Regulatory Matters	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Other Disclosures [Abstract]
Regulatory Matters	Regulatory Matters Following informal discussions, on April 19, 2013, the NYPSC issued an order directing Distribution Corporation to either agree to make its rates and charges temporary subject to refund effective June 1, 2013, or show cause why its gas rates and charges should not be set on a temporary basis subject to refund (“Order”). The Order stated, among other things, that there was an "imbalance between ratepayer and shareholder interests that has developed since . . . 2007 . . .” Pursuant to the Order, the NYPSC commenced a “temporary rate” proceeding and, following hearings, on June 14, 2013, the NYPSC issued an order making Distribution Corporation’s rates and charges temporary and subject to refund pending the determination of permanent gas rates through further rate proceedings. Discussions for settlement of Distribution Corporation’s rates and charges were commenced while the formal case to establish permanent rates proceeded along a parallel path. On December 6, 2013, Distribution Corporation filed an agreement, executed by five of the six active parties in the rate proceeding, for settlement of the temporary rate proceeding and all issues relating to rates. The settlement agreement extends customer rates at the levels previously established in 2007 for a minimum two-year term retroactive to October 1, 2013. Although customer rates were not changed, the parties agreed that the allowed rate of return on equity would be set, for ratemaking purposes, at 9.1%. Following conventional practice in New York, the agreement authorizes an “earnings sharing mechanism” (“ESM”). The ESM distributes earnings above the allowed rate of return as follows: from 9.5% to 10.5%, 50% would be allocated to shareholders, and 50% will be deferred for the benefit of customers; above 10.5%, 20% would be allocated to shareholders and 80% will be deferred for the benefit of customers. The agreement further authorizes, and rates reflect, an increase in Distribution Corporation’s pipeline replacement spending by $8.2 million per year. The agreement contains other terms and conditions of service that are customary for settlement agreements recently approved by the NYPSC. The Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2013 reflected a $7.5 million refund provision related to the settlement agreement. This amount has been passed back to ratepayers as of June 30, 2014. The NYPSC approved the settlement agreement without modification in an order issued on May 8, 2014.

Regulatory Matters

Following informal discussions, on April 19, 2013, the NYPSC issued an order directing Distribution Corporation to either agree to make its rates and charges temporary subject to refund effective June 1, 2013, or show cause why its gas rates and charges should not be set on a temporary basis subject to refund (“Order”). The Order stated, among other things, that there was an "imbalance between ratepayer and shareholder interests that has developed since . . . 2007 . . .” Pursuant to the Order, the NYPSC commenced a “temporary rate” proceeding and, following hearings, on June 14, 2013, the NYPSC issued an order making Distribution Corporation’s rates and charges temporary and subject to refund pending the determination of permanent gas rates through further rate proceedings. Discussions for settlement of Distribution Corporation’s rates and charges were commenced while the formal case to establish permanent rates proceeded along a parallel path.

On December 6, 2013, Distribution Corporation filed an agreement, executed by five of the six active parties in the rate proceeding, for settlement of the temporary rate proceeding and all issues relating to rates. The settlement agreement extends customer rates at the levels previously established in 2007 for a minimum two-year term retroactive to October 1, 2013. Although customer rates were not changed, the parties agreed that the allowed rate of return on equity would be set, for ratemaking purposes, at 9.1%. Following conventional practice in New York, the agreement authorizes an “earnings sharing mechanism” (“ESM”). The ESM distributes earnings above the allowed rate of return as follows: from 9.5% to 10.5%, 50% would be allocated to shareholders, and 50% will be deferred for the benefit of customers; above 10.5%, 20% would be allocated to shareholders and 80% will be deferred for the benefit of customers. The agreement further authorizes, and rates reflect, an increase in Distribution Corporation’s pipeline replacement spending by $8.2 million per year. The agreement contains other terms and conditions of service that are customary for settlement agreements recently approved by the NYPSC. The Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2013 reflected a $7.5 million refund provision related to the settlement agreement. This amount has been passed back to ratepayers as of June 30, 2014.

The NYPSC approved the settlement agreement without modification in an order issued on May 8, 2014.