EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Pension and Other Postemployment Benefit Plans

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)	2015			2014			2015			2014			2015			2014			2015			2014
Service cost	$	1,872		$	1,536		$	5,614		$	4,608		$	1,063		$	980		$	3,190		$	2,942
Interest cost	2,549			2,517			7,649			7,550			1,434			1,434			4,304			4,300
Expected return on plan assets	(4,272		)	(3,869		)	(12,817		)	(11,607		)	(1,245		)	(1,043		)	(3,733		)	(3,130		)
Recognized actuarial loss	1,747			1,399			5,239			4,197			737			625			2,208			1,875
Prior service cost amortization	28			27			83			83			(91		)	(89		)	(273		)	(267		)
Recognized net initial obligation	—			—			—			—			—			3			—			8
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,924		$	1,610		$	5,768		$	4,831		$	1,898		$	1,910		$	5,696		$	5,728

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, which includes the most recent mortality table change; 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. There were no discretionary contributions made during the nine months endedJune 30, 2015 and 2014.