Summary of Signficant Accounting Policies (Table)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Table Abstract

Accumulated other comprehensive income/loss table

	September 30
	2011		2010
	(In thousands)
Unrealized holding gains on investments	$	2,558	$	4,205
Treasury lock agreements		(34,157)		(5,468)
Cash flow hedges		(16,861)		(22,109)
	$	(48,460)	$	(23,372)

Regulatory Assets And Liabilities Table Abstract

Regulatory assets and liabilities table

		September 30
		2011		2010
			(In thousands)
Regulatory assets:
	Pension and postretirement benefit costs	$	254,666	$	209,564
	Merger and integration costs, net		6,242		6,714
	Deferred gas costs		33,976		22,701
	Regulatory cost of removal asset		8,852		31,014
	Environmental costs		385		805
	Rate case costs		4,862		4,505
	Deferred franchise fees		379		1,161
	Other		3,534		1,046
		$	312,896	$	277,510
Regulatory liabilities:
	Deferred gas costs	$	8,130	$	43,333
	Regulatory cost of removal obligation		464,025		381,474
	Other		14,025		6,112
		$	486,180	$	430,919