EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

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 the Company's Pension Equalization Plan, and OPEB costs (principally health care and life insurance) for employees and covered dependents were as follows:

	Pension												OPEB
	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended						Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	March 31,						March 31,						March 31,						March 31,
(Thousands)	2012			2011			2012			2011			2012			2011			2012			2011
Service cost	$	1,344		$	1,194		$	2,688		$	2,388		$	896		$	836		$	1,792		$	1,672
Interest cost	2,206			2,095			4,412			4,189			1,283			1,212			2,566			2,423
Expected return on plan assets	(3,171		)	(2,873		)	(6,342		)	(5,745		)	(686		)	(618		)	(1,372		)	(1,236		)
Recognized actuarial loss	1,254			987			2,508			1,973			724			653			1,448			1,306
Prior service cost amortization	11			12			22			24			6			19			12			38
Recognized net initial obligation	—			—			—			—			89			89			178			178
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,644		$	1,415		$	3,288		$	2,829		$	2,312		$	2,191		$	4,624		$	4,381

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, interest rates 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 $20 million to the pension plans in December 2011.