EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

10. 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						Three Months Ended
	December 31,						December 31,
(Thousands)	2017			2016			2017			2016
Service cost	$	2,035		$	2,087		$	1,152		$	1,095
Interest cost	2,623			2,443			1,591			1,386
Expected return on plan assets	(4,910		)	(4,828		)	(1,338		)	(1,192		)
Recognized actuarial loss	1,884			2,207			1,165			1,093
Prior service cost amortization	27			27			(91		)	(91		)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,659		$	1,936		$	2,479		$	2,291

The Company does not expect to be required to make additional contributions to fund the pension plans during fiscal 2018 or 2019 based on current actuarial assumptions; however, funding requirements are uncertain and can depend significantly on changes in actuarial assumptions, returns on plan assets 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 three months endedDecember 31, 2017.