Fair Value Measurements (Table)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair value measurements table

		Quoted		Significant		Significant
		Prices in		Other		Other
		Active		Observable		Unobservable		Netting and
		Markets		Inputs		Inputs		Cash		March 31,
		(Level 1)		(Level 2)(1)		(Level 3)		Collateral(2)		2012
			(In thousands)
Assets:
Financial instruments
	Natural gas distribution segment	$	-	$	502	$	-	$	-	$	502
	Nonregulated segment		52,013		249,313		-		(287,608)		13,718
Total financial instruments			52,013		249,815		-		(287,608)		14,220
Hedged portion of gas stored
	underground		73,043		-		-		-		73,043
Available-for-sale securities
	Money market funds		-		3,358		-		-		3,358
	Registered investment companies		38,424		-		-		-		38,424
	Bonds		-		23,637		-		-		23,637
Total available-for-sale securities			38,424		26,995		-		-		65,419
Total assets		$	163,480	$	276,810	$	-	$	(287,608)	$	152,682
Liabilities:
Financial instruments
	Natural gas distribution segment	$	-	$	48,034	$	-	$	-	$	48,034
	Nonregulated segment		76,476		227,424		-		(293,304)		10,596
Total liabilities		$	76,476	$	275,458	$	-	$	(293,304)	$	58,630

		Quoted		Significant		Significant
		Prices in		Other		Other
		Active		Observable		Unobservable		Netting and
		Markets		Inputs		Inputs		Cash		September 30,
		(Level 1)		(Level 2)(1)		(Level 3)		Collateral(3)		2011
			(In thousands)
Assets:
Financial instruments
	Natural gas distribution segment	$	-	$	1,841	$	-	$	-	$	1,841
	Nonregulated segment		15,262		97,396		-		(95,156)		17,502
Total financial instruments			15,262		99,237		-		(95,156)		19,343
Hedged portion of gas stored
	underground		47,940		-		-		-		47,940
Available-for-sale securities
	Money market funds		-		1,823		-		-		1,823
	Registered investment companies		36,444		-		-		-		36,444
	Bonds		-		14,366		-		-		14,366
Total available-for-sale securities			36,444		16,189		-		-		52,633
Total assets		$	99,646	$	115,426	$	-	$	(95,156)	$	119,916
Liabilities:
Financial instruments
	Natural gas distribution segment	$	-	$	81,118	$	-	$	-	$	81,118
	Nonregulated segment		22,091		115,617		-		(123,943)		13,765
Total liabilities		$	22,091	$	196,735	$	-	$	(123,943)	$	94,883

Other fair value measurements table

	March 31, 2012
	(In thousands)
Carrying Amount	$	2,210,196
Fair Value	$	2,583,071

Available for sale securities table

				Gross		Gross
		Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
		Cost		Gain		Loss		Value
		(In thousands)
As of March 31, 2012:
	Domestic equity mutual funds	$	24,471	$	7,821	$	-	$	32,292
	Foreign equity mutual funds		5,327		805		-		6,132
	Bonds		23,525		127		(15)		23,637
	Money market funds		3,358		-		-		3,358
		$	56,681	$	8,753	$	(15)	$	65,419
As of September 30, 2011:
	Domestic equity mutual funds	$	27,748	$	4,074	$	-	$	31,822
	Foreign equity mutual funds		4,597		267		(242)		4,622
	Bonds		14,390		10		(34)		14,366
	Money market funds		1,823		-		-		1,823
		$	48,558	$	4,351	$	(276)	$	52,633