FAIR VALUE (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Text Block]

The estimated fair value of long-term debt, including current maturities, is based on quoted market prices for similar issues and is as follows:



	September 30,
(Thousands)	2011		2010
Carrying value	$	434,372	$	460,182
Fair market value	$	471,022	$	495,035

Schedule of Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Text Block]

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized as follows:



	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets			Significant Other Observable Inputs			Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Thousands)	(Level 1)			(Level 2)			(Level 3)			Total
As of September 30, 2011:
Assets:
Physical forward commodity contracts		$	—		$	37,690		$	—	$	37,690
Financial derivative contracts - natural gas		25,617			43,266			—		68,883
Financial commodity contracts - foreign exchange		—			280					280
Available for sale equity securities - energy industry⁽¹⁾		10,348			—			—		10,348
Other		2,820			—			—		2,820
Total assets at fair value		$	38,785		$	81,236		$	—	$	120,021

Liabilities:
Physical forward commodity contracts		$	—		$	11,351		$	—	$	11,351
Financial commodity contracts - natural gas		23,715			39,959			—		63,674
Financial commodity contracts - foreign exchange		—			14			—		14
Other		616			—			—		616
Total liabilities at fair value		$	24,331		$	51,324		$	—	$	75,655

As of September 30, 2010:
Assets:
Physical forward commodity contracts		$	—		$	24,048		$	—	$	24,048
Financial derivative contracts - natural gas		58,824			60,246			—		119,070
Financial commodity contracts - foreign exchange		—			25			—		25
Available for sale equity securities - energy industry⁽¹⁾		10,290			—			—		10,290
Other		947			—			—		947
Total assets at fair value		$	70,061		$	84,319		$	—	$	154,380

Liabilities:
Physical forward commodity contracts		$	—		$	6,058		$	—	$	6,058
Financial derivative contracts - natural gas		38,497			39,532			—		78,029
Other		936			—			—		936
Total liabilities at fair value		$	39,433		$	45,590		$	—	$	85,023


(1)	Included in other noncurrent assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments, assets, and liabilities. Such certain disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate) and (2) the methodology and assumptions used in developing such estimates of fair value.

+ References

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