FAIR VALUE (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping

The estimated fair value of long-term debt, including current maturities and excluding capital leases, is as follows:

(Thousands)	March 31, 2013		September 30, 2012
Carrying value	$	479,845	$	479,845
Fair market value	$	527,809	$	530,056

Schedule of Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis 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 March 31, 2013:
Assets:
Physical forward commodity contracts		$	—		$	10,730		$	—	$	10,730
Financial derivative contracts - natural gas		31,998			134			—		32,132
Financial derivative contracts - foreign exchange		—			71			—		71
Available for sale equity securities - energy industry (1)		11,563			—			—		11,563
Other (2)		36			—			—		36
Total assets at fair value		$	43,597		$	10,935		$	—	$	54,532
Liabilities:
Physical forward commodity contracts		$	—		$	4,722		$	—	$	4,722
Financial derivative contracts - natural gas		43,087			—			—		43,087
Financial derivative contracts - foreign exchange		—			26			—		26
Other		—			—			—		—
Total liabilities at fair value		$	43,087		$	4,748		$	—	$	47,835
As of September 30, 2012:
Assets:
Physical forward commodity contracts		$	—		$	20,248		$	—	$	20,248
Financial derivative contracts - natural gas		14,270			15,645			—		29,915
Financial derivative contracts - foreign exchange		—			186			—		186
Available for sale equity securities - energy industry(1)		11,009			—			—		11,009
Other (2)		30			—			—		30
Total assets at fair value		$	25,309		$	36,079		$	—	$	61,388
Liabilities:
Physical forward commodity contracts		$	—		$	9,746		$	—	$	9,746
Financial derivative contracts - natural gas		16,922			18,793			—		35,715
Financial derivative contracts - foreign exchange		—			112			—		112
Other		—			—			—		—
Total liabilities at fair value		$	16,922		$	28,651		$	—	$	45,573

(1) Included in Other noncurrent assets on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(2) Includes various money market funds.