Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Components Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and changes for the quarter and six months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, net of related tax effect, are as follows (amounts in parentheses indicate debits) (in thousands):



	Gains and Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments			Gains and Losses on Securities Available for Sale			Funded Status of the Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans			Total
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
Balance at January 1, 2016	$	162,728		$	5,522		$	(69,794	)	$	98,456
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	19,578			12			—			19,590
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(35,635		)	(225		)	—			(35,860		)
Balance at March 31, 2016	$	146,671		$	5,309		$	(69,794	)	$	82,186
Six Months Ended March 31, 2016
Balance at October 1, 2015	$	157,197		$	5,969		$	(69,794	)	$	93,372
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	64,273			(435		)	—			63,838
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(74,799		)	(225		)	—			(75,024		)
Balance at March 31, 2016	$	146,671		$	5,309		$	(69,794	)	$	82,186
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
Balance at January 1, 2015	$	170,363		$	8,130		$	(56,020	)	$	122,473
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	35,263			166			—			35,429
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(31,213		)	—			—			(31,213		)
Balance at March 31, 2015	$	174,413		$	8,296		$	(56,020	)	$	126,689
Six Months Ended March 31, 2015
Balance at October 1, 2014	$	43,659		$	8,382		$	(56,020	)	$	(3,979	)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	176,143			(86		)	—			176,057
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(45,389		)	—			—			(45,389		)
Balance at March 31, 2015	$	174,413		$	8,296		$	(56,020	)	$	126,689

Schedule Of Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The details about the reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the quarter and six months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows (amounts in parentheses indicate debits to the income statement) (in thousands):



Details About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Components	Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income												Affected Line Item in the Statement Where Net Income (Loss) is Presented
	Three Months Ended March 31,						Six Months Ended March 31,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Gains (Losses) on Derivative Financial Instrument Cash Flow Hedges:
Commodity Contracts		$57,914			$53,471			$114,242			$73,508		Operating Revenues
Commodity Contracts	3,530			659			4,450			4,887			Purchased Gas
Foreign Currency Contracts	(209		)	—			(287		)	—			Operation and Maintenance Expense
Gains (Losses) on Securities Available for Sale	388			—			388			—			Other Income
	61,623			54,130			118,793			78,395			Total Before Income Tax
	(25,763		)	(22,917		)	(43,769		)	(33,006		)	Income Tax Expense
		$35,860			$31,213			$75,024			$45,389		Net of Tax

Schedule Of Other Current Assets

The components of the Company’s Other Current Assets are as follows (in thousands):



	At March 31, 2016		At September 30, 2015

Prepayments	$	5,923	$	10,743
Prepaid Property and Other Taxes	21,757		13,709
Fair Values of Firm Commitments	12,941		15,775
Regulatory Assets	16,093		20,438
	$	56,714	$	60,665

Schedule Of Other Accruals And Current Liabilities

The components of the Company’s Other Accruals and Current Liabilities are as follows (in thousands):



	At March 31, 2016		At September 30, 2015

Accrued Capital Expenditures	$	38,299	$	53,652
Regulatory Liabilities	20,786		5,346
Reserve for Gas Replacement	17,469		—
Federal Income Taxes Payable	4,102		5,686
State Income Taxes Payable	224		1,170
Other	24,045		30,703
	$	104,925	$	96,557