Retirement and Post-Retirement Employee Benefit Plans (Table)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Not Yet Recognized And Recorded as Regulatory Assets

The amounts that have not yet been recognized in net periodic pension cost that have been recorded as regulatory assets are as follows:

	Defined Benefits Plans			Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans		Postretirement Plans			Total
	(In thousands)
September 30, 2014
Unrecognized transition obligation	$	—		$	—	$	354		$	354
Unrecognized prior service credit	(1,927		)	—		(6,168		)	(8,095		)
Unrecognized actuarial loss	109,767			34,447		7,531			151,745
	$	107,840		$	34,447	$	1,717		$	144,004
September 30, 2013
Unrecognized transition obligation	$	—		$	—	$	628		$	628
Unrecognized prior service credit	(91		)	—		(5,961		)	(6,052		)
Unrecognized actuarial loss	108,621			31,466		35,961			176,048
	$	108,530		$	31,466	$	30,628		$	170,624

Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets

The following table presents asset allocation information for the Master Trust as of September 30, 2014 and 2013.

	Targeted Allocation  Range	Actual Allocation September 30
Security Class		2014		2013
Domestic equities	35%-55%	51.9	%	46.5	%
International equities	10%-20%	15.3	%	16.1	%
Fixed income	10%-30%	9.7	%	14.9	%
Company stock	5%-15%	12.9	%	12.6	%
Other assets	5%-15%	10.2	%	9.9	%

Schedule of Assumptions Used for Employee Pension Plans

These assumptions are presented in the following table:

	Pension Liability				Pension Cost
	2014		2013		2014		2013		2012
Discount rate	4.43	%	4.95	%	4.95	%	4.04	%	5.05	%
Rate of compensation increase	3.50	%	3.50	%	3.50	%	3.50	%	3.50	%
Expected return on plan assets	7.25	%	7.25	%	7.25	%	7.75	%	7.75	%

Schedule of Accumulated and Projected Benefit Obligations and Funded Status for Employee Pension Plans

The following table presents the Plans’ accumulated benefit obligation, projected benefit obligation and funded status as of September 30, 2014 and 2013:

	2014			2013
	(In thousands)
Accumulated benefit obligation	$	466,182		$	446,133
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	455,799		$	480,031
Service cost	15,345			17,754
Interest cost	22,330			19,334
Actuarial (gain) loss	26,611			(29,822		)
Benefits paid	(24,519		)	(25,073		)
Plan amendments	(1,972		)	—
Divestitures	—			(6,425		)
Benefit obligation at end of year	493,594			455,799
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	396,887			343,144
Actual return on plan assets	35,289			52,496
Employer contributions	27,110			32,745
Benefits paid	(24,519		)	(25,073		)
Divestitures	—			(6,425		)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	434,767			396,887
Reconciliation:
Funded status	(58,827		)	(58,912		)
Unrecognized prior service cost	—			—
Unrecognized net loss	—			—
Net amount recognized	$	(58,827	)	$	(58,912	)

Components of Net Periodic Pension Cost Table for Employee Pension Plans

Net periodic pension cost for the Plans for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 is recorded as operating expense and included the following components:

	Fiscal Year Ended September 30
	2014			2013			2012
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
Service cost	$	15,345		$	17,754		$	15,084
Interest cost	22,330			19,334			21,568
Expected return on assets	(23,601		)	(22,955		)	(21,474		)
Amortization of prior service credit	(136		)	(141		)	(141		)
Recognized actuarial loss	13,777			19,066			14,451
Net periodic pension cost	$	27,715		$	33,058		$	29,488

Schedule of Employee Pension Plans Investments at Fair Value

In addition to the assets shown below, the Master Trust had net accounts receivable of $2.7 million and $0.4 million at September 30, 2014 and 2013 which materially approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these assets.

	Assets at Fair Value as of September 30, 2014
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
Investments:
Common stocks — domestic equities	$	155,107	$	—	$	—	$	155,107
Money market funds	—		11,226		—		11,226
Registered investment companies:
Domestic funds	63,850		—		—		63,850
International funds	48,134		—		—		48,134
Common/collective trusts — domestic funds	—		61,208		—		61,208
Government securities:
Mortgage-backed securities	—		12,520		—		12,520
U.S. treasuries	3,117		562		—		3,679
Corporate bonds	—		25,734		—		25,734
Limited partnerships	—		50,496		—		50,496
Real estate	—		—		155		155
Total investments at fair value	$	270,208	$	161,746	$	155	$	432,109

	Assets at Fair Value as of September 30, 2013
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
Investments:
Common stocks — domestic equities	$	143,543	$	—	$	—	$	143,543
Money market funds	—		12,266		—		12,266
Registered investment companies:
Domestic funds	30,200		—		—		30,200
International funds	47,036		—		—		47,036
Common/collective trusts — domestic funds	—		57,627		—		57,627
Government securities:
Mortgage-backed securities	—		18,446		—		18,446
U.S. treasuries	4,117		663		—		4,780
Corporate bonds	—		35,012		—		35,012
Limited partnerships	—		47,417		—		47,417
Real estate	—		—		155		155
Total investments at fair value	$	224,896	$	171,431	$	155	$	396,482

Schedule of Assumptions Used for Supplemental Plans

The actuarial assumptions used to determine the pension liability for the supplemental plans were determined as of September 30, 2014 and 2013 and the actuarial assumptions used to determine the net periodic pension cost for the supplemental plans were determined as of September 30, 2013, 2012 and 2011. These assumptions are presented in the following table:

	Pension Liability				Pension Cost
	2014		2013		2014		2013			2012
Discount rate	4.43	%	4.95	%	4.95	%	4.04	%	(1)	5.05	%
Rate of compensation increase	3.50	%	3.50	%	3.50	%	3.50	%		3.50	%

⁽¹⁾ The discount rate for the supplemental plans increased from 4.04% to 4.21% effective April 1, 2013 due to a settlement loss recorded in fiscal 2013.

Schedule of Accumulated and Projected Benefit Obligations and Funded Status for Supplemental Plans

The following table presents the supplemental plans’ accumulated benefit obligation, projected benefit obligation and funded status as of September 30, 2014 and 2013:

	2014			2013
	(In thousands)
Accumulated benefit obligation	$	106,276		$	109,817
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	117,080		$	130,186
Service cost	3,607			3,039
Interest cost	4,966			4,755
Actuarial (gain) loss	9,468			(6,451		)
Benefits paid	(5,085		)	(4,375		)
Settlements	(16,817		)	(10,074		)
Benefit obligation at end of year	113,219			117,080
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	—			—
Employer contribution	21,902			14,449
Benefits paid	(5,085		)	(4,375		)
Settlements	(16,817		)	(10,074		)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	—			—
Reconciliation:
Funded status	(113,219		)	(117,080		)
Unrecognized prior service cost	—			—
Unrecognized net loss	—			—
Accrued pension cost	$	(113,219	)	$	(117,080	)

Components of Net Periodic Pension Cost Table for Supplemental Plans

Net periodic pension cost for the supplemental plans for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 is recorded as operating expense and included the following components:

	Fiscal Year Ended September 30
	2014		2013		2012
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
Service cost	$	3,607	$	3,039	$	2,108
Interest cost	4,966		4,755		5,142
Amortization of transition asset	—		—		—
Amortization of prior service cost	—		—		—
Recognized actuarial loss	1,948		2,918		2,118
Settlements	4,539		3,160		—
Net periodic pension cost	$	15,060	$	13,872	$	9,368

Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments

The following benefit payments for our defined benefit plans, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid in the following fiscal years:

	Pension Plans		Supplemental Plans
	(In thousands)
2015	$	33,592	$	11,381
2016	32,811		4,617
2017	33,131		17,260
2018	33,501		14,772
2019	34,846		7,675
2020-2024	182,998		32,843

Schedule of Allocation of Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets

The following table presents asset allocation information for the postretirement benefit plan assets as of September 30, 2014 and 2013.

	Actual Allocation September 30
Security Class	2014		2013
Diversified investment funds	99.7	%	96.8	%
Cash and cash equivalents	0.3	%	3.2	%

Schedule of Assumptions Used for Postretirement Benefit Plan

The actuarial assumptions used to determine the pension liability for our postretirement plan were determined as of September 30, 2014 and 2013 and the actuarial assumptions used to determine the net periodic pension cost for the postretirement plan were determined as of September 30, 2013, 2012 and 2011. The assumptions are presented in the following table:

	Postretirement Liability				Postretirement Cost
	2014		2013		2014		2013		2012
Discount rate	4.43	%	4.95	%	4.95	%	4.04	%	5.05	%
Expected return on plan assets	4.60	%	4.60	%	4.60	%	4.70	%	5.00	%
Initial trend rate	7.50	%	8.00	%	8.00	%	8.00	%	8.00	%
Ultimate trend rate	5.00	%	5.00	%	5.00	%	5.00	%	5.00	%
Ultimate trend reached in	2020		2020		2020		2019		2018

Schedule of Accumulated and Projected Benefit Obligations and Funded Status for Postretirement Benefit Plan

The following table presents the postretirement plan’s benefit obligation and funded status as of September 30, 2014 and 2013:

	2014			2013
	(In thousands)
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	312,148		$	308,315
Service cost	16,784			18,800
Interest cost	15,951			12,964
Plan participants’ contributions	4,435			3,815
Actuarial (gain) loss	(18,963		)	(13,801		)
Benefits paid	(13,580		)	(14,458		)
Plan amendments	(1,657		)	—
Divestitures	—			(3,487		)
Benefit obligation at end of year	315,118			312,148
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	106,413			77,072
Actual return on plan assets	14,003			13,432
Employer contributions	23,550			26,552
Plan participants’ contributions	4,435			3,815
Benefits paid	(13,580		)	(14,458		)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	134,821			106,413
Reconciliation:
Funded status	(180,297		)	(205,735		)
Unrecognized transition obligation	—			—
Unrecognized prior service cost	—			—
Unrecognized net loss	—			—
Accrued postretirement cost	$	(180,297	)	$	(205,735	)

Components of Net Periodic Pension Cost Table for Postretirement Benefit Plan

Net periodic postretirement cost for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 is recorded as operating expense and included the components presented below.

	Fiscal Year Ended September 30
	2014			2013			2012
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic postretirement cost:
Service cost	$	16,784		$	18,800		$	16,353
Interest cost	15,951			12,964			13,861
Expected return on assets	(5,167		)	(3,988		)	(2,607		)
Amortization of transition obligation	274			1,081			1,511
Amortization of prior service credit	(1,450		)	(1,450		)	(1,450		)
Recognized actuarial loss	631			4,196			2,648
Net periodic postretirement cost	$	27,023		$	31,603		$	30,316

Assumed Heath Care Cost Effect on Postretirement Benefit Plan Cost

Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the plan. A one-percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects on the latest actuarial calculations:

	One-Percentage Point Increase		One-Percentage Point Decrease
	(In thousands)
Effect on total service and interest cost components	$	4,533	$	(3,700	)
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation	$	40,922	$	(34,169	)

Schedule of Postretirement Benefit Plans Investments at Fair Value

	Assets at Fair Value as of September 30, 2014
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
Investments:
Money market funds	$	—	$	434	$	—	$	434
Registered investment companies:
Domestic funds	11,398		—		—		11,398
International funds	122,989		—		—		122,989
Total investments at fair value	$	134,387	$	434	$	—	$	134,821

	Assets at Fair Value as of September 30, 2013
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
Investments:
Money market funds	$	—	$	3,356	$	—	$	3,356
Registered investment companies:
Domestic funds	9,614		—		—		9,614
International funds	93,443		—		—		93,443
Total investments at fair value	$	103,057	$	3,356	$	—	$	106,413

Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments for Postretirement Benefit Plan

The following benefit payments paid by us, retirees and prescription drug subsidy payments for our postretirement benefit plans, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid in the following fiscal years. Company payments for fiscal 2015 include contributions to our postretirement plan trusts.

	Company Payments		Retiree Payments		Subsidy Payments		Total Postretirement Benefits
	(In thousands)
2015	$	22,177	$	3,582	$	—	$	25,759
2016	15,008		4,615		—		19,623
2017	17,551		5,796		—		23,347
2018	19,660		7,148		—		26,808
2019	21,302		8,549		—		29,851
2020-2024	127,741		63,524		—		191,265