EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

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						Three Months Ended
	December 31,						December 31,
(Thousands)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Service cost	$	1,718		$	1,344		$	1,171		$	896
Interest cost	2,235			2,206			1,287			1,283
Expected return on plan assets	(3,706		)	(3,171		)	(913		)	(686		)
Recognized actuarial loss	1,911			1,254			964			724
Prior service cost amortization	27			11			7			6
Recognized net initial obligation	—			—			(89		)	89
Net periodic benefit cost	$	2,185		$	1,644		$	2,427		$	2,312

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 discretionary contributions of $20 million to the pension plans in both December 2012 and 2011.