EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

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						Nine Months Ended						Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,						June 30,						June 30,
(Thousands)	2019			2018			2019			2018			2019			2018			2019			2018
Service cost	$	1,845		$	2,035		$	5,536		$	6,104		$	1,101		$	1,152		$	3,303		$	3,455
Interest cost	3,043			2,623			9,129			7,870			2,081			1,591			6,243			4,773
Expected return on plan assets	(4,763		)	(4,910		)	(14,290		)	(14,729		)	(1,379		)	(1,338		)	(4,137		)	(4,014		)
Recognized actuarial loss	1,442			1,884			4,324			5,653			1,617			1,165			4,850			3,495
Prior service cost amortization	25			27			76			80			(91		)	(91		)	(273		)	(273		)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,592		$	1,659		$	4,775		$	4,978		$	3,329		$	2,479		$	9,986		$	7,436

The Company does not expect to be required to make additional contributions to fund the pension plans during fiscal 2019 or 2020 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 nine months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018.