EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2010

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Pension and Other Postemployment Benefit Plans (OPEB)

The components of the net periodic cost for pension benefits, including NJR's Pension Equalization Plan, and OPEB costs (principally health care and life insurance) for employees and covered dependents are as follows:

	Pension												OPEB
	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended						Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,						June 30,						June 30,
(Thousands)	2011			2010			2011			2010			2011			2010			2011			2010
Service cost	$	1,194		$	992		$	3,582		$	2,976		$	836		$	704		$	2,508		$	2,112
Interest cost	2,094			2,049			6,283			6,147			1,211			1,204			3,634			3,612
Expected return on plan assets	(2,873		)	(2,577		)	(8,618		)	(7,731		)	(618		)	(485		)	(1,854		)	(1,455		)
Recognized actuarial loss	987			681			2,960			2,043			653			570			1,959			1,710
Prior service cost amortization	12			14			36			42			19			19			57			57
Recognized net initial obligation	—			—			—			—			89			89			267			267
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,414		$	1,159		$	4,243		$	3,477		$	2,190		$	2,101		$	6,571		$	6,303

The Company does not expect to be required to make additional contributions to fund the pension plans over the next three fiscal years based on current actuarial assumptions; however, funding requirements are uncertain and can depend significantly on changes in actuarial assumptions, returns on plan assets and changes in the demographics of eligible employees and covered dependents. In addition, as in the past, the Company may elect to make contributions in excess of the minimum required amount to the plans. NJR made a discretionary contribution of $4.9 million to the pension plans in October 2010. It is anticipated that the annual funding level to the OPEB plans will range from $5.5 million to $6.6 million annually over the next five years. Additional contributions may be made based on market conditions and various assumptions.