  | 318 |  |  | 1,726 |
Balance as of March 31, 2017 | $ | 11,121 |  |  | $ | (18,718 | ) |  | $ | (7,597 | )

The following table presents the changes in the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of related tax effects during the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

(Thousands) | Available for Sale Securities | Postemployment Benefit Obligation | Total
Balance at September 30, 2017 | $ | 11,044 |  |  | $ | (14,300 | ) |  | $ | (3,256 | )
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax |  |  |  |  |
Other comprehensive (loss), before reclassifications, net of tax of $8,217, $0, $8,217 | (22,691 | ) |  | — |  |  | (22,691 | )
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax of $(858), $(240), $(1,098) | 11,647 |  |  | 512 |  | (1) | 12,159 |
Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax of $7,359, $(240), $7,119 | (11,044 | ) |  | 512 |  |  | (10,532 | )
Balance at March 31, 2018 | $ | — |  |  | $ | (13,788 | ) |  | $ | (13,788 | )
Balance as of September 30, 2016 | $ | 4,198 |  |  | $ | (19,353 | ) |  | $ | (15,155 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax |  |  |  |  |
Other comprehensive income, before reclassifications, net of tax of $(6,648), $0, $(6,648) | 10,096 |  |  | — |  |  | 10,096 |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax of $2,192, $(434), $1,758 | (3,173 | ) |  | 635 |  | (1) | (2,538 | )
Net current-period other comprehensive income, net of tax of $(4,456), $(434), $(4,890) | 6,923 |  |  | 635 |  |  | 7,558 |
Balance as of March 31, 2017 | $ | 11,121 |  |  | $ | (18,718 | ) |  | $ | (7,597 | )

(1) | Included in the computation of net periodic pension cost, a component of operations and maintenance expense on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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New Jersey Resources Corporation
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NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
9. DEBT
NJR and NJNG finance working capital requirements and capital expenditures through various short-term debt and long-term financing arrangements, including a commercial paper program, committed unsecured credit facilities and private placement debt shelf facilities.
Credit Facilities
A summary of NJR's credit facility and NJNG's commercial paper program and credit facility are as follows:

(Thousands) | March 31, 2018 |  | September 30, 2017 |  | Expiration Dates
NJR |  |  |  |  |
Bank revolving credit facilities (1) | $ | 425,000 |  |  | $ | 425,000 |  |  | September 2020
Notes outstanding at end of period | $ | 150,900 |  |  | $ | 255,000 |  |  |
Weighted average interest rate at end of period | 2.60 | % |  | 2.14 | % |  |
Amount available at end of period (2) | $ | 263,326 |  |  | $ | 156,601 |  |  |
Bank revolving credit facilities (1) | $ | 100,000 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | April 2018
Amount available at end of period | $ | 100,000 |  |  | $ | — |  |  |
NJNG |  |  |  |  |
Bank revolving credit facilities (1) | $ | 250,000 |  |  | $ | 250,000 |  |  | May 2019
Commercial paper outstanding at end of period | $ | — |  |  | $ | 11,000 |  |  |
Weighted average interest rate at end of period | — | % |  | 1.13 | % |  |
Amount available at end of period (3) | $ | 249,269 |  |  | $ | 238,269 |  |  |

(1) | Committed credit facilities, which require commitment fees on the unused amounts.

(2) | Letters of credit outstanding total $10.8 million and $13.4 million for March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively, which reduces amount available by the same amount.

(3) | Letters of credit outstanding total $731,000 for both March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017, which reduces the amount available by the same amount.

On December 14, 2017, NJR entered into a four-month, $75 million revolving line of credit facility. On January 19, 2018, NJR amended the agreement to increase the available amount to $100 million. As of March 31, 2018, there were no borrowings against the facility. This facility expired on April 14, 2018.
Amounts available under credit facilities are reduced by bank or commercial paper borrowings, as applicable, and any outstanding letters of credit. Neither NJNG nor the results of its operations are obligated or pledged to support the NJR credit or debt shelf facilities.
Long-term Debt
NJNG
NJNG received $7.8 million and $9.6 million in December 2017 and 2016, respectively, in connection with the sale-leaseback of its natural gas meters. NJNG records a capital lease obligation that is paid over the term of the lease and has the option to purchase the meters back at fair value upon expiration of the lease. NJNG exercised early purchase options with respect to certain outstanding meter leases by making final principal payments of $1.1 million and $1 million during the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
In June 2015, NJNG entered into a treasury lock transaction to fix a benchmark treasury rate of 3.26 percent associated with the $125 million debt issuance expected in May 2018. This debt issuance coincides with the maturity of NJNG's existing $125 million, 5.6 percent notes due May 15, 2018. This treasury lock was settled on March 13, 2018. The resulting $2.6 million loss is recorded as a component of regulatory assets on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and will be amortized in earnings over the life of the May 2018 debt issuance.
NJR
On January 26, 2018, NJR entered into a variable-for-fixed interest rate swap on NJR's existing $100 million variable rate term loan due August 16, 2019, which fixed the variable rate at 2.84 percent.
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
10. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
Pension and Other Postemployment Benefit Plans
The components of the net periodic cost for pension benefits, including the Company's Pension Equalization Plan, and OPEB costs (principally health care and life insurance) for employees and covered dependents were as follows:

| Pension | OPEB
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31, | March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Service cost | $ | 2,034 |  | $ | 2,087 |  | $ | 4,069 |  | $ | 4,174 |  | $ | 1,151 |  | $ | 1,095 |  | $ | 2,303 |  | $ | 2,190 |
Interest cost | 2,624 |  | 2,442 |  | 5,247 |  | 4,885 |  | 1,591 |  | 1,387 |  | 3,182 |  | 2,773 |
Expected return on plan assets | (4,909 | ) | (4,828 | ) | (9,819 | ) | (9,656 | ) | (1,338 | ) | (1,191 | ) | (2,676 | ) | (2,383 | )
Recognized actuarial loss | 1,885 |  | 2,206 |  | 3,769 |  | 4,413 |  | 1,165 |  | 1,092 |  | 2,330 |  | 2,185 |
Prior service cost amortization | 26 |  | 28 |  | 53 |  | 55 |  | (91 | ) | (91 | ) | (182 | ) | (182 | )
Net periodic benefit cost | $ | 1,660 |  | $ | 1,935 |  | $ | 3,319 |  | $ | 3,871 |  | $ | 2,478 |  | $ | 2,292 |  | $ | 4,957 |  | $ | 4,583 |

The Company does not expect to be required to make additional contributions to fund the pension plans during fiscal 2018 or 2019 based on current actuarial assumptions; however, funding requirements are uncertain and can depend significantly on changes in actuarial assumptions, returns on plan assets and changes in the demographics of eligible employees and covered dependents. In addition, as in the past, the Company may elect to make contributions in excess of the minimum required amount to the plans. There were no discretionary contributions made during the six months ended March 31, 2018.
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 six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, 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.
The SEC issued guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 to address the changes as of March 31, 2018, associated with the Tax Act, which allows companies to record provisional amounts during a one-year measurement period. The Company calculated an estimate for the measurement and accounting for certain effects of the Tax Act, including the remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities to reflect the rates that will be in effect when the deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. 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
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
settlement of derivative unrealized amounts. Therefore, the revaluation of net deferred tax liabilities is subject to change as information and assumptions are updated each quarter for actual results. Any additional guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service or future actions of our regulators could also potentially affect the final determination of the accounting effects of the Tax Act.
The decrease of the net deferred tax liability at NJNG of $228.4 million, which includes $164.3 million for the revaluation of its deferred income taxes and $64.1 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 $967,000 and $58.5 million that was recognized on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively. The changes from the original estimates are currently based on actual results through the second quarter and forecasted amounts through the fiscal year end.
The decrease of our net deferred tax liability, that was recognized on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, for the remaining entities was as follows:

| Three Months Ended |  | Six Months Ended
| March 31, |  | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 |  | 2018
Income tax (benefit) provision |  |  |
Clean Energy Ventures | $ | (445 | ) |  | $ | (63,102 | )
Energy Services | (1,456 | ) |  | 7,651 |
Midstream | 185 |  |  | (13,804 | )
Home Services and Other | 749 |  |  | 10,723 |
Total | $ | (967 | ) |  | $ | (58,532 | )

Effective Tax Rate
The forecasted effective tax rates were 17.2 percent and 15.6 percent, for the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate, when compared with the prior fiscal year, 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, which more than offset the lower federal statutory rate that became effective during fiscal 2018 as a result of the Tax Act. Forecasted tax credits, net of deferred income taxes, were $23.2 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. As discussed further above, the Company recognized a tax benefit of $967,000 and $58.5 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018. In addition, the Company recognized $2.8 million and $1.5 million during the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, 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. As a result of these discrete items, NJR’s actual effective tax rate was (7.9) percent and 14.8 percent during the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Other Tax Items
As of March 31, 2018, the Company has federal and state income tax net operating losses of approximately $125.3 million and $537.2 million, respectively, which generally have a life of 20 years. As of March 31, 2018, the Company has recorded deferred federal and state tax assets of approximately $28.5 million and $28.2 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.
In March 2018, Clean Energy Ventures committed to a plan to pursue the sale of its remaining wind assets and it is probable that these sales will be completed within the next 12 months. As a result of the planned sale, it is more likely than not that certain state net operating loss carryforwards will not be realizable prior to their expiration. As of March 31, 2018, the Company recorded a valuation allowance of $2.5 million related to state net operating loss carryforwards in Montana, Iowa, Kansas, and Wyoming. As of September 30, 2017, the Company had a valuation allowance of $1 million related to state net operating loss carryforwards in Montana.
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
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NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
In addition, as of March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017, the Company had an ITC/PTC carryforward of approximately $127.8 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.
On March 7, 2018, the State of New Jersey notified the Company that it will conduct a general tax examination for fiscal year 2014 through 2017 related to NJRHS. All periods subsequent to those ended September 30, 2013, are statutorily open to examination.
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.
12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
Cash Commitments
NJNG has entered into long-term contracts, expiring at various dates through September 2024, for the supply, storage and transportation of natural gas. These contracts include fixed charges of approximately $54.5 million at current contract rates and volumes for the remainder of the fiscal year, which are recoverable through BGSS.
For the purpose of securing storage and pipeline capacity, Energy Services enters into storage and pipeline capacity contracts, which require the payment of certain demand charges by Energy Services to maintain the ability to access such natural gas storage or pipeline capacity, during a fixed time period, which generally ranges from one to 10 years. Demand charges are established by interstate storage and pipeline operators and are regulated by FERC. These demand charges represent commitments to pay storage providers or pipeline companies for the right to store and/or transport natural gas utilizing their respective assets.
Commitments as of March 31, 2018, for natural gas purchases and future demand fees for the next five fiscal year periods are as follows:

(Thousands) | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Thereafter
Energy Services: |  |  |  |  |  |
Natural gas purchases | $ | 256,179 |  | $ | 134,005 |  | $ | 20,506 |  | $ | 11,112 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |
Storage demand fees | 19,299 |  | 30,207 |  | 17,581 |  | 11,137 |  | 6,053 |  | 3,521 |
Pipeline demand fees | 36,071 |  | 55,988 |  | 42,807 |  | 25,143 |  | 21,039 |  | 22,563 |
Sub-total Energy Services | $ | 311,549 |  | $ | 220,200 |  | $ | 80,894 |  | $ | 47,392 |  | $ | 27,092 |  | $ | 26,084 |
NJNG: |  |  |  |  |  |
Natural gas purchases | $ | 40,088 |  | $ | 41,715 |  | $ | 39,370 |  | $ | 37,655 |  | $ | 38,684 |  | $ | 80,788 |
Storage demand fees | 15,479 |  | 31,362 |  | 24,245 |  | 14,243 |  | 12,922 |  | 15,070 |
Pipeline demand fees | 39,002 |  | 79,503 |  | 105,514 |  | 92,880 |  | 91,508 |  | 671,743 |
Sub-total NJNG | $ | 94,569 |  | $ | 152,580 |  | $ | 169,129 |  | $ | 144,778 |  | $ | 143,114 |  | $ | 767,601 |
Total | $ | 406,118 |  | $ | 372,780 |  | $ | 250,023 |  | $ | 192,170 |  | $ | 170,206 |  | $ | 793,685 |

Legal Proceedings
Manufactured Gas Plant Remediation
NJNG is responsible for the remedial cleanup of five MGP sites, dating back to gas operations in the late 1800s and early 1900s, which contain contaminated residues from former gas manufacturing operations. NJNG is currently involved in administrative proceedings with the NJDEP, and participating in various studies and investigations by outside consultants, to determine the nature and extent of any such contaminated residues and to develop appropriate programs of remedial action, where warranted, under Administrative Consent Orders or Memoranda of Agreement with the NJDEP.
NJNG recovers its remediation expenditures, including carrying costs, over rolling seven-year periods pursuant to a RAC approved by the BPU. NJNG currently recovers approximately $9.4 million annually through its SBC RAC. On November 17, 2017, NJNG filed its annual SBC application requesting a reduction in the RAC, which decreased the annual recovery to $7 million, effective April 1, 2018. As of March 31, 2018, $28.9 million of previously incurred remediation costs, net of recoveries from customers and insurance proceeds, are included in regulatory assets on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
In the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the NJDEP contacted NJNG regarding its association with a parcel of land, located within NJNG's service territory, which may have been a MGP site for a period of time. NJNG is investigating to determine the nature and extent of its relationship to the parcel, its previous owner and the operations conducted on the site. NJNG will continue to gather information to determine whether a potential obligation exists to undertake remedial action, if any, and whether there are other potentially responsible parties.
NJNG periodically, and at least annually, performs an environmental review of the MGP sites, including a review of potential liability for investigation and remedial action. NJNG estimated at the time of the most recent review that total future expenditures to remediate and monitor the five MGP sites for which it is responsible, including potential liabilities for Natural Resource Damages that might be brought by the NJDEP for alleged injury to groundwater or other natural resources concerning these sites, will range from approximately $117.6 million to $205.2 million. NJNG's estimate of these liabilities is based upon known facts, existing technology and enacted laws and regulations in place when the review was completed. Where it is probable that costs will be incurred, and the information is sufficient to establish a range of possible liability, NJNG accrues the most likely amount in the range. If no point within the range is more likely than the other, it is NJNG's policy to accrue the lower end of the range. Accordingly, NJNG recorded an MGP remediation liability and a corresponding regulatory asset on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets of $149 million as of September 30, 2017, based on the most likely amount at year end and $142.5 million as of March 31, 2018, which includes adjustments for actual expenditures during fiscal 2018. The actual costs to be incurred by NJNG are dependent upon several factors, including final determination of remedial action, changing technologies and governmental regulations, the ultimate ability of other responsible parties to pay and any insurance recoveries.
NJNG will continue to seek recovery of MGP-related costs through the RAC. If any future regulatory position indicates that the recovery of such costs is not probable, the related non-recoverable costs would be charged to earnings in the period of such determination.
General
The Company is involved, and from time to time in the future may be involved, in a number of pending and threatened judicial, regulatory and arbitration proceedings relating to matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. In view of the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of litigation matters, particularly when such matters are in their early stages or where the claimants seek indeterminate damages, the Company cannot state with confidence what the eventual outcome of the pending litigation will be, what the timing of the ultimate resolution of these matters will be, or what the eventual loss, fines or penalties related to each pending matter will be, if any. In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, NJR establishes reserves for litigation for those matters that present loss contingencies as to which it is both probable that a loss will be incurred and the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. Based upon currently available information, NJR believes that the results of litigation that is currently pending, taken together, will not have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. The actual results of resolving the pending litigation matters may be substantially higher than the amounts reserved.
The foregoing statements about NJR’s litigation are based upon the Company’s judgments, assumptions and estimates and are necessarily subjective and uncertain. The Company has a number of threatened and pending litigation matters at various stages. Certain of the Company’s significant litigation is described below.
In February 2015, a natural gas fire and explosion occurred in Stafford Township, New Jersey as a result of a natural gas leak emanating from an underground pipe. There were no fatalities, although several employees of NJNG were injured and several homes were damaged. NJNG notified its insurance carrier and believes that any costs associated with the incident, including attorneys’ fees, property damage and other losses, will be substantially covered by insurance. The Company believes the resolution of any potential claims associated with the incident will not have a material effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. As of March 31, 2018, NJNG estimates that liabilities associated with claims will range between $600,000 and $3.2 million and has accrued the lower end of the range, as we do not believe there is an amount within the range that is more probable than any other.
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
13. REPORTING SEGMENT AND OTHER OPERATIONS DATA
The Company organizes its businesses based on a combination of factors, including its products and its regulatory environment. As a result, the Company manages its businesses through the following reporting segments and other operations: the Natural Gas Distribution segment consists of regulated energy and off-system, capacity and storage management operations; the Clean Energy Ventures segment consists of capital investments in clean energy projects; the Energy Services segment consists of unregulated wholesale energy operations; the Midstream segment consists of the Company's investments in natural gas transportation and storage facilities; the Home Services and Other operations consist of heating, cooling and water appliance sales, installations and services, other investments and general corporate activities.
Information related to the Company's various reporting segments and other operations is detailed below:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Operating revenues |  |  |  |
Natural Gas Distribution |  |  |  |
External customers | $ | 317,064 |  | $ | 295,546 |  | $ | 526,851 |  | $ | 481,102 |
Clean Energy Ventures |  |  |  |
External customers | 12,866 |  | 12,943 |  | 26,862 |  | 20,510 |
Energy Services |  |  |  |
External customers (1) | 681,475 |  | 417,608 |  | 1,153,646 |  | 756,538 |
Intercompany | 43,838 |  | 2,679 |  | 49,648 |  | 930 |
Subtotal | 1,055,243 |  | 728,776 |  | 1,757,007 |  | 1,259,080 |
Home Services and Other |  |  |  |
External customers | 7,638 |  | 7,449 |  | 16,989 |  | 16,424 |
Intercompany | 623 |  | 1,055 |  | 1,229 |  | 2,086 |
Eliminations | (44,461 | ) | (3,734 | ) | (50,877 | ) | (3,016 | )
Total | $ | 1,019,043 |  | $ | 733,546 |  | $ | 1,724,348 |  | $ | 1,274,574 |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |
Natural Gas Distribution | $ | 13,353 |  | $ | 12,263 |  | $ | 26,136 |  | $ | 24,293 |
Clean Energy Ventures | 8,928 |  | 7,923 |  | 17,863 |  | 14,964 |
Energy Services (2) | 15 |  | 17 |  | 29 |  | 33 |
Midstream | 2 |  | 2 |  | 3 |  | 3 |
Subtotal | 22,298 |  | 20,205 |  | 44,031 |  | 39,293 |
Home Services and Other | 189 |  | 199 |  | 377 |  | 420 |
Eliminations | (27 | ) | (76 | ) | (94 | ) | (125 | )
Total | $ | 22,460 |  | $ | 20,328 |  | $ | 44,314 |  | $ | 39,588 |
Interest income (3) |  |  |  |
Natural Gas Distribution | $ | 131 |  | $ | 97 |  | $ | 250 |  | $ | 172 |
Energy Services | 106 |  | — |  | 106 |  | — |
Midstream | 771 |  | 512 |  | 1,435 |  | 974 |
Subtotal | 1,008 |  | 609 |  | 1,791 |  | 1,146 |
Home Services and Other | 354 |  | 132 |  | 558 |  | 253 |
Eliminations | (1,168 | ) | (633 | ) | (2,099 | ) | (1,216 | )
Total | $ | 194 |  | $ | 108 |  | $ | 250 |  | $ | 183 |

(1) | Includes sales to Canada, which accounted for .01 and 1.5 percent of total operating revenues during the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

(2) | The amortization of acquired wholesale energy contracts is included in gas purchases - nonutility on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(3) | Included in other income, net on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

30

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest |  |  |  |
Natural Gas Distribution | $ | 6,523 |  | $ | 6,392 |  | $ | 13,059 |  | $ | 13,216 |
Clean Energy Ventures | 4,344 |  | 4,055 |  | 8,552 |  | 7,379 |
Energy Services | 1,203 |  | 716 |  | 2,460 |  | 1,287 |
Midstream | 385 |  | 414 |  | 694 |  | 470 |
Subtotal | 12,455 |  | 11,577 |  | 24,765 |  | 22,352 |
Home Services and Other | 21 |  | 123 |  | 111 |  | 197 |
Eliminations | (678 | ) | (264 | ) | (1,173 | ) | (498 | )
Total | $ | 11,798 |  | $ | 11,436 |  | $ | 23,703 |  | $ | 22,051 |
Income tax provision (benefit) |  |  |  |
Natural Gas Distribution | $ | 17,991 |  | $ | 30,499 |  | $ | 29,695 |  | $ | 45,386 |
Clean Energy Ventures | (12,722 | ) | (24,756 | ) | (86,710 | ) | (36,643 | )
Energy Services | 23,965 |  | 16,277 |  | 37,708 |  | 13,101 |
Midstream | 3,131 |  | 1,502 |  | (9,712 | ) | 3,151 |
Subtotal | 32,365 |  | 23,522 |  | (29,019 | ) | 24,995 |
Home Services and Other | (1,281 | ) | 1,066 |  | 10,417 |  | 821 |
Eliminations | (183 | ) | (656 | ) | (665 | ) | 134 |
Total | $ | 30,901 |  | $ | 23,932 |  | $ | (19,267 | ) | $ | 25,950 |
Equity in earnings of affiliates |  |  |  |
Midstream | $ | 4,068 |  | $ | 6,119 |  | $ | 8,197 |  | $ | 9,450 |
Eliminations | (875 | ) | (1,040 | ) | (1,740 | ) | (2,060 | )
Total | $ | 3,193 |  | $ | 5,079 |  | $ | 6,457 |  | $ | 7,390 |
Net financial earnings (loss) |  |  |  |
Natural Gas Distribution | $ | 60,442 |  | $ | 60,233 |  | $ | 94,551 |  | $ | 90,581 |
Clean Energy Ventures | 10,051 |  | 22,743 |  | 81,301 |  | 25,585 |
Energy Services | 72,832 |  | 15,746 |  | 93,106 |  | 19,233 |
Midstream | 1,315 |  | 4,948 |  | 18,826 |  | 7,335 |
Subtotal | 144,640 |  | 103,670 |  | 287,784 |  | 142,734 |
Home Services and Other | (2,488 | ) | 708 |  | (10,204 | ) | 2,250 |
Eliminations | (90 | ) | (272 | ) | (185 | ) | (495 | )
Total | $ | 142,062 |  | $ | 104,106 |  | $ | 277,395 |  | $ | 144,489 |
Capital expenditures |  |  |  |
Natural Gas Distribution | $ | 55,397 |  | $ | 34,744 |  | $ | 102,787 |  | $ | 73,599 |
Clean Energy Ventures | 40,605 |  | 43,120 |  | 58,992 |  | 89,905 |
Subtotal | 96,002 |  | 77,864 |  | 161,779 |  | 163,504 |
Home Services and Other | 1,846 |  | 345 |  | 3,159 |  | 516 |
Total | $ | 97,848 |  | $ | 78,209 |  | $ | 164,938 |  | $ | 164,020 |
Investments in equity investees |  |  |  |
Midstream | $ | 3,975 |  | $ | 5,902 |  | $ | 11,177 |  | $ | 10,538 |
Total | $ | 3,975 |  | $ | 5,902 |  | $ | 11,177 |  | $ | 10,538 |

31

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
The Chief Executive Officer, who uses NFE as a measure of profit or loss in measuring the results of the Company's segments and operations, is the chief operating decision maker of the Company. A reconciliation of consolidated NFE to consolidated net income is as follows:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Net financial earnings (1) | $ | 142,062 |  | $ | 104,106 |  | $ | 277,395 |  | $ | 144,489 |
Less: |  |  |  |
Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments and related transactions | (11,608 | ) | (54,855 | ) | 23,246 |  | (26,553 | )
Tax effect | 4,716 |  | 19,679 |  | (3,343 | ) | 9,922 |
Effects of economic hedging related to natural gas inventory | 6,125 |  | 34,328 |  | (19,262 | ) | 16,389 |
Tax effect | (1,715 | ) | (12,334 | ) | 6,529 |  | (6,130 | )
Net income to NFE tax adjustment | 4,278 |  | 2,586 |  | 6,260 |  | 1,230 |
Net income (1) | $ | 140,266 |  | $ | 114,702 |  | $ | 263,965 |  | $ | 149,631 |

(1) | Includes income tax benefit related to the Tax Act of $967,000 and $58.5 million, for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively.

The Company uses derivative instruments as economic hedges of purchases and sales of physical gas inventory. For GAAP purposes, these derivatives are recorded at fair value and related changes in fair value are included in reported earnings. Revenues and cost of gas related to physical gas flow is recognized when the gas is delivered to customers. Consequently, there is a mismatch in the timing of earnings recognition between the economic hedges and physical gas flows. Timing differences occur in two ways:

• | unrealized gains and losses on derivatives are recognized in reported earnings in periods prior to physical gas inventory flows; and

• | unrealized gains and losses of prior periods are reclassified as realized gains and losses when derivatives are settled in the same period as physical gas inventory movements occur.

NFE is a measure of the earnings based on eliminating these timing differences, to effectively match the earnings effects of the economic hedges with the physical sale of gas, SRECs and foreign currency contracts. Consequently, to reconcile between net income and NFE, current period unrealized gains and losses on the derivatives are excluded from NFE as a reconciling item. Additionally, realized derivative gains and losses are also included in current period net income. However, NFE includes only realized gains and losses related to natural gas sold out of inventory, effectively matching the full earnings effects of the derivatives with realized margins on physical gas flows. Included in the tax effects are current and deferred income tax expense corresponding with the non-GAAP measure. Also included in the tax effects during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, are the impacts of the Tax Act and resulting revaluation of the deferred income taxes that arose from derivative and hedging activity as measured under NFE. The revaluation caused the effective tax rate on reconciling items to differ from the statutory rate in effect for the quarter. NJR also calculates a quarterly tax adjustment based on an estimated annual effective tax rate for NFE purposes.
The Company's assets for the various business segments and business operations are detailed below:

(Thousands) | March 31, 2018 | September 30, 2017
Assets at end of period: |  |
Natural Gas Distribution | $ | 2,567,347 |  | $ | 2,519,578 |
Clean Energy Ventures (1) | 812,789 |  | 771,340 |
Energy Services | 366,322 |  | 398,277 |
Midstream | 227,101 |  | 232,806 |
Subtotal | 3,973,559 |  | 3,922,001 |
Home Services and Other | 107,415 |  | 114,801 |
Intercompany assets (2) | (120,234 | ) | (108,295 | )
Total | $ | 3,960,740 |  | $ | 3,928,507 |

(1) | Includes assets held for sale of $224.9 million.

(2) | Consists of transactions between subsidiaries that are eliminated and reclassified in consolidation.

32

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
14. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Effective April 1, 2010, NJNG entered into a 10-year agreement for 3 Bcf of firm storage capacity with Steckman Ridge. Under the terms of the agreement, NJNG incurs demand fees at market rates of approximately $9.3 million annually, a portion of which is eliminated in consolidation. These fees are recoverable through NJNG's BGSS mechanism and are included as a component of regulatory assets.
Energy Services may periodically enter into storage or park and loan agreements with its affiliated FERC-jurisdictional natural gas storage facility, Steckman Ridge. As of March 31, 2018, Energy Services has entered into transactions with Steckman Ridge for varying terms, all of which expire by October 31, 2020.
Demand fees, net of eliminations, associated with Steckman Ridge were as follows:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Natural Gas Distribution | $ | 1,407 |  | $ | 1,383 |  | $ | 2,855 |  | $ | 2,793 |
Energy Services | 680 |  | 689 |  | 1,381 |  | 1,390 |
Total | $ | 2,087 |  | $ | 2,072 |  | $ | 4,236 |  | $ | 4,183 |

The following table summarizes demand fees payable to Steckman Ridge as of:

(Thousands) | March 31, 2018 | September 30, 2017
Natural Gas Distribution | $ | 775 |  | $ | 775 |
Energy Services | 376 |  | 377 |
Total | $ | 1,151 |  | $ | 1,152 |

NJNG and Energy Services have entered into various asset management agreements, the effects of which are eliminated in consolidation. Under the terms of these agreements, NJNG releases certain transportation and storage contracts to Energy Services. As of March 31, 2018, NJNG and Energy Services had four asset management agreements with expiration dates ranging from February 28, 2018 through October 31, 2020.
NJNG has entered into a 15-year transportation precedent agreement for committed capacity of 180,000 Dths per day with PennEast, to commence when PennEast is in service.
15. ACQUISITION
On October 27, 2017, Adelphia, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of NJR, entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Talen pursuant to which Adelphia will acquire all of Talen’s membership interests in IEC for a base purchase price of $166 million. As additional consideration, Adelphia will pay Talen specified amounts of up to $23 million contingent upon the achievement of certain regulatory approvals and binding natural gas capacity commitments. On November 7, 2017, the Company made an initial payment of $10 million towards the base purchase price, which is included in other noncurrent assets on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
IEC owns an existing 84-mile pipeline in southeastern Pennsylvania. The transaction is expected to close following receipt of necessary permits and regulatory actions including those from the FERC and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. Upon the closing, Adelphia will acquire IEC and, with it, IEC’s existing pipeline, related assets and rights of way. Adelphia has also agreed to provide firm natural gas transportation service for ten years following the closing to two power generators owned by affiliates of Talen that are currently served by IEC.
16. DISPOSITION
On February 28, 2018, NJR sold all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of NJR Retail Services, which was a component of our Energy Services segment. The Company received $9.5 million in cash and a natural gas swap contract with a fair value of $14.6 million, which was recorded in Derivatives, at fair value on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The sale generated a pre-tax gain of $3.7 million, which was recognized as a reduction to O&M on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
33

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part II
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
Critical Accounting Policies
A summary of our critical accounting policies is included in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended September 30, 2017. Our critical accounting policies have not changed from those reported in the 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Refer to Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for discussion of recently issued accounting standards.
Management's Overview
Consolidated
NJR is an energy services holding company providing retail natural gas service in New Jersey and wholesale natural gas and related energy services to customers in the United States and Canada. In addition, we invest in clean energy projects, midstream assets and provide various repair, sales and installations services. A more detailed description of our organizational structure can be found in Item 1. Business of our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Reporting Segments
We have four primary reporting segments as presented in the chart below:
In addition to our four reporting segments, we have non-utility operations that either provide corporate support services or do not meet the criteria to be treated as a separate reporting segment. These operations, which comprise Home Services and Other, include: appliance repair services, sales and installations at NJRHS; and commercial real estate holdings at CR&R.
The Tax Act
On December 22, 2017, the President signed into law the Tax Act. The newly enacted legislation became effective January 1, 2018, and included a broad range of tax reform initiatives, including a reduction to the federal statutory corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, modification of bonus depreciation and changes to the deductibility of certain business related expenses. ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, requires the impact of changes in tax laws or tax rates to be recognized in the financial reporting period that includes that enactment date, which is the date the act is signed into law.
34

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
As a result of the change to the federal statutory corporate tax rate, we revalued our deferred tax assets and liabilities at the enactment date to reflect the rates expected to be in effect when the deferred tax assets and liabilities are realized or settled. Since these adjustments 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, the revaluation of our net deferred tax liabilities is subject to change as information and assumptions are updated.
The decrease of the net deferred tax liability at NJNG of $228.4 million, which includes $164.3 million for the revaluation of its deferred income taxes and $64.1 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 and will be refunded to ratepayers.
The decrease of our net deferred tax liability, that was recognized on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, for the remaining entities was as follows:

| Three Months Ended |  | Six Months Ended
| March 31, |  | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 |  | 2018
Income tax (benefit) provision |  |  |
Clean Energy Ventures | $ | (445 | ) |  | $ | (63,102 | )
Energy Services | (1,456 | ) |  | 7,651 |
Midstream | 185 |  |  | (13,804 | )
Home Services and Other | 749 |  |  | 10,723 |
Total | $ | (967 | ) |  | $ | (58,532 | )

On January 31, 2018, the BPU issued an order directing the New Jersey utilities to submit filings by March 2, 2018, proposing the prospective change in rates as a result of the Tax Act, the method to return to customers the rate difference from January 1, 2018 through the effective date of the rate change, and the method by which the excess deferred taxes will be returned to customers. The return to customers of the excess deferred taxes was addressed in NJNG’s filing to the BPU on March 1, 2018. See Note 3. Regulation for a more detailed discussion on the BPU order and subsequent filing.
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. See Note 11. Income Taxes for a more detailed discussion on the Tax Act.
Operating Results
Net income (loss) by reporting segment and operations are as follows:

| Three Months Ended |  | Six Months Ended
| March 31, |  | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Net income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Natural Gas Distribution | $ | 60,442 |  | 43 | % |  | $ | 60,233 |  | 52 | % |  | $ | 94,551 |  | 36 | % |  | $ | 90,581 |  | 61 | %
Clean Energy Ventures | 5,773 |  | 4 |  |  | 20,157 |  | 18 |  |  | 75,042 |  | 28 |  |  | 24,355 |  | 16 |
Energy Services | 75,810 |  | 54 |  |  | 30,032 |  | 26 |  |  | 86,930 |  | 33 |  |  | 25,242 |  | 17 |
Midstream | 1,315 |  | 1 |  |  | 4,948 |  | 4 |  |  | 18,826 |  | 7 |  |  | 7,335 |  | 5 |
Home Services and Other | (2,394 | ) | (2 | ) |  | 708 |  | 1 |  |  | (10,110 | ) | (4 | ) |  | 2,250 |  | 1 |
Eliminations (1) | (680 | ) | — |  |  | (1,376 | ) | (1 | ) |  | (1,274 | ) | — |  |  | (132 | ) | — |
Total | $ | 140,266 |  | 100 | % |  | $ | 114,702 |  | 100 | % |  | $ | 263,965 |  | 100 | % |  | $ | 149,631 |  | 100 | %

(1) | Consists of transactions between subsidiaries that are eliminated in consolidation.

The increase in net income during the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2017, was due primarily to increased operating income at Energy Services related to increases in volumes and the average price of natural gas resulting in higher market volatility, partly offset by a decrease in Clean Energy Ventures related to lower tax credits recognized. The increase in net income during the six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the six months ended March 31, 2017, was driven primarily by an income tax benefit of $58.5 million associated with the Tax Act and increased operating income at Energy Services, as previously discussed. The primary drivers of the changes noted above are described in more detail in the individual segment discussions.
35

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
Assets by reporting segment and operations are as follows:

(Thousands) | March 31, 2018 |  | September 30, 2017
Assets |  |  |  |  |
Natural Gas Distribution | $ | 2,567,347 |  | 65 | % |  | $ | 2,519,578 |  | 64 | %
Clean Energy Ventures (1) | 812,789 |  | 21 |  |  | 771,340 |  | 20 |
Energy Services | 366,322 |  | 9 |  |  | 398,277 |  | 10 |
Midstream | 227,101 |  | 6 |  |  | 232,806 |  | 6 |
Home Services and Other | 107,415 |  | 3 |  |  | 114,801 |  | 3 |
Intercompany assets (2) | (120,234 | ) | (4 | ) |  | (108,295 | ) | (3 | )
Total | $ | 3,960,740 |  | 100 | % |  | $ | 3,928,507 |  | 100 | %

(1) | Includes assets held for sale of $224.9 million.

(2) | Consists of transactions between subsidiaries that are eliminated in consolidation.

The increase in assets was due primarily to increased accounts receivable at our Natural Gas Distribution segment, as well as additional utility plant and solar expenditures, partially offset by a decrease in gas in storage and in the market value of the DM Common Units.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Our management uses NFE, a non-GAAP financial measure, when evaluating our operating results. Energy Services economically hedges its natural gas inventory with financial derivative instruments. NFE is a measure of the earnings based on eliminating timing differences surrounding the recognition of certain gains or losses, to effectively match the earnings effects of the economic hedges with the physical sale of gas and, therefore, eliminates the impact of volatility to GAAP earnings associated with the derivative instruments. There is a related tax effect on current and deferred income tax expense corresponding with this non-GAAP measure. Also included in the tax effect are the impacts of the Tax Act and resulting revaluation of the deferred income taxes that arose from derivative and hedging activity as measured under NFE. The revaluation caused the effective tax rate on reconciling items to differ from the statutory rate in effect. To the extent we utilize forwards, futures, or other derivatives to hedge forecasted SREC production, unrealized gains and losses are also eliminated for NFE purposes.
GAAP requires us, during the interim periods, to estimate our annual effective tax rate and use this rate to calculate the year-to-date tax provision. We also determine an annual estimated effective tax rate for NFE purposes and calculate a quarterly tax adjustment based on the differences between our forecasted net income and our forecasted NFE for the fiscal year. Since the annual estimated effective tax rate is based on certain forecasted assumptions, including estimates surrounding completion of Clean Energy Ventures projects, the rate and resulting NFE are subject to change. Since this adjustment is made to reflect the forecasted tax rate, no adjustment is needed at year end.
Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or a replacement of, the comparable GAAP measure and should be read in conjunction with those GAAP results. Below is a reconciliation of consolidated net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to NFE:

| Three Months Ended |  | Six Months Ended
| March 31, |  | March 31,
(Thousands, except per share data) | 2018 | 2017 |  | 2018 | 2017
Net income | $ | 140,266 |  | $ | 114,702 |  |  | $ | 263,965 |  | $ | 149,631 |
Add: |  |  |  |  |
Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments and related transactions | (11,608 | ) | (54,855 | ) |  | 23,246 |  | (26,553 | )
Tax effect | 4,716 |  | 19,679 |  |  | (3,343 | ) | 9,922 |
Effects of economic hedging related to natural gas inventory (1) | 6,125 |  | 34,328 |  |  | (19,262 | ) | 16,389 |
Tax effect | (1,715 | ) | (12,334 | ) |  | 6,529 |  | (6,130 | )
NFE tax adjustment | 4,278 |  | 2,586 |  |  | 6,260 |  | 1,230 |
Net financial earnings | $ | 142,062 |  | $ | 104,106 |  |  | $ | 277,395 |  | $ | 144,489 |
Basic earnings per share | $ | 1.60 |  | $ | 1.33 |  |  | $ | 3.02 |  | $ | 1.74 |
Add: |  |  |  |  |
Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments and related transactions | (0.13 | ) | (0.64 | ) |  | 0.27 |  | (0.31 | )
Tax effect | 0.05 |  | 0.23 |  |  | (0.04 | ) | 0.12 |
Effects of economic hedging related to natural gas inventory (1) | 0.07 |  | 0.40 |  |  | (0.22 | ) | 0.19 |
Tax effect | (0.02 | ) | (0.14 | ) |  | 0.08 |  | (0.07 | )
NFE tax adjustment | 0.05 |  | 0.03 |  |  | 0.07 |  | 0.01 |
Basic NFE per share | $ | 1.62 |  | $ | 1.21 |  |  | $ | 3.18 |  | $ | 1.68 |

(1) | Effects of hedging natural gas inventory transactions where the economic impact is realized in a future period.

36

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
NFE by reporting segment and other operations, discussed in more detail within the operating results sections of each segment, is summarized as follows:

| Three Months Ended |  | Six Months Ended
| March 31, |  | March 31,
($ in Thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Net financial earnings (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Natural Gas Distribution | $ | 60,442 |  | 43 | % |  | $ | 60,233 |  | 58 | % |  | $ | 94,551 |  | 34 | % |  | $ | 90,581 |  | 63 | %
Clean Energy Ventures | 10,051 |  | 7 |  |  | 22,743 |  | 22 |  |  | 81,301 |  | 29 |  |  | 25,585 |  | 18 |
Energy Services | 72,832 |  | 51 |  |  | 15,746 |  | 15 |  |  | 93,106 |  | 34 |  |  | 19,233 |  | 13 |
Midstream | 1,315 |  | 1 |  |  | 4,948 |  | 4 |  |  | 18,826 |  | 7 |  |  | 7,335 |  | 5 |
Home Services and Other | (2,488 | ) | (2 | ) |  | 708 |  | 1 |  |  | (10,204 | ) | (4 | ) |  | 2,250 |  | 1 |
Eliminations (1) | (90 | ) | — |  |  | (272 | ) | — |  |  | (185 | ) | — |  |  | (495 | ) | — |
Total | $ | 142,062 |  | 100 | % |  | $ | 104,106 |  | 100 | % |  | $ | 277,395 |  | 100 | % |  | $ | 144,489 |  | 100 | %

(1) | Consists of transactions between subsidiaries that are eliminated in consolidation.

The increase in NFE during the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2017, was due primarily to higher financial margin generated at Energy Services due primarily to colder weather, resulting in increased storage withdrawals due to higher demand coupled with higher volatility allowing Energy Services to capture additional margin from natural gas price spreads, partly offset by a decrease in Clean Energy Ventures related to lower tax credits recognized. The increase in NFE during the six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the six months ended March 31, 2017, was due primarily to the income tax benefit of $58.5 million associated with the Tax Act, as previously discussed, and higher financial margin generated at Energy Services, as previously discussed.
Natural Gas Distribution Segment
Overview
Our Natural Gas Distribution segment is comprised of NJNG, a natural gas utility that provides regulated retail natural gas service in central and northern New Jersey to approximately 536,900 residential and commercial customers in its service territory and also participates in the off-system sales and capacity release markets. The business is subject to various risks, which can negatively impact customer growth, operating and financing costs, fluctuations in commodity prices and customer conservation efforts. These risks include, but are not limited to, adverse economic conditions, customer usage, certain regulatory actions, environmental remediation and severe weather conditions. It is often difficult to predict the impact of events or trends associated with these risks.
In addition, NJNG's business is seasonal by nature, as weather conditions directly influence the volume of natural gas delivered to customers on an annual basis. Specifically, customer demand substantially increases during the winter months when natural gas is used for heating purposes. As a result, NJNG receives most of its natural gas distribution revenues during the first and second fiscal quarters and is subject to variations in earnings and working capital during the year.
As a regulated company, NJNG is required to recognize the impact of regulatory decisions on its financial statements. See Note 3. Regulation in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a more detailed discussion on regulatory actions, including filings related to programs and associated expenditures, as well as rate requests related to recovery of capital investments and operating costs.
NJNG's operations are managed with the goal of providing safe and reliable service, growing its customer base, diversifying its gross margin, promoting clean energy programs and mitigating the risks discussed above through several key initiatives, including:

• | earning a reasonable rate of return on the investments in its natural gas distribution and transmission businesses, as well as timely recovery of all prudently incurred costs to provide safe and reliable service throughout NJNG's territory;

• | continuing to invest in the safety and integrity of its infrastructure;

• | managing its customer growth rate, which NJNG expects will be approximately 1.7 percent annually through fiscal 2020;

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OPERATIONS (Continued)

• | maintaining a collaborative relationship with the BPU on regulatory initiatives, including:

- planning and authorization of infrastructure investments;
- utilizing BGSS incentive programs through BPU-approved mechanisms to reduce gas costs and generate margin;
- pursuing rate and regulatory strategies to stabilize and decouple margin, including CIP; and
- administering and promoting NJNG's BPU-approved SAVEGREEN Project;

• | managing the volatility of wholesale natural gas prices through a hedging program designed to keep customers' BGSS rates as stable as possible; and

• | working with the NJDEP and BPU to manage its financial obligations related to remediation activities associated with its former MGP sites.

Infrastructure projects
NJNG has significant annual capital expenditures associated with the management of its natural gas distribution and transmission system, including new utility plant associated with customer growth and its associated pipeline integrity management and infrastructure programs. Below is a summary of NJNG's capital expenditures, including accruals, for the six months ended March 31, 2018, and estimates of expected investments for fiscal 2018 and 2019:
Estimated capital expenditures are reviewed on a regular basis and may vary based on the ongoing effects of regulatory oversight, environmental regulations, unforeseen events and the ability to access capital.
SAFE and NJ RISE
NJNG continues to implement BPU-approved infrastructure projects that are designed to enhance the reliability and integrity of NJNG's gas distribution system.
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OPERATIONS (Continued)
The BPU approved recovery of SAFE I capital investments through September 30, 2016, and approved the rate mechanism and extension of SAFE II for an additional five years to replace the remaining unprotected steel mains and services from its natural gas distribution system at an estimated cost of approximately $200 million, excluding AFUDC. The accelerated cost recovery methodology for the $157.5 million associated with the extension of SAFE II was approved in NJNG’s new base rates. The remaining $42.5 million in capital expenditures will be requested for recovery in future base rate cases.
The BPU approved the recovery of NJNG's NJ RISE capital infrastructure program, which consists of six capital investment projects estimated to cost $102.5 million, excluding AFUDC, for gas distribution storm hardening and mitigation projects, along with associated depreciation expense. These system enhancements are intended to minimize service impacts during extreme weather events to customers that live in the most storm prone areas of NJNG's service territory.
On March 29, 2018, NJNG filed its annual petition with the BPU requesting a base rate increase for the recovery of NJ RISE and SAFE II capital investment costs, with a weighted cost of capital of 6.9 percent including a return on equity of 9.75 percent, related to the period ending June 30, 2018, based on estimates. NJNG is requesting a $6.9 million annual increase in recoveries, anticipated to be effective October 1, 2018.
Southern Reliability Link
The SRL is an approximate 30-mile, 30-inch transmission main designed to support improved system reliability and integrity in the southern portion of NJNG's service territory, estimated to cost between $180 million and $215 million. In January 2016, the BPU issued an order approving NJNG's modified, proposed SRL pipeline installation, operation and route selection. In March 2016, the BPU issued an order designating the SRL route and exempting the SRL from municipal land use ordinances, regulations, permits and license requirements. In February 2017, the NJDEP issued a permit authorizing construction of the SRL within the jurisdiction of the Coastal Area Facility Review Act, as well as a Freshwater Wetlands permit.
In September 2017, the NJ Pinelands Commission approved construction of the SRL as being compliant with the Commission's Comprehensive Management Plan. All approvals issued by state agencies are under appeal. Once the final road opening permits and easements are secured, construction is expected to begin, and is estimated to be in-service during 2019.
Customer growth
In conducting NJNG's business, management focuses on factors it believes may have significant influence on its future financial results. NJNG's policy is to work with all stakeholders, including customers, regulators and policymakers, to achieve favorable results. These factors include the rate of NJNG's customer growth in its service territory, which can be influenced by political and regulatory policies, the delivered cost of natural gas compared with competing fuels, interest rates and general economic and business conditions. NJNG's total customers include the following:

| March 31, 2018 | March 31, 2017
Firm customers |  |
Residential | 467,014 |  | 454,464 |
Commercial, industrial & other | 28,926 |  | 28,623 |
Residential transport | 30,815 |  | 35,019 |
Commercial transport | 10,058 |  | 9,818 |
Total firm customers | 536,813 |  | 527,924 |
Other | 58 |  | 48 |
Total customers | 536,871 |  | 527,972 |

During the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, NJNG added 4,656 and 4,130 new customers and converted 324 and 406 existing customers to natural gas heat and other services. NJNG expects these new customer additions, and those customers who added additional natural gas services to their premises to contribute approximately $2.8 million annually to utility gross margin.
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OPERATIONS (Continued)
In addition, NJNG currently expects to add approximately 26,000 to 28,000 new customers during the three-year period of fiscal 2018 to 2020. Based on information from municipalities and developers, as well as external industry analysts and management's experience, NJNG estimates that approximately 65 percent of the growth will come from new construction markets and 35 percent from customer conversions to natural gas from other fuel sources. This new customer and conversion growth would increase utility gross margin under NJNG's base rates by approximately $5.3 million annually, as calculated under NJNG's CIP tariff. See the Natural Gas Distribution Segment Operating Results section of Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations that follows for a definition and further discussion of utility gross margin.
SAVEGREEN
SAVEGREEN conducts home energy audits and provides various grants, incentives and financing alternatives, which are designed to encourage the installation of high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment and other energy-efficiency upgrades. Depending on the specific incentive or approval, NJNG recovers costs associated with the programs over a two to 10-year period through a tariff rider mechanism.
Since inception, $155.9 million in grants, rebates and loans has been provided to customers, with a total annual recovery of approximately $20 million. In June 2016, the BPU approved NJNG's extension of SAVEGREEN through December 31, 2018. In October 2016, the BPU approved NJNG’s filing to maintain the existing SAVEGREEN recovery rate. On October 20, 2017, the BPU approved NJNG's filing to decrease its EE recovery rate, which would result in an annual decrease of $3.9 million, effective November 1, 2017. The recovery includes a weighted average cost of capital that ranges from 6.69 percent to 7.76 percent, with a return on equity of 9.75 percent to 10.3 percent.
On March 28, 2018, NJNG filed a petition with the BPU requesting continuation of existing SAVEGREEN programs and the addition of new programs through December 2024, with investments totaling approximately $341 million.
Conservation Incentive Program
The CIP facilitates normalizing NJNG's utility gross margin for variances not only due to weather but also for other factors affecting customer usage, such as conservation and energy efficiency. Recovery of utility gross margin for the non-weather variance through the CIP is limited to the amount of certain gas supply cost savings achieved and is subject to a variable margin revenue test. Additionally, recovery of the CIP utility gross margin is subject to an annual earnings test. An annual review of the CIP must be filed by June 1, coincident with NJNG's annual BGSS filing, during which NJNG can request rate changes to the CIP. In May 2014, the BPU approved the continuation of the CIP program with no expiration date. In September 2016, the BPU approved NJNG's filing to increase its CIP rates by $43.9 million annually, effective October 2016. On March 26, 2018, the BPU approved NJNG's petition to decrease its CIP rates, by $16.2 million annually, effective October 1, 2017.
NJNG's total utility firm gross margin includes the following adjustments related to the CIP mechanism:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Weather (1) | $ | 3,245 |  | $ | 12,943 |  | $ | 1,877 |  | $ | 15,928 |
Usage | (2,113 | ) | (575 | ) | (1,471 | ) | (700 | )
Total | $ | 1,132 |  | $ | 12,368 |  | $ | 406 |  | $ | 15,228 |

(1) | Compared with the CIP 20-year average, weather was 1.5 percent and 11.1 percent warmer-than-normal during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and 0.9 percent and 9 percent warmer-than-normal during the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

As of March 31, 2018, NJNG had $229,000 in regulatory liabilities related to CIP to be returned to customers in future periods on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of September 30, 2017, NJNG had $17.7 million in regulatory assets related to CIP to be collected from customers in future periods on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
Commodity prices
Our Natural Gas Distribution segment is affected by the price of natural gas, which can have a significant impact on our cash flows, short-term financing costs, the price of natural gas charged to our customers through the BGSS clause, our ability to collect accounts receivable, which impacts our bad debt expense, and our ability to maintain a competitive advantage over other fuel sources. Natural gas commodity prices may experience high volatility as shown in the graph below, which illustrates the daily natural gas prices(1) in the Northeast market region, also known as Tetco M-3.
(1) Data source from Platts, a division of McGraw Hill Financial.
The maximum daily price was $94.93 and $8.71 and the minimum daily price was $0.53 and $0.36 for the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. A more detailed discussion of the impacts of the price of natural gas on operating revenues, gas purchases and cash flows can be found in the Results of Operations and Cash Flow sections of Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
BGSS
Recovery of natural gas costs
NJNG's cost of natural gas is passed through to our customers, without markup, by applying NJNG's authorized BGSS rate to actual therms delivered. There is no utility gross margin associated with BGSS costs; therefore, changes in such costs do not impact NJNG's earnings. NJNG monitors its actual gas costs in comparison to its BGSS rates to manage its cash flows associated with its allowed recovery of natural gas costs, which is facilitated through BPU-approved deferred accounting and the BGSS pricing mechanism. Accordingly, NJNG occasionally adjusts its periodic BGSS rates or can issue credits or refunds, as appropriate, for its residential and small commercial customers when the commodity cost varies from the existing BGSS rate. BGSS rates for its large commercial customers are adjusted monthly based on NYMEX prices.
On March 26, 2018, the BPU approved maintaining NJNG's BGSS rate for residential and small commercial customers and an increase to its balancing charge rate, which resulted in a $3.7 million increase to the annual revenues credited to BGSS that was effective October 1, 2017. The balancing charge rate includes the cost of balancing natural gas deliveries with customer usage for sales and transportation customers and balancing charge revenues are credited to BGSS. During the six months ended March 31, 2017, NJNG issued bill credits of $42 million as a result of a decline in the wholesale price of natural gas. There were no bill credits issued during the six months ended March 31, 2018.
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OPERATIONS (Continued)
BGSS Incentive Programs
NJNG is eligible to receive financial incentives for reducing BGSS costs through a series of utility gross margin-sharing programs that include off-system sales, capacity release and storage incentive programs. These programs are designed to encourage better utilization and hedging of its natural gas supply, transportation and storage assets. Depending on the program, NJNG shares 80 or 85 percent of utility gross margin generated by these programs with firm customers. Should performance of the existing incentives or market conditions warrant, NJNG is permitted to propose a process to re-evaluate and discuss alternative incentive programs annually. Utility gross margin from incentive programs was $6.8 million and $6.7 million during the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. A more detailed discussion of the impacts to utility gross margin can be found in the Natural Gas Distribution Operating Results section of Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Hedging
In order to provide relative price stability to its natural gas supply portfolio, NJNG employs a hedging strategy with the goal of having at least 75 percent of the Company's projected winter periodic BGSS gas sales volumes hedged by each November 1 and at least 25 percent of the projected BGSS gas sales hedged for the following April through March period. This is accomplished with the use of various financial instruments including futures, swaps and options used in conjunction with commodity and/or weather-related hedging activity.
Due to the capital-intensive nature of NJNG's operations, significant changes in interest rates can impact NJNG's results. In June 2015, NJNG entered into a treasury lock transaction to fix a benchmark treasury rate of 3.26 percent associated with the forecasted $125 million debt issuance expected in May 2018. This forecasted debt issuance coincides with the maturity of NJNG's existing $125 million, 5.6 percent notes due May 15, 2018. This treasury lock was settled on March 13, 2018. The resulting $2.6 million loss is recorded as a component of regulatory assets on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and will be amortized over the life of the May 2018 debt issuance.
A more detailed discussion of NJNG's debt can be found in the Liquidity and Capital Resources and Cash Flow sections of Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Societal Benefits Charge
USF
NJNG's qualifying customers are eligible for the USF program, which is administered by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, to help make energy bills more affordable. In September 2017, the BPU approved NJNG's annual USF compliance filing to decrease the statewide USF rate, which will result in a $2.6 million annual decrease, effective October 1, 2017.
Environmental Remediation
NJNG is responsible for the environmental remediation of five MGP sites, which contain contaminated residues from former gas manufacturing operations that ceased operating at these sites by the mid-1950s and, in some cases, had been discontinued many years earlier. Actual MGP remediation costs may vary from management's estimates due to the developing nature of remediation requirements, regulatory decisions by the NJDEP and related litigation. NJNG reviews these costs at the end of each fiscal year and adjusts its liability and corresponding regulatory asset as necessary to reflect its expected future remediation obligation. Accordingly, NJNG recognized a regulatory asset and an obligation of $142.5 million as of March 31, 2018, a decrease of $6.5 million, compared with September 30, 2017.
Other regulatory filings and a more detailed discussion of the filings in this section can be found in Note 3. Regulation in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
Operating Results
NJNG's operating results are as follows:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Operating revenues | $ | 317,064 |  | $ | 295,546 |  | $ | 526,851 |  | $ | 481,102 |
Operating expenses |  |  |  |
Gas purchases (1) | 141,988 |  | 115,723 |  | 226,743 |  | 179,909 |
Operation and maintenance | 39,259 |  | 33,768 |  | 74,650 |  | 66,986 |
Regulatory rider expense | 19,604 |  | 19,893 |  | 31,373 |  | 32,494 |
Depreciation and amortization | 13,353 |  | 12,263 |  | 26,136 |  | 24,293 |
Energy and other taxes | 19,263 |  | 17,938 |  | 33,013 |  | 30,087 |
Total operating expenses | 233,467 |  | 199,585 |  | 391,915 |  | 333,769 |
Operating income | 83,597 |  | 95,961 |  | 134,936 |  | 147,333 |
Other income, net | 1,359 |  | 1,163 |  | 2,369 |  | 1,850 |
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest | 6,523 |  | 6,392 |  | 13,059 |  | 13,216 |
Income tax provision | 17,991 |  | 30,499 |  | 29,695 |  | 45,386 |
Net income | $ | 60,442 |  | $ | 60,233 |  | $ | 94,551 |  | $ | 90,581 |

(1) | Includes related party transactions of approximately $45.4 million and $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $52.6 million and $6.1 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, the majority of which is eliminated in consolidation.

Operating Revenues and Gas Purchases
During the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2017, operating revenues and gas purchases increased by 7.3 percent and 22.7 percent, respectively. During the six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the six months ended March 31, 2017, operating revenues and gas purchases increased by 9.5 percent and 26 percent, respectively. The factors contributing to the increases (decreases) in operating revenues and gas purchases are as follows:

| Three Months Ended |  | Six Months Ended
| March 31, |  | March 31,
| 2018 v. 2017 |  | 2018 v. 2017
(Thousands) | Operating revenues | Gas purchases |  | Operating revenues | Gas purchases
Bill credits (1) | $ | 22,711 |  | $ | 21,260 |  |  | $ | 41,971 |  | $ | 39,261 |
Firm sales | 27,785 |  | 10,184 |  |  | 38,878 |  | 14,990 |
NJ RISE/SAFE II | 2,315 |  | — |  |  | 3,763 |  | — |
Average BGSS rates (2) | (312 | ) | (121 | ) |  | 743 |  | 950 |
CIP adjustments | (11,236 | ) | — |  |  | (14,821 | ) | — |
Tax Act refunds | (9,359 | ) | — |  |  | (9,359 | ) | — |
Off-system sales | (1,553 | ) | (1,627 | ) |  | (4,253 | ) | (4,682 | )
Other (3) | (8,833 | ) | (3,431 | ) |  | (11,173 | ) | (3,685 | )
Total increase | $ | 21,518 |  | $ | 26,265 |  |  | $ | 45,749 |  | $ | 46,834 |

(1) | Operating revenues includes changes in sales tax of $1.5 million and $2.7 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, respectively.

(2) | Operating revenues includes changes in sales tax of $191,000 and $207,000 during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, respectively.

(3) | Other includes changes in rider rates, including those related to NJCEP and other programs.

The increases in operating revenues and gas purchases during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017 were due primarily to:

• | bill credits issued to residential and small commercial customers during fiscal 2017 that did not occur in fiscal 2018;

• | increased firm sales due primarily to customer growth and higher usage related to weather being 8.4 percent colder; partially offset by

• | a decrease in CIP due primarily to weather being colder than normal during December 2017 and January 2018;

• | refunds related to the Tax Act; and

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OPERATIONS (Continued)

• | lower off-system sales due primarily to reduction in volumes of 19.4 percent, partially offset by an increase of 15.9 percent in the average price of gas sold.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Management uses utility gross margin, a non-GAAP financial measure, when evaluating the operating results of NJNG. NJNG's utility gross margin is defined as natural gas revenues less natural gas purchases, sales tax, and regulatory rider expenses, and may not be comparable to the definition of gross margin used by others in the natural gas distribution business and other industries. Management believes that utility gross margin provides a meaningful basis for evaluating utility operations since natural gas costs, sales tax and regulatory rider expenses are included in operating revenue and passed through to customers and, therefore, have no effect on utility gross margin. Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the comparable GAAP measure.
Utility Gross Margin
A reconciliation of operating revenues, the closest GAAP financial measure, to NJNG's utility gross margin is as follows:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Operating revenues | $ | 317,064 |  | $ | 295,546 |  | $ | 526,851 |  | $ | 481,102 |
Less: |  |  |  |
Gas purchases | 141,988 |  | 115,723 |  | 226,743 |  | 179,909 |
Energy taxes (1) | 17,873 |  | 16,706 |  | 30,277 |  | 27,588 |
Regulatory rider expense | 19,604 |  | 19,893 |  | 31,373 |  | 32,494 |
Utility gross margin | $ | 137,599 |  | $ | 143,224 |  | $ | 238,458 |  | $ | 241,111 |

(1) | Energy taxes includes only sales tax on operating revenues, excluding tax-exempt sales.

Utility gross margin consists of three components:

• | utility firm gross margin generated from only the delivery component of either a sales tariff or a transportation tariff from residential and commercial customers who receive natural gas service from NJNG;

• | BGSS incentive programs, where revenues generated or savings achieved from BPU-approved off-system sales, capacity release or storage incentive programs are shared between customers and NJNG; and

• | utility gross margin generated from off-tariff customers, as well as interruptible customers.

The following provides more information on the components of utility gross margin and associated throughput (Bcf) of natural gas delivered to customers:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
| 2018 |  | 2017 | 2018 |  | 2017
($ in thousands) | Margin | Bcf |  | Margin | Bcf | Margin | Bcf |  | Margin | Bcf
Utility gross margin/throughput |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Residential | $ | 94,555 |  | 22.5 |  |  | $ | 96,599 |  | 19.7 |  | $ | 159,290 |  | 36.1 |  |  | $ | 159,097 |  | 32.3 |
Commercial, industrial and other | 19,230 |  | 4.2 |  |  | 21,119 |  | 4.4 |  | 33,148 |  | 6.8 |  |  | 34,815 |  | 6.8 |
Firm transportation | 20,177 |  | 6.6 |  |  | 21,165 |  | 5.6 |  | 36,437 |  | 11.2 |  |  | 37,450 |  | 10.1 |
Total utility firm gross margin/throughput | 133,962 |  | 33.3 |  |  | 138,883 |  | 29.7 |  | 228,875 |  | 54.1 |  |  | 231,362 |  | 49.2 |
BGSS incentive programs | 2,360 |  | 36.7 |  |  | 2,924 |  | 42.5 |  | 6,795 |  | 75.4 |  |  | 6,708 |  | 86.1 |
Interruptible/off-tariff agreements | 1,277 |  | 8.5 |  |  | 1,417 |  | 11.6 |  | 2,788 |  | 18.4 |  |  | 3,041 |  | 24.9 |
Total utility gross margin/throughput | $ | 137,599 |  | 78.5 |  |  | $ | 143,224 |  | 83.8 |  | $ | 238,458 |  | 147.9 |  |  | $ | 241,111 |  | 160.2 |

Utility Firm Gross Margin
Utility firm gross margin decreased $4.9 million and $2.5 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to the NJ RISE/SAFE II rate impact and refunds related to the Tax Act, partially offset by customer growth.
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
BGSS Incentive Programs
The factors contributing to the change in utility gross margin generated by BGSS incentive programs are as follows:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 v. 2017 | 2018 v. 2017
Off-system sales |  | $ | 74 |  |  |  | $ | 429 |  |
Capacity release |  | 230 |  |  |  | 226 |  |
Storage |  | (869 | ) |  |  | (568 | ) |
Total (decrease) increase |  | $ | (565 | ) |  |  | $ | 87 |  |

The decrease during the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2017, was due primarily to fewer market opportunities for the storage incentive program, partially offset by an increase in capacity release values. The increase during the six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the six months ended March 31, 2017, was due primarily to an increase in capacity values contributing to increased margins in off-system sales and capacity release, partially offset by a decrease in storage incentive as discussed above.
Operation and Maintenance Expense
The factors contributing to the increases in O&M expense is as follows:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 v. 2017 | 2018 v. 2017
Compensation and benefits |  | $ | 1,744 |  |  |  | $ | 2,833 |  |
Consulting and legal |  | 1,959 |  |  |  | 2,477 |  |
Shared corporate costs |  | 1,097 |  |  |  | 811 |  |
Donations |  | 54 |  |  |  | 779 |  |
Bad debt |  | 42 |  |  |  | 318 |  |
Other |  | 595 |  |  |  | 446 |  |
Total increase |  | $ | 5,491 |  |  |  | $ | 7,664 |  |

The increase in O&M expense during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, was due primarily to higher compensation costs due primarily to increases in headcount and healthcare premiums, consulting and legal expenses.
Depreciation Expense
Depreciation expense increased $1.1 million and $1.8 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, as a result of additional utility plant being placed into service.
Income Tax Provision
Income tax provision decreased $12.5 million and $15.7 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to the decrease in the effective tax rate as a result of the new tax legislation.
Net Income
Net income increased $209,000 and $4 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to the decrease in the income tax provision, partially offset by decreased operating income, as discussed above.
Clean Energy Ventures Segment
Overview
Our Clean Energy Ventures segment actively pursues opportunities in the clean energy markets. Clean Energy Ventures has entered into various agreements to install solar net-metered systems for residential and commercial customers, as well as large
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
commercial grid-connected projects. In addition, Clean Energy Ventures has entered into various long-term agreements, including PPAs, to supply energy from wind and solar projects.
The primary contributors toward the value of qualifying clean energy projects are tax incentives and SRECs. Changes in the federal statutes related to the ITC or PTC or in the marketplace and/or relevant legislation surrounding renewable clean energy credits, could significantly affect future results.
Solar
Since inception, Clean Energy Ventures has constructed a total of 192.7 MW of solar capacity and has an additional 43.5 MW under construction. Projects that are placed in service through December 31, 2019, qualify for a 30-percent federal ITC. The credit will decline to 26 percent for property under construction during 2020 and to 22 percent for property under construction during 2021. The ITC will be reduced to 10 percent for any property that is under construction before 2022, but not placed in service before 2024.
We estimate total solar-related capital expenditures for projects during fiscal 2018 to be between $132 million and $145 million. There were no commercial projects placed into service during the six months ended March 31, 2018 or 2017.
During fiscal 2017, Clean Energy Ventures entered into sale-leaseback arrangements for two of its commercial solar projects, by which the ITCs and other tax benefits associated with these solar projects were transferred to the buyer. Clean Energy Ventures expects to utilize sale-leaseback arrangements, based on market conditions, as an option to finance its commercial solar projects during fiscal 2018.
As part of its solar investment portfolio, Clean Energy Ventures operates a residential solar program, The Sunlight Advantage®, that provides qualifying homeowners the opportunity to have a solar system installed at their home with no installation or maintenance expenses. Clean Energy Ventures owns, operates and maintains the system over the life of the contract in exchange for monthly lease payments. Clean Energy Ventures' residential solar leasing program installed approximately 1.8 MW of capacity on 200 homes and 3.5 MW of capacity on 374 homes during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and 3.6 MW of capacity on 391 homes and 6.3 MW of capacity on 688 homes during the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Once a solar installation has received the proper certifications and commences operations, each MWh of electricity produced creates an SREC that represents the renewable energy attribute of the solar-electricity generated that can be sold to third parties, predominantly load-serving entities that are required to comply with the solar requirements under New Jersey's renewable portfolio standard. SREC activity consisted of the following:

| Six Months Ended
| March 31,
| 2018 | 2017
Inventory balance as of October 1, | 48,357 |  | 24,135 |
SRECs generated | 88,056 |  | 69,436 |
SRECs delivered | (55,680 | ) | (42,669 | )
Inventory balance as of March 31, | 80,733 |  | 50,902 |

During the six months ended March 31, 2018, SRECs generated increased inventory by 26.8 percent, compared with the six months ended March 31, 2017, and the average SREC sales price was $221 and $223 during the six months ended March 31, 2018, and 2017, respectively.
Clean Energy Ventures hedges a portion of its expected SREC production through the use of forward sales contracts. The following table reflects the hedged percentage of SREC inventory and projected SREC production related to its in-service commercial and residential assets:

Energy Year (1) | Percent of SRECs Hedged
2018 | 94%
2019 | 82%
2020 | 67%
2021 | 32%

(1) | Energy years are compliance periods for New Jersey's renewable portfolio standard that run from June 1 to May 31.

46

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
There are no direct costs associated with the production of SRECs/RECs by our solar and wind assets. All related costs are included as a component of O&M expenses on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, including such expenses as facility maintenance and various fees.
Onshore Wind
Clean Energy Ventures has invested in small to mid-size onshore wind projects that fit its investment profile and had a total of 126.6 MW of wind capacity as of March 31, 2018. The wind projects are eligible for PTCs for a 10-year period following commencement of operations and have PPAs of various terms in place, which typically govern the sale of energy, capacity and/or renewable energy credits.
On March 2, 2018, Clean Energy Ventures entered into an agreement with NorthWestern Energy to sell its membership interest in its 9.7 MW wind farm in Two Dot, Montana for a total purchase price of $18.5 million and submitted a joint filing for authorization with FERC. The transaction is expected to close following FERC approval. The Company expects the transaction to generate a pre-tax gain of approximately $1 million, which will be recognized as a reduction to O&M on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
In March 2018, Clean Energy Ventures committed to a plan to pursue the sale of its remaining wind assets and it is probable that these sales will be completed within the next 12 months. Accordingly, the Company classified its wind assets and related liabilities as held for sale, as of March 31, 2018, on Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Operating Results
Clean Energy Ventures’ financial results are summarized as follows:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Operating revenues | $ | 12,866 |  | $ | 12,943 |  | $ | 26,862 |  | $ | 20,510 |
Operating expenses |  |  |  |
Operation and maintenance | 6,301 |  | 6,145 |  | 11,493 |  | 10,549 |
Depreciation and amortization | 8,928 |  | 7,923 |  | 17,863 |  | 14,964 |
Other taxes | 265 |  | 234 |  | 669 |  | 649 |
Total operating expenses | 15,494 |  | 14,302 |  | 30,025 |  | 26,162 |
Operating loss | (2,628 | ) | (1,359 | ) | (3,163 | ) | (5,652 | )
Other income, net | 23 |  | 815 |  | 47 |  | 743 |
Interest expense, net | 4,344 |  | 4,055 |  | 8,552 |  | 7,379 |
Income tax benefit | (12,722 | ) | (24,756 | ) | (86,710 | ) | (36,643 | )
Net income | $ | 5,773 |  | $ | 20,157 |  | $ | 75,042 |  | $ | 24,355 |

Operating Revenues
Operating revenues remained relatively flat during the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2017. Operating revenues increased $6.4 million during the six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to higher SREC sales and increased electricity sales from wind and solar assets.
Operation and Maintenance Expense
O&M expense increased $156,000 and $944,000 during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to increased consulting expenses, as well as additional maintenance costs associated with wind and solar assets.
Depreciation Expense
Depreciation expense increased $1 million and $2.9 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, as a result of increases in solar capital additions.
47

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
Income Tax (Benefit)
Income tax benefit decreased $12 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to a decrease in tax credits recognized. Income tax benefit increased $50.1 million during the six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to an income tax benefit of $63.1 million associated with the Tax Act, which was caused by a revaluation of the deferred tax liability related to the book versus tax differences in depreciation calculated on property related items, partially offset by lower tax credits, as discussed above.
Net Income
Net income decreased $14.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to the decreased income tax benefit, as previously discussed. Net income increased $50.7 million during the six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to the increased income tax benefit, as previously discussed.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Management of the Company uses NFE, a non-GAAP financial measure, when evaluating the operating results of Clean Energy Ventures. GAAP requires us, during the interim periods, to estimate our annual effective tax rate and use this rate to calculate the year-to-date tax provision. We also determine an annual estimated effective tax rate for NFE purposes and calculate a quarterly tax adjustment based on the differences between our forecasted net income and our forecasted NFE for the fiscal year. This adjustment is applied to Clean Energy Ventures, as such adjustment is primarily related to tax credits generated by Clean Energy Ventures. Since this adjustment is made to reflect the forecasted tax rate, no adjustment is needed at year end. Accordingly, for NFE purposes, the annual estimated effective tax rate for fiscal 2018 is 15.3 percent and 12.7 percent for fiscal 2017.
Since the annual estimated effective tax rate is based on certain forecasted assumptions, including estimates surrounding completion of projects, the rate and resulting NFE are subject to change. The details of such tax adjustments can be found in the table below. Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to GAAP, and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for the comparable GAAP measure. A reconciliation of Clean Energy Ventures' net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to NFE is as follows:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Net income | $ | 5,773 |  | $ | 20,157 |  | $ | 75,042 |  | $ | 24,355 |
Add: |  |  |  |
Net income to NFE tax adjustment | 4,278 |  | 2,586 |  | 6,259 |  | 1,230 |
Net financial earnings | $ | 10,051 |  | $ | 22,743 |  | $ | 81,301 |  | $ | 25,585 |

Energy Services Segment
Overview
Energy Services markets and sells natural gas to wholesale customers and manages natural gas storage and transportation assets throughout major market areas across North America. Energy Services maintains a strategic portfolio of natural gas storage and transportation contracts that it utilizes in conjunction with its market expertise to provide service and value to its customers. Availability of these storage and transportation contracts allows Energy Services to generate market opportunities by capturing price differentials over specific time horizons and between geographic market locations.
Energy Services also provides management of storage and transportation assets for natural gas producers and regulated utilities. These management transactions typically involve the release of producer/utility owned storage and/or transportation capacity in combination with either an obligation to purchase and/or deliver physical natural gas. In addition to the contractual purchase and/or sale of physical natural gas, Energy Services generates or pays fee-based margin in exchange for its active management and may provide the producer and/or utility with additional margin based on actual results.
48

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
In conjunction with the active management of these contracts, Energy Services generates financial margin by identifying market opportunities and simultaneously entering into natural gas purchase/sale, storage or transportation contracts and financial derivative contracts. In cases where storage is utilized to fulfill these contracts, these forecast sales and/or purchases are economically hedged through the use of financial derivative contracts. The financial derivative contracts consist primarily of exchange-traded futures, options and swap contracts, and are frequently used to lock in anticipated transactional cash flows and to help manage volatility in natural gas market prices. Generally, when its storage and transportation contracts are exposed to periods of increased market volatility, Energy Services is able to implement strategies that allow them to capture margin by improving the respective time or geographic spreads on a forward basis.
In July 2017, Energy Services acquired certain retail and wholesale natural gas energy contract assets from Talen. The acquisition included sales agreements with large commercial and industrial retail customers in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, pipeline and storage capacity agreements on various pipelines and various wholesale transportation contracts. On February 28, 2018, NJR sold all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of NJR Retail Services, which was a component of our Energy Services segment. The Company received $9.5 million in cash and an natural gas swap contract with an gain at inception of $14.6 million. The sale generated a pre-tax gain of $3.7 million, which was recognized as a reduction to O&M on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Energy Services accounts for its physical commodity contracts and its financial derivative instruments at fair value on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in the fair value of physical commodity contracts and financial derivative instruments are included in earnings as a component of operating revenue or gas purchases on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Volatility in reported net income at Energy Services can occur over periods of time due to changes in the fair value of derivatives, as well as timing differences related to certain transactions. Unrealized gains and losses can fluctuate as a result of changes in the price of natural gas, SRECs and foreign currency from the original transaction price. Volatility in earnings can also occur as a result of timing differences between the settlement of financial derivatives and the sale of the underlying physical commodity. For example, when a financial instrument settles and the physical natural gas is injected into inventory, the realized gains and losses associated with the financial instrument are recognized in earnings. However, the gains and losses associated with the physical natural gas are not recognized in earnings until the natural gas inventory is withdrawn from storage and sold, at which time Energy Services realizes the entire margin on the transaction.
Operating Results
Energy Services’ financial results are summarized as follows:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Operating revenues (1) | $ | 725,313 |  | $ | 420,287 |  | $ | 1,203,294 |  | $ | 757,468 |
Operating expenses |  |  |  |
Gas purchases (including demand charges (2)(3)) | 622,347 |  | 368,482 |  | 1,068,557 |  | 707,569 |
Operation and maintenance | 1,060 |  | 4,451 |  | 5,480 |  | 9,469 |
Depreciation and amortization | 15 |  | 17 |  | 29 |  | 33 |
Other taxes | 1,019 |  | 312 |  | 2,236 |  | 767 |
Total operating expenses | 624,441 |  | 373,262 |  | 1,076,302 |  | 717,838 |
Operating income | 100,872 |  | 47,025 |  | 126,992 |  | 39,630 |
Other income | 106 |  | — |  | 106 |  | — |
Interest expense, net | 1,203 |  | 716 |  | 2,460 |  | 1,287 |
Income tax provision | 23,965 |  | 16,277 |  | 37,708 |  | 13,101 |
Net income | $ | 75,810 |  | $ | 30,032 |  | $ | 86,930 |  | $ | 25,242 |

(1) | Includes related party transactions of approximately $43.8 million and $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and$49.6 million and $930,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, which is eliminated in consolidation.

(2) | Costs associated with pipeline and storage capacity that are expensed over the term of the related contracts, which generally varies from less than one year to ten years.

(3) | Includes related party transactions of approximately $1.1 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and$2.3 million and $2.3 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, a portion of which is eliminated in consolidation.

49

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
Energy Services' portfolio of financial derivative instruments are composed of:

| Six Months Ended
| March 31,
(in Bcf) | 2018 | 2017
Net short futures contracts | 38.4 |  | 64.2 |

Operating Revenues and Gas Purchases
Operating revenues increased $305 million and $445.8 million and gas purchases increased $253.9 million and $361 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, respectively, due primarily to higher market volatility generating higher gas prices due to colder weather in December 2017 and January 2018.
Future results at Energy Services are contingent upon natural gas market price volatility driven by variations in both the supply and demand balances caused by weather and other factors. As a result, variations in weather patterns in the key market areas served may affect earnings during the fiscal year. Changes in market fundamentals such as an increase in supply and decrease in demand due to milder temperatures, and reduced volatility can negatively impact Energy Services' earnings. See Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Natural Gas Distribution Segment for Tetco M-3 Daily Prices, which illustrates the daily natural gas prices in the Northeast market region.
Operation and Maintenance Expense
O&M expense decreased $3.4 million and $4 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to a pre-tax gain of $3.7 million, associated with the sale of NJR Retail Services.
Income Tax Provision
Income tax provision increased $7.7 million and $24.6 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to increased operating income and income tax expense associated of $7.7 million related to the revaluation of deferred tax assets due to the Tax Act, partially offset by the lower effective tax rate as a result of the new tax legislation.
Net Income
Net income increased $45.8 million and $61.7 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to the increase in operating income, partially offset by an increase in income tax expense, as previously discussed.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Management uses financial margin and NFE, non-GAAP financial measures, when evaluating the operating results of Energy Services. Financial margin and NFE are based on removing timing differences associated with certain derivative instruments, as discussed above. There is a related tax effect on current and deferred income tax expense corresponding with NFE. Also included in the tax effect are the impacts of the Tax Act and resulting revaluation of the deferred income taxes that arose from derivative and hedging activity as measured under NFE. The revaluation caused the effective tax rate on reconciling items to differ from the statutory rate in effect for the quarter.
Management views these measures as representative of the overall expected economic result and uses these measures to compare Energy Services' results against established benchmarks and earnings targets as these measures eliminate the impact of volatility on GAAP earnings as a result of timing differences associated with the settlement of derivative instruments. To the extent that there are unanticipated impacts from changes in the market value related to the effectiveness of economic hedges, Energy Services' actual non-GAAP results can differ from the results anticipated at the outset of the transaction. Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the comparable GAAP measure.
When Energy Services reconciles the most directly comparable GAAP measure to both financial margin and NFE, the current period unrealized gains and losses on derivatives are excluded as a reconciling item. Financial margin and NFE also exclude the effects of economic hedging of the value of our natural gas in storage and, therefore, only include realized gains and losses related to natural gas withdrawn from storage, effectively matching the full earnings effects of the derivatives with realized margins on the related physical gas flows.
50

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
Financial Margin
The following table is a computation of Energy Services' financial margin:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Operating revenues (1) | $ | 725,313 |  | $ | 420,287 |  | $ | 1,203,294 |  | $ | 757,468 |
Less: Gas purchases | 622,347 |  | 368,482 |  | 1,068,557 |  | 707,569 |
Add: |  |  |  |
Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments and related transactions | (12,249 | ) | (56,581 | ) | 21,624 |  | (25,989 | )
Effects of economic hedging related to natural gas inventory (2) | 6,125 |  | 34,328 |  | (19,262 | ) | 16,389 |
Financial margin | $ | 96,842 |  | $ | 29,552 |  | $ | 137,099 |  | $ | 40,299 |

(1) | Includes unrealized (gains) related to an intercompany transaction between NJNG and Energy Services that have been eliminated in consolidation of approximately $762,000 and $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $1.7 million and $(564,000) for the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

(2) | Effects of hedging natural gas inventory transactions where the economic impact is realized in a future period.

A reconciliation of operating income, the closest GAAP financial measure, to Energy Services' financial margin is as follows:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Operating income | $ | 100,872 |  | $ | 47,025 |  | $ | 126,992 |  | $ | 39,630 |
Add: |  |  |  |
Operation and maintenance | 1,060 |  | 4,451 |  | 5,480 |  | 9,469 |
Depreciation and amortization | 15 |  | 17 |  | 29 |  | 33 |
Other taxes | 1,019 |  | 312 |  | 2,236 |  | 767 |
Subtotal | 102,966 |  | 51,805 |  | 134,737 |  | 49,899 |
Add: |  |  |  |
Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments and related transactions | (12,249 | ) | (56,581 | ) | 21,624 |  | (25,989 | )
Effects of economic hedging related to natural gas inventory | 6,125 |  | 34,328 |  | (19,262 | ) | 16,389 |
Financial margin | $ | 96,842 |  | $ | 29,552 |  | $ | 137,099 |  | $ | 40,299 |

Financial margin increased $67.3 million and $96.8 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to colder weather, resulting in increased storage withdrawals due to higher demand coupled with higher volatility allowing Energy Services to capture additional margin from natural gas price spreads.
Net Financial Earnings
A reconciliation of Energy Services' net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to NFE is as follows:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Net income | $ | 75,810 |  | $ | 30,032 |  | $ | 86,930 |  | $ | 25,242 |
Add: |  |  |  |
Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments and related transactions | (12,249 | ) | (56,581 | ) | 21,624 |  | (25,989 | )
Tax effect (1) | 4,861 |  | 20,301 |  | (2,715 | ) | 9,721 |
Effects of economic hedging related to natural gas inventory | 6,125 |  | 34,328 |  | (19,262 | ) | 16,389 |
Tax effect | (1,715 | ) | (12,334 | ) | 6,529 |  | (6,130 | )
Net financial earnings | $ | 72,832 |  | $ | 15,746 |  | $ | 93,106 |  | $ | 19,233 |

(1) | Includes taxes related to an intercompany transaction between NJNG and Energy Services that have been eliminated in consolidation of approximately $(172,000) and $622,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $(654,000) and $201,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

51

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
NFE increased $57.1 million and $73.9 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to higher financial margin, partially offset by an an income tax expense of $7.7 million associated with the Tax Act, as previously discussed.
Future results are subject to Energy Services' ability to expand its wholesale sales and service activities and are contingent upon many other factors, including an adequate number of appropriate and credit qualified counterparties in an active and liquid natural marketplace, volatility in the natural gas market due to weather or other fundamental market factors impacting supply and/or demand, transportation, storage and/or other market arbitrage opportunities, sufficient liquidity in the overall energy trading market, and continued access to liquidity in the capital markets.
Midstream Segment
Overview
Our Midstream segment invests in natural gas assets, such as natural gas transportation and storage facilities. We believe that acquiring, owning and developing these midstream assets, which operate under a tariff structure that has either regulated or market-based rates, can provide us a growth opportunity. To that end, we have a 50 percent ownership interest in Steckman Ridge, a storage facility that operates under market-based rates and a 20 percent ownership interest in PennEast, a natural gas pipeline. PennEast received a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the project from FERC on January 19, 2018. PennEast has advised that it currently expects the pipeline to be completed and operational in 2019. However, the project could be delayed beyond 2019, due to factors beyond PennEast’s ability to control or estimate precisely, including potential delays in obtaining (or the inability to obtain) governmental and regulatory approvals and land-use rights, and unforeseen construction delays. As of March 31, 2018, our net investments in Steckman Ridge and PennEast were $118.9 million and $65 million, respectively.
Operating Results
The financial results of our Midstream segment are summarized as follows:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Equity in earnings of affiliates | $ | 4,068 |  | $ | 6,119 |  | $ | 8,197 |  | $ | 9,450 |
Operation and maintenance | $ | 589 |  | $ | 236 |  | $ | 961 |  | $ | 385 |
Other income, net | $ | 1,356 |  | $ | 991 |  | $ | 2,577 |  | $ | 1,908 |
Interest expense, net | $ | 385 |  | $ | 414 |  | $ | 694 |  | $ | 470 |
Income tax provision (benefit) | $ | 3,131 |  | $ | 1,502 |  | $ | (9,712 | ) | $ | 3,151 |
Net income | $ | 1,315 |  | $ | 4,948 |  | $ | 18,826 |  | $ | 7,335 |

Equity in earnings of affiliates decreased $2.1 million and $1.3 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to the cumulative effect of initial accounting for AFUDC at PennEast during the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, partially offset by the change in capital structure during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018.
Income taxes increased $1.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to the recognition of stranded tax effects reclassified from AOCI when NJR’s investment in DM Common Units was impaired. A stranded tax effect was created as a result of the change in the federal corporate income tax rate under the Tax Act, as deferred tax assets and liabilities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets were revalued at the new lower tax rate while the unrealized amounts recorded in AOCI were not revalued and therefore are net of the higher tax rate in effect prior to the Tax Act. This stranded tax effect was recognized in earnings upon recognition of the related impairment loss. See Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Available For Sale Securities, for a more detailed description of the impairment. Income taxes decreased $12.9 million during the six months ended March 31, 2018 creating a tax benefit, compared with income tax expense during the six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to an income tax benefit of $13.8 million associated with the Tax Act.
Net income decreased $3.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to lower equity in earnings of affiliates along with the increase in income taxes, as previously discussed. Net income increased $11.5 million during the six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to the income tax benefit related to the Tax Act, as previously discussed.
52

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
Home Services and Other Operations
Overview
The financial results of Home Services and Other consist primarily of the operating results of NJRHS and CR&R. NJRHS provides service, sales and installation of appliances to approximately 111,000 service contract customers and has been focused on growing its installation business and expanding its service contract customer base. Home Services and Other also includes organizational expenses incurred at NJR.
Operating Results
The consolidated financial results of Home Services and Other are summarized as follows:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Operating revenues | $ | 8,261 |  | $ | 8,504 |  | $ | 18,218 |  | $ | 18,510 |
Operation and maintenance | $ | 11,037 |  | $ | 8,417 |  | $ | 21,216 |  | $ | 18,581 |
Energy and other taxes | $ | 993 |  | $ | 993 |  | $ | 2,113 |  | $ | 2,069 |
Other income, net | $ | 303 |  | $ | 3,001 |  | $ | 5,906 |  | $ | 5,828 |
Income tax (benefit) provision | $ | (1,281 | ) | $ | 1,066 |  | $ | 10,417 |  | $ | 821 |
Net (loss) income | $ | (2,394 | ) | $ | 708 |  | $ | (10,110 | ) | $ | 2,250 |

O&M increased $2.6 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to higher compensation costs.
Income tax benefit increased $2.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to the decrease in the effective tax rate as a result of the Tax Act. Income tax provision increased $9.6 million during the six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to tax expense of $10.7 million associated with the Tax Act, as previously discussed.
Net income decreased $3.1 million and $12.4 million during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, due primarily to increased income tax provision, as previously discussed.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Management of the Company uses NFE, a non-GAAP financial measure, when evaluating the operating results of Home Services and Other. NFE is based on removing timing differences associated with NJR's variable-for-fixed interest rate swap. Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to GAAP, and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for the comparable GAAP measure. A reconciliation of Home Services and Other's net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to NFE is as follows:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
| March 31, | March 31,
(Thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017
Net (loss) income | $ | (2,394 | ) | $ | 708 |  | $ | (10,110 | ) | $ | 2,250 |
Add: |  |  |  |
Unrealized gain on derivative instruments and related transactions | (121 | ) | — |  | (121 | ) | — |
Tax effect | 27 |  | — |  | 27 |  | — |
Net financial (loss) earnings | $ | (2,488 | ) | $ | 708 |  | $ | (10,204 | ) | $ | 2,250 |

53

New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our objective is to maintain an efficient consolidated capital structure that reflects the different characteristics of each business segment and business operations and provides adequate financial flexibility for accessing capital markets as required.
Our consolidated capital structure was as follows:

| March 31, 2018 | September 30, 2017
Common stock equity | 53 | % | 46 | %
Long-term debt | 36 |  | 38 |
Short-term debt | 11 |  | 16 |
Total | 100 | % | 100 | %

Common Stock Equity
We satisfy our external common equity requirements, if any, through issuances of our common stock, including the proceeds from stock issuances under our DRP. The DRP allows us, at our option, to use treasury shares or newly issued shares to raise capital. We raised $9.9 million and $9.7 million of equity through the DRP, by issuing approximately 242,000 and 279,000 shares of treasury stock, during the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. During the six months ended March 31, 2018, NJR also raised approximately $22.7 million of equity by issuing approximately 554,000 new shares through the waiver discount feature of the DRP. No new shares were issued during the three months ended March 31, 2017.
In 1996, the Board of Directors authorized us to implement a share repurchase program, which was expanded seven times since the inception of the program, authorizing a total of 19.5 million shares of common stock for repurchase. As of March 31, 2018, we repurchased a total of approximately 17.1 million of those shares and may repurchase an additional 2.4 million shares under the approved program. There were no shares repurchased during the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 105,000 shares repurchased during the six months ended March 31, 2017.
Debt
NJR and its unregulated subsidiaries generally rely on cash flows generated from operating activities and the utilization of committed credit facilities to provide liquidity to meet working capital and short-term debt financing requirements. NJNG also relies on the issuance of commercial paper for short-term funding. NJR and NJNG periodically access the capital markets to fund long-life assets through the issuance of long-term debt securities.
We believe that our existing borrowing availability, equity proceeds and cash flow from operations will be sufficient to satisfy our and our subsidiaries' working capital, capital expenditures and dividend requirements for the next 12 months. NJR, NJNG, Clean Energy Ventures and Energy Services currently anticipate that each of their financing requirements for the next 12 months will be met primarily through the issuance of short and long-term debt, sale-leasebacks and proceeds from our DRP, including utilizing the waiver discount feature.
We believe that as of March 31, 2018, NJR and NJNG were, and currently are, in compliance with all existing debt covenants, both financial and non-financial.
Short-Term Debt
We use our short-term borrowings primarily to finance Energy Services' short-term liquidity needs, Midstream segment's PennEast contributions, share repurchases and, on an initial basis, Clean Energy Ventures' investments. Energy Services' use of high volume storage facilities and anticipated pipeline park-and-loan arrangements, combined with related economic hedging activities in the volatile wholesale natural gas market, create significant short-term cash requirements.
As of March 31, 2018, NJR had revolving credit facilities totaling $525 million, with $363.3 million available under the facilities.
NJNG satisfies its debt needs by issuing short- and long-term debt based on its financial profile. The seasonal nature of NJNG's operations creates large short-term cash requirements, primarily to finance natural gas purchases and customer accounts receivable. NJNG obtains working capital for these requirements, and for the temporary financing of construction and MGP
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
remediation expenditures and energy tax payments, based on its financial profile, through the issuance of commercial paper supported by the NJNG Credit Facility or through short-term bank loans under the NJNG Credit Facility.
NJNG’s commercial paper is sold through several commercial banks under an issuing and paying agency agreement and is supported by the $250 million NJNG Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2018, the unused amount available under the NJNG Credit Facility, including amounts allocated to the backstop under the commercial paper program and the issuance of letters of credit, was $249.3 million.
Short-term borrowings were as follows:

| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended
(Thousands) | March 31, 2018
NJR |  |  |
Notes Payable to banks: |  |  |
Balance at end of period | $ | 150,900 |  |  | $ | 150,900 |
Weighted average interest rate at end of period | 2.60 | % |  | 2.60 | %
Average balance for the period | $ | 282,335 |  |  | $ | 291,101 |
Weighted average interest rate for average balance | 2.49 | % |  | 2.34 | %
Month end maximum for the period | $ | 316,200 |  |  | $ | 330,900 |
NJNG |  |  |
Commercial Paper and Notes Payable to banks: |  |  |
Balance at end of period | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Weighted average interest rate at end of period | — | % |  | — | %
Average balance for the period | $ | 20,664 |  |  | $ | 31,684 |
Weighted average interest rate for average balance | 1.54 | % |  | 1.38 | %
Month end maximum for the period | $ | 30,000 |  |  | $ | 51,000 |

Due to the seasonal nature of natural gas prices and demand and because inventory levels are built up during its natural gas injection season (April through October), NJR and NJNG's short-term borrowings tend to peak in November and December.
NJR
As noted above, based on its average borrowings during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, NJR's average interest rate was 2.49 percent and 2.34 percent, respectively, resulting in interest expense of approximately $1.7 million and $3.4 million, respectively.
As of March 31, 2018, NJR had six letters of credit outstanding totaling $10.8 million, which reduced the amount available under the NJR Credit Facility by the same amount. NJR does not anticipate that these letters of credit will be drawn upon by the counterparties.
On December 14, 2017, NJR entered into a four-month $75 million revolving line of credit facility. On January 19, 2018, NJR amended the agreement to increase the available amount to $100 million. As of March 31, 2018, there were no borrowings against the facility. This facility expired on April 14, 2018.
Neither NJNG nor its assets are obligated or pledged to support the NJR Credit Facility.
NJNG
As noted above, based on its average borrowings during the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, NJNG's average interest rate was 1.54 percent and 1.38 percent, respectively, resulting in interest expense of approximately $91,000 and $215,000, respectively.
As of March 31, 2018, NJNG had two letters of credit outstanding for $731,000, which reduced the amount available under NJNG's committed credit facility by the same amount. NJNG does not anticipate that these letters of credit will be drawn upon by the counterparties.
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
Short-Term Debt Covenants
Borrowings under the NJR Credit Facility and the NJNG Credit Facility are conditioned upon compliance with a maximum leverage ratio (consolidated total indebtedness to consolidated total capitalization as defined in the applicable agreements), of not more than .65 to 1.00 at any time. These revolving credit facilities contain customary representations and warranties for transactions of this type. They also contain customary events of default and certain covenants that will limit NJR's or NJNG's ability, beyond agreed upon thresholds, to, among other things:
•incur additional debt;
•incur liens and encumbrances;
•make dispositions of assets;
•enter into transactions with affiliates; and
•merge, consolidate, transfer, sell or lease all or substantially all of the borrower's or guarantors' assets.
These covenants are subject to a number of exceptions and qualifications set forth in the applicable agreements.
Default Provisions
The agreements governing our long-term and short-term debt obligations include provisions that, if not complied with, could require early payment or similar actions. Default events include, but are not limited to, the following:
•defaults for non-payment;
•defaults for breach of representations and warranties;
•defaults for insolvency;
•defaults for non-performance of covenants;
•cross-defaults to other debt obligations of the borrower; and
•guarantor defaults.
The occurrence of an event of default under these agreements could result in all loans and other obligations of the borrower becoming immediately due and payable and the termination of the credit facilities or term loan.
Long-Term Debt
NJR
As of March 31, 2018, NJR has the following outstanding:
•$25 million of 2.51 percent senior notes due September 15, 2018;
•$100 million variable rate term loan due August 16, 2019;
•$50 million of 3.25 percent senior notes due September 2022;
•$50 million of 3.2 percent senior notes due August 18, 2023;
•$100 million of 3.48 percent senior notes due November 7, 2024; and
•$100 million of 3.54 percent senior notes due August 18, 2026.
Neither NJNG nor its assets are obligated or pledged to support NJR's long-term debt.
On January 26, 2018, NJR entered into a variable-for-fixed interest rate swap on NJR's existing $100 million variable rate term loan due August 16, 2019, which fixed the variable rate at 2.84 percent.
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
NJNG
As of March 31, 2018, NJNG's long-term debt consisted of $575 million in fixed-rate debt issuances secured by the Mortgage Indenture, with maturities ranging from 2018 to 2046, $97 million in secured variable rate debt with maturities ranging from 2027 to 2041 and $30.6 million in capital leases with various maturities ranging from 2018 to 2025.
In June 2015, NJNG entered into a treasury lock transaction to fix a benchmark treasury rate of 3.26 percent associated with the forecasted $125 million debt issuance in May 2018. This forecasted debt issuance coincides with the maturity of NJNG's existing 125 million, 5.6 percent notes due May 15, 2018. This treasury lock was settled on March 13, 2018. The resulting $2.6 million loss is recorded as a component of regulatory assets on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and will be amortized over the life of the May 2018 debt issuance.
On March 9, 2018, NJR and NJNG priced a combined private placement debt offering. NJNG's offering of $125 million, 4.01 percent 30-year first mortgage bonds is scheduled for May 11, 2018, and is related to the debt and treasury lock discussed above. NJR's offering is for $100 million, 3.96 percent 10-year senior notes and is scheduled for June 8, 2018. The use of proceeds for both NJR's and NJNG's offering is for general corporate purposes.
NJR is not obligated directly or contingently with respect to the NJNG notes or the FMBs.
Long-Term Debt Covenants and Default Provisions
The NJR and NJNG long-term debt instruments contain customary representations and warranties for transactions of their type. They also contain customary events of default and certain covenants that will limit NJR or NJNG's ability beyond agreed upon thresholds to, among other things:
•incur additional debt (including a covenant that limits the amount of consolidated total debt of the borrower at the end of a fiscal quarter to 65 percent of the consolidated total capitalization of the borrower, as those terms are defined in the applicable agreements, and a covenant limiting priority debt to 20 percent of the borrower's consolidated total capitalization, as those terms are defined in the applicable agreements);
•incur liens and encumbrances;
•make loans and investments;
•make dispositions of assets;
•make dividends or restricted payments;
•enter into transactions with affiliates; and
•merge, consolidate, transfer, sell or lease substantially all of the borrower's assets.
The aforementioned covenants are subject to a number of exceptions and qualifications set forth in the applicable note purchase agreements.
In addition, the FMBs issued by NJNG under the Mortgage Indenture are subject to certain default provisions. Events of Default, as defined in the Mortgage Indenture, consist mainly of:
•failure for 30 days to pay interest when due;
•failure to pay principal or premium when due and payable;
•failure to make sinking fund payments when due;
•failure to comply with any other covenants of the Mortgage Indenture after 30 days' written notice from the Trustee;
•failure to pay or provide for judgments in excess of $30 million in aggregate amount within 60 days of the entry thereof; or
•certain events that are or could be the basis of a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency or receivership proceeding.
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
Upon the occurrence and continuance of such an Event of Default, the Mortgage Indenture, subject to any provisions of law applicable thereto, provides that the Trustee may take possession and conduct the business of NJNG, may sell the trust estate, or proceed to foreclose the lien pursuant to the Mortgage Indenture. The interest rate on defaulted principal and interest, to the extent permitted by law, on the FMBs issued under the Mortgage Indenture is the rate stated in the applicable supplement or, if no such rate is stated, six percent per annum.
Sale-Leaseback
NJNG
NJNG received $7.8 million and $9.6 million in December 2017 and 2016, respectively, in connection with the sale-leaseback of its natural gas meters. NJNG exercised early purchase options with respect to certain outstanding meter leases by making final principal payments of $1.1 million and $1 million during the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. NJNG continues to evaluate this sale-leaseback program based on current market conditions.
Clean Energy Ventures
During September 2017, Clean Energy Ventures entered into transactions to sell two of its commercial solar assets concurrent with agreements to lease the assets back over seven year periods. These sale-leasebacks are financing obligations secured by the solar assets and related future cash flows from SREC and energy sales. ITCs and other tax benefits associated with these solar projects were transferred to the buyer. Clean Energy Ventures will continue to operate the solar projects and retain ownership of SRECs generated and has the option to renew the lease or repurchase the assets at the end of the lease term. There were no solar sale-leasebacks during the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. Clean Energy Ventures expects to utilize sale-leaseback arrangements, based on market conditions, as an option to finance its commercial solar projects in fiscal 2018.
Contractual Obligations
NJNG's total capital expenditures are projected to be $272.6 million and $384.2 million, in fiscal 2018 and 2019, respectively. Total capital expenditures spent or accrued during the six months ended March 31, 2018 were $83.9 million. NJNG expects to fund its obligations with a combination of cash flow from operations, cash on hand, issuance of commercial paper, available capacity under its revolving credit facility and the issuance of long-term debt. As of March 31, 2018, NJNG's future MGP expenditures are estimated to be $142.5 million. For a more detailed description of MGP expenditures see Note 12. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Estimated capital expenditures are reviewed on a regular basis and may vary based on the ongoing effects of regulatory constraints, environmental regulations, unforeseen events, and the ability to access capital.
Clean Energy Ventures' expenditures include clean energy projects that support our goal to promote renewable energy. Accordingly, Clean Energy Ventures enters into agreements to install solar equipment involving both residential and commercial projects. During the six months ended March 31, 2018, capital expenditures related to the purchase and installation of solar equipment were $58.8 million. An additional $33.5 million has been committed for solar projects to be placed into service during fiscal 2018 and beyond. We estimate solar-related capital expenditures for projects during fiscal 2018 to be between $132 million and $145 million.
Capital expenditures related to clean energy projects are subject to change due to a variety of factors that may affect our ability to commence operations at these projects on a timely basis or at all, including logistics associated with the start-up of residential and commercial solar projects, such as timing of construction schedules, the permitting and regulatory process, any delays related to electric grid interconnection, economic trends, unforeseen events and the ability to access capital or allocation of capital to other investments or business opportunities.
During the six months ended March 31, 2018, capital expenditures related to our Midstream investment in the PennEast pipeline project were $11.2 million. We estimate expenditures to be between $17 million and $23 million in fiscal 2018. Capital expenditures related to our Midstream investment in the Adelphia project were $13.8 million, which includes the initial payment of $10 million towards the purchase price. We estimate expenditures to be between $15 million and $25 million in fiscal 2018.
Energy Services does not currently anticipate any significant capital expenditures in fiscal 2018 and 2019.
More detailed information regarding contractual obligations is contained in Liquidity and Capital Resources - Contractual Obligations section of Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended September 30, 2017.
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements
Our off-balance-sheet arrangements consist of guarantees covering approximately $386 million of natural gas purchases, SREC sales and demand fee commitments and outstanding letters of credit totaling $11.5 million.
Cash Flows
Operating Activities
Cash flows from operating activities during the six months ended March 31, 2018, totaled $312.5 million compared with $171.8 million during the six months ended March 31, 2017. Operating cash flows are primarily affected by variations in working capital, which can be impacted by several factors, including:
•seasonality of our business;
•fluctuations in wholesale natural gas prices and other energy prices, including changes in derivative asset and liability values;
•timing of storage injections and withdrawals;
•the deferral and recovery of gas costs;
•changes in contractual assets utilized to optimize margins related to natural gas transactions;
•broker margin requirements;
•impact of unusual weather patterns on our wholesale business;
•timing of the collections of receivables and payments of current liabilities;
•volumes of natural gas purchased and sold; and
•timing of SREC deliveries.
The increase of $140.7 million in operating cash flows during the six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the six months ended March 31, 2017, was due primarily to increased earnings at Energy Services resulting from the volatility in December 2017 and January 2018 due to the colder weather, partially offset by an increase in working capital requirements.
Investing Activities
Cash flows used in investing activities totaled $168.8 million during the six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with $155.9 million during the six months ended March 31, 2017. The increase of $13 million was due primarily to an increase in expenditures of $29.2 million for its utility plant, an advance payment of $10 million for the IEC acquisition and cash proceeds in fiscal 2017 of $9.4 million from a sale of a building that did not recur in fiscal 2018, partially offset by a decrease in solar expenditures of $30.9 million and cash proceeds in fiscal 2018 of $9.4 million from the sale of NJR Retail Services.
Financing Activities
Financing cash flows generally are seasonal in nature and are impacted by the volatility in pricing in the natural gas and other energy markets. NJNG's inventory levels are built up during its natural gas injection season (April through October) and reduced during withdrawal season (November through March) in response to the supply requirements of its customers. Changes in financing cash flows can also be impacted by gas management and marketing activities at Energy Services and clean energy investments at Clean Energy Ventures.
Cash flows (used in) financing activities totaled $(140.9) million during the six months ended March 31, 2018, compared with cash flows from financing activities of $39.3 million during the six months ended March 31, 2017. The increase of $180.2 million is due primarily to decreased short-term borrowings, partially offset by the issuance of common stock through the waiver discount feature of the DRP and lower payments of long-term debt.
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS (Continued)
Credit Ratings
The table below summarizes NJNG's credit ratings as of March 31, 2018, issued by two rating entities, S&P and Moody's:

| Standard and Poor's | Moody's
Corporate Rating | A | N/A
Commercial Paper | A-1 | P-1
Senior Secured | A+ | Aa2
Ratings Outlook | Stable | Negative

These ratings were reaffirmed by S&P on October 26, 2017 and by Moody’s on January 19, 2018. NJNG's S&P and Moody's ratings are investment-grade ratings. NJR is not a rated entity.
On January 19, 2018, Moody’s notified NJNG that it was among 24 companies whose ratings outlook was being lowered to negative from stable. This change reflects Moody’s view that tax reform is credit negative for regulated utilities due to reduced cash collected from customers, while the loss of bonus deprecation reduces tax deferrals. The negative outlook also considers the uncertainty over timing of any regulatory actions or changes to corporate finance polices made to offset the financial impact. This action does not currently affect any of NJNG’s short or long term borrowing rates.
Although NJNG is not party to any lending agreements that would accelerate the maturity date of any obligation caused by a failure to maintain any specific credit rating, if such ratings are downgraded below investment grade, borrowing costs could increase, as would the costs of maintaining certain contractual relationships and future financing and our access to capital markets would be reduced. Even if ratings are downgraded without falling below investment grade, NJR and NJNG could face increased borrowing costs under their credit facilities. A rating set forth above is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold NJR's or NJNG's securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time. Each rating set forth above should be evaluated independently of any other rating.
The timing and mix of any external financings will target a common equity ratio that is consistent with maintaining NJNG's current short-term and long-term credit ratings.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Financial Risk Management
Commodity Market Risks
Natural gas is a nationally traded commodity. Its prices are determined effectively by the NYMEX, ICE and over-the-counter markets. The prices on the NYMEX, CME, ICE and over-the-counter markets generally reflect the national balance of natural gas supply and demand, but are also significantly influenced from time to time by other events.
Our regulated and deregulated businesses are subject to market risk due to fluctuations in the price of natural gas. To economically hedge against such fluctuations, we have entered into forwards, futures, options and swap agreements. To manage these derivative instruments, we have well-defined risk management policies and procedures that include daily monitoring of volumetric limits and monetary guidelines. Our natural gas businesses are conducted through two of our operating subsidiaries. NJNG is a regulated utility that uses futures, options and swaps to provide relative price stability, and its recovery of natural gas costs is governed by the BPU. Energy Services uses futures, options, swaps and physical contracts to economically hedge purchases and sales of natural gas.
The following table reflects the changes in the fair market value of financial derivatives related to natural gas purchases and sales:

| Balance | Increase | Less | Balance
(Thousands) | September 30, 2017 | (Decrease) in Fair Market Value | Amounts Settled | March 31, 2018
Natural Gas Distribution |  | $ | (1,149 | ) |  | (54 | ) |  | (1,444 | ) |  | $ | 241 |
Energy Services |  | (5,552 | ) |  | (8,322 | ) |  | (9,720 | ) |  | (4,154 | )
Total |  | $ | (6,701 | ) |  | (8,376 | ) |  | (11,164 | ) |  | $ | (3,913 | )

There were no changes in methods of valuations during the six months ended March 31, 2018.
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK (Continued)
The following is a summary of fair market value of financial derivatives at March 31, 2018, excluding foreign exchange contracts discussed below, by method of valuation and by maturity for each fiscal year period:

(Thousands) | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 - 2022 | After 2022 | Total Fair Value
Price based on NYMEX/CME | $ | 4,754 |  | 5,182 |  |  | 2,061 |  |  | (1 | ) |  | $ | 11,996 |
Price based on ICE | (7,317 | ) | (6,697 | ) |  | (1,900 | ) |  | 5 |  |  | (15,909 | )
Total | $ | (2,563 | ) | (1,515 | ) |  | 161 |  |  | 4 |  |  | $ | (3,913 | )

The following is a summary of financial derivatives by type as of March 31, 2018:

|  | Volume Bcf | Price per MMBtu(1) | Amounts included in Derivatives (Thousands)
Natural Gas Distribution | Futures | 24.9 |  | $1.95 - $3.01 |  | $ | 241 |
Energy Services | Futures | (13.0 | ) | $1.45 - $4.35 |  | (16,150 | )
| Swaps | (25.4 | ) | $2.62 - $3.07 |  | 11,996 |
Total |  |  |  |  | $ | (3,913 | )

(1) | Million British thermal unit

The following table reflects the changes in the fair market value of physical commodity contracts:

| Balance | Increase | Less | Balance
(Thousands) | September 30, 2017 | (Decrease) in Fair Market Value | Amounts Settled | March 31, 2018
Natural Gas Distribution - Prices based on other external data |  | $ | 79 |  |  | (5,936 | ) |  | (5,919 | ) |  | $ | 62 |
Energy Services - Prices based on other external data |  | (3,584 | ) |  | (54,638 | ) |  | (34,270 | ) |  | (23,952 | )
Total |  | $ | (3,505 | ) |  | (60,574 | ) |  | (40,189 | ) |  | $ | (23,890 | )

The following table reflects the changes in the fair market value of interest rate contracts:

| Balance | Increase | Less | Balance
(Thousands) | September 30, 2017 | (Decrease) in Fair Market Value | Amounts Settled | March 31, 2018
Natural Gas Distribution - Prices based on other external data |  | $ | (8,467 | ) |  | 5,893 |  |  | (2,574 | ) |  | $ | — |
Home Services and Other - Prices based on other external data |  | — |  |  | 121 |  |  | — |  |  | 121 |
Total |  | $ | (8,467 | ) |  | 6,014 |  |  | (2,574 | ) |  | $ | 121 |

Our market price risk is predominately linked with changes in the price of natural gas at the Henry Hub, the delivery point for the NYMEX natural gas futures contracts. Based on price sensitivity analysis, an illustrative 10 percent movement in the natural gas futures contract price, for example, increases (decreases) the reported derivative fair value of all open, unadjusted Henry Hub natural gas futures and fixed price swap positions by approximately $5.6 million. This analysis does not include potential changes to reported credit adjustments embedded in the $15.1 million reported fair value.

Derivative Fair Value Sensitivity Analysis |
(Thousands) | Henry Hub Futures and Fixed Price Swaps
Percent increase in NYMEX natural gas futures prices | 0% | 5% | 10% | 15% | 20%
Estimated change in derivative fair value | $ | — |  | $ | (2,784 | ) | $ | (5,568 | ) | $ | (8,352 | ) | $ | (11,136 | )
Ending derivative fair value | $ | 15,141 |  | $ | 12,357 |  | $ | 9,573 |  | $ | 6,789 |  | $ | 4,005 |
Percent decrease in NYMEX natural gas futures prices | 0% | (5)% | (10)% | (15)% | (20)%
Estimated change in derivative fair value | $ | — |  | $ | 2,784 |  | $ | 5,568 |  | $ | 8,352 |  | $ | 11,136 |
Ending derivative fair value | $ | 15,141 |  | $ | 17,925 |  | $ | 20,709 |  | $ | 23,493 |  | $ | 26,277 |

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New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part I
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK (Continued)
Wholesale Credit Risk
The following is a summary of gross and net credit exposures, grouped by investment and non-investment grade counterparties, as of March 31, 2018. Gross credit exposure is defined as the unrealized fair value of derivative and energy trading contracts plus any outstanding wholesale receivable for the value of natural gas or power delivered and/or financial derivative commodity contract that has settled for which payment has not yet been received. Net credit exposure is defined as gross credit exposure reduced by collateral received from counterparties and/or payables, where netting agreements exist. The amounts presented below exclude accounts receivable for NJNG retail natural gas sales and services.
Energy Services' & Clean Energy Ventures' counterparty credit exposure as of March 31, 2018, is as follows:

(Thousands) | Gross Credit Exposure | Net Credit Exposure
Investment grade |  | $ | 169,128 |  |  | $ | 147,657 |
Noninvestment grade |  | 21,056 |  |  | 9,530 |
Internally rated investment grade |  | 20,551 |  |  | 14,109 |
Internally rated noninvestment grade |  | 32,421 |  |  | 10,202 |
Total |  | $ | 243,156 |  |  | $ | 181,498 |

NJNG's counterparty credit exposure as of March 31, 2018, is as follows:

(Thousands) | Gross Credit Exposure | Net Credit Exposure
Investment grade |  | $ | 5,948 |  |  | $ | 4,876 |
Noninvestment grade |  | 172 |  |  | — |
Internally rated investment grade |  | 267 |  |  | 82 |
Internally rated noninvestment grade |  | 14,658 |  |  | 4,785 |
Total |  | $ | 21,045 |  |  | $ | 9,743 |

Due to the inherent volatility in the market price for natural gas, electricity and SRECs, the market value of contractual positions with individual counterparties could exceed established credit limits or collateral provided by those counterparties. If a counterparty failed to perform the obligations under its contract (for example, failed to make payment for natural gas received), we could sustain a loss. This loss would comprise the loss on natural gas delivered but not paid for and/or the cost of replacing natural gas not delivered or received at a price that exceeds the original contract price. Any such loss could have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Information regarding NJR's interest rate risk can be found in Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks and the Liquidity and Capital Resources - Debt section of Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended September 30, 2017.
Effects of Interest Rate and Foreign Currency Rate Fluctuations
We are also exposed to changes in interest rates on our debt hedges, variable rate debt and changes in foreign currency rates for our business conducted in Canada using Canadian dollars. We do not believe an immediate 10 percent increase or decrease in interest rates or foreign currency rates would have a material effect on our operating results or cash flows.
Effects of Inflation
Although inflation rates have been relatively low to moderate in recent years, including the three most recent fiscal years, any change in price levels has an effect on operating results due to the capital-intensive and regulated nature of our utility subsidiary. We attempt to minimize the effects of inflation through cost control, productivity improvements and regulatory actions, when appropriate.
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective, to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There has been no change in internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2018, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Information regarding reportable legal proceedings is contained in Part I, Item 3. Legal Proceedings in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2017, and is set forth in Part I, Item 1, Note 12. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities-Legal Proceedings on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated by reference. No legal proceedings became reportable during the quarter ended March 31, 2018, and there have been no material developments during such quarter regarding any previously reported legal proceedings, which have not been previously disclosed.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
While we attempt to identify, manage and mitigate risks and uncertainties associated with our business to the extent practical, under the circumstances, some level of risk and uncertainty will always be present. Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K includes a detailed discussion of our risk factors. Those risks and uncertainties have the potential to materially affect our financial condition and results of operations. There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A, of our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALE OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
The following table sets forth our repurchase activity for the quarter ended March 31, 2018:

Period | Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased | Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit) | Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
1/01/18 - 1/31/18 | — | $ | — |  | — |  |  | 2,431,053
2/01/18 - 2/28/18 | — | — |  | — |  |  | 2,431,053
3/01/18 - 3/31/18 | — | — |  | — |  |  | 2,431,053
Total | — | $ | — |  | — |  |  | 2,431,053

The stock repurchase plan, which was authorized by our Board of Directors, became effective in September 1996 and as of March 31, 2018, included 19.5 million shares of common stock for repurchase, of which, approximately 2.4 million shares remained available for repurchase. The stock repurchase plan will expire when we have repurchased all shares authorized for repurchase thereunder, unless the repurchase plan is earlier terminated by action of our Board of Directors or further shares are authorized for repurchase.
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
Part II
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number | Exhibit Description

31.1+ | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2+ | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1+ † | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2+ † | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101+ | Interactive Data File (Form 10-Q, for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2018, furnished in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language)).

_______________________________

+ | Filed herewith.

† This certificate accompanies this report pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not be deemed filed by NJR for purposes of Section 18 or any other provision of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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New Jersey Resources Corporation
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

|  | NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION
|  | (Registrant)
Date: | May 4, 2018 |
|  | By:/s/ Patrick Migliaccio
|  | Patrick Migliaccio
|  | Senior Vice President and
|  | Chief Financial Officer

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