CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 101,299	$ 117,457	$ 27,242
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities:
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments	36,876	(27,392)	64,465
Depreciation and amortization	35,200	33,192	31,142
Allowance for equity used during construction	(2,100)	(2,165)	(568)
Allowance for bad debt expense	4,865	3,307	9,739
Deferred income taxes	35,034	68,458	(31,435)
Manufactured gas plant remediation costs	(14,115)	(3,824)	(12,867)
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of distributions received	2,791	839	2,924
Cost of removal - asset retirement obligations	(826)	(809)	(943)
Contributions to postemployment benefit plans	(11,496)	(19,567)	(27,676)
Changes in:
Components of working capital	43,748	(35,297)	154,271
Other noncurrent assets	7,081	3,525	5,886
Other noncurrent liabilities	11,744	1,691	45,061
Cash flows from operating activities	250,101	139,415	267,241
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Utility plant expenditures	(93,624)	(86,620)	(75,107)
Solar equipment expenditures	(71,989)	(2,641)	0
Real estate properties and other expenditures	(3,549)	(917)	(388)
Cost of removal expenditures	(8,369)	(7,201)	(6,139)
Investments in equity investees	0	(4,300)	(43,843)
Withdrawal from (investment in) restricted cash construction fund	58	(445)	4,200
Proceeds from asset sales	2,396	0	0
Proceeds from available for sale investments	0	721	0
Cash flows (used in) investing activities	(175,077)	(101,403)	(121,277)
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	13,704	6,487	16,441
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	2,007	669	1,686
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transaction	5,901	4,925	6,268
Refinancing of long-term debt	97,045	0	0
Payments of long-term debt	(130,091)	(6,749)	(60,362)
Purchases of treasury stock	(10,193)	(29,650)	(30,670)
Payments of common stock dividends	(58,650)	(53,137)	(50,967)
Net proceeds (payments) of short-term debt	11,750	4,200	(34,800)
Cash flows (used in) financing activities	(68,527)	(73,255)	(152,404)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	6,497	(35,243)	(6,440)
Cash and temporary investments at beginning of period	943	36,186	42,626
Cash and temporary investments at end of period	7,440	943	36,186
CHANGES IN COMPONENTS OF WORKING CAPITAL
Receivables	(49,473)	(66,189)	117,733
Inventories	40,363	(38,743)	169,157
Recovery of gas costs	41,118	(72,688)	64,197
Gas purchases payable	22,289	100,290	(193,487)
Prepaid and accrued taxes	(8,691)	(10,431)	(8,047)
Accounts payable and other	4,469	291	(5,593)
Restricted broker margin accounts	(31,813)	35,468	(14,045)
Customers' credit balances and deposits	21,819	18,740	9,760
Other current assets	3,667	(2,035)	14,596
Components of working capital	43,748	(35,297)	154,271
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION
Cash paid for Interest (net of amounts capitalized)	17,323	14,665	18,866
Cash paid for Income taxes	$ 5,165	$ 24,177	$ 34,298