FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

3.	FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of financial instruments are as follows:

(Thousands)	Carrying Amount		Fair Value
As of June 30, 2011
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,094	$	1,094
Marketable securities		16,096		16,096
Derivative instrument assets		6,913		6,913
Short-term debt		32,502		32,502
Long-term debt		364,343		397,684

As of September 30, 2010
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,009	$	1,009
Marketable securities		12,856		12,856
Derivative instrument assets		10,974		10,974
Short-term debt		129,650		129,650
Long-term debt, including current portion		389,298		443,959

As of June 30, 2010
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,298	$	1,298
Marketable securities		11,533		11,533
Derivative instrument assets		10,711		10,711
Short-term debt		76,200		76,200
Long-term debt, including current portion		389,283		432,675

The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents and short-term debt approximate fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments. The fair values of long-term debt are estimated based on market prices for similar issues. The fair values of marketable securities, derivative instrument assets, and derivative instrument liabilities are valued as described in Note 4, Fair Value Measurements.

- Definition

This item represents the complete disclosure regarding the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments, assets, and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the Company is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risk is are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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