Retirement Plan And Other Post-Retirement Benefits (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Retirement Plan And Other Post-Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Components Of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

Three Months Ended March 31,
					Other Post-Retirement
	Retirement Plan				Benefits
	2013		2012		2013		2012
Service Cost	$	3,961	$	3,551	$	1,176	$	1,004
Interest Cost		9,124		10,381		4,803		5,329
Expected Return on Plan Assets		(14,336)		(14,925)		(8,218)		(7,243)
Amortization of Prior Service Cost		60		67		(534)		(534)
Amortization of Transition Amount		-		-		2		3
Amortization of Losses		13,194		9,904		5,223		6,014
Net Amortization and Deferral for
Regulatory Purposes (Including
Volumetric Adjustments) (1)		1,724		2,200		6,459		5,141
Net Periodic Benefit Cost	$	13,727	$	11,178	$	8,911	$	9,714

Six Months Ended March 31,
					Other Post-Retirement
	Retirement Plan				Benefits
	2013		2012		2013		2012
Service Cost	$	7,923	$	7,101	$	2,352	$	2,008
Interest Cost		18,249		20,763		9,606		10,657
Expected Return on Plan Assets		(28,673)		(29,850)		(16,436)		(14,486)
Amortization of Prior Service Cost		119		134		(1,069)		(1,069)
Amortization of Transition Amount		-		-		4		5
Amortization of Losses		26,388		19,807		10,446		12,029
Net Amortization and Deferral for
Regulatory Purposes (Including
Volumetric Adjustments) (1)		(1,958)		399		9,162		7,274
Net Periodic Benefit Cost	$	22,048	$	18,354	$	14,065	$	16,418

⁽¹⁾The Company’s policy is to record retirement plan and other post-retirement benefit costs in the Utility segment on a volumetric basis to reflect the fact that the Utility segment experiences higher throughput of natural gas in the winter months and lower throughput of natural gas in the summer months.