EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block]

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