EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Net Benefit Costs

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						Nine Months Ended						Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,						June 30,						June 30,
(Thousands)	2014			2013			2014			2013			2014			2013			2014			2013
Service cost	$	1,536		$	1,718		$	4,608		$	5,154		$	980		$	1,171		$	2,942		$	3,513
Interest cost	2,517			2,235			7,550			6,705			1,434			1,287			4,300			3,861
Expected return on plan assets	(3,869		)	(3,706		)	(11,607		)	(11,118		)	(1,043		)	(913		)	(3,130		)	(2,739		)
Recognized actuarial loss	1,399			1,911			4,197			5,733			625			964			1,875			2,892
Prior service cost amortization	27			27			83			81			(89		)	(281		)	(267		)	(267		)
Recognized net initial obligation	—			—			—			—			3			199			8			21
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,610		$	2,185		$	4,831		$	6,555		$	1,910		$	2,427		$	5,728		$	7,281