Business	6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Business [Abstract]
Description of the Business	1. BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES Description of the Business Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. is a holding company that owns and manages operating subsidiaries in business activities across a variety of markets. Our operations are currently organized into four principal business segments, based upon the nature of our current products and services: Communications – Nationwide provider of products and services for mission critical infrastructure, such as data centers, of large corporations. Residential – Regional provider of electrical installation services for single-family housing and multi-family apartment complexes, including installation of residential solar power. Commercial & Industrial – Provider of electrical design, construction, and maintenance services for commercial and industrial projects nationwide. Infrastructure Solutions - Provider of services to industrial and rail customers, and electrical and mechanical solutions to domestic and international customers. (This segment was created in connection with the acquisition of MISCOR Group, Ltd. (“MISCOR”).) The words “IES”, the “Company”, “we”, “our”, and “us” refer to Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. and, except as otherwise specified herein, to our wholly-owned subsidiaries. Basis of Financial Statement Preparation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of IES and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to interim financial reporting as prescribed by the SEC. The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. These interim financial statements do not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and should be read in the context of the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto filed with the SEC in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014. In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this report include all known accruals and adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods reported herein. Any such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires the use of estimates and assumptions by management in determining the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates are primarily used in our revenue recognition of construction in progress, fair value assumptions in analyzing goodwill, investments, intangible assets and long-lived asset impairments and adjustments, allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, stock-based compensation, reserves for legal matters, assumptions regarding estimated costs to exit certain segments, realizability of deferred tax assets, unrecognized tax benefits and self-insured claims liabilities and related reserves. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In January 2015, the FASB issued new guidance which eliminates from U.S. GAAP the concept of an extraordinary item. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company does not believe this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In February, 2015, the FASB issued new guidance related to consolidations. The new standard amends the guidelines for determining whether certain legal entities should be consolidated, and reduces the number of consolidation models. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not believe this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In April 2015, the FASB issued new guidance that requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. The new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and is required to be adopted retrospectively. The Company does not believe this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Business

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

1. BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of the Business

Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. is a holding company that owns and manages operating subsidiaries in business activities across a variety of markets. Our operations are currently organized into four principal business segments, based upon the nature of our current products and services:

Communications – Nationwide provider of products and services for mission critical infrastructure, such as data centers, of large corporations.
Residential – Regional provider of electrical installation services for single-family housing and multi-family apartment complexes, including installation of residential solar power.
Commercial & Industrial – Provider of electrical design, construction, and maintenance services for commercial and industrial projects nationwide.
Infrastructure Solutions - Provider of services to industrial and rail customers, and electrical and mechanical solutions to domestic and international customers. (This segment was created in connection with the acquisition of MISCOR Group, Ltd. (“MISCOR”).)

The words “IES”, the “Company”, “we”, “our”, and “us” refer to Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. and, except as otherwise specified herein, to our wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Basis of Financial Statement Preparation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of IES and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to interim financial reporting as prescribed by the SEC. The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. These interim financial statements do not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and should be read in the context of the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto filed with the SEC in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014. In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this report include all known accruals and adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods reported herein. Any such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires the use of estimates and assumptions by management in determining the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates are primarily used in our revenue recognition of construction in progress, fair value assumptions in analyzing goodwill, investments, intangible assets and long-lived asset impairments and adjustments, allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, stock-based compensation, reserves for legal matters, assumptions regarding estimated costs to exit certain segments, realizability of deferred tax assets, unrecognized tax benefits and self-insured claims liabilities and related reserves.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2015, the FASB issued new guidance which eliminates from U.S. GAAP the concept of an extraordinary item. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company does not believe this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In February, 2015, the FASB issued new guidance related to consolidations. The new standard amends the guidelines for determining whether certain legal entities should be consolidated, and reduces the number of consolidation models. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not believe this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued new guidance that requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. The new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and is required to be adopted retrospectively. The Company does not believe this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.