Controlling Shareholder	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Controlling Shareholder [Abstract]
Controlling Shareholder	2. CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER At June 30, 2014, Tontine Capital Partners, L.P. together with its affiliates (collectively “Tontine”) was the controlling shareholder of the Company’s common stock. Accordingly, Tontine has the ability to exercise significant control over our affairs, including the election of directors and any action requiring the approval of shareholders. While Tontine is subject to restrictions under federal securities laws on sales of its shares as an affiliate, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement between Tontine and the Company, Tontine delivered a request to the Company for registration of its shares of IES common stock, and on February 21, 2013, the Company filed a shelf registration statement to register the resale of up to 8,562,409 shares of IES common stock owned by Tontine (as amended, the “Shelf Registration Statement”). The Shelf Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on June 18, 2013. As long as the Shelf Registration Statement remains effective, Tontine has the ability to resell any or all of its registered shares from time to time in one or more offerings, as described in the Shelf Registration Statement and in any prospectus supplement filed in connection with an offering pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement. Should Tontine sell or otherwise dispose of 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. 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 credit facility, bonding agreements with our sureties and certain employment contracts with certain officers and employees of the Company.

2. CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER

At June 30, 2014, Tontine Capital Partners, L.P. together with its affiliates (collectively “Tontine”) was the controlling shareholder of the Company’s common stock. Accordingly, Tontine has the ability to exercise significant control over our affairs, including the election of directors and any action requiring the approval of shareholders.

While Tontine is subject to restrictions under federal securities laws on sales of its shares as an affiliate, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement between Tontine and the Company, Tontine delivered a request to the Company for registration of its shares of IES common stock, and on February 21, 2013, the Company filed a shelf registration statement to register the resale of up to 8,562,409 shares of IES common stock owned by Tontine (as amended, the “Shelf Registration Statement”). The Shelf Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on June 18, 2013. As long as the Shelf Registration Statement remains effective, Tontine has the ability to resell any or all of its registered shares from time to time in one or more offerings, as described in the Shelf Registration Statement and in any prospectus supplement filed in connection with an offering pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.

Should Tontine sell or otherwise dispose of 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. 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 credit facility, bonding agreements with our sureties and certain employment contracts with certain officers and employees of the Company.