Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Narrative (Details) kWh in Millions, MMBTU in Millions	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) kWh MMBTU	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) kWh MMBTU	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) kWh MMBTU
Derivative
Restricted cash in brokerage accounts	$ 2,524,000	$ 583,000	$ 212,000
IRPAs
Derivative
Notional amount of unsettled IRPA contracts	0	$ 0	$ 0
Amount of net losses associated with interest rate hedges to be reclassified with interest rate hedges during the next 12 months	$ (3,485,000)
Gas Utility
Derivative
Notional amount (energy measure) (in mmbtu) \| MMBTU	12.7	18.4	13.4
Maximum length of time hedged in price risk cash flow hedges (in months)	15 months
Electric Utility \| Electric Utility Electric Transmission Congestion
Derivative
Notional amount (energy measure) (in mmbtu) \| kWh	139.4	58.3	80.6
Maximum length of time hedged in price risk cash flow hedges (in months)	11 months

Aggregate notional amount of derivative expressed in nonmonetary units. For example, the number of barrels specified in a fuel oil forward purchase contract.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 12
-Section 13
-Sentence Column B

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Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 12
-Section 13
-Sentence Column B

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Maximum length of time hedged in price risk cash flow hedges.

+ References

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The estimated net amount of unrealized gains or losses on interest rate cash flow hedges as of the balance sheet date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next twelve months.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35736893&loc=d3e80748-113994

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Amount of cash and cash equivalents restricted as to withdrawal or usage, classified as current. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposits with banks or financial institutions, and other accounts with general characteristics of demand deposits. Cash equivalents include, but are not limited to, short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=SL98516268-108586

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3044-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82887183&loc=d3e6676-107765

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section S99
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(1))
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