EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Net Benefit Costs

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						Six Months Ended						Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	March 31,						March 31,						March 31,						March 31,
(Thousands)	2016			2015			2016			2015			2016			2015			2016			2015
Service cost	$	1,898		$	1,871		$	3,796		$	3,742		$	1,131		$	1,064		$	2,261		$	2,127
Interest cost	2,835			2,550			5,671			5,100			1,564			1,435			3,128			2,870
Expected return on plan assets	(5,030		)	(4,273		)	(10,059		)	(8,545		)	(1,211		)	(1,244		)	(2,422		)	(2,488		)
Recognized actuarial loss	1,821			1,747			3,641			3,492			818			735			1,637			1,471
Prior service cost amortization	27			27			55			55			(91		)	(91		)	(182		)	(182		)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,551		$	1,922		$	3,104		$	3,844		$	2,211		$	1,899		$	4,422		$	3,798