Employee Benefit Plans	6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]
401(k) Plan	9. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS 401(k) Plan In November 1998, we established the Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plan”). All full-time IES employees are eligible to participate on the first day of the month subsequent to completing sixty days of service and attaining age twenty-one. On February 1, 2013, we reinstated the employer match portion of the 401(k) plan. Participants become vested in our matching contributions following three years of service. Executive Savings Plan Under the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan adopted on July 1, 2004 (the “Executive Savings Plan”), certain employees are permitted to defer a portion (up to 75%) of their base salary and/or bonus for a Plan Year. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, credit one or more participants with an employer deferral (contribution) in such amount as the Committee may choose (“Employer Contribution”). The Employer Contribution, if any, may be a fixed dollar amount, a fixed percentage of the participant's compensation, base salary, or bonus, or a “matching” amount with respect to all or part of the participant's elective deferrals for such plan year, and/or any combination of the foregoing as the Committee may choose. Post Retirement Benefit Plans Certain individuals at one of the Company's locations are entitled to receive fixed annual payments that reach a maximum amount, as specified in the related agreements, for a ten year period following retirement or, in some cases, the attainment of 62 years of age. We recognize the unfunded status of the plan as a non-current liability in our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Benefits vest 50% after ten years of service, which increases by 10% per annum until benefits are fully vested after 15 years of service. We had an unfunded benefit liability of $850 and $746 recorded as of March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Employee Benefit Plans

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

9. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

401(k) Plan

In November 1998, we established the Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plan”). All full-time IES employees are eligible to participate on the first day of the month subsequent to completing sixty days of service and attaining age twenty-one. On February 1, 2013, we reinstated the employer match portion of the 401(k) plan. Participants become vested in our matching contributions following three years of service.

Executive Savings Plan

Under the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan adopted on July 1, 2004 (the “Executive Savings Plan”), certain employees are permitted to defer a portion (up to 75%) of their base salary and/or bonus for a Plan Year. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, credit one or more participants with an employer deferral (contribution) in such amount as the Committee may choose (“Employer Contribution”). The Employer Contribution, if any, may be a fixed dollar amount, a fixed percentage of the participant's compensation, base salary, or bonus, or a “matching” amount with respect to all or part of the participant's elective deferrals for such plan year, and/or any combination of the foregoing as the Committee may choose.

Post Retirement Benefit Plans

Certain individuals at one of the Company's locations are entitled to receive fixed annual payments that reach a maximum amount, as specified in the related agreements, for a ten year period following retirement or, in some cases, the attainment of 62 years of age. We recognize the unfunded status of the plan as a non-current liability in our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Benefits vest 50% after ten years of service, which increases by 10% per annum until benefits are fully vested after 15 years of service. We had an unfunded benefit liability of $850 and $746 recorded as of March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.