EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Net Funded Status [Table Text Block]

The following summarizes the changes in the funded status of the plans and the related liabilities recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:

	Pension (1)						OPEB
(Thousands)	2011			2010			2011			2010
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	155,189		$	133,839		$	89,279		$	78,292
Service cost	4,775			3,969			3,345			2,814
Interest cost	8,378			8,196			4,845			4,819
Plan participants' contributions	48			48			16			9
Actuarial loss	8,342			14,439			3,637			5,333
Benefits paid, net of retiree subsidies received	(5,584		)	(5,302		)	(2,056		)	(1,988		)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	171,148		$	155,189		$	99,066		$	89,279
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	122,865		$	100,639		$	27,644		$	22,195
Actual return on plan assets	1,933			12,864			(556		)	2,768
Employer contributions	5,027			14,616			6,497			4,784
Benefits paid, net of plan participants' contributions	(5,536		)	(5,254		)	(2,157		)	(2,103		)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	124,289		$	122,865		$	31,428		$	27,644
Funded status	$	(46,859	)	$	(32,324	)	$	(67,638	)	$	(61,635	)
Amounts recognized on Consolidated Balance Sheets
Postemployment employee benefit liability
Current	$	(75	)	$	(119	)	$	(117	)	$	(97	)
Non-current	(46,784		)	(32,205		)	(67,521		)	(61,538		)
Total	$	(46,859	)	$	(32,324	)	$	(67,638	)	$	(61,635	)

(1) Includes the Company's Pension Equalization Plan.

Schedule of Pension Costs Recognized in Regulatory Assets and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Table Text Block]

The following table summarizes the amounts recognized in regulatory assets and accumulated other comprehensive income as of September 30:

	Regulatory Assets							Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	Pension			OPEB				Pension			OPEB
Balance at September 30, 2009	$	57,140		$	37,784			$	14,366		$	8,477
Amounts arising during the period:
Net actuarial loss (gain)	7,669			3,162				4,212			1,342
Amounts amortized to net periodic costs:
Net actuarial (loss)	(2,205		)	(1,842		)		(517		)	(437		)
Prior service cost	(39		)	(68		)		(16		)	(7		)
Net transition obligation	—			(286		)		—			(70		)
Balance at September 30, 2010	$	62,565		$	38,750		(1)	$	18,045		$	9,305
Amounts arising during the period:
Net actuarial loss (gain)	12,912			11,592				4,987			(4,927		)
Amounts amortized to net periodic costs:
Net actuarial (loss)	(3,087		)	(2,063		)		(859		)	(549		)
Prior service cost	(35		)	(68		)		(13		)	(7		)
Net transition obligation	—			(286		)		—			(70		)
Balance at September 30, 2011	$	72,355		$	47,925		(1)	$	22,160		$	3,752

(1) Balance represents amounts recognized in accordance with ASC 715 and excludes $609,000 and $900,000 associated with a regulatory asset approved by the BPU for fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Schedule of Amounts in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to be Recognized over Next Fiscal Year [Table Text Block]

Amounts included in regulatory assets and accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost in fiscal 2012 are as follows:

	Regulatory Assets					Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
(Thousands)	Pension		OPEB			Pension		OPEB
Net actuarial gain (loss)	$	3,848	$	2,671	—	$	1,167	$	223
Prior service (cost) credit	37		19		—	9		6
Net transition obligation	—		286		—	—		70
Total	$	3,885	$	2,976	—	$	1,176	$	299

Schedule of Accumulated Benefit Obligations in Excess of Fair Value of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]

The accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) for the pension plans, including the Pension Equalization Plan exceeded the fair value of plan assets. The projected benefit and accumulated benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets are as follows:

	Pension
(Thousands)	2011		2010
Projected benefit obligation	$	171,148	$	155,189
Accumulated benefit obligation	$	151,590	$	137,130
Fair value of plan assets	$	124,289	$	122,865

Schedule of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block]

The components of the net periodic cost for pension benefits, including the Company's Pension Equalization Plan, and OPEB costs (principally health care and life insurance) for employees and covered dependents were as follows:

	Pension									OPEB
(Thousands)	2011			2010			2009			2011			2010			2009
Service cost	$	4,775		$	3,969		$	2,712		$	3,345		$	2,814		$	1,728
Interest cost	8,378			8,196			7,748			4,845			4,819			4,057
Expected return on plan assets	(11,490		)	(10,306		)	(8,753		)	(2,472		)	(1,939		)	(1,996		)
Recognized actuarial loss	3,946			2,722			554			2,612			2,279			1,067
Prior service cost amortization	48			56			56			75			76			78
Recognized net initial obligation	—			—			—			356			356			357
Net periodic benefit cost	$	5,657		$	4,637		$	2,317		$	8,761		$	8,405		$	5,291

Schedule of Assumptions Used [Table Text Block]

The weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit costs during the fiscal year and obligations as of September 30, are as follows:

	Pension						OPEB
	2011		2010		2009		2011		2010		2009
Benefit costs:
Discount rate	5.5	%	6.25	%	7.75	%	5.5	%	6.25	%	7.75	%
Expected asset return	8.25	%	8.25	%	9.00	%	8.25	%	8.25	%	9.00	%
Compensation increase	2.50/3.25%		3.75	%	3.75	%	3.25	%	3.75	%	3.75	%
Obligations:
Discount rate	5.25	%	5.5	%	6.25	%	5.25	%	5.5	%	6.25	%
Compensation increase	3.25	%	2.50/3.25%		3.75	%	3.25	%	2.50/3.25%		3.75	%

Schedule of Health Care Cost Trend Rates and Effect of One Percentage Point Change in Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates [Table Text Block]

Information relating to the assumed health care cost trend rate (HCCTR) used to determine expected OPEB benefits as of September 30, and the effect of a one percent change in the rate, are as follows:

($ in thousands)	2011			2010			2009
HCCTR	8.2		%	8.0		%	8.0		%
Ultimate HCCTR	4.8		%	5.0		%	5.0		%
Year ultimate HCCTR reached	2019			2018			2018
Effect of a 1 percentage point increase in the HCCTR on:
Year-end benefit obligation	$	17,193		$	15,474		$	13,181
Total service and interest cost	$	1,751		$	1,571		$	1,083
Effect of a 1 percentage point decrease in the HCCTR on:
Year-end benefit obligation	$	(13,792	)	$	(12,421	)	$	(10,617	)
Total service and interest costs	$	(1,367	)	$	(1,234	)	$	(859	)

Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]

The mix and targeted allocation of the pension and OPEB plans' assets are as follows:

	2012		Assets at
	Target		September 30,
Asset Allocation	Allocation		2011		2010		(1)
U.S. equity securities	39	%	36	%	39	%
International equity securities	20		17		21
Fixed income	41		47		40
Total	100	%	100	%	100	%

(1) The allocation of assets excludes a contribution of $10.1 million made on September 30, 2010, that was not yet invested in accordance with the plan's investment policy.

Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments [Table Text Block]

The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid during the following years:

(Thousands)	Pension		OPEB
2012	$	6,098	$	2,808
2013	$	6,340	$	3,029
2014	$	6,710	$	3,372
2015	$	7,061	$	3,707
2016	$	7,470	$	4,073
2017 - 2021	$	46,247	$	27,297

Schedule of Prescription Drug Subsidies [Table Text Block]

The estimated subsidy payments are:

	Estimated Subsidy Payment
Fiscal Year	(Thousands)
2012	$198
2013	$218
2014	$233
2015	$251
2016	$271
2017 - 2021	$1,728

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block]

OPEB assets held in the Master Trust, measured at fair value 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:
Money market funds		$	1,593		$	—		$	—	$	1,593
Registered Investment Companies-
Equity Funds:
Large Cap Fund		4,765			—			—		4,765
Large Cap Index Fund		4,825			—			—		4,825
Small Cap Fund		1,591			—			—		1,591
World Equity Ex-US Fund		5,550			—			—		5,550
Fixed Income Funds:
Core Fixed Income Fund		8,366			—			—		8,366
Emerging Markets Debt Fund		1,589			—			—		1,589
High Yield Bond Fund		3,149			—			—		3,149
Total assets at fair value		$	31,428		$	—		$	—	$	31,428
As of September 30, 2010:
Assets:
Money market funds		$	6		$	—		$	—	$	6
Registered Investment Companies-
Equity Funds:
Large Cap Fund		4,437			—			—		4,437
Large Cap Index Fund		4,469			—			—		4,469
Small Cap Fund		1,655			—			—		1,655
World Equity Ex-US Fund		5,416			—			—		5,416
Fixed Income Funds:
Core Fixed Income Fund		7,207			—			—		7,207
Emerging Markets Debt Fund		1,470			—			—		1,470
High Yield Bond Fund		2,984			—			—		2,984
Total assets at fair value		$	27,644		$	—		$	—	$	27,644

Pension assets held in the master trust, measured at fair value 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:
Money market funds		$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—
Registered Investment Companies-
Equity Funds:
Large Cap Fund		18,754			—			—		18,754
Large Cap Index Fund		18,922			—			—		18,922
Small Cap Fund		6,505			—			—		6,505
World Equity Ex-US Fund		20,993			—			—		20,993
Fixed Income Funds:
Emerging Markets Debt Fund		6,145			—			—		6,145
High Yield Bond Fund		12,537			—			—		12,537
Long Duration Fund		40,433			—			—		40,433
Total assets at fair value		$	124,289		$	—		$	—	$	124,289
As of September 30, 2010:
Assets:
Money market funds		$	10,100		$	—		$	—	$	10,100
Registered Investment Companies-
Equity Funds:
Large Cap Fund		18,641			—			—		18,641
Large Cap Index Fund		18,129			—			—		18,129
Small Cap Fund		6,598			—			—		6,598
World Equity Ex-US Fund		23,600			—			—		23,600
Fixed Income Funds:
Emerging Markets Debt Fund		5,714			—			—		5,714
High Yield Bond Fund		11,284			—			—		11,284
Long Duration Fund		28,799			—			—		28,799
Total assets at fair value		$	122,865		$	—		$	—	$	122,865