EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2022

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Components of Net Periodic Cost

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)	2022		2021		2022		2021		2022		2021		2022		2021
Service cost	$	2,073	$	2,183	$	4,146	$	4,365	$	1,076	$	1,211	$	2,152	$	2,422
Interest cost	2,408		2,278		4,816		4,556		1,589		1,517		3,178		3,035
Expected return on plan assets	(5,318)		(4,851)		(10,637)		(10,075)		(1,894)		(1,565)		(3,788)		(3,248)
Recognized actuarial loss	2,186		2,861		4,372		5,723		1,421		1,978		2,842		3,955
Prior service cost (credit) amortization	26		26		51		51		(36)		(45)		(72)		(90)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,375	$	2,497	$	2,748	$	4,620	$	2,156	$	3,096	$	4,312	$	6,074