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Retirement Plan And Other Post-Retirement Benefits (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]  
Schedule Of Benefit Obligations, Plan Assets And Funded Status
Reconciliations of the Benefit Obligations, Plan Assets and Funded Status, as well as the components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost and the Weighted Average Assumptions of the Retirement Plan and other post-retirement benefits are shown in the tables below. The components of net periodic benefit cost other than service cost are presented in Other Income (Deductions) on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The date used to measure the Benefit Obligations, Plan Assets and Funded Status is September 30 for fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018.
 Retirement PlanOther Post-Retirement Benefits
 Year Ended September 30Year Ended September 30
 202020192018202020192018
 (Thousands)
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit Obligation at Beginning of Period
$1,097,625$985,690$1,054,826$468,163$435,986$462,619
Service Cost9,3188,4829,9211,6091,5191,830
Interest Cost29,93038,37833,00612,91317,14514,801
Plan Participants’ Contributions———3,0582,9302,894
Retiree Drug Subsidy Receipts———1,4111,8551,545
Actuarial (Gain) Loss65,908127,748(50,218)16,39634,401(21,039)
Benefits Paid(63,676)(62,673)(61,845)(26,828)(25,673)(26,664)
Benefit Obligation at End of Period
$1,139,105$1,097,625$985,690$476,722$468,163$435,986
Change in Plan Assets
Fair Value of Assets at Beginning of Period
$968,449$924,506$910,719$524,127$513,800$514,017
Actual Return on Plan Assets87,40277,40142,65244,44830,00620,657
Employer Contributions24,62129,21532,9803,0803,0642,896
Plan Participants’ Contributions———3,0582,9302,894
Benefits Paid(63,676)(62,673)(61,845)(26,828)(25,673)(26,664)
Fair Value of Assets at End of Period
$1,016,796$968,449$924,506$547,885$524,127$513,800
Net Amount Recognized at End of Period (Funded Status)
$(122,309)$(129,176)$(61,184)$71,163$55,964$77,814
Amounts Recognized in the Balance Sheets Consist of:
Non-Current Liabilities$(122,309)$(129,176)$(61,184)$(4,872)$(4,553)$(4,919)
Non-Current Assets———76,03560,51782,733
Net Amount Recognized at End of Period
$(122,309)$(129,176)$(61,184)$71,163$55,964$77,814
Accumulated Benefit Obligation$1,096,427$1,053,914$946,763N/AN/AN/A
Weighted Average Assumptions Used to Determine Benefit Obligation at September 30
Discount Rate2.66 %3.15 %4.30 %2.71 %3.17 %4.31 %
Rate of Compensation Increase4.70 %4.70 %4.70 %4.70 %4.70 %4.70 %
 Retirement PlanOther Post-Retirement Benefits
 Year Ended September 30Year Ended September 30
 202020192018202020192018
 (Thousands)
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service Cost$9,318$8,482$9,921$1,609$1,519$1,830
Interest Cost29,93038,37833,00612,91317,14514,801
Expected Return on Plan Assets(60,063)(62,368)(61,715)(29,232)(30,157)(31,482)
Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)
729826938(429)(429)(429)
Recognition of Actuarial Loss(1)39,38432,09637,2055355,96210,558
Net Amortization and Deferral for Regulatory Purposes
5,3592,4939,02725,59616,48115,028
Net Periodic Benefit Cost$24,657$19,907$28,382$10,992$10,521$10,306
Weighted Average Assumptions Used to Determine Net Periodic Benefit Cost at September 30
Effective Discount Rate for Benefit Obligations
3.15 %4.30 %3.77 %3.17 %4.31 %3.81 %
Effective Rate for Interest on Benefit Obligations
2.81 %4.03 %3.23 %2.84 %4.05 %3.29 %
Effective Discount Rate for Service Cost
3.31 %4.40 %4.00 %3.39 %4.43 %4.10 %
Effective Rate for Interest on Service Cost
3.12 %4.29 %3.73 %3.30 %4.39 %3.98 %
Expected Return on Plan Assets6.40 %6.75 %7.00 %5.70 %6.00 %6.25 %
Rate of Compensation Increase4.70 %4.70 %4.70 %4.70 %4.70 %4.70 %
(1)Distribution Corporation’s New York jurisdiction calculates the amortization of the actuarial loss on a vintage year basis over 10 years, as mandated by the NYPSC. All the other subsidiaries of the Company utilize the corridor approach.
Schedule Of Cumulative Amounts Recognized In AOCI (Loss) And Regulatory Assets And Liabilities
The cumulative amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), regulatory assets, and regulatory liabilities through fiscal 2020, the changes in such amounts during 2020, as well as the amounts expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit cost in fiscal 2021 are presented in the table below:
Retirement
Plan		Other
Post-Retirement
Benefits		Non-Qualified
Benefit Plans
 (Thousands)
Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities(1)
Net Actuarial Loss$(215,330)$(28,044)$(34,065)
Prior Service (Cost) Credit(3,641)2,401 — 
Net Amount Recognized$(218,971)$(25,643)$(34,065)
Changes to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities Recognized During Fiscal 2020(1)
Increase in Actuarial Loss, excluding amortization(2)
$(38,568)$(1,180)$(5,929)
Change due to Amortization of Actuarial Loss39,384 535 5,341 
Prior Service (Cost) Credit729 (429)— 
Net Change$1,545 $(1,074)$(588)
Amounts Expected to be Recognized in Net Periodic
Benefit Cost in the Next Fiscal Year(1)
Net Actuarial Loss$(36,814)$(849)$(5,852)
Prior Service (Cost) Credit(631)429 — 
Net Amount Expected to be Recognized$(37,445)$(420)$(5,852)
(1)Amounts presented are shown before recognizing deferred taxes.
(2)Amounts presented include the impact of actuarial gains/losses related to return on assets, as well as the Actuarial (Gain) Loss amounts presented in the Change in Benefit Obligation.
Schedule Of Expected Benefit Payments
The estimated gross other post-retirement benefit payments and gross amount of Medicare Part D prescription drug subsidy receipts are as follows (dollars in thousands):
Benefit PaymentsSubsidy Receipts
2021$28,361 $(1,950)
2022$28,820 $(2,064)
2023$29,085 $(2,172)
2024$29,192 $(2,273)
2025$29,231 $(2,356)
2026 through 2030$143,696 $(12,763)
Schedule Of Health Care Cost Trend Rates
Assumed health care cost trend rates as of September 30 were:
202020192018
Rate of Medical Cost Increase for Pre Age 65 Participants5.42 %(1)5.50 %(1)5.59 %(1)
Rate of Medical Cost Increase for Post Age 65 Participants4.75 %(1)4.75 %(1)4.75 %(1)
Annual Rate of Increase in the Per Capita Cost of Covered Prescription Drug Benefits
6.80 %(1)7.35 %(1)7.89 %(1)
Annual Rate of Increase in the Per Capita Medicare Part B Reimbursement
4.75 %(1)4.75 %(1)4.75 %(1)
Annual Rate of Increase in the Per Capita Medicare Part D Subsidy
6.20 %(1)6.84 %(1)7.18 %(1)
(1)It was assumed that this rate would gradually decline to 4.5% by 2039.
Retirement Plan [Member]  
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]  
Schedule Of Fair Value Of Plan Assets
At September 30, 2020
Total
Fair Value		Level 1Level 2Level 3Measured
at NAV(7)
Retirement Plan Investments
Domestic Equities(1)$188,939 $118,124 $— $— $70,815 
International Equities(2)94,603 — — — 94,603 
Global Equities(3)77,736 — — — 77,736 
Domestic Fixed Income(4)512,693 2,000 457,381 — 53,312 
International Fixed Income(5)20,201 — 20,201 — — 
Global Fixed Income(6)79,595 — — — 79,595 
Real Estate106,167 — — 471 105,696 
Cash Held in Collective Trust Funds18,023 — — — 18,023 
Total Retirement Plan Investments1,097,957 120,124 477,582 471 499,780 
401(h) Investments(80,511)(8,809)(35,021)(35)(36,646)
Total Retirement Plan Investments (excluding 401(h) Investments)
$1,017,446 $111,315 $442,561 $436 $463,134 
Miscellaneous Accruals, Interest Receivables, and Non-Interest Cash
(650)
Total Retirement Plan Assets$1,016,796 
At September 30, 2019
Total
Fair Value		Level 1Level 2Level 3Measured
at NAV(7)
Retirement Plan Investments
Domestic Equities(1)$175,812 $114,324 $— $— $61,488 
International Equities(2)81,631 — — — 81,631 
Global Equities(3)70,095 — — — 70,095 
Domestic Fixed Income(4)493,839 1,784 439,255 — 52,800 
International Fixed Income(5)17,744 — 17,744 — — 
Global Fixed Income(6)75,329 — — — 75,329 
Real Estate107,764 — — 3,154 104,610 
Cash Held in Collective Trust Funds18,310 — — — 18,310 
Total Retirement Plan Investments1,040,524 116,108 456,999 3,154 464,263 
401(h) Investments(73,688)(8,205)(32,295)(223)(32,965)
Total Retirement Plan Investments (excluding 401(h) Investments)
$966,836 $107,903 $424,704 $2,931 $431,298 
Miscellaneous Accruals, Interest Receivables, and Non-Interest Cash
1,613 
Total Retirement Plan Assets$968,449 
(1)Domestic Equities include mostly collective trust funds, common stock, and exchange traded funds.
(2)International Equities are comprised of collective trust funds.
(3)Global Equities are comprised of collective trust funds.
(4)Domestic Fixed Income securities include mostly collective trust funds, corporate/government bonds and mortgages, and exchange traded funds.
(5)International Fixed Income securities are comprised mostly of corporate/government bonds.
(6)Global Fixed Income securities are comprised of a collective trust fund.
(7)Reflects the authoritative guidance related to investments measured at net asset value (NAV).
Schedule Of Significant Unobservable Input Changes In Plan Assets
 Retirement Plan Level 3 Assets
(Thousands)
 Real
Estate		Excluding
401(h)
Investments		Total
Balance at September 30, 2018$3,194 $(218)$2,976 
Unrealized Gains/(Losses)(37)(5)(42)
Sales(3)— (3)
Balance at September 30, 20193,154 (223)2,931 
Unrealized Gains/(Losses)(2,683)188 (2,495)
Sales— — — 
Balance at September 30, 2020$471 $(35)$436 
Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans [Member]  
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]  
Schedule Of Fair Value Of Plan Assets
At September 30, 2020
Total
Fair Value		Level 1Level 2Level 3Measured
at NAV(1)
Other Post-Retirement Benefit Assets held in VEBA Trusts
Collective Trust Funds — Global Equities
$153,923 $— $— $— $153,923 
Exchange Traded Funds — Fixed Income301,290 301,290 — — — 
Cash Held in Collective Trust Funds13,841 — — — 13,841 
Total VEBA Trust Investments469,054 301,290 — — 167,764 
401(h) Investments80,511 8,809 35,021 35 36,646 
Total Investments (including 401(h) Investments)
$549,565 $310,099 $35,021 $35 $204,410 
Miscellaneous Accruals (Including Current and Deferred Taxes, Claims Incurred But Not Reported, Administrative)
(1,680)
Total Other Post-Retirement Benefit Assets
$547,885 
At September 30, 2019
Total
Fair Value		Level 1Level 2Level 3Measured
at NAV(1)
Other Post-Retirement Benefit Assets held in VEBA Trusts
Collective Trust Funds — Global Equities$167,966 $— $— $— $167,966 
Exchange Traded Funds — Fixed Income275,296 275,296 — — — 
Cash Held in Collective Trust Funds8,229 — — — 8,229 
Total VEBA Trust Investments451,491 275,296 — — 176,195 
401(h) Investments73,688 8,205 32,295 223 32,965 
Total Investments (including 401(h) Investments)
$525,179 $283,501 $32,295 $223 $209,160 
Miscellaneous Accruals (Including Current and Deferred Taxes, Claims Incurred But Not Reported, Administrative)
(1,052)
Total Other Post-Retirement Benefit Assets
$524,127 
(1)Reflects the authoritative guidance related to investments measured at net asset value (NAV).
Schedule Of Significant Unobservable Input Changes In Plan Assets
 Other Post-Retirement Benefit Level 3 Assets
(Thousands)
 401(h)
Investments
 
Balance at September 30, 2018$218 
Unrealized Gains/(Losses)5 
Sales— 
Balance at September 30, 2019223 
Unrealized Gains/(Losses)(188)
Sales— 
Balance at September 30, 2020$35