Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share from continuing operations
Income from continuing operations	$ 71,193	$ 70,808	$ 564,317	$ 346,858
Less: Income from continuing operations allocated to participating securities	59	75	545	424
Income from continuing operations available to common shareholders	$ 71,134	$ 70,733	$ 563,772	$ 346,434
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	111,851	106,364	110,707	105,862
Income from continuing operations per share — Basic and Diluted (USD per share)	$ 0.64	$ 0.67	$ 5.09	$ 3.27
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share from discontinued operations
Income from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 13,710
Less: Income from discontinued operations allocated to participating securities	0	0	0	15
Income from discontinued operations available to common shareholders	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 13,695
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	111,851	106,364	110,707	105,862
Income from discontinued operations per share — Basic and Diluted (USD per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.13
Net income per share — Basic and Diluted (USD per share)	$ 0.64	$ 0.67	$ 5.09	$ 3.40

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share, Continuing Operations [Abstract]

No definition available.

Name:	ato_BasicandDilutedEarningsPerShareContinuingOperationsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ato_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share, Discontinued Operations [Abstract]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ato_BasicandDilutedEarningsPerShareDiscontinuedOperationsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ato_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Per basic and diluted share amount, after tax, of income (loss) from the day-to-day business activities of the discontinued operation, when the per share amount is the same.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTaxPerBasicAndDilutedShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share in instances when basic and diluted earnings per share are the same amount and reported as a single line item on the face of the financial statements. Basic earnings per share is the amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per share includes the amount of net income or loss for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax of income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the parent.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.13)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 18
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96868048&loc=SL4613673-111683

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of net income (loss) from continuing operations per each basic and diluted share of common stock or unit when the per share amount is the same for both basic and diluted shares.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicAndDilutedShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax of income (loss) from a discontinued operation attributable to the parent. Includes, but is not limited to, the income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, gain (loss) for reversal of write-down (write-down) to fair value, less cost to sell, and adjustments to a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5C
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=SL51721675-107760

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65878427&loc=SL51721525-107759

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65878427&loc=SL51721523-107759

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65878427&loc=d3e957-107759

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65878427&loc=d3e1012-107759

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=d3e1361-107760

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5B
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=SL51721673-107760

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 19
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96868048&loc=SL4569616-111683

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after deduction of tax, noncontrolling interests, dividends on preferred stock and participating securities; of income (loss) from continuing operations available to common shareholders.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96947427&loc=d3e1377-109256

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 60B
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96947427&loc=SL5780133-109256

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NetIncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsAvailableToCommonShareholdersBasic
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after deduction of tax, noncontrolling interests, dividends on preferred stock and participating securities; of income (loss) from discontinued operations available to common shareholders.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96947427&loc=d3e1278-109256

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96947427&loc=d3e1377-109256

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 270
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(5)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27015980&loc=d3e46468-122699

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NetIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsAvailableToCommonShareholdersBasic
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of undistributed earnings (loss) from continuing operations allocated to participating securities for basic earnings (loss) per share or per unit calculation under two-class method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 60B
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96947427&loc=SL5780133-109256

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 66
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96947427&loc=d3e2814-109256

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 65
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96947427&loc=d3e2793-109256

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UndistributedContinuingOperationEarningsLossAllocationToParticipatingSecuritiesBasic
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of undistributed earnings (loss) from discontinued operations allocated to participating securities for basic earnings (loss) per share or per unit calculation under two-class method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 270
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(5)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27015980&loc=d3e46468-122699

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 65
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96947427&loc=d3e2793-109256

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 60B
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96947427&loc=SL5780133-109256

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 66
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96947427&loc=d3e2814-109256

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UndistributedDiscontinuedOperationEarningsLossAllocationToParticipatingSecuritiesBasic
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfShareOutstandingBasicAndDiluted
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration