Interim Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits (Table)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

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 six months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 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 executive officers, we recognized a settlement loss of $4.5 million associated with our Supplemental Executive Benefits Plan (SEBP). In association with his retirement, on October 2, 2013, we made a $16.8 million benefit payment from the SEBP.

	Three Months Ended March 31
	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
	2015			2014			2015			2014
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
Service cost	$	5,051		$	4,738		$	3,896		$	4,196
Interest cost	6,698			6,824			3,597			3,988
Expected return on assets	(6,437		)	(5,900		)	(1,608		)	(1,292		)
Amortization of transition obligation	—			—			68			68
Amortization of prior service credit	(47		)	(34		)	(411		)	(362		)
Amortization of actuarial loss	3,916			3,930			—			158
Net periodic pension cost	$	9,181		$	9,558		$	5,542		$	6,756

	Six Months Ended March 31
	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
	2015			2014			2015			2014
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
Service cost	$	10,102		$	9,476		$	7,792		$	8,392
Interest cost	13,397			13,648			7,193			7,976
Expected return on assets	(12,873		)	(11,801		)	(3,216		)	(2,584		)
Amortization of transition obligation	—			—			136			136
Amortization of prior service credit	(96		)	(68		)	(822		)	(725		)
Amortization of actuarial loss	7,833			7,862			—			316
Settlement loss	—			4,539			—			—
Net periodic pension cost	$	18,363		$	23,656		$	11,083		$	13,511

Schedule of assumptions used table text block

The assumptions used to develop our net periodic pension cost for the three and six months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:

	Pension Benefits				Other Benefits
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Discount rate	4.43	%	4.95	%	4.43	%	4.95	%
Rate of compensation increase	3.50	%	3.50	%	N/A		N/A
Expected return on plan assets	7.25	%	7.25	%	4.60	%	4.60	%