EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Net Funded Status [Table Text Block]

The following summarizes the changes in the funded status of the plans and the related liabilities recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30:

	Pension (1)						OPEB
(Thousands)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	171,148		$	155,189		$	99,066		$	89,279
Service cost	5,375			4,775			3,584			3,345
Interest cost	8,825			8,378			5,133			4,845
Plan participants' contributions	47			48			29			16
Amendments	1,083			—			(3,423		)	—
Actuarial loss	30,428			8,342			18,807			3,637
Benefits paid, net of retiree subsidies received	(5,770		)	(5,584		)	(2,169		)	(2,056		)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	211,136		$	171,148		$	121,027		$	99,066
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	124,289		$	122,865		$	31,428		$	27,644
Actual return on plan assets	28,018			1,933			6,222			(556		)
Employer contributions	20,080			5,027			5,775			6,497
Benefits paid, net of plan participants' contributions	(5,723		)	(5,536		)	(2,335		)	(2,157		)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	166,664		$	124,289		$	41,090		$	31,428
Funded status	$	(44,472	)	$	(46,859	)	$	(79,937	)	$	(67,638	)
Amounts recognized on Consolidated Balance Sheets
Postemployment employee benefit liability
Current	$	(93	)	$	(75	)	$	(120	)	$	(117	)
Non-current	(44,379		)	(46,784		)	(79,817		)	(67,521		)
Total	$	(44,472	)	$	(46,859	)	$	(79,937	)	$	(67,638	)

(1) Includes the Company's Pension Equalization Plan (PEP).

Schedule of Pension Costs Recognized in Regulatory Assets and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Table Text Block]

The following table summarizes the amounts recognized in regulatory assets and accumulated other comprehensive income as of September 30:

	Regulatory Assets							Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	Pension			OPEB				Pension			OPEB
Balance at September 30, 2010	$	62,565		$	38,750		(1)	$	18,045		$	9,305
Amounts arising during the period:
Net actuarial loss (gain)	12,912			11,592				4,987			(4,927		)
Amounts amortized to net periodic costs:
Net actuarial (loss)	(3,087		)	(2,063		)		(859		)	(549		)
Prior service (cost)	(35		)	(68		)		(13		)	(7		)
Net transition obligation	—			(286		)		—			(70		)
Balance at September 30, 2011	$	72,355		$	47,925		(1)	$	22,160		$	3,752
Amounts arising during the period:
Net actuarial loss (gain)	10,896			16,773				4,198			(1,442		)
Amounts amortized to net periodic costs:
Net actuarial (loss)	(3,848		)	(2,671		)		(1,166		)	(223		)
Prior service credit (cost)	1,046			(2,677		)		(9		)	(420		)
Net transition obligation	—			(551		)		—			(156		)
Balance at September 30, 2012	$	80,449		$	58,799		(1)	$	25,183		$	1,511

(1) Balance represents amounts recognized in accordance with ASC 715 and excludes $308,000 and $609,000 associated with a regulatory asset approved by the BPU for fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Schedule of Amounts in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to be Recognized over Next Fiscal Year [Table Text Block]

Amounts included in regulatory assets and accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost in fiscal 2013 are as follows:

	Regulatory Assets						Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
(Thousands)	Pension		OPEB				Pension		OPEB
Net actuarial gain	$	5,719	$	3,743		—	$	1,928	$	114
Prior service credit (cost)	105		(301		)	—	3		(54		)
Net transition obligation	—		22			—	—		4
Total	$	5,824	$	3,464		—	$	1,931	$	64

Schedule of Accumulated Benefit Obligations in Excess of Fair Value of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]

The accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) for the pension plans, including the PEP, exceeded the fair value of plan assets. The projected benefit and accumulated benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets as of September 30, are as follows:

	Pension
(Thousands)	2012		2011
Projected benefit obligation	$	211,136	$	171,148
Accumulated benefit obligation	$	186,825	$	151,590
Fair value of plan assets	$	166,664	$	124,289

Schedule of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block]

The components of the net periodic cost for pension benefits, including the Company's PEP, and OPEB costs (principally health care and life insurance) for employees and covered dependents for fiscal years endedSeptember 30, are as follows:

	Pension									OPEB
(Thousands)	2012			2011			2010			2012			2011			2010
Service cost	$	5,375		$	4,775		$	3,969		$	3,584		$	3,345		$	2,814
Interest cost	8,825			8,378			8,196			5,133			4,845			4,819
Expected return on plan assets	(12,685		)	(11,490		)	(10,306		)	(2,746		)	(2,472		)	(1,939		)
Recognized actuarial loss	5,015			3,946			2,722			2,894			2,612			2,279
Prior service cost amortization	46			48			56			25			75			76
Recognized net initial obligation	—			—			—			356			356			356
Net periodic benefit cost	$	6,576		$	5,657		$	4,637		$	9,246		$	8,761		$	8,405

Schedule of Assumptions Used [Table Text Block]

The weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit costs during the fiscal year and obligations as of September 30, are as follows:

	Pension						OPEB
	2012		2011		2010		2012		2011		2010
Benefit costs:
Discount rate	5.25	%	5.50	%	6.25	%	5.25	%	5.50	%	6.25	%
Expected asset return	8.25	%	8.25	%	8.25	%	8.25	%	8.25	%	8.25	%
Compensation increase	3.25	%	2.50/3.25%		3.75	%	3.25	%	3.25	%	3.75	%
Obligations:
Discount rate	4.30	%	5.25	%	5.50	%	4.30	%	5.25	%	5.50	%
Compensation increase	3.25	%	3.25	%	2.50/3.25%		3.25	%	3.25	%	2.50/3.25%

Schedule of Health Care Cost Trend Rates and Effect of One Percentage Point Change in Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates [Table Text Block]

Information relating to the assumed health care cost trend rate (HCCTR) used to determine expected OPEB benefits as of September 30, and the effect of a one percent change in the rate, are as follows:

($ in thousands)	2012			2011			2010
HCCTR	7.5		%	8.2		%	8.0		%
Ultimate HCCTR	4.8		%	4.8		%	5.0		%
Year ultimate HCCTR reached	2022			2019			2018
Effect of a 1 percentage point increase in the HCCTR on:
Year-end benefit obligation	$	21,278		$	17,193		$	15,474
Total service and interest cost	$	1,868		$	1,751		$	1,571
Effect of a 1 percentage point decrease in the HCCTR on:
Year-end benefit obligation	$	(17,034	)	$	(13,792	)	$	(12,421	)
Total service and interest costs	$	(1,457	)	$	(1,367	)	$	(1,234	)

Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]

The mix and targeted allocation of the pension and OPEB plans' assets are as follows:

	2013		Assets at
	Target		September 30,
Asset Allocation	Allocation		2012		2011
U.S. equity securities	39	%	39	%	36	%
International equity securities	20		21		17
Fixed income	41		40		47
Total	100	%	100	%	100	%

Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments [Table Text Block]

The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid during the following years:

(Thousands)	Pension		OPEB
2013	$	6,451	$	2,865
2014	$	6,853	$	3,278
2015	$	7,289	$	3,712
2016	$	7,760	$	4,189
2017	$	8,269	$	4,688
2018 - 2022	$	52,985	$	31,951

Schedule of Prescription Drug Subsidies [Table Text Block]

The estimated subsidy payments are:

	Estimated Subsidy Payment
Fiscal Year	(Thousands)
2013	$220
2014	$237
2015	$257
2016	$280
2017	$305
2018 - 2022	$2,010

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block]

Pension assets held in the master trust, measured at fair value are summarized as follows:

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets			Significant Other Observable Inputs			Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Thousands)	(Level 1)			(Level 2)			(Level 3)			Total
As of September 30, 2012:
Assets:
Money market funds		$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—
Registered Investment Companies-
Equity Funds:
Large Cap Fund		—			—			—		—
Large Cap Index Fund		55,006			—			—		55,006
Small Cap Fund		9,988			—			—		9,988
World Equity Ex-US Fund		34,266			—			—		34,266
Fixed Income Funds:
Emerging Markets Debt Fund		8,380			—			—		8,380
High Yield Bond Fund		16,635			—			—		16,635
Long Duration Fund		42,389			—			—		42,389
Total assets at fair value		$	166,664		$	—		$	—	$	166,664
As of September 30, 2011:
Assets:
Money market funds		$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—
Registered Investment Companies-
Equity Funds:
Large Cap Fund		18,754			—			—		18,754
Large Cap Index Fund		18,922			—			—		18,922
Small Cap Fund		6,505			—			—		6,505
World Equity Ex-US Fund		20,993			—			—		20,993
Fixed Income Funds:
Emerging Markets Debt Fund		6,145			—			—		6,145
High Yield Bond Fund		12,537			—			—		12,537
Long Duration Fund		40,433			—			—		40,433
Total assets at fair value		$	124,289		$	—		$	—	$	124,289

OPEB assets held in the Master Trust, measured at fair value are summarized as follows:

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets			Significant Other Observable Inputs			Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Thousands)	(Level 1)			(Level 2)			(Level 3)			Total
As of September 30, 2012:
Assets:
Money market funds		$	1,159		$	—		$	—	$	1,159
Registered Investment Companies-
Equity Funds:
Large Cap Fund		—			—			—		—
Large Cap Index Fund		13,217			—			—		13,217
Small Cap Fund		2,380			—			—		2,380
World Equity Ex-US Fund		8,166			—			—		8,166
Fixed Income Funds:
Core Fixed Income Fund		10,207			—			—		10,207
Emerging Markets Debt Fund		1,997			—			—		1,997
High Yield Bond Fund		3,964			—			—		3,964
Total assets at fair value		$	41,090		$	—		$	—	$	41,090
As of September 30, 2011:
Assets:
Money market funds		$	1,593		$	—		$	—	$	1,593
Registered Investment Companies-
Equity Funds:
Large Cap Fund		4,765			—			—		4,765
Large Cap Index Fund		4,825			—			—		4,825
Small Cap Fund		1,591			—			—		1,591
World Equity Ex-US Fund		5,550			—			—		5,550
Fixed Income Funds:
Core Fixed Income Fund		8,366			—			—		8,366
Emerging Markets Debt Fund		1,589			—			—		1,589
High Yield Bond Fund		3,149			—			—		3,149
Total assets at fair value		$	31,428		$	—		$	—	$	31,428