EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Retirement Benefits [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						Three Months Ended
	December 31,						December 31,
(Thousands)	2019			2018			2019			2018
Service cost	$	2,056		$	1,845		$	1,355		$	1,101
Interest cost	2,647			3,043			2,004			2,081
Expected return on plan assets	(5,057		)	(4,763		)	(1,560		)	(1,379		)
Recognized actuarial loss	2,746			1,441			2,791			1,617
Prior service cost amortization	25			25			(49		)	(91		)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	2,417		$	1,591		$	4,541		$	3,329