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EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
 6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Pension and Other Postemployment Benefit Plans

The components of the net periodic cost for pension benefits, including the Company's Pension Equalization Plan, and OPEB costs (principally health care and life insurance) for employees and covered dependents were as follows:
 
Pension
OPEB
 
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
 
March 31,
March 31,
March 31,
March 31,
(Thousands)
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
Service cost
$
1,871

$
1,536

$
3,742

$
3,072

$
1,064

$
981

$
2,127

$
1,962

Interest cost
2,550

2,517

5,100

5,033

1,435

1,433

2,870

2,866

Expected return on plan assets
(4,273
)
(3,869
)
(8,545
)
(7,738
)
(1,244
)
(1,043
)
(2,488
)
(2,087
)
Recognized actuarial loss
1,747

1,399

3,492

2,798

735

625

1,471

1,250

Prior service cost amortization
27

28

55

56

(91
)
(89
)
(182
)
(178
)
Recognized net initial obligation
—

—

—

—

—

2

—

5

Net periodic benefit cost
$
1,922

$
1,611

$
3,844

$
3,221

$
1,899

$
1,909

$
3,798

$
3,818



The Company does not expect to be required to make additional contributions to fund the pension plans over the next three fiscal years based on current actuarial assumptions; however, funding requirements are uncertain and can depend significantly on changes in actuarial assumptions, returns on plan assets, interest rates and changes in the demographics of eligible employees and covered dependents. In addition, as in the past, the Company may elect to make contributions in excess of the minimum required amount to the plans. There were no discretionary contributions made during the six months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.