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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Narrative (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |  | 0 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  | 0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  | 0 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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Sep. 30, 2014 change Operating_Segment | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2014 Laclede Gas | Sep. 30, 2013 Laclede Gas | Sep. 30, 2012 Laclede Gas | Sep. 01, 2013 Laclede Gas | Jun. 01, 2010 Alagasco | Sep. 30, 2014 Alagasco | Sep. 30, 2014 Alagasco | Sep. 30, 2013 Alagasco | Jun. 01, 2010 Alagasco | Sep. 30, 2014 Missouri Gas Energy (MGE) | Sep. 30, 2013 Missouri Gas Energy (MGE) | Sep. 01, 2013 Missouri Gas Energy (MGE) | Sep. 01, 2013 Missouri Gas Energy (MGE) Laclede Gas | Sep. 30, 2014 Missouri Gas Energy (MGE) Laclede Gas | Sep. 30, 2013 Missouri Gas Energy (MGE) Laclede Gas | Sep. 02, 2014 Alagasco | Aug. 31, 2014 Alagasco | Sep. 30, 2013 Alagasco | Sep. 01, 2013 Alagasco | Sep. 30, 2014 Alagasco Laclede Gas | Sep. 30, 2013 Alagasco Laclede Gas | Sep. 01, 2013 Scenario, Previously Reported Missouri Gas Energy (MGE) | Sep. 01, 2013 Scenario, Previously Reported Missouri Gas Energy (MGE) Laclede Gas | Sep. 30, 2014 Gas Utility | Sep. 30, 2013 Gas Utility
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of operating segments | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Utility Plant, Depreciation and Amortization [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Average annual depreciation and amortization expense percentage |  |  |  | 3.00% | 3.20% | 3.10% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital expenditures | $ 171,000,000 | $ 130,800,000 | $ 108,800,000 | $ 163,000,000 | $ 128,500,000 | $ 106,700,000 |  |  | $ 7,700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accruals for capital expenditures |  |  |  | 3,000,000 | 4,700,000 | 9,700,000 |  |  |  | 5,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Composite depreciation rate (percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3.10% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current refundable negative salvage costs to customers |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13,400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncurrent refundable negative salvage costs to customers |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 26,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncurrent refundable negative salvage costs period (in years) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
The amount by which the replacement cost exceeds (less than) the cost basis value of stored gas inventories | 11,400,000 | 13,300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 937,800,000 | 247,100,000 |  | 210,200,000 | 247,100,000 |  | 210,200,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 210,200,000 | 247,100,000 | 210,200,000 |  | 210,200,000 | 247,100,000 |  | 727,600,000 | 0 | 727,600,000 | 0 | 0 | 247,100,000 | 247,100,000 |  |
Total consideration transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 940,200,000 | 940,200,000 |  | 1,600,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued unbilled revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 29,400,000 | 26,700,000
Gas imbalances |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of PGA discretionary changes | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Months between PGA discretionary changes | 2 months |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost savings retention percentage | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum amount of cost savings allowable | 3,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of months of the original maturity of debt instruments purchased | 3 months |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross Receipts taxes recorded in regulated gas distribution operating revenues | 96,900,000 | 40,800,000 | 35,900,000 | 76,300,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 20,600,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finance receivable, net | 10,900,000 | 10,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Threshold period past due for collection |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 90 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Threshold period past due for write-off of financing receivable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 months |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finance receivable 90 days past due |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 300,000 | 300,000 | 400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Write off on an allowance for credit losses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 300,000 | $ 400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition The value of gas balancing asset or liability as of the end of the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27015464&loc=d3e512571-122862 + Details
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