FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
U. S. Stock/Bond Mutual Funds	$ 19,120	$ 14,500	$ 13,922
NYMEX natural gas contracts- Asset	2,516	0	3,175
Derivative Assets, OTCBB Natural Gas Contracts, Fair Value	6,015	0
NYMEX gasoline and heating oil contracts- Asset	49	0	130
Total Assets	27,700	14,500	17,227
NYMEX natural gas contracts- Liabilities	3,811	0	0
Derivative Liabilities, OTCBB Natural Gas Contracts, Fair Value	0	5,211
Total Liabilities	3,811	5,211
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
U. S. Stock/Bond Mutual Funds	16,340	14,500	13,922
NYMEX natural gas contracts- Asset	6,983	1,466	10,862
Derivative Assets, OTCBB Natural Gas Contracts, Fair Value	0	0
NYMEX gasoline and heating oil contracts- Asset	49	105	322
Total Assets	23,372	16,071	25,106
NYMEX natural gas contracts- Liabilities	3,811	3,455	339
Derivative Liabilities, OTCBB Natural Gas Contracts, Fair Value	0	0
Total Liabilities	3,811	3,455
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
U. S. Stock/Bond Mutual Funds	2,780	0	0
NYMEX natural gas contracts- Asset	0	0	0
Derivative Assets, OTCBB Natural Gas Contracts, Fair Value	6,330	232
NYMEX gasoline and heating oil contracts- Asset	0	0	0
Total Assets	9,110	232	0
NYMEX natural gas contracts- Liabilities	0	0	0
Derivative Liabilities, OTCBB Natural Gas Contracts, Fair Value	315	5,443
Total Liabilities	315	5,443
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
U. S. Stock/Bond Mutual Funds	0	0	0
NYMEX natural gas contracts- Asset	0	0	0
Derivative Assets, OTCBB Natural Gas Contracts, Fair Value	0	0
NYMEX gasoline and heating oil contracts- Asset	0	0	0
Total Assets	0	0	0
NYMEX natural gas contracts- Liabilities	0	0	0
Derivative Liabilities, OTCBB Natural Gas Contracts, Fair Value	0	0
Total Liabilities	0	0
Effects of Netting and Cash Margin Receivables Payables [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
U. S. Stock/Bond Mutual Funds	0	0	0
NYMEX natural gas contracts- Asset	(4,467)	(1,466)	(7,687)
Derivative Assets, OTCBB Natural Gas Contracts, Fair Value	(315)	(232)
NYMEX gasoline and heating oil contracts- Asset	0	(105)	(192)
Total Assets	(4,782)	(1,803)	(7,879)
NYMEX natural gas contracts- Liabilities	0	(3,455)	(339)
Derivative Liabilities, OTCBB Natural Gas Contracts, Fair Value	(315)	(232)
Total Liabilities	$ (315)	$ (3,687)