Controlling Shareholder	3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Controlling Shareholder [Abstract]
Controlling Shareholder	2. 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 remained outstanding on the Tontine Term Loan as of December 31, 2012. Pursuant to its terms, we were permitted to repay the Tontine Term Loan at any time prior to the maturity date at par, plus accrued interest without penalty within the restrictions of the 2012 Credit Facility. The 2012 Credit Facility requires that the Company extend the maturity date of or refinance the Tontine Term Loan prior to or on February 15, 2013. On February 12, 2013, we entered into the Amendment to the 2012 Credit Facility pursuant to which, Wells Fargo provided the Company with a $5,000 term loan. On February 13, 2013, we prepaid the remaining $10,000 of principal on the Tontine Term Loan with existing cash on hand and proceeds from the Wells Fargo Term Loan. For a description of the Amendment and the Wells Fargo Term Loan, please se Note 1, “Business – Subsequent Events” in the notes to these consolidated Financial Statements. 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. On January 28, 2013, the Company implemented a tax benefit protection plan (the “NOL Rights Plan”) that is 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. For additional information regarding the NOL Rights Plan, please see our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 28, 2013 (the “Form 8-K”). This description of the NOL Rights Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the NOL Rights Plan, which is filed as an exhibit to the Form 8-K. There can be no assurance that the NOL Rights Plan will 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

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

2. 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 remained outstanding on the Tontine Term Loan as of December 31, 2012. Pursuant to its terms, we were permitted to repay the Tontine Term Loan at any time prior to the maturity date at par, plus accrued interest without penalty within the restrictions of the 2012 Credit Facility. The 2012 Credit Facility requires that the Company extend the maturity date of or refinance the Tontine Term Loan prior to or on February 15, 2013. On February 12, 2013, we entered into the Amendment to the 2012 Credit Facility pursuant to which, Wells Fargo provided the Company with a $5,000 term loan. On February 13, 2013, we prepaid the remaining $10,000 of principal on the Tontine Term Loan with existing cash on hand and proceeds from the Wells Fargo Term Loan. For a description of the Amendment and the Wells Fargo Term Loan, please se Note 1, “Business – Subsequent Events” in the notes to these consolidated Financial Statements.

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. On January 28, 2013, the Company implemented a tax benefit protection plan (the “NOL Rights Plan”) that is 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. For additional information regarding the NOL Rights Plan, please see our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 28, 2013 (the “Form 8-K”). This description of the NOL Rights Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the NOL Rights Plan, which is filed as an exhibit to the Form 8-K. There can be no assurance that the NOL Rights Plan will 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.