EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

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
	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended						Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,						June 30,						June 30,
(Thousands)	2012			2011			2012			2011			2012			2011			2012			2011
Service cost	$	1,344		$	1,194		$	4,032		$	3,582		$	896		$	836		$	2,688		$	2,508
Interest cost	2,206			2,094			6,618			6,283			1,283			1,211			3,849			3,634
Expected return on plan assets	(3,171		)	(2,873		)	(9,513		)	(8,618		)	(687		)	(618		)	(2,059		)	(1,854		)
Recognized actuarial loss	1,254			987			3,762			2,960			724			653			2,172			1,959
Prior service cost amortization	11			12			33			36			6			19			18			57
Recognized net initial obligation	—			—			—			—			89			89			267			267
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,644		$	1,414		$	4,932		$	4,243		$	2,311		$	2,190		$	6,935		$	6,571