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Retirement Plan and Other Post-Retirement Benefits (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Schedule of Benefit Obligations, Plan Assets and Funded Status
Reconciliations of the Benefit Obligations, Plan Assets and Funded Status, as well as the components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost and the Weighted Average Assumptions of the Retirement Plan and other post-retirement benefits are shown in the tables below. The components of net periodic benefit cost other than service cost are presented in Other Income (Deductions) on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The date used to measure the Benefit Obligations, Plan Assets and Funded Status is September 30 for fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021.
 Retirement PlanOther Post-Retirement Benefits
 Year Ended September 30Year Ended September 30
 202320222021202320222021
 (Thousands)
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit Obligation at Beginning of Period
$813,828$1,098,456$1,139,105$299,283$431,213$476,722
Service Cost5,1878,7589,8655871,3281,602
Interest Cost42,51622,82721,68615,6489,0669,303
Plan Participants’ Contributions———3,2973,2713,216
Retiree Drug Subsidy Receipts———2,9693121,244
Actuarial Gain(27,313)(251,173)(8,141)(20,789)(120,276)(34,729)
Benefits Paid(65,468)(65,040)(64,059)(26,717)(25,631)(26,145)
Benefit Obligation at End of Period
$768,750$813,828$1,098,456$274,278$299,283$431,213
Change in Plan Assets
Fair Value of Assets at Beginning of Period
$845,205$1,095,729$1,016,796$461,438$575,565$547,885
Actual Return on Plan Assets4,975(205,884)122,99217,449(94,849)47,541
Employer Contributions—20,40020,0002353,0823,068
Plan Participants’ Contributions———3,2973,2713,216
Benefits Paid(65,468)(65,040)(64,059)(26,717)(25,631)(26,145)
Fair Value of Assets at End of Period
$784,712$845,205$1,095,729$455,702$461,438$575,565
Net Amount Recognized at End of Period (Funded Status)
$15,962$31,377$(2,727)$181,424$162,155$144,352
Amounts Recognized in the Balance Sheets Consist of:
Non-Current Liabilities$—$—$(2,727)$(2,915)$(3,065)$(4,799)
Non-Current Assets15,96231,377—184,339165,220149,151
Net Amount Recognized at End of Period
$15,962$31,377$(2,727)$181,424$162,155$144,352
Accumulated Benefit Obligation$751,912$793,555$1,060,659N/AN/AN/A
Weighted Average Assumptions Used to Determine Benefit Obligation at September 30
Discount Rate5.99 %5.57 %2.75 %5.99 %5.56 %2.76 %
Rate of Compensation Increase4.60 %4.60 %4.70 %4.60 %4.60 %4.70 %
 Retirement PlanOther Post-Retirement Benefits
 Year Ended September 30Year Ended September 30
 202320222021202320222021
 (Thousands)
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service Cost$5,187$8,758$9,865$587$1,328$1,602
Interest Cost42,51622,82721,68615,6489,0669,303
Expected Return on Plan Assets(66,593)(52,294)(58,148)(25,612)(29,359)(28,964)
Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)
436537631(429)(429)(429)
Recognition of Actuarial (Gain) Loss(1)(7,680)26,40536,814(8,755)(7,610)849
Net Amortization and Deferral for Regulatory Purposes
21,51216,85414,06315,15721,34028,010
Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Income)$(4,622)$23,087$24,911$(3,404)$(5,664)$10,371
Weighted Average Assumptions Used to Determine Net Periodic Benefit Cost at September 30
Effective Discount Rate for Benefit Obligations
5.57 %2.75 %2.66 %5.56 %2.76 %2.71 %
Effective Rate for Interest on Benefit Obligations
5.45 %2.14 %1.96 %5.45 %2.17 %2.01 %
Effective Discount Rate for Service Cost
5.49 %2.95 %3.01 %5.35 %3.00 %3.20 %
Effective Rate for Interest on Service Cost
5.53 %2.70 %2.60 %5.47 %2.93 %2.98 %
Expected Return on Plan Assets6.90 %5.20 %6.00 %5.70 %5.20 %5.40 %
Rate of Compensation Increase4.60 %4.70 %4.70 %4.60 %4.70 %4.70 %
(1)Distribution Corporation’s New York jurisdiction calculates the amortization of the actuarial loss on a vintage year basis over 10 years, as mandated by the NYPSC. All the other subsidiaries of the Company utilize the corridor approach.
Schedule of Cumulative Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
The cumulative amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), regulatory assets, and regulatory liabilities through fiscal 2023, as well as the changes in such amounts during 2023, are presented in the table below:
Retirement
Plan		Other
Post-Retirement
Benefits		Non-Qualified
Benefit Plans
 (Thousands)
Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities(1)
Net Actuarial Gain (Loss)$(128,118)$18,440 $(17,286)
Prior Service (Cost) Credit(2,036)1,115 — 
Net Amount Recognized$(130,154)$19,555 $(17,286)
Changes to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities Recognized During Fiscal 2023(1)
Increase in Actuarial Gain (Loss), excluding amortization(2)$(34,305)$12,626 $(2,139)
Change due to Amortization of Actuarial (Gain) Loss(7,680)(8,755)3,572 
Prior Service (Cost) Credit436 (429)— 
Net Change$(41,549)$3,442 $1,433 
(1)Amounts presented are shown before recognizing deferred taxes.
(2)Amounts presented include the impact of actuarial gains/losses related to return on assets, as well as the Actuarial Loss amounts presented in the Change in Benefit Obligation.
Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments
The estimated gross other post-retirement benefit payments and gross amount of Medicare Part D prescription drug subsidy receipts are as follows (dollars in thousands):
Benefit PaymentsSubsidy Receipts
2024$25,334 $(1,787)
2025$25,479 $(1,881)
2026$25,466 $(1,969)
2027$25,389 $(2,039)
2028$25,260 $(2,091)
2029 through 2033
$120,390 $(10,896)
Schedule of Health Care Cost Trend Rates
Assumed health care cost trend rates as of September 30 were:
202320222021
Rate of Medical Cost Increase for Pre Age 65 Participants6.25 %(1)5.30 %(2)5.38 %(2)
Rate of Medical Cost Increase for Post Age 65 Participants5.00 %(1)4.84 %(2)4.84 %(2)
Annual Rate of Increase in the Per Capita Cost of Covered Prescription Drug Benefits
6.85 %(1)6.29 %(2)6.53 %(2)
Annual Rate of Increase in the Per Capita Medicare Part B Reimbursement
5.00 %(1)4.84 %(2)4.84 %(2)
Annual Rate of Increase in the Per Capita Medicare Part D Subsidy
6.60 %(1)5.96 %(2)6.15 %(2)
(1)It was assumed that this rate would gradually decline to 4% by 2048.
(2)It was assumed that this rate would gradually decline to 4% by 2046.
Schedule of Fair Value of Plan Assets Below is a listing of the major categories of plan assets held as of September 30, 2023 and 2022, as well as the associated level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements in their entirety fall, based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety (dollars in thousands):
At September 30, 2023
Total
Fair Value		Level 1Level 2Level 3Measured
at NAV(7)
Retirement Plan Investments
Domestic Equities(1)$37,611 $37,611 $— $— $— 
International Equities(2)— — — — — 
Global Equities(3)36,088 — — — 36,088 
Domestic Fixed Income(4)612,820 — 556,504 — 56,316 
International Fixed Income(5)7,778 — 7,778 — — 
Real Estate (6)123,859 — — — 123,859 
Cash Held in Collective Trust Funds36,800 — — — 36,800 
Total Retirement Plan Investments854,956 37,611 564,282 — 253,063 
401(h) Investments(73,319)(3,212)(48,184)— (21,923)
Total Retirement Plan Investments (excluding 401(h) Investments)
$781,637 $34,399 $516,098 $— $231,140 
Miscellaneous Accruals, Interest Receivables, and Non-Interest Cash
3,075 
Total Retirement Plan Assets$784,712 
At September 30, 2022
Total
Fair Value		Level 1Level 2Level 3Measured
at NAV(7)
Retirement Plan Investments
Domestic Equities(1)$41,633 $41,633 $— $— $— 
International Equities(2)1,363 — — — 1,363 
Global Equities(3)44,434 — — — 44,434 
Domestic Fixed Income(4)658,833 — 579,606 — 79,227 
International Fixed Income(5)7,782 — 7,782 — — 
Real Estate (6)140,739 — — — 140,739 
Cash Held in Collective Trust Funds17,388 — — — 17,388 
Total Retirement Plan Investments912,172 41,633 587,388 — 283,151 
401(h) Investments(73,044)(3,310)(46,694)— (23,040)
Total Retirement Plan Investments (excluding 401(h) Investments)
$839,128 $38,323 $540,694 $— $260,111 
Miscellaneous Accruals, Interest Receivables, and Non-Interest Cash
6,077 
Total Retirement Plan Assets$845,205 
(1)Domestic Equities include mostly collective trust funds, common stock, and exchange traded funds.
(2)International Equities are comprised of collective trust funds.
(3)Global Equities are comprised of collective trust funds.
(4)Domestic Fixed Income securities include mostly collective trust funds, corporate/government bonds and mortgages, and exchange traded funds.
(5)International Fixed Income securities are comprised mostly of corporate/government bonds.
(6)Real Estate consists of investments held in a collective trust fund and a real estate investment trust.
(7)Reflects the authoritative guidance related to investments measured at net asset value (NAV).
At September 30, 2023
Total
Fair Value		Level 1Level 2Level 3Measured
at NAV(1)
Other Post-Retirement Benefit Assets held in VEBA Trusts
Collective Trust Funds — Global Equities
$72,285 $— $— $— $72,285 
Exchange Traded Funds — Fixed Income289,666 289,666 — — — 
Cash Held in Collective Trust Funds9,637 — — — 9,637 
Total VEBA Trust Investments371,588 289,666 — — 81,922 
401(h) Investments73,319 3,212 48,184 — 21,923 
Total Investments (including 401(h) Investments)
$444,907 $292,878 $48,184 $— $103,845 
Miscellaneous Accruals (including Current and Deferred Taxes, Claims Incurred But Not Reported, Administrative)10,795 
Total Other Post-Retirement Benefit Assets
$455,702 
At September 30, 2022
Total
Fair Value		Level 1Level 2Level 3Measured
at NAV(1)
Other Post-Retirement Benefit Assets held in VEBA Trusts
Collective Trust Funds — Global Equities$104,554 $— $— $— $104,554 
Exchange Traded Funds — Fixed Income270,581 270,581 — — — 
Cash Held in Collective Trust Funds10,635 — — — 10,635 
Total VEBA Trust Investments385,770 270,581 — — 115,189 
401(h) Investments73,044 3,310 46,694 — 23,040 
Total Investments (including 401(h) Investments)
$458,814 $273,891 $46,694 $— $138,229 
Miscellaneous Accruals (Including Current and Deferred Taxes, Claims Incurred But Not Reported, Administrative)
2,624 
Total Other Post-Retirement Benefit Assets
$461,438 
(1)Reflects the authoritative guidance related to investments measured at net asset value (NAV).
Schedule of Significant Unobservable Input Changes in Plan Assets
 Retirement Plan Level 3 Assets
(Thousands)
 Real
Estate		Excluding
401(h)
Investments		Total
Balance at September 30, 2021
$319 $(24)$295 
Unrealized Gains/(Losses)234 (18)216 
Sales(553)42 (511)
Balance at September 30, 2022
— — — 
Unrealized Gains/(Losses)— — — 
Sales— — — 
Balance at September 30, 2023
$— $— $— 
 Other Post-Retirement Benefit Level 3 Assets
(Thousands)
 401(h)
Investments
 
Balance at September 30, 2021
$24 
Unrealized Gains/(Losses)18 
Sales(42)
Balance at September 30, 2022
— 
Unrealized Gains/(Losses)— 
Sales— 
Balance at September 30, 2023
$—