Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Components Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss and changes for the six months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, 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, 2017
Balance at January 1, 2017	$	16,570		$	5,047		$	(76,476	)	$	(54,859	)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	25,745			1,081			—			26,826
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(6,058		)	—			—			(6,058		)
Balance at March 31, 2017	$	36,257		$	6,128		$	(76,476	)	$	(34,091	)
Six Months Ended March 31, 2017
Balance at October 1, 2016	$	64,782		$	6,054		$	(76,476	)	$	(5,640	)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	(4,705		)	543			—			(4,162		)
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(23,820		)	(469		)	—			(24,289		)
Balance at March 31, 2017	$	36,257		$	6,128		$	(76,476	)	$	(34,091	)
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

Schedule Of Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The details about the reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the six months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 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 Loss												Affected Line Item in the Statement Where Net Income (Loss) is Presented
	Three Months Ended March 31,						Six Months Ended March 31,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Gains (Losses) on Derivative Financial Instrument Cash Flow Hedges:
Commodity Contracts		$12,109			$57,914			$43,429			$114,242		Operating Revenues
Commodity Contracts	(1,498		)	3,530			(1,958		)	4,450			Purchased Gas
Foreign Currency Contracts	(139		)	(209		)	(282		)	(287		)	Operation and Maintenance Expense
Gains (Losses) on Securities Available for Sale	—			388			741			388			Other Income
	10,472			61,623			41,930			118,793			Total Before Income Tax
	(4,414		)	(25,763		)	(17,641		)	(43,769		)	Income Tax Expense
		$6,058			$35,860			$24,289			$75,024		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, 2017		At September 30, 2016
Prepayments	$	5,284	$	10,919
Prepaid Property and Other Taxes	22,563		13,138
Federal Income Taxes Receivable	—		11,758
State Income Taxes Receivable	5,237		3,961
Fair Values of Firm Commitments	—		3,962
Regulatory Assets	18,501		15,616
	$	51,585	$	59,354

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, 2017		At September 30, 2016
Accrued Capital Expenditures	$	13,964	$	26,796
Regulatory Liabilities	29,579		14,725
Reserve for Gas Replacement	20,215		—
Federal Income Taxes Payable	9,355		—
Other	33,174		32,909
	$	106,287	$	74,430