Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis

The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, the Company’s financial assets and liabilities (as applicable) that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2014 and 2013. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fair value presentation for over the counter swaps has been changed to combine gas and oil swaps at both September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013. In the September 30, 2013 Form 10-K, gas swaps were reported separately from oil swaps. This change in presentation was made because a significant number of the counterparties enter into both gas and oil swap agreements with the Company.

	At Fair Value as of September 30, 2014
Recurring Fair Value Measures	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Netting Adjustments(1)			Total(1)
	(Dollars in thousands)
Assets:
Cash Equivalents — Money Market Mutual Funds	$	23,794	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	23,794
Derivative Financial Instruments:
Commodity Futures Contracts — Gas	2,725		—		—		(1,987		)	738
Over the Counter Swaps — Gas and Oil	—		75,951		1,368		(5,451		)	71,868
Other Investments:
Balanced Equity Mutual Fund	35,331		—		—		—			35,331
Common Stock — Financial Services Industry	6,629		—		—		—			6,629
Other Common Stock	455		—		—		—			455
Hedging Collateral Deposits	2,734		—		—		—			2,734
Total	$	71,668	$	75,951	$	1,368	$	(7,438	)	$	141,549
Liabilities:
Derivative Financial Instruments:
Commodity Futures Contracts — Gas	$	2,674	$	—	$	—	$	(1,987	)	$	687
Over the Counter Swaps — Gas and Oil	—		5,523		—		(5,451		)	72
Total	$	2,674	$	5,523	$	—	$	(7,438	)	$	759
Total Net Assets/(Liabilities)	$	68,994	$	70,428	$	1,368	$	—		$	140,790

	At Fair Value as of September 30, 2013
Recurring Fair Value Measures	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3			Netting Adjustments(1)			Total(1)
	(Dollars in thousands)
Assets:
Cash Equivalents — Money Market Mutual Funds	$	51,332	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	51,332
Derivative Financial Instruments:
Commodity Futures Contracts — Gas	2,552		—		—			(1,641		)	911
Over the Counter Swaps — Gas and Oil	—		57,070		—			(9,003		)	48,067
Other Investments:
Balanced Equity Mutual Fund	31,813		—		—			—			31,813
Common Stock — Financial Services Industry	6,544		—		—			—			6,544
Other Common Stock	330		—		—			—			330
Hedging Collateral Deposits	1,094		—		—			—			1,094
Total	$	93,665	$	57,070	$	—		$	(10,644	)	$	140,091
Liabilities:
Derivative Financial Instruments:
Commodity Futures Contracts — Gas	$	1,641	$	—	$	—		$	(1,641	)	$	—
Over the Counter Swaps — Gas and Oil	—		4,452		5,190			(9,003		)	639
Total	$	1,641	$	4,452	$	5,190		$	(10,644	)	$	639
Total Net Assets/(Liabilities)	$	92,024	$	52,618	$	(5,190	)	$	—		$	139,452

(1) Netting Adjustments represent the impact of legally-enforceable master netting arrangements that allow the Company to net gain and loss positions held with the same counterparties. The net asset or net liability for each counterparty is recorded as an asset or liability on the Company’s balance sheet.

Fair Value Measurements Using Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

All settlements of the derivative financial instruments are reflected in the Gains/Losses Realized and Included in Earnings column of the tables below (amounts in parentheses indicate credits in the derivative asset/liability accounts).

Fair Value Measurements Using Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

				Total Gains/Losses
	October 1, 2013			(Gains)/Losses Realized and Included in Earnings			Gains/(Losses) Unrealized and Included in Other Comprehensive  Income (Loss)		Transfer In/(Out) of Level 3		September 30, 2014
	(Dollars in thousands)
Derivative Financial Instruments(2)	$	(5,190	)	$	2,217	(1)	$	4,341	$	—	$	1,368

(1) Amounts are reported in Operating Revenues in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended September 30, 2014.

(2) Derivative Financial Instruments are shown on a net basis.

				Total Gains/Losses
	October 1, 2012			(Gains)/Losses Realized and Included in Earnings			Gains/(Losses) Unrealized and Included in Other Comprehensive  Income (Loss)		Transfer In/(Out) of Level 3		September 30, 2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
Derivative Financial Instruments(2)	$	(19,664	)	$	13,408	(1)	$	1,066	$	—	$	(5,190	)

(1) Amounts are reported in Operating Revenues in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended September 30, 2013.

(2) Derivative Financial Instruments are shown on a net basis.