Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 14,238	$ 4,707	$ 58,329
Restricted cash	0	3,181	0
Accounts receivable (less allowances for doubtful accounts of $12,098, $5,519 and $8,052, respectively)	181,823	53,341	141,053
Accounts receivable — related parties	8,633	3,497	9,518
Accrued utility revenues	49,710	18,868	48,857
Inventories	20,629	89,661	16,215
Deferred income taxes	12,877	14,165	32,815
Regulatory assets	4,242	8,217	1,072
Derivative financial instruments	3,221	43	8,528
Prepaid expenses & other current assets	13,705	15,862	16,755
Total current assets	309,078	211,542	333,142
Property, plant and equipment, at cost (less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $877,460, $853,675 and $837,110, respectively)	1,611,934	1,574,135	1,508,985
Goodwill	182,145	182,145	182,145
Regulatory assets	231,689	236,694	321,257
Other assets	5,771	5,806	2,808
Total assets	2,340,617	2,210,322	2,348,337
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	0	0	133,000
Bank loans	6,500	17,500	0
Accounts payable	69,468	51,970	48,099
Accounts payable — related parties	20,715	12,487	12,535
Deferred fuel refunds	3,204	8,283	31,209
Derivative financial instruments	372	6,677	29,077
Other current liabilities	149,983	110,596	149,801
Total current liabilities	250,242	207,513	403,721
Long-term debt	642,000	642,000	467,000
Deferred income taxes	448,678	436,810	413,168
Deferred investment tax credits	4,100	4,270	4,440
Pension and postretirement benefit obligations	65,972	72,505	174,905
Other noncurrent liabilities	52,669	55,610	53,965
Total liabilities	1,463,661	1,418,708	1,517,199
Commitments and contingencies (note 8)
Common stockholder’s equity:
Common Stock, $2.25 par value (authorized — 40,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding — 26,781,785 shares)	60,259	60,259	60,259
Additional paid-in capital	470,761	470,098	469,501
Retained earnings	353,680	269,977	324,450
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(7,744)	(8,720)	(23,072)
Total common stockholder’s equity	876,956	791,614	831,138
Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity	$ 2,340,617	$ 2,210,322	$ 2,348,337