Commitments And Contingencies	6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]
Legal Matters	12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Legal Matters From time to time we are a party to various claims, lawsuits and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. We maintain various insurance coverages to minimize financial risk associated with these proceedings. None of these proceedings, separately or in the aggregate, are expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. With respect to all such proceedings, we record reserves when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. We expense routine legal costs related to these proceedings as they are incurred. The following is a discussion of our significant legal matters: Capstone Construction Claims From 2003 to 2005, two of our former subsidiaries performed HVAC and electrical work under contract with Capstone Building Corporation (“Capstone”) on a university student housing project in Texas. In 2005, our subsidiaries filed for arbitration against Capstone, seeking payment for work performed, change orders and other impacts. The parties settled those claims, and the release included a waiver of warranties associated with any of the HVAC work. Several years later, the subsidiaries discontinued operations, and the Company sold their assets. On October 24, 2013, Capstone filed a petition in the 12th Judicial District Court of Walker County, Texas against these subsidiaries, among other subcontractors, seeking contribution, defense, indemnity and damages for breach of contract in connection with alleged construction defect claims brought against Capstone by the owner of the student housing project. The owner claimed $10,406 in damages, plus attorneys’ fees and costs against Capstone, which Capstone sought to recover from the subcontractors. The claims against the Company were based on alleged defects in the mechanical design, construction and installation of the HVAC and electrical systems performed by our former subsidiaries. Following mediation in June and November 2017, the Company reached an agreement in late December 2017 to settle all claims brought against it. In the six months ended March 31, 2018, a mutual settlement and release agreement was executed by the plaintiffs and the Company resulting in a charge and payment by the Company of $200. USAMRIID Claim On December 6, 2017, IES Commercial, Inc. filed suit in the United States District Court of Maryland in the matter USA for the use and benefit of IES Commercial, Inc. and IES Commercial, Inc. v. Manhattan Construction Co., Torcon, Inc., Manhattan Torcon A Joint Venture, Federal Ins. Co., Fidelity & Deposit Co. of Maryland, Zurich American Ins. Co., and Travelers Casualty & Surety Co. This suit relates to a large project which has been ongoing since 2009 and was scheduled for completion in early 2013. As the Company has previously disclosed, the Company entered into a subcontract in 2009 with Manhattan Torcon A Joint Venture to perform subcontracting services at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (“USAMRIID”) replacement facility project for a contract value of approximately $61,146, subject to additions or deductions. Because of delays on the project and additional work the Company performed, the Company believes it is owed approximately $21,000 for claims incurred as of August 31, 2017, and an additional approximate $4,500 for claims the Company expects to incur from August 31, 2017, through completion of the project. On January 22, 2018, the defendants in this matter filed a motion to dismiss the suit, and on February 2, 2018, we filed our response. We are awaiting a decision on this matter. Given the uncertainty litigation poses, the Company has not recorded any recovery in connection with this claim. There can be no assurance that the Company will prevail in this litigation matter or that, if the Company does prevail, it will receive an amount substantially similar to the amount sought or not receive a significantly lower award. Risk-Management We retain the risk for workers’ compensation, employer’s liability, automobile liability, construction defects, general liability and employee group health claims, as well as pollution coverage, resulting from uninsured deductibles per accident or occurrence which are generally subject to annual aggregate limits. Our general liability program provides coverage for bodily injury and property damage. In many cases, we insure third parties, including general contractors, as additional insureds under our insurance policies. Losses are accrued based upon our known claims incurred and an estimate of claims incurred but not reported. As a result, many of our claims are effectively self-insured. Many claims against our insurance are in the form of litigation. At March 31, 2018, and September 30, 2017, we had $6,816 and $6,204, respectively, accrued for self-insurance liabilities. We are also subject to construction defect liabilities, primarily within our Residential segment. As of March 31, 2018, and September 30, 2017, we had $230 and $218, respectively, reserved for these claims. Because the reserves are based on judgment and estimates and involve variables that are inherently uncertain, such as the outcome of litigation and an assessment of insurance coverage, there can be no assurance that the ultimate liability will not be higher or lower than such estimates or that the timing of payments will not create liquidity issues for the Company. Some of the underwriters of our casualty insurance program require us to post letters of credit as collateral. This is common in the insurance industry. To date, we have not had a situation where an underwriter has had reasonable cause to effect payment under a letter of credit. At March 31, 2018, and September 30, 2017, $5,900 and $5,985, respectively, of our outstanding letters of credit was utilized to collateralize our insurance program. Surety As of March 31, 2018, the estimated cost to complete our bonded projects was approximately $60,114. We evaluate our bonding requirements on a regular basis, including the terms offered by our sureties. We believe the bonding capacity presently provided by our current sureties is adequate for our current operations and will be adequate for our operations for the foreseeable future. Posting letters of credit in favor of our sureties reduces the borrowing availability under our credit facility Other Commitments and Contingencies Some of our customers and vendors require us to post letters of credit, or provide intercompany guarantees, as a means of guaranteeing performance under our contracts and ensuring payment by us to subcontractors and vendors. If our customer has reasonable cause to effect payment under a letter of credit, we would be required to reimburse our creditor for the letter of credit. At both March 31, 2018, and September 30, 2017, $508 of our outstanding letters of credit were to collateralize our vendors. From time to time, we may enter into firm purchase commitments for materials, such as copper or aluminum wire, which we expect to use in the ordinary course of business. These commitments are typically for terms of less than one year and require us to buy minimum quantities of materials at specific intervals at a fixed price over the term. As of March 31, 2018, we had no such commitments.

Commitments And Contingencies

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]

12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal Matters

From time to time we are a party to various claims, lawsuits and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. We maintain various insurance coverages to minimize financial risk associated with these proceedings. None of these proceedings, separately or in the aggregate, are expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. With respect to all such proceedings, we record reserves when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. We expense routine legal costs related to these proceedings as they are incurred.

The following is a discussion of our significant legal matters:

Capstone Construction Claims

From 2003 to 2005, two of our former subsidiaries performed HVAC and electrical work under contract with Capstone Building Corporation (“Capstone”) on a university student housing project in Texas. In 2005, our subsidiaries filed for arbitration against Capstone, seeking payment for work performed, change orders and other impacts. The parties settled those claims, and the release included a waiver of warranties associated with any of the HVAC work. Several years later, the subsidiaries discontinued operations, and the Company sold their assets.

On October 24, 2013, Capstone filed a petition in the 12th Judicial District Court of Walker County, Texas against these subsidiaries, among other subcontractors, seeking contribution, defense, indemnity and damages for breach of contract in connection with alleged construction defect claims brought against Capstone by the owner of the student housing project. The owner claimed $10,406 in damages, plus attorneys’ fees and costs against Capstone, which Capstone sought to recover from the subcontractors. The claims against the Company were based on alleged defects in the mechanical design, construction and installation of the HVAC and electrical systems performed by our former subsidiaries.

Following mediation in June and November 2017, the Company reached an agreement in late December 2017 to settle all claims brought against it. In the six months ended March 31, 2018, a mutual settlement and release agreement was executed by the plaintiffs and the Company resulting in a charge and payment by the Company of $200.

USAMRIID Claim

On December 6, 2017, IES Commercial, Inc. filed suit in the United States District Court of Maryland in the matter USA for the use and benefit of IES Commercial, Inc. and IES Commercial, Inc. v. Manhattan Construction Co., Torcon, Inc., Manhattan Torcon A Joint Venture, Federal Ins. Co., Fidelity & Deposit Co. of Maryland, Zurich American Ins. Co., and Travelers Casualty & Surety Co. This suit relates to a large project which has been ongoing since 2009 and was scheduled for completion in early 2013. As the Company has previously disclosed, the Company entered into a subcontract in 2009 with Manhattan Torcon A Joint Venture to perform subcontracting services at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (“USAMRIID”) replacement facility project for a contract value of approximately $61,146, subject to additions or deductions. Because of delays on the project and additional work the Company performed, the Company believes it is owed approximately $21,000 for claims incurred as of August 31, 2017, and an additional approximate $4,500 for claims the Company expects to incur from August 31, 2017, through completion of the project. On January 22, 2018, the defendants in this matter filed a motion to dismiss the suit, and on February 2, 2018, we filed our response. We are awaiting a decision on this matter.

Given the uncertainty litigation poses, the Company has not recorded any recovery in connection with this claim. There can be no assurance that the Company will prevail in this litigation matter or that, if the Company does prevail, it will receive an amount substantially similar to the amount sought or not receive a significantly lower award.

Risk-Management

We retain the risk for workers’ compensation, employer’s liability, automobile liability, construction defects, general liability and employee group health claims, as well as pollution coverage, resulting from uninsured deductibles per accident or occurrence which are generally subject to annual aggregate limits. Our general liability program provides coverage for bodily injury and property damage. In many cases, we insure third parties, including general contractors, as additional insureds under our insurance policies. Losses are accrued based upon our known claims incurred and an estimate of claims incurred but not reported. As a result, many of our claims are effectively self-insured. Many claims against our insurance are in the form of litigation. At March 31, 2018, and September 30, 2017, we had $6,816 and $6,204, respectively, accrued for self-insurance liabilities. We are also subject to construction defect liabilities, primarily within our Residential segment. As of March 31, 2018, and September 30, 2017, we had $230 and $218, respectively, reserved for these claims. Because the reserves are based on judgment and estimates and involve variables that are inherently uncertain, such as the outcome of litigation and an assessment of insurance coverage, there can be no assurance that the ultimate liability will not be higher or lower than such estimates or that the timing of payments will not create liquidity issues for the Company.

Some of the underwriters of our casualty insurance program require us to post letters of credit as collateral. This is common in the insurance industry. To date, we have not had a situation where an underwriter has had reasonable cause to effect payment under a letter of credit. At March 31, 2018, and September 30, 2017, $5,900 and $5,985, respectively, of our outstanding letters of credit was utilized to collateralize our insurance program.

Surety

As of March 31, 2018, the estimated cost to complete our bonded projects was approximately $60,114. We evaluate our bonding requirements on a regular basis, including the terms offered by our sureties. We believe the bonding capacity presently provided by our current sureties is adequate for our current operations and will be adequate for our operations for the foreseeable future. Posting letters of credit in favor of our sureties reduces the borrowing availability under our credit facility

Other Commitments and Contingencies

Some of our customers and vendors require us to post letters of credit, or provide intercompany guarantees, as a means of guaranteeing performance under our contracts and ensuring payment by us to subcontractors and vendors. If our customer has reasonable cause to effect payment under a letter of credit, we would be required to reimburse our creditor for the letter of credit. At both March 31, 2018, and September 30, 2017, $508 of our outstanding letters of credit were to collateralize our vendors.

From time to time, we may enter into firm purchase commitments for materials, such as copper or aluminum wire, which we expect to use in the ordinary course of business. These commitments are typically for terms of less than one year and require us to buy minimum quantities of materials at specific intervals at a fixed price over the term. As of March 31, 2018, we had no such commitments.