Interim Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits (Table)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

General Discussion of Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]

Components of net periodic pension cost table

The components of our net periodic pension cost for our pension and other postretirement benefit plans for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 are presented in the following table. Most of these costs are recoverable through our gas distribution rates; however, a portion of these costs is capitalized into our gas distribution rate base. The remaining costs are recorded as a component of operation and maintenance expense. On April 1, 2013, due to the retirement of certain executives, we recognized a curtailment loss of $3.2 million associated with our Supplemental Executive Benefit Plan and revalued the net periodic pension cost for the remainder of fiscal 2013. The revaluation of the net periodic pension cost resulted in an increase in the discount rate, effective April 1, 2013, to 4.21 percent, which will reduce our net periodic pension cost by approximately $0.1 million for the remainder of the fiscal year. All other actuarial assumptions remained the same.

	Three Months Ended June 30
	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
	2013			2012			2013			2012
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
Service cost	$	5,194		$	4,297		$	4,700		$	4,089
Interest cost	6,019			6,677			3,241			3,465
Expected return on assets	(5,739		)	(5,368		)	(997		)	(651		)
Amortization of transition asset	—			—			271			377
Amortization of prior service cost	(35		)	(35		)	(363		)	(362		)
Amortization of actuarial loss	5,432			4,142			1,049			662
Curtailment	3,161			—			—			—
Net periodic pension cost	$	14,032		$	9,713		$	7,901		$	7,580

	Nine Months Ended June 30
	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
	2013			2012			2013			2012
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
Service cost	$	15,599		$	12,893		$	14,100		$	12,265
Interest cost	18,067			20,032			9,723			10,396
Expected return on assets	(17,216		)	(16,105		)	(2,991		)	(1,955		)
Amortization of transition asset	—			—			811			1,133
Amortization of prior service cost	(106		)	(106		)	(1,088		)	(1,087		)
Amortization of actuarial loss	16,555			12,427			3,147			1,986
Curtailment	3,161			—			—			—
Net periodic pension cost	$	36,060		$	29,141		$	23,702		$	22,738

Schedule of assumptions used table text block

The assumptions used to develop our net periodic pension cost for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:

	Supplemental Executive Benefit Plans				Pension Benefits				Other Benefits
	2013		2012		2013		2012		2013		2012
Discount rate	4.21	%	5.05	%	4.04	%	5.05	%	4.04	%	5.05	%
Rate of compensation increase	3.50	%	3.50	%	3.50	%	3.50	%	N/A		N/A
Expected return on plan assets	N/A		N/A		7.75	%	7.75	%	4.70	%	4.70	%