Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Components Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and changes for the nine months ended June 30, 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 June 30, 2017
Balance at April 1, 2017	$	36,257		$	6,128		$	(76,476	)	$	(34,091	)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	10,641			905			—			11,546
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(10,759		)	—			—			(10,759		)
Balance at June 30, 2017	$	36,139		$	7,033		$	(76,476	)	$	(33,304	)
Nine Months Ended June 30, 2017
Balance at October 1, 2016	$	64,782		$	6,054		$	(76,476	)	$	(5,640	)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	5,937			1,448			—			7,385
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(34,580		)	(469		)	—			(35,049		)
Balance at June 30, 2017	$	36,139		$	7,033		$	(76,476	)	$	(33,304	)
Three Months Ended June 30, 2016
Balance at April 1, 2016	$	146,671		$	5,309		$	(69,794	)	$	82,186
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	(40,842		)	254			—			(40,588		)
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(33,859		)	—			—			(33,859		)
Balance at June 30, 2016	$	71,970		$	5,563		$	(69,794	)	$	7,739
Nine Months Ended June 30, 2016
Balance at October 1, 2015	$	157,197		$	5,969		$	(69,794	)	$	93,372
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	23,432			(181		)	—			23,251
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(108,659		)	(225		)	—			(108,884		)
Balance at June 30, 2016	$	71,970		$	5,563		$	(69,794	)	$	7,739

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

The details about the reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the nine months ended June 30, 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 Income (Loss)												Affected Line Item in the Statement Where Net Income (Loss) is Presented
	Three Months Ended June 30,						Nine Months Ended June 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Gains (Losses) on Derivative Financial Instrument Cash Flow Hedges:
Commodity Contracts		$18,600			$58,354			$62,030			$172,596		Operating Revenues
Commodity Contracts	21			70			(1,938		)	4,520			Purchased Gas
Foreign Currency Contracts	(169		)	(51		)	(451		)	(337		)	Operation and Maintenance Expense
Gains (Losses) on Securities Available for Sale	—			—			741			388			Other Income
	18,452			58,373			60,382			177,167			Total Before Income Tax
	(7,693		)	(24,514		)	(25,333		)	(68,283		)	Income Tax Expense
		$10,759			$33,859			$35,049			$108,884		Net of Tax

Schedule Of Other Current Assets

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

	At June 30, 2017		At September 30, 2016
Prepayments	$	11,396	$	10,919
Prepaid Property and Other Taxes	11,180		13,138
Federal Income Taxes Receivable	—		11,758
State Income Taxes Receivable	9,658		3,961
Fair Values of Firm Commitments	1,473		3,962
Regulatory Assets	17,145		15,616
	$	50,852	$	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 June 30, 2017		At September 30, 2016
Accrued Capital Expenditures	$	28,129	$	26,796
Regulatory Liabilities	34,552		14,725
Reserve for Gas Replacement	7,667		—
Federal Income Taxes Payable	2,573		—
Other	34,180		32,909
	$	107,101	$	74,430