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EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
 9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2025
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
10. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Pension and Other Postemployment Benefit Plans

In January 2024, the Company announced changes to its postretirement medical benefits plan that replaced the existing retiree medical coverage for certain eligible employees and their dependents with an employer funded Health Reimbursement Arrangement. The liability associated with postretirement medical benefits was remeasured as of January 1, 2024. The change in post-retirement medical benefits is being amortized into earnings over approximately eight years, the average remaining service to retirement for all plan participants.

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:
PensionOPEB
Three Months EndedNine Months EndedThree Months EndedNine Months Ended
June 30,June 30,June 30,June 30,
(Thousands)20252024202520242025202420252024
Service cost$1,381 $1,244 $4,142 $3,732 $273 $254 $819 $1,151 
Interest cost3,858 4,060 11,575 12,180 2,096 1,809 6,290 6,519 
Expected return on plan assets(5,925)(5,087)(17,775)(15,260)(2,346)(2,021)(7,039)(5,899)
Recognized actuarial loss301 29 902 88 1,792 1,256 5,378 3,007 
Prior service cost (credit) amortization— 16 — 47 (3,270)(3,339)(9,810)(6,676)
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost$(385)$262 $(1,156)$787 $(1,455)$(2,041)$(4,362)$(1,898)

The Company does not expect to make additional contributions to fund the pension plans during fiscal 2025 based on current actuarial assumptions; however, funding requirements are uncertain and can depend significantly on changes in actuarial assumptions, returns on plan assets 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 nine months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024.