Controlling Shareholder	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Controlling Shareholder [Abstract]
Controlling Shareholder	3. CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER On April 30, 2010, we prepaid $15,000 of the original $25,000 principal outstanding on the Tontine Term Loan and $10,000 remains outstanding on the Tontine Term Loan. The Company is currently evaluating its options with regard to repayment of the Tontine Term Loan, including through a refinancing of the loan prior to or at its maturity. While Tontine is subject to restrictions under federal securities laws on sales of its shares as an affiliate, Tontine is party to a Registration Rights Agreement with the Company under which it has the ability, subject to certain restrictions, to demand registration of its shares in order to permit unrestricted sales of those shares. Tontine has indicated to the Company that it may seek to register some or all of its shares in the near future. Should Tontine sell or exchange all or a portion of its position in IES, a change in ownership could occur. A change in ownership, as defined by Internal Revenue Code Section 382, could reduce the availability of net operating losses (NOLs) for federal and state income tax purposes. While the Company is currently evaluating steps it may take to protect its federal NOLs, including evaluating implementing a tax benefit protection plan that would be designed to deter an acquisition of the Company's stock in excess of a threshold amount that could trigger a change of control within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 382, there can be no assurance that such a plan will be implemented or that, if enacted, it would be effective in deterring a change of control or protecting the NOLs. Furthermore, a change in control would trigger the change of control provisions in a number of our material agreements, including our 2012 Credit Facility, bonding agreements with our sureties and certain employment contracts with certain officers and employees of the Company.

Controlling Shareholder

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

3. CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER

On April 30, 2010, we prepaid $15,000 of the original $25,000 principal outstanding on the Tontine Term Loan and $10,000 remains outstanding on the Tontine Term Loan. The Company is currently evaluating its options with regard to repayment of the Tontine Term Loan, including through a refinancing of the loan prior to or at its maturity.

While Tontine is subject to restrictions under federal securities laws on sales of its shares as an affiliate, Tontine is party to a Registration Rights Agreement with the Company under which it has the ability, subject to certain restrictions, to demand registration of its shares in order to permit unrestricted sales of those shares. Tontine has indicated to the Company that it may seek to register some or all of its shares in the near future.

Should Tontine sell or exchange all or a portion of its position in IES, a change in ownership could occur. A change in ownership, as defined by Internal Revenue Code Section 382, could reduce the availability of net operating losses (NOLs) for federal and state income tax purposes. While the Company is currently evaluating steps it may take to protect its federal NOLs, including evaluating implementing a tax benefit protection plan that would be designed to deter an acquisition of the Company's stock in excess of a threshold amount that could trigger a change of control within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 382, there can be no assurance that such a plan will be implemented or that, if enacted, it would be effective in deterring a change of control or protecting the NOLs. Furthermore, a change in control would trigger the change of control provisions in a number of our material agreements, including our 2012 Credit Facility, bonding agreements with our sureties and certain employment contracts with certain officers and employees of the Company.