Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Components Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and changes for the quarter and six months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, net of related tax effect, are as follows (amounts in parentheses indicate debits) (in thousands): 

	Gains and Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments			Gains and Losses on Securities Available for Sale			Funded Status of the Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans			Total
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
Balance at January 1, 2015	$	170,363		$	8,130		$	(56,020	)	$	122,473
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	35,263			166			—			35,429
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(31,213		)	—			—			(31,213		)
Balance at March 31, 2015	$	174,413		$	8,296		$	(56,020	)	$	126,689
Six Months Ended March 31, 2015
Balance at October 1, 2014	$	43,659		$	8,382		$	(56,020	)	$	(3,979	)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	176,143			(86		)	—			176,057
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(45,389		)	—			—			(45,389		)
Balance at March 31, 2015	$	174,413		$	8,296		$	(56,020	)	$	126,689
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
Balance at January 1, 2014	$	26,345		$	7,910		$	(56,293	)	$	(22,038	)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	(38,878		)	391			—			(38,487		)
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	15,470			—			—			15,470
Balance at March 31, 2014	$	2,937		$	8,301		$	(56,293	)	$	(45,055	)
Six Months Ended March 31, 2014
Balance at October 1, 2013	$	30,722		$	6,337		$	(56,293	)	$	(19,234	)
Other Comprehensive Gains and Losses Before Reclassifications	(37,370		)	1,964			—			(35,406		)
Amounts Reclassified From Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	9,585			—			—			9,585
Balance at March 31, 2014	$	2,937		$	8,301		$	(56,293	)	$	(45,055	)

Schedule Of Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The details about the reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the quarter and six months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows (amounts in parentheses indicate debits to the income statement) (in thousands):

Details About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Components	Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)												Affected Line Item in the Statement Where Net Income is Presented
	Three Months Ended March 31,						Six Months Ended March 31,
	2015			2014			2015			2014
Gains (Losses) on Derivative Financial Instrument Cash Flow Hedges:
Commodity Contracts		$53,471			($22,611	)		$73,508			($12,825	)	Operating Revenues
Commodity Contracts	659			(4,029		)	4,887			(3,632		)	Purchased Gas
	54,130			(26,640		)	78,395			(16,457		)	Total Before Income Tax
	(22,917		)	11,170			(33,006		)	6,872			Income Tax Expense
		$31,213			($15,470	)		$45,389			($9,585	)	Net of Tax

Schedule Of Other Current Assets

The components of the Company’s Other Current Assets are as follows (in thousands):

	At March 31, 2015		At September 30, 2014
Prepayments	$	5,314	$	10,079
Prepaid Property and Other Taxes	22,266		13,743
Federal Income Taxes Receivable	—		8,211
Fair Values of Firm Commitments	14,694		—
Regulatory Assets	17,318		22,719
	$	59,592	$	54,752

Schedule Of Other Accruals And Current Liabilities

The components of the Company’s Other Accruals and Current Liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

	At March 31, 2015		At September 30, 2014
Accrued Capital Expenditures	$	69,419	$	80,348
Regulatory Liabilities	5,953		18,072
Reserve for Gas Replacement	50,152		—
Federal Income Taxes Payable	22,646		—
State Income Taxes Payable	1,838		5,798
Other	29,225		32,454
	$	179,233	$	136,672