Fair Value Measurements (Table)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 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		December 31,
		(Level 1)		(Level 2)(1)		(Level 3)		Collateral(2)		2012
			(In thousands)
Assets:
Financial instruments
	Natural gas distribution segment	$	-	$	13,383	$	-	$	-	$	13,383
	Nonregulated segment		1,043		173,718		-		(156,904)		17,857
Total financial instruments			1,043		187,101		-		(156,904)		31,240
Hedged portion of gas stored
	underground		87,401		-		-		-		87,401
Available-for-sale securities
	Money market funds		-		801		-		-		801
	Registered investment companies		39,499		-		-		-		39,499
	Bonds		-		23,565		-		-		23,565
Total available-for-sale securities			39,499		24,366		-		-		63,865
Total assets		$	127,943	$	211,467	$	-	$	(156,904)	$	182,506
Liabilities:
Financial instruments
	Natural gas distribution segment	$	-	$	77,580	$	-	$	-	$	77,580
	Nonregulated segment		1,261		175,062		-		(173,463)		2,860
Total liabilities		$	1,261	$	252,642	$	-	$	(173,463)	$	80,440

		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)		2012
			(In thousands)
Assets:
Financial instruments
	Natural gas distribution segment	$	-	$	9,365		$	-	$	-	$	9,365
	Nonregulated segment		714		179,835			-		(162,776)		17,773
Total financial instruments			714		189,200			-		(162,776)		27,138
Hedged portion of gas stored
	underground		67,192		-			-		-		67,192
Available-for-sale securities
	Money market funds		-		1,634			-		-		1,634
	Registered investment companies		40,212		-			-		-		40,212
	Bonds		-		22,552			-		-		22,552
Total available-for-sale securities			40,212		24,186			-		-		64,398
Total assets		$	108,118	$	213,386		$	-	$	(162,776)	$	158,728
Liabilities:
Financial instruments
	Natural gas distribution segment	$	-	$	85,625		$	-	$	-	$	85,625
	Nonregulated segment		4,563		191,109			-		(186,451)		9,221
Total liabilities		$	4,563	$	276,734		$	-	$	(186,451)	$	94,846

Other fair value measurements table

	December 31, 2012
	(In thousands)
Carrying Amount	$	1,960,131
Fair Value	$	2,403,501

Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

				Gross		Gross
		Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
		Cost		Gain		Loss		Value
		(In thousands)
As of December 31, 2012
	Domestic equity mutual funds	$	25,645	$	7,209	$	-	$	32,854
	Foreign equity mutual funds		5,568		1,077		-		6,645
	Bonds		23,387		180		(2)		23,565
	Money market funds		801		-		-		801
		$	55,401	$	8,466	$	(2)	$	63,865
As of September 30, 2012
	Domestic equity mutual funds	$	25,779	$	8,183	$	-	$	33,962
	Foreign equity mutual funds		5,568		682		-		6,250
	Bonds		22,358		196		(2)		22,552
	Money market funds		1,634		-		-		1,634
		$	55,339	$	9,061	$	(2)	$	64,398