Interim Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits (Table)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 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 months ended December 31, 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 October 2, 2013, due to the retirement of one of our executives, we recognized a settlement loss of $4.5 million associated with our Supplemental Executive Benefits Plan (SEBP). In association with the retirement, on October 2, 2013, we made a $16.8 million benefit payment from the SEBP.

	Three Months Ended December 31
	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
	2013			2012			2013			2012
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
Service cost	$	4,738		$	5,202		$	4,196		$	4,700
Interest cost	6,824			6,025			3,988			3,241
Expected return on assets	(5,901		)	(5,739		)	(1,292		)	(997		)
Amortization of transition obligation	—			—			68			270
Amortization of prior service credit	(34		)	(35		)	(363		)	(362		)
Amortization of actuarial loss	3,932			5,561			158			1,049
Settlement loss	4,539			—			—			—
Net periodic pension cost	$	14,098		$	11,014		$	6,755		$	7,901

Schedule of assumptions used table text block

The assumptions used to develop our net periodic pension cost for the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:

	Pension Benefits				Other Benefits
	2013		2012		2013		2012
Discount rate	4.95	%	4.04	%	4.95	%	4.04	%
Rate of compensation increase	3.50	%	3.50	%	N/A		N/A
Expected return on plan assets	7.25	%	7.75	%	4.60	%	4.70	%