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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | 3 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | 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, 2018 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 2018 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, 2019. Intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. Sales Tax Accounting As a result of the adoption of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, as of October 1, 2018, the Company elected the practical expedient to exclude from the transaction price all sales taxes that are assessed by a governmental authority and therefore presents sales tax on a net basis in operating revenues on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Previously, sales tax was presented in both operating revenues and operating expenses on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Gas in Storage The following table summarizes gas in storage, at average cost by segment as of:
| December 31, 2018 | September 30, 2018
($ in thousands) | Gas in Storage |  | Bcf | Gas in Storage |  | Bcf
Energy Services |  | $ | 148,746 |  | 38.4 |  |  | $ | 90,166 |  | 34.1 |
Natural Gas Distribution |  | 92,643 |  | 20.8 |  |  | 94,467 |  | 24.9 |
Total |  | $ | 241,389 |  | 59.2 |  |  | $ | 184,633 |  | 59.0 |
Investments in Equity Securities Investments in equity securities are carried at fair value on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, total unrealized gains and losses associated with equity securities were included as a part of accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of common stock equity, and reclassifications of realized gains or losses out of other comprehensive income into earnings were recorded in other income, net on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, based on average cost. On October 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-01, an amendment to ASC 825, Financial Instruments. As a result, unrealized gains and losses are recorded in other income, net on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, based on average cost. As of September 30, 2018, the Company's investments in equity securities had a fair value of $32.9 million, and total unrealized gains were $4.7 million, $3.4 million, net of deferred income tax expense. These amounts were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings upon adoption of ASU No. 2016-01. As a result, unrealized gains and losses are recorded in other income, net on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, based on average cost. As of December 31, 2018, the Company's equity securities were comprised of its investment in DM Common Units which had a fair value of $33.2 million. During the three months ended December 31, 2018, total unrealized gains of $257,000 were recognized in other income, net on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. On November 26, 2018, Dominion and DM executed an agreement and plan of merger. This merger was finalized on January 28, 2019. Outstanding DM Common Units held immediately before the closing of the merger were converted into 0.2492 shares of Dominion common stock. This resulted in the conversion of the Company's 1.84 million DM Common Units into approximately 458,000 Dominion shares. During the three months ended December 31, 2017, NJR sold shares of its equity securities in an energy company and received proceeds of approximately $6.6 million and recognized a pre-tax gain of $5.3 million. There were no sales of equity securities during the three months ended December 31, 2018. Customer Accounts Receivable Customer accounts receivable include outstanding billings from the following subsidiaries as of:
(Thousands) | December 31, 2018 |  | September 30, 2018
Energy Services | $ | 237,790 |  | 75 | % |  | $ | 157,936 |  | 77 | %
Natural Gas Distribution (1) | 73,748 |  | 23 |  |  | 39,151 |  | 19 |
Clean Energy Ventures | 3,574 |  | 1 |  |  | 3,330 |  | 2 |
Home Services and Other Operations | 2,996 |  | 1 |  |  | 5,073 |  | 2 |
Total | $ | 318,108 |  | 100 | % |  | $ | 205,490 |  | 100 | %
(1) | Does not include unbilled revenues of $55.2 million and $7.2 million as of December 31, 2018 and September 30, 2018, 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 $10.8 million and $10.4 million in other current assets and $39.4 million and $39.5 million in other noncurrent assets as of December 31, 2018 and September 30, 2018, respectively, on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, related to the loans. If NJNG determines a loan is impaired, the basis of the loan would be subject to regulatory review for recovery. As of December 31, 2018 and September 30, 2018, the Company has not recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts for SAVEGREEN loans. Assets Held for Sale The wind assets classified as held for sale are measured at the lower of their carrying value or fair value less cost to sell. On November 21, 2018, Clean Energy Ventures entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement with a subsidiary of Skyline Renewables LLC to sell its remaining wind assets. The Company submitted a joint filing for authorization with the FERC, which was approved on December 31, 2018. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of fiscal 2019. The major classes of assets and liabilities included within the disposal group as held for sale are as follows:
(Thousands) | September 30, 2018 |  | Assets reclassified as held for sale |  | Assets Sold |  | Other adjustments |  | December 31, 2018
Assets held for sale: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Nonutility plant and equipment - wind equipment, at cost | $ | 224,356 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 224,356 |
Nonutility plant and equipment - accumulated depreciation, wind equipment | (18,501 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (18,501 | )
Prepaid and other current assets | 789 |  |  | 1,535 |  |  | — |  |  | (703 | ) |  | 1,621 |
Other noncurrent assets | 261 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 261 |
| $ | 206,905 |  |  | $ | 1,535 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (703 | ) |  | $ | 207,737 |
Liabilities held for sale: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts payable and other (1) | $ | 186 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 186 |
Asset retirement obligation | 3,996 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3,996 |
| $ | 4,182 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 4,182 |
(1) | Transaction fee owed to broker for the sale of Two Dot wind farm.
Reclassification Certain prior period amounts related to the deferred income tax benefit due to the Tax Act and restricted cash on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and compensation costs on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations were reclassified to conform to the current period presentation due to the adoption of various ASUs listed below. Recently Adopted Updates to the Accounting Standards Codification Revenue In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, and added ASC 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. The Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and applied the new provisions on a modified retrospective basis. The Company recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment of $3.8 million, $2.7 million net of deferred income taxes, to retained earnings at Home Services and Other. As of October 1, 2018, NJRHS recognizes contract revenue on a straight line basis over the term of the contract. Previously, contract revenue was recognized over the term of the service contract based on expected demand for services. Revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2018 for Home Services and Other after adopting ASC 606 was $12.5 million, as opposed to $10.1 million under ASC 605, representing a $2.4 million increase in revenue recognition. The Company elected the practical expedient to exclude from the transaction price all sales taxes that are assessed by a governmental authority and therefore presents sales tax on a net basis in operating revenues on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Operating revenue for the Company would have included $14.4 million related to sales tax for the three months ended December 31, 2018. There was no additional impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The Company concluded that its tariff-based sales of natural gas are within the scope of the new guidance and the adoption did not result in any modification to the pattern of revenue recognition from such sales. Revenues from derivative instruments, such as those related to the Company’s SREC sales and natural gas purchases and sales will continue to be accounted for under ASC 815 and thus are outside the scope of ASC 606. Additionally, NJNG revenues generated by the CIP have been determined to be alternative revenue programs under ASC 980 and are also outside the scope of ASC 606, as they are deemed to be a contract with the BPU. The Company also evaluated its renewable asset PPA arrangements and determined that no modification to the pattern of revenue recognition of the related electricity, capacity and REC sales was necessary. Revenues from RECs sold as part of a bundled arrangement continue to be recognized in the same period as the related generation. Based on the completion of the Company’s evaluation and assessment of its revenue streams, the Company concluded that the new guidance did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. ASC 606 requires expanded disclosures, including the disclosure of performance obligations, disaggregated revenues and contract balances, which is included in Note 3. Revenue. 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 Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and applied the new provisions on a retrospective basis, which did not impact its statement of cash flows. 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 Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and applied the new provisions on a retrospective basis, which did not materially impact its statement of cash flows. Accordingly, the following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reported in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets to the total amounts in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as follows:
(Thousands) | December 31, 2018 | September 30, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | September 30, 2017
Balance Sheet |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 7,694 |  | $ | 1,458 |  | $ | 4,738 |  | $ | 2,226 |
Restricted cash in other noncurrent assets | 315 |  | 252 |  | 286 |  | 243 |
Statements of Cash Flow |  |  |  |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in the statement of cash flows | $ | 8,009 |  | $ | 1,710 |  | $ | 5,024 |  | $ | 2,469 |
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 Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and applied the new provisions on a modified retrospective basis which resulted in the reclassification of $4.7 million, $3.4 million net of deferred income tax expense, to the opening balance of retained earnings from accumulated other comprehensive income related to investments in equity securities. Subsequent changes to the fair value of the Company’s investments in equity securities are recorded in other income, net in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. 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 Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and the new provisions 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 framework that is applied to acquisitions. 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 Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2019, concurrently with ASC 606, and applied the new provisions on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative effect adjustment of $6.8 million, $5 million net of deferred income tax expense, to the opening balance of retained earnings related to a transfer of a nonfinancial asset that was previously recorded as a deferred gain on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. 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 amendment establishes a practical expedient that permits entities to use their previously disclosed service and other costs in their pension and other postretirement benefit plan footnotes in the prior comparative periods as the estimation basis when applying the retrospective presentation of these costs in the income statement. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2019, and applied the new provisions on a retrospective basis for income statement presentation, and is applying the new provisions on a prospective basis for changes to capitalization of costs. Accordingly, the following amounts on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended December 31, 2017, have been adjusted:
(Thousands) | As Previously Reported | Effect of Change | As Adjusted
Statements of Operations |  |  |
Operation and maintenance | $ | 55,111 |  | $ | (951 | ) | $ | 54,160 |
Total operating expenses | $ | 630,060 |  | $ | (951 | ) | $ | 629,109 |
Operating income | $ | 75,245 |  | $ | 951 |  | $ | 76,196 |
Other income (expense), net | $ | 6,927 |  | $ | (951 | ) | $ | 5,976 |
The changes related to the costs that will be eligible for capitalization will not have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption. There was no additional impact to the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. 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 Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, and will apply the new provisions prospectively to awards modified on or after October 1, 2018. There was no impact to the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption. Other Recent Updates to the Accounting Standards Codification 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 ASU 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 beginning October 1, 2019. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, which provides an optional transition method to ASC 842 that allows the Company to recognize a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. At this time, the Company does not plan to early adopt the new guidance and expects to transition on a modified retrospective basis. The Company is currently in the process of reviewing its contracts to identify all of its leases and evaluating its lease population. The Company’s operating leases primarily consist of office and land leases related to solar and wind assets. While the Company is currently evaluating the full impact of the standard and its related updates, it expects to recognize right-of-use assets and liabilities arising from current operating leases on its statement of financial position upon adoption, however, these amounts are not reasonably estimable at this time. The Company does not expect the amendments to the standard to have any impact on its results of operations or cash flows. Financial Instruments 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 beginning October 1, 2020, 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. 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 beginning October 1, 2019, 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. In October 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-16, an amendment to ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, which permits the use of the Overnight Swap Index rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as an additional acceptable U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes. The guidance is effective for the Company beginning October 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. 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. Stock Compensation In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, an amendment to ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, which expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from non-employees. The guidance is effective for the Company beginning October 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the amendment on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows upon adoption. Fair Value In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, an amendment to ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, which removes, modifies and adds to certain disclosure requirements of fair value measurements. Disclosure requirements removed include the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the policy for timing of transfers between levels and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. Modifications include considerations around the requirement to disclose the timing of liquidation of an investee’s assets and the date when restrictions from redemption might lapse. The additions include the requirement to disclose changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held and the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. The guidance is effective for the Company beginning October 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, the amendments will be applied on a prospective or retrospective basis depending on the specific amendments’ transition requirements. The Company is currently evaluating the amendments to understand the impact on its financial position, results of operations, cash flows and disclosures upon adoption and will apply the new guidance. Compensation - Retirement Benefits In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, an amendment to ASC 715, Compensation - Retirement Benefits, which removes disclosures that no longer are considered cost-beneficial, clarifies the specific requirements of certain disclosures and adds new disclosure requirements identified as relevant. The guidance is effective for the Company beginning October 1, 2021, with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, the amendments will be applied on a retrospective basis. The Company is continuing to evaluate the amendment to fully understand the impact on the Company's disclosures upon adoption. Intangibles In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, an amendment to ASC 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other, which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). The guidance is effective for the Company beginning October 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, the amendment can be applied either on a prospective or retrospective basis. The Company is currently evaluating the amendments to understand the impact on its financial position, results of operations, cash flows and disclosures upon adoption.

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