Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

The components, as reported on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, of the total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash presented on the Statement of Cash Flows are as follows (in thousands):

	Six Months Ended  March 31, 2021				Six Months Ended  March 31, 2020
	Balance at October 1, 2020		Balance at March 31, 2021		Balance at October 1, 2019		Balance at March 31, 2020
Cash and Temporary Cash Investments	$	20,541	$	80,467	$	20,428	$	111,655
Hedging Collateral Deposits	—		—		6,832		10,728
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash	$	20,541	$	80,467	$	27,260	$	122,383

Schedule of Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts

Activity in the allowance for uncollectible accounts for the six months ended March 31, 2021 are as follows:

	Balance at Beginning of Period		Additions Charged to Costs and Expenses		Add: Discounts on Purchased Receivables		Deduct: Net Accounts Receivable Written-Off		Balance at End of Period
Six Months Ended March 31, 2021
Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts	$	22,810	$	11,074	$	737	$	4,493	$	30,128

Schedule of Materials, Supplies and Emission Allowances

The components of the Company's materials, supplies and emission allowances are as follows:

	At March 31, 2021		At September 30, 2020
Materials and Supplies - at average cost	$	33,532	$	33,859
Emission Allowances	18,680		18,018
	$	52,212	$	51,877

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and changes for the six months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, net of related tax effect, are as follows (amounts in parentheses indicate debits) (in thousands): 

	Gains and Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments		Funded Status of the Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans		Total
Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
Balance at January 1, 2021	$	10,151	$	(89,892)	$	(79,741)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	(24,903)		—		(24,903)
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	2,656		—		2,656
Balance at March 31, 2021	$	(12,096)	$	(89,892)	$	(101,988)
Six Months Ended March 31, 2021
Balance at October 1, 2020	$	(24,865)	$	(89,892)	$	(114,757)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	9,888		—		9,888
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	2,881		—		2,881
Balance at March 31, 2021	$	(12,096)	$	(89,892)	$	(101,988)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
Balance at January 1, 2020	$	30,680	$	(86,830)	$	(56,150)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	55,450		—		55,450
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(18,217)		—		(18,217)
Balance at March 31, 2020	$	67,913	$	(86,830)	$	(18,917)
Six Months Ended March 31, 2020
Balance at October 1, 2019	$	34,675	$	(86,830)	$	(52,155)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	55,825		—		55,825
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(23,537)		—		(23,537)
Cumulative Effect of Adoption of Authoritative Guidance for Hedging	950		—		950
Balance at March 31, 2020	$	67,913	$	(86,830)	$	(18,917)

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 six months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 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 is Presented
	Three Months Ended March 31,		Six Months Ended March 31,
	2021	2020	2021	2020
Gains (Losses) on Derivative Financial Instrument Cash Flow Hedges:
Commodity Contracts	($3,761)	$23,396	($4,071)	$30,937	Operating Revenues
Commodity Contracts	—	1,909	—	1,911	Purchased Gas
Foreign Currency Contracts	95	(271)	94	(462)	Operating Revenues
	(3,666)	25,034	(3,977)	32,386	Total Before Income Tax
	1,010	(6,817)	1,096	(8,849)	Income Tax Expense
	($2,656)	$18,217	($2,881)	$23,537	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, 2021		At September 30, 2020
Prepayments	$	7,692	$	12,851
Prepaid Property and Other Taxes	23,373		14,269
State Income Taxes Receivable	—		3,828
Regulatory Assets	25,052		16,609
	$	56,117	$	47,557

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, 2021		At September 30, 2020
Accrued Capital Expenditures	$	49,526	$	33,344
Regulatory Liabilities	34,832		44,890
Reserve for Gas Replacement	21,432		—
Liability for Royalty and Working Interests	22,475		15,665
Non-Qualified Benefit Plan Liability	14,460		14,460
Other	34,215		31,817
	$	176,940	$	140,176