IES (IESC) 10-Q 10 Feb 14 2014 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_And_Entity_Informatio

Document And Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'
Entity Registrant Name	'INTEGRATED ELECTRICAL SERVICES INC
Entity Central Index Key	'0001048268
Document Type	'10-Q
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-13
Amendment Flag	'false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--09-30
Entity Filer Category	'Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	17,918,254
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
CURRENT ASSETS:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$17,253	$20,757
Accounts receivable:	'	'
Trade, net of allowance	66,530	73,540
Retainage	16,498	17,473
Inventories	16,652	20,147
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts	7,559	8,336
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	6,603	3,772
Total current assets	131,095	144,025
LONG-TERM RECEIVABLE, net of allowance	28	35
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	10,141	10,414
GOODWILL	13,924	13,924
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net of amortization	3,978	4,138
OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS, net	6,056	6,716
Total assets	165,222	179,252
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	'	'
Current maturities of long-term debt	3,529	3,562
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	61,633	74,320
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts	20,099	20,676
Total current liabilities	85,261	98,558
LONG-TERM DEBT, net of current maturities	9,333	10,210
LONG-TERM DEFERRED TAX LIABILITY	905	905
OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES	7,078	7,093
Total liabilities	102,577	116,766
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:	'	'
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding	0	0
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 15,407,802 and 15,407,802 shares issued and 15,013,840 and 14,938,071 outstanding, respectively	182	182
Treasury stock, at cost, 451,329 and 633,898 shares, respectively	-2,427	-2,332
Additional paid-in capital	174,649	174,514
Accumulated other comprehensive income	12	17
Retained deficit	-109,771	-109,895
Total stockholders' equity	62,645	62,486
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$165,222	$179,252

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]	'	'
Trade, allowance	$945	$980
Preferred stock, par value	$0.01	'
Preferred stock, shares authorized	100,000,000	'
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	'
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	'
Common stock, par value	$0.01	'
Common stock, shares authorized	100,000,000	'
Common stock, shares issued	18,203,379	18,203,379
Common stock, shares outstanding	17,918,254	17,944,322
Treasury stock, shares	285,125	259,057

Consolidated_Statements_Of_Com

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'
Revenues	$120,079	$127,264
Cost of services	101,963	109,284
Gross profit	18,116	17,980
Selling, general and administrative expenses	17,572	14,922
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	-41	-19
Income (loss) from operations	585	3,077
Interest and other (income) expense:	'	'
Interest expense	518	607
Interest income	-1	-12
Other (income) expense, net	-196	1,734
Interest and other expense, net	321	2,329
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes	264	748
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	-1	115
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	265	633
Discontinued operations (Note 4 "Strategic Actions")	'	'
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	-141	-138
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	-15
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	-141	-123
Net loss	124	510
Interest Rate Swap	-12	0
Comprehensive Income (loss)	($136)	($510)
Basic earnings (loss) per share:	'	'
Continuing operations	$0.02	$0.04
Discontinued operations	($0.01)	($0.01)
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$0.10	$0.03
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:	'	'
Continuing operations	$0.02	$0.04
Discontinued operations	($0.01)	($0.01)
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$0.10	$0.03
Shares used in the computation of loss per share (Note 6 "Per Share Information"):	'	'
Basic	17,817,254	14,801,903
Diluted	17,898,832	14,919,189

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Net loss	$124	$510
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Bad debt expense	45	-138
Deferred financing cost amortization	127	209
Depreciation and amortization	617	539
Gain on sale of assets	56	14
Non-cash compensation expense	200	492
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	'	'
Accounts receivable	7,050	3,378
Inventories	3,495	2,107
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	777	149
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	-1,915	-4,257
Other non-current assets	510	199
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	-12,684	2,426
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	-577	-2,325
Other non-current liabilities	-24	-11
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	-2,199	3,292
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Purchases of property and equipment	-267	-369
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	-267	-369
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Repayments of debt	-877	-24
Purchase of treasury stock	161	346
Changes In Restricted Cash	0	-409
Net cash used in financing activities	-1,038	-779
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	-3,504	2,144
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	20,757	18,729
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	17,253	20,873
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:	'	'
Cash paid for interest	264	419
Cash paid for income taxes	$95	$62

Business

Business	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Business [Abstract]	'
Description of the Business	'
	INTEGRATED ELECTRICAL SERVICES, INC.
	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
	(All Amounts in Thousands Except Share Amounts)
	1. BUSINESS
	Description of the Business
	Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. is a holding company that owns and manages operating subsidiaries in business activities across a variety of end markets. Our operations are currently organized into four principal business segments, based upon the nature of our current products and services:
	Communications – Nationwide provider of products and services for mission critical infrastructure, such as data centers, of large corporations.
	Residential – Regional provider of electrical installation services for single-family housing and multi-family apartment complexes.
	Commercial & Industrial – Provider of electrical design, construction, and maintenance services for commercial and industrial projects nationwide.
	Infrastructure Solutions - Provider of industrial and rail services, and electrical and mechanical solutions to domestic and international customers. (This segment was created in connection with the acquisition of MISCOR Group, LTD. (“MISCOR”))
	The words “IES”, the “Company”, “we”, “our”, and “us” refer to Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. and, except as otherwise specified herein, to our wholly-owned subsidiaries.
	Our Communications segment is a leading provider of network infrastructure products and services. Services offered include the design, installation and maintenance of network infrastructure for numerous industry groups. We provide design and installation of audio/visual, telephone, fire, wireless and intrusion alarm systems as well as design/build, service and maintenance of data network systems. We perform services across the United States from our ten offices, headquartered in Tempe, Arizona.
	Our Residential segment provides electrical installation services for single-family housing and multi-family apartment complexes and CATV cabling installations for residential and light commercial applications. In addition to our core electrical construction work, the Residential segment provides services for the installation of residential solar power, smart meters, electric car charging stations and stand-by generators, both for new construction and existing residences. The segment is comprised of 24 locations, with headquarters in Houston, Texas. Residential locations geographically cover Texas, the Sun-Belt, and the Western and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, including Hawaii.
	Our Commercial & Industrial segment offers a broad range of electrical design, construction, renovation, engineering and maintenance services to the commercial and industrial markets. The Commercial & Industrial segment consists of 18 locations, headquartered in Houston, Texas. Locations geographically cover Texas, Nebraska, Colorado, Oregon and the Mid-Atlantic region. Services include the design of electrical systems within a building or complex, procurement and installation of wiring and connection to power sources, end-use equipment and fixtures, as well as contract maintenance. We focus on projects that require special expertise, such as design-and-build projects that utilize the capabilities of our in-house experts, or projects which require specific market expertise, such as transmission and distribution and power generation facilities. We also provide service, maintenance and renovation and upgrade work, which tends to be either recurring or have lower sensitivity to economic cycles, or both. We provide services for a variety of projects, including: high-rise residential and office buildings, power plants, manufacturing facilities, data centers, chemical plants, refineries, wind farms, solar facilities, municipal infrastructure and health care facilities, and residential developments. Our utility services consist of overhead and underground installation and maintenance of electrical and other utilities transmission and distribution networks, installation and splicing of high-voltage transmission and distribution lines, substation construction and substation and right-of-way maintenance. Our maintenance services generally provide recurring revenues that are typically less affected by levels of construction activity.
	Our Infrastructure Solutions segment provides maintenance and repair services to several industries, including electric motor repair and rebuilding for the steel, railroad, marine, petrochemical, pulp and paper, wind energy, mining, automotive and power generation industries. Infrastructure Solutions repairs and manufactures industrial lifting magnets for the steel and scrap industries, provides locomotive maintenance, remanufacturing, and repair services to the rail industry, and manufactures and rebuilds power assemblies, engine parts, and other components for large diesel engines. Infrastructure Solutions is made up of nine total locations, which includes our Infrastructure Solutions headquarters in Ohio. These segment locations geographically cover Alabama, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland and California.
	Related Party Transactions
	On December 12, 2007, we entered into the Tontine Term Loan, with Tontine, which the Company terminated and prepaid in full in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. See Note 4, “Debt – The Tontine Term Loan,” for further discussion.
	On March 29, 2012, we entered into a sublease agreement with Tontine Associates, LLC, an affiliate of Tontine Capital Partners, L.P. (together with its affiliates, “Tontine”), for corporate office space in Greenwich, Connecticut. The lease extends from April 1, 2012 through March 31, 2014, with monthly payments due in the amount of $6. The lease has terms at market rates and payments by the Company are at a rate consistent with that paid by Tontine Associates, LLC to its landlord. See also Note 2, “Controlling Shareholder,” for further discussion.
	Basis of Financial Statement Preparation
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of IES and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to interim financial reporting as prescribed by the SEC. These interim financial statements do not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and should be read in the context of the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2013.  In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this report include all known accruals and adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations for the periods reported herein.  All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, notes receivable, investments, accounts payable, a loan agreement, and an interest rate swap agreement. We believe that the carrying value of financial instruments, with the exception of our cost method investment in EnerTech, in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, approximates their fair value due to their short-term nature.
	We estimate the fair value of our investment in EnerTech Capital Partners II L.P. (“Enertech”) (Level 3) using quoted market prices for underlying publicly traded securities, and estimated enterprise values determined using cash flow projections and market multiples of the underlying non-public companies. For additional information on our investment in EnerTech, please refer to Note 9, “Securities and Equity Investments”.
	For a detailed discussion of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, please refer to Note 11, “Fair Value Measurements” in the Notes to these Consolidated Financial Statements.
	Goodwill
	Goodwill attributable to each reporting unit is tested for impairment by comparing the fair value of each reporting unit with its carrying value. Fair value is determined using discounted cash flows. These impairment tests are required to be performed at least annually. Significant estimates used in the methodologies include estimates of future cash flows, future short-term and long-term growth rates, and weighted average cost of capital for each of the reportable units. On an ongoing basis (absent any impairment indicators), we perform an impairment test annually using a measurement date of September 30.
	Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives based on expected economic benefit with no residual value. Customer relationships are amortized assuming gradual attrition. Intangible assets with indefinite lives are not subject to amortization. We perform a test for impairment annually, or more frequently when indicators of impairment are present.
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires the use of estimates and assumptions by management in determining the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates are primarily used in our revenue recognition of construction in progress, fair value assumptions in analyzing goodwill, investments, intangible assets and long-lived asset impairments and adjustments, allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, stock-based compensation, reserves for legal matters, assumptions regarding estimated costs to exit certain segments, realizability of deferred tax assets, unrecognized tax benefits and self-insured claims liabilities and related reserves.
	Inventories
	Inventories generally consist of raw materials, work in process, finished goods, and parts and supplies held for use in the ordinary course of business. Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market generally using the historical average cost or first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. When circumstances dictate, we write down inventory to its estimated realizable value based on assumptions about future demand, market conditions, plans for disposal, and physical condition of the product. Where shipping and handling costs to receive materials are borne by us, these charges are included in inventory and charged to cost of services upon use in our projects or the providing of services.
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	We consider all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
	Comprehensive Income
	Comprehensive income includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by and distributions to stockholders.
	Seasonality and Quarterly Fluctuations
	Results of operations from our Residential construction segment are seasonal, depending on weather trends, with typically higher revenues generated during spring and summer and lower revenues during fall and winter. The Communications, Commercial & Industrial, and Infrastructure Solutions segments of our business are less subject to seasonal trends, as work in these segments generally is performed inside structures protected from the weather. Our service and maintenance business is generally not affected by seasonality. In addition, the construction industry has historically been highly cyclical. Our volume of business may be adversely affected by declines in construction projects resulting from adverse regional or national economic conditions. Quarterly results may also be materially affected by the timing of new construction projects. Results for our Infrastructure Solutions segment may be affected by the timing of scheduled outages at our customers’ facilities. Accordingly, operating results for any fiscal period are not necessarily indicative of results that may be achieved for any subsequent fiscal period.
	New Accounting Pronouncements
	In February 2013, the FASB issued accounting guidance related to the reporting of amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. This guidance sets forth new disclosure requirements for items reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income by requiring disclosures for both the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income by component and where the significant items reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income are classified in the Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income. See Note 7, “Other Comprehensive Income”, for further discussion.

Controlling_Shareholder

Controlling Shareholder	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Controlling Shareholder [Abstract]	'
Controlling Shareholder	'
	2. CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER
	At December 31, 2013, Tontine Capital Partners, L.P. together with its affiliates (collectively “Tontine”) was the controlling shareholder of the Company’s common stock. Accordingly, Tontine has the ability to exercise significant control over our affairs, including the election of directors and any action requiring the approval of shareholders.
	While Tontine is subject to restrictions under federal securities laws on sales of its shares as an affiliate, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement between Tontine and the Company, Tontine delivered a request to the Company for registration of all of its shares of IES common stock, and on February 21, 2013, the Company filed a shelf registration statement to register Tontine’s shares (as amended, the “Shelf Registration Statement”). The Shelf Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on June 18, 2013. As long as the Shelf Registration Statement remains effective, Tontine has the ability to resell any or all of its shares from time to time in one or more offerings, as described in the Shelf Registration Statement and in any prospectus supplement filed in connection with an offering pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
	Should Tontine sell or otherwise dispose of all or a portion of its position in IES, a change in ownership could occur. A change in ownership, as defined by Internal Revenue Code Section 382, could reduce the availability of net operating losses (“NOLs”) for federal and state income tax purposes. On January 28, 2013, the Company implemented a tax benefit protection plan (the “NOL Rights Plan”) that is designed to deter an acquisition of the Company's stock in excess of a threshold amount that could trigger a change of control within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 382. For additional information on the NOL Rights Plan, please see our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 28, 2013. There can be no assurance that the NOL Rights Plan will be effective in deterring a change of control or protecting the NOLs. Furthermore, a change in control would trigger the change of control provisions in a number of our material agreements, including our 2012 credit facility, bonding agreements with our sureties and certain employment contracts with certain officers and employees of the Company.

Strategic_Actions

Strategic Actions	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Strategic Actions [Abstract]	'
Strategic Actions	'
	3. STRATEGIC ACTIONS
	The 2011 Restructuring Plan
	In the second quarter of our 2011 fiscal year, we began a restructuring program (the “2011 Restructuring Plan”) that was designed to consolidate operations within our Commercial & Industrial business. Pursuant to the 2011 Restructuring Plan, we began the closure of certain underperforming facilities within our Commercial & Industrial operations. The 2011 Restructuring Plan was a key element of our commitment to return the Company to profitability.
	The facilities directly affected by the 2011 Restructuring Plan were in several locations throughout the country, including Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Nevada and Texas. These facilities were selected due to business prospects at that time and the extended time frame needed to return the facilities to a profitable position. Closure costs associated with the 2011 Restructuring Plan included equipment and facility lease termination expenses, incremental management consulting expenses and severance costs for employees. The Company has completed the wind down of these facilities with minimal completion remaining. As part of our restructuring charges reported within discontinued operations for our Commercial & Industrial segment we recognized zero and $(4) in severance charges; zero and $47 in consulting services; and zero in costs related to lease terminations for the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Charges related to the 2011 Restructuring Plan in our fiscal year ended 2014 are expected to be immaterial.
	The 2011 Restructuring Plan pertains only to our Commercial & Industrial segment. The following table summarizes the activities related to our restructuring activities by component:
			Severance		Lease Termination
			Charges		& Other Charges		Total
		Restructuring liability at September 30, 2013	$	115	$	160	$	275
		Cash payments made		-58		-19		-77
		Restructuring liability at December 31, 2013	$	57	$	141	$	198

Debt

Debt	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt [Abstract]	'
Debt	'
	4.  DEBT
	Debt consists of the following:
				December 31,			September 30,
				2013			2013
	Wells Fargo Term Loan, paid in installments thru Aug 9, 2016			$	12,833		$	13,708
	Capital leases and other				29			64
		Total debt			12,862			13,772
	Less — Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt				-3,529			-3,562
		Total long-term debt		$	9,333		$	10,210
	Future payments on debt as of December 31, 2013 are as follows:
			Capital Leases and Other
						Term Debt			Total
	2014		$	27		$	2,625		$	2,652
	2015			2			3,500			3,502
	2016			-			6,708			6,708
	Total		$	29		$	12,833		$	12,862
	For the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, we incurred interest expense of $518 and $607, respectively.
	The 2012 Revolving Credit Facility
	On August 9, 2012, we entered into a Credit and Security Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), for a $30,000 revolving credit facility (the “2012 Credit Facility”) with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo”) with a maturity date of August 9, 2015, unless earlier terminated. We have entered into two amendments to the 2012 Credit Facility. On February 12, 2013, we entered into an amendment of our 2012 Credit Facility (the “Amendment”), to extend the term to August 9, 2016, add IES Renewable Energy, LLC as a borrower, and provide for a term loan (the “Wells Fargo Term Loan”). On September 13, 2013, we entered into an amendment of the 2012 Credit Facility (the “Second Amendment”), which amended the Wells Fargo Term Loan, removed the requirement to cash collateralize our outstanding letters of credit, and added IES Subsidiary Holdings Inc., Magnetech Industrial Services, Inc., and HK Engine Components, LLC, as borrowers.
	The 2012 Credit Facility is guaranteed by our subsidiaries and secured by first priority liens on substantially all of our subsidiaries’ existing and future acquired assets, exclusive of collateral provided to our surety providers. The 2012 Credit Facility also restricts us from paying cash dividends and places limitations on our ability to repurchase our common stock.
	The 2012 Credit Facility contains customary affirmative, negative and financial covenants. The 2012 Credit Facility requires that we maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.0:1.0 at any time that our Liquidity (defined as the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents on hand plus Excess Availability (as defined in the Credit Facility)) or Excess Availability fall below stipulated levels. The Second Amendment provided for tiered thresholds. Through December 31, 2013, our Liquidity could not fall below $15,000. Thereafter, our Liquidity must not fall below $20,000. Additionally, our Excess Availability must not fall below $5,000. As of December 31, 2013, our Liquidity was in excess of $15,000 and Excess Availability was in excess of $5,000; had we not met these thresholds at December 31, 2013, we would not have met the required 1.0:1.0 fixed charge coverage ratio test.
	Borrowings under the 2012 Credit Facility may not exceed a “borrowing base” that is determined monthly by our lenders based on available collateral, primarily certain accounts receivables, inventories and personal property and equipment. Under the terms of the 2012 Credit Facility, amounts outstanding bear interest at a per annum rate equal to a Daily Three Month LIBOR (as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus an interest rate margin, which is determined quarterly, based on the following thresholds:
	Level		Thresholds		Interest Rate Margin
	I		Liquidity ≤ $20,000 at any time during the period; or Excess Availability ≤ $7,500 at any time during the period; or Fixed charge coverage ratio < 1.0:1.0		4.00 percentage points
	II		Liquidity > $20,000 at all times during the period; and Liquidity ≤ $30,000 at any time during the period; and Excess Availability $7,500; and Fixed charge coverage ratio ≥ 1.0:1.0		3.50 percentage points
	III		Liquidity > $30,000 at all times during the period; and Excess Availability > $7,500; and Fixed charge coverage ratio ≥ 1.0:1.0		3.00 percentage points
	In addition, we are charged monthly in arrears for (1) an unused commitment fee of 0.50% per annum, (2) a collateral monitoring fee ranging from $1 to $2, based on the then-applicable interest rate margin, (3) a letter of credit fee based on the then-applicable interest rate margin and (4) certain other fees and charges as specified in the Credit Agreement.
	At December 31, 2013, we had $5,811 available to us under the 2012 Credit Facility, $6,660 in outstanding letters of credit with Wells Fargo and no outstanding borrowings.
	The Second Amendment to the 2012 Credit Facility increased our total Term Loan by $10,147 to $13,708 at September 30, 2013. The Wells Fargo Term Loan is payable in equal monthly installments of $292 through August 9, 2016, with the residual unpaid principal balance due on that date. The Second Amendment also extended the term and reduced the annual interest rate to 5% plus 3 Month LIBOR, through September 13, 2014. Following that time, the Wells Fargo Term Loan amounts outstanding bear interest at a per annum rate equal to a Daily Three Month LIBOR plus an interest rate margin, which is determined quarterly, based on the following thresholds:
	Level		Thresholds		Interest Rate Margin
	I		Liquidity ≤ $20,000 at any time during the period; or Excess Availability ≤ $7,500 at any time during the period; or Fixed charge coverage ratio < 1.0:1.0		5.00 percentage points
	II		Liquidity > $20,000 at all times during the period; and Liquidity ≤ $30,000 at any time during the period; and Excess Availability $7,500; and Fixed charge coverage ratio ≥ 1.0:1.0		4.50 percentage points
	III		Liquidity > $30,000 at all times during the period; and Excess Availability > $7,500; and Fixed charge coverage ratio ≥ 1.0:1.0		4.00 percentage points
	The Tontine Term Loan
	On December 12, 2007, we entered into the Tontine Term Loan, a $25,000 senior subordinated loan agreement, with Tontine, which the Company terminated and prepaid in full in the second quarter of fiscal 2013, as further described below.
	The Tontine Term Loan bore interest at 11.0% per annum and was due on May 15, 2013. Interest was payable quarterly in cash or in-kind at our option. Any interest paid in-kind would bear interest at 11.0% in addition to the loan principal. The Tontine Term Loan was subordinated to the 2012 Credit Facility. The Tontine Term Loan was an unsecured obligation of the Company and its subsidiary borrowers and contained no financial covenants or restrictions on dividends or distributions to stockholders. The Tontine Term Loan was amended on August 9, 2012 in connection with the Company entering into the 2012 Credit Facility. The amendment did not materially impact the Company’s obligations under the Tontine Term Loan.
	On April 30, 2010, we prepaid $15,000 of principal on the Tontine Term Loan. On May 1, 2010, Tontine assigned the Tontine Term Loan to Tontine Capital Overseas Master Fund II, L.P, also a related party. Pursuant to its terms, we were permitted to repay the Tontine Term Loan at any time prior to the maturity date at par, plus accrued interest without penalty within the restrictions of the 2012 Credit Facility. On February 13, 2013, we repaid the remaining $10,000 of principal on the Tontine Term Loan, plus accrued interest, with existing cash on hand and proceeds from the Wells Fargo Term Loan.
	Capital Lease
	The Company leases certain equipment under agreements, which are classified as capital leases and included in property, plant and equipment. Amortization of this equipment for the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $22 and $46, respectively, and is included in depreciation expense in the accompanying statements of comprehensive income.

Per_Share_Information

Per Share Information	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Per Share Information [Abstract]	'
Per Share Information	'
	5. PER SHARE INFORMATION
	Basic earnings per share is calculated as income (loss) available to common stockholders, divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. If the effect is dilutive, participating securities are included in the computation of basic earnings per share. Our participating securities do not have a contractual obligation to share in the losses in any given period. As a result, these participating securities will not be allocated any losses in the periods of net losses, but will be allocated income in the periods of net income using the two-class method.
	The following table reconciles the components of the basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share for the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
		Three Months Ended December 31,
		2013		2012
	Numerator:
	Net earnings from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	$	264	$	623
	Net earnings from continuing operations attributable to restricted shareholders		1		10
	Net earnings from continuing operations	$	265	$	633
	Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders	$	-141	$	-123
	Net loss from discontinued operations	$	-141	$	-123
	Net earnings attributable to common shareholders	$	123	$	500
	Net earnings attributable to restricted shareholders		1		10
	Net earnings	$	124	$	510
	Denominator:
	Weighted average common shares outstanding — basic		17,817,254		14,801,903
	Effect of dilutive stock options and non-vested restricted stock		81,578		117,286
	Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding — diluted		17,898,832		14,919,189
	Basic earnings (loss) per share:
	Basic earnings per share from continuing operations	$	0.02	$	0.04
	Basic loss per share from discontinued operations	$	-0.01	$	-0.01
	Basic earnings per share	$	0.01	$	0.03
	Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
	Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations	$	0.02	$	0.04
	Diluted loss per share from discontinued operations	$	-0.01	$	-0.01
	Diluted earnings per share	$	0.01	$	0.03
	For the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, 150,000 and zero stock options, respectively, were excluded from the computation of fully diluted earnings per share because the exercise prices of the options were greater than the average price of our common stock.

Operating_Segments

Operating Segments	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Segments [Abstract]	'
Operating Segments	'
	6. OPERATING SEGMENTS
	We manage and measure performance of our business in four distinct operating segments: Communications, Residential, Commercial & Industrial, and Infrastructure Solutions. These segments are reflective of how the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) reviews operating results for the purposes of allocating resources and assessing performance. The Company’s CODM is its Chief Executive Officer. For a description of our operating segments, please refer to Note 1, “Business – Description of the Business”
	The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies in Note 1, “Business”. We evaluate performance based on income from operations of the respective business units prior to the allocation of Corporate office expenses. Transactions between segments are eliminated in consolidation. Our Corporate office provides general and administrative as well as support services to our four operating segments. Management allocates costs between segments for selling, general and administrative expenses and depreciation expense.
	Segment information for the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 is as follows:
			Three Months Ended December 31, 2013
								Commercial &		Infrastructure
				Communications		Residential		Industrial		Solutions		Corporate		Total
	Revenues			$	24,591	$	41,212	$	41,230	$	13,046	$	-	$	120,079
	Cost of services				20,659		33,794		37,316		10,194		-		101,963
	Gross profit				3,932		7,418		3,914		2,852		-		18,116
	Selling, general and administrative				2,982		6,481		3,480		2,387		2,242		17,572
	Loss (gain) on sale of assets				-		-40		-4		3		-		-41
	Income (loss) from operations			$	950	$	977	$	438	$	462	$	-2,242	$	585
	Other data:
		Depreciation and amortization expense		$	100	$	123	$	67	$	242	$	85	$	617
		Capital expenditures			7		5		55		54		115		236
		Total assets		$	22,006	$	34,670	$	46,372	$	27,817	$	34,357	$	165,222
			Three Months Ended December 31, 2012
								Commercial &		Infrastructure
				Communications		Residential		Industrial		Solutions		Corporate		Total
	Revenues			$	40,119	$	36,005	$	51,140	$	-	$	-	$	127,264
	Cost of services				32,887		29,899		46,498		-		-		109,284
	Gross profit				7,232		6,106		4,642		-		-		17,980
	Selling, general and administrative				3,558		5,228		3,736		-		2,400		14,922
	Loss (gain) on sale of assets				1		-9		-11		-		-		-19
	Income (loss) from operations			$	3,673	$	887	$	917	$	-	$	-2,400	$	3,077
	Other data:
		Depreciation and amortization expense		$	87	$	95	$	57	$	-	$	300	$	539
		Capital expenditures			41		26		13		-		-		80
		Total assets		$	34,072	$	31,914	$	54,436	$	-	$	44,736	$	165,158

Other_Comprehensive_Income

Other Comprehensive Income	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease (Abstract)	'
Comprehensive Income Note	'
	7. OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
	For the three months ended December 31, 2013, changes in other comprehensive income by component, net of tax, are detailed below, and represent net gains (losses) on our cash flow hedge.
		Balance at September 30, 2013	$	17
		Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		1
		Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income		-6
		Balance at at December 31, 2013	$	12
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, were reported in interest expense in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]	'
Stockholders' Equity	'
	8. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
	The 2006 Equity Incentive Plan became effective on May 12, 2006 (as amended, the “2006 Equity Incentive Plan”). The 2006 Equity Incentive Plan provides for grants of stock options as well as grants of stock, including restricted stock. We have approximately 1.0 million shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.
	Treasury Stock
	During the three months ended December 31, 2013, we repurchased 33,568 common shares from our employees to satisfy minimum tax withholding requirements upon the vesting of restricted stock issued under the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan. We issued 7,500 shares out of treasury stock under our share-based compensation programs for restricted shares granted.
	Restricted Stock
	Restricted Stock Awards:
	Fiscal Year		Shares Granted		Weighted Average Fair Value at Date of Grant		Shares Vested		Shares Forfeited		Shares Outstanding		Expense recognized through December 31, 2013
	2006		384,850		$24.78		258,347		126,503		-		$6,402
	2006		25,000		17.36		25,000		-		-		434
	2007		20,000		25.08		20,000		-		-		502
	2007		4,000		26.48		4,000		-		-		106
	2008		101,650		19.17		85,750		15,900		-		1,779
	2009		185,100		8.71		146,400		38,700		-		1,344
	2010		225,486		3.64		147,456		78,030		-		495
	2011		320,000		3.39		240,129		73,205		6,666		816
	2012		107,500		2.07		69,167		-		38,333		160
	2013		12,500		5		4,167		-		8,333		24
	2014		7,500		4.6		-		-		7,500		1
	During the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, we recognized $104 and $91, respectively, in compensation expense related to these restricted stock awards. At December 31, 2013, the unamortized compensation cost related to outstanding unvested restricted stock was $147. We expect to recognize $93 of this unamortized compensation expense during the remaining nine months of our 2014 fiscal year and $54 thereafter. A summary of restricted stock awards for the years ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 and three months ended December 31, 2013, is provided in the table below:
			Three Months Ended			Years Ended September 30,
				31-Dec-13		2013		2012
	Unvested at beginning of year			159,246		257,826		376,200
		Granted		7,500		12,500		107,500
		Vested		-105,914		-111,080		-192,973
		Forfeited		-		-		-32,901
	Unvested at end of period			60,832		159,246		257,826
	Phantom Stock Units
	Phantom stock units (“PSUs”) are primarily granted to the members of the Board of Directors as part of their overall compensation. These PSUs are paid via unrestricted stock grants to each director upon their departure from the Board of Directors. We record compensation expense for the full value of the grant on the date of grant. For the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, we recognized $36 and $36 in compensation expense related to these grants.
	From time to time, PSUs are granted to employees. These PSUs are paid via unrestricted stock grants to each employee upon the satisfaction of the grant terms. We record compensation expense for the PSUs granted to employees over the grant vesting period. For the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, we recognized zero and $363 in compensation expense related to these grants.
	Stock Options
	We utilized a binomial option pricing model to measure the fair value of stock options granted. Our determination of fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model is affected by our stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of highly complex and subjective variables. These variables include, but are not limited to, our expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, the risk-free rate of return, and actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors. The expected life of stock options is not considered under the binomial option pricing model that we utilize. No options were granted in the three month period ended December 31, 2013. The assumptions used in the fair value method calculation for the years ended 2013 and 2012 are disclosed in the following table:
				Years Ended September 30,
					2013		2012
	Weighted average value per option granted during the period			$	3.43			N/A
	Dividends (1)			$	-			N/A
	Stock price volatility (2)				66.60%			N/A
	Risk-free rate of return				0.90%			N/A
	Option term				10.0 years			N/A
	Expected life				6.0 years			N/A
	Forfeiture rate (3)				10.00%			N/A
		(1) We do not currently pay dividends on our common stock.
		(2) Based upon the Company's historical volatility.
		(3) Based upon the company's historical data.
	Stock-based compensation expense recognized during the period is based on the value of the portion of the share-based payment awards that is ultimately expected to vest during the period. Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income is based on awards ultimately expected to vest. We estimate our forfeitures at the time of grant and revise, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.
	The following table summarizes activity under our stock option plans.
					Weighted Average
			Shares		Exercise Price
	Outstanding, September 30, 2011		20,000		$	3.24
	Options granted		-			-
	Exercised		-			-
	Forfeited and Cancelled		-			-
	Outstanding, September 30, 2012		20,000		$	3.24
	Options granted		150,000			5.76
	Exercised		-			-
	Forfeited and Cancelled		-			-
	Outstanding, September 30, 2013		170,000		$	5.46
	Options granted		-			-
	Exercised		-			-
	Forfeited and Cancelled		-			-
	Outstanding, December 31, 2013		170,000		$	5.46
	The following table summarizes options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2013:
	Exercise Prices		Outstanding as of December 31, 2013		Remaining Contractual Life in Years			Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Exercisable as of December 31, 2013			Weighted-Average Exercise Price
	$3.24		20,000		7.55		$	3.24		13,333		$	3.24
$5.76		150,000		9.33		$	5.76		-		$	-
		170,000				$	5.46		13,333		$	3.24
Our 2011 options vest over a three year period at a rate of one-third per year upon the annual anniversary date of the grant. Our 2013 options cliff vest at the end of a two year period ending at the anniversary date of the grant. All options expire ten years from the grant date if they are not exercised. Upon exercise of stock options, it is our policy to first issue shares from treasury stock, then to issue new share. Unexercised stock options expire July 2021 and May 2023.
During the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, we recognized $62 and $3, respectively, in compensation expense related to our stock option awards. At December 31, 2013, the unamortized compensation cost related to outstanding unvested stock options was $317. We expect to recognize $182 of this unamortized compensation expense during the remaining nine months of our 2014 fiscal year and $135 thereafter.
The intrinsic value of stock options outstanding and exercisable was $33 and $31 at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the fair value as of the end of the period and the exercise price of the stock options.

Securities_and_Equity_Investme

Securities and Equity Investments	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'
Cost And Equity Method Investments	'
	9. SECURITIES AND EQUITY INVESTMENTS
	Investment in EnerTech
	In April 2000, we committed to invest up to $5,000 in EnerTech. As of September 30, 2009, we fulfilled our $5,000 investment under this commitment. As our investment is 2.21% of the overall ownership in EnerTech at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, we account for this investment using the cost method of accounting. EnerTech’s investment portfolio from time to time results in unrealized losses reflecting a possible, other-than-temporary, impairment of our investment. The carrying value of our investment in EnerTech at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 was $919.
	The following table presents the reconciliation of the carrying value and unrealized gains to the fair value of the investment in EnerTech as of December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013:
		December 31,		September 30,
		2013		2013
	Carrying value	$	919	$	919
	Unrealized gains		129		138
	Fair value	$	1,048	$	1,057
	At each reporting date, the Company performs evaluations of impairment for this investment to determine if any unrealized losses are other-than-temporary. This evaluation considers a number of factors including, but not limited to, the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer and management’s ability and intent to hold the securities until fair value recovers. The assessment of the ability and intent to hold these securities to recovery focuses on liquidity needs, asset and liability management objectives and securities portfolio objectives. Based on the results of this evaluation, we believe the unrealized gain at December 31, 2013 indicated our investment was not impaired.
	On December 31, 2013, EnerTech’s general partner, with the consent of the fund’s investors, extended the fund through December 31, 2014. The fund will terminate on this date unless extended by the fund’s valuation committee. The fund may be extended for another one-year period through December 31, 2015 with the consent of the fund’s valuation committee.

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]	'
401(k) Plan	'
	10. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
	401(k) Plan
	In November 1998, we established the Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plan”). All full-time IES employees are eligible to participate on the first day of the month subsequent to completing sixty days of service and attaining age twenty-one. Participants become vested in our matching contributions following three years of service. After suspending Company matching under the 401(k) Plan in February 2009, we reinstated the employee match in March of 2013. We recognized $65, and zero, respectively in matching expenses as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.
	Infrastructure Solutions has two 401(k) plans. The first provides for employees covered by collective bargaining agreements and has no provision for employer contributions. The second provides for employees outside collective bargaining agreements and has a provision for employer contributions. We recognized $19 in matching expense during the three months ended December 31, 2013.
	Executive Savings Plan
	Under the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan adopted on July 1, 2004 (the “Executive Savings Plan”), certain employees are permitted to defer a portion (up to 75%) of their base salary and/or bonus for a Plan Year. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, credit one or more participants with an employer deferral (contribution) in such amount as the Committee may choose (“Employer Contribution”). The Employer Contribution, if any, may be a fixed dollar amount, a fixed percentage of the participant’s compensation, base salary, or bonus, or a “matching” amount with respect to all or part of the participant’s elective deferrals for such plan year, and/or any combination of the foregoing as the Committee may choose.
	Post Retirement Benefit Plans
	Certain individuals at one of the Company’s locations are entitled to receive fixed annual payments that reach a maximum amount, as specified in the related agreements, for a ten year period following retirement or, in some cases, the attainment of 62 years of age. We recognize the unfunded status of the plan as a non-current liability in our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Benefits vest 50% after ten years of service, which increases by 10% per annum until benefits are fully vested after 15 years of service. We had an unfunded benefit liability of $844 and $833 recorded as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Multiemployer Pension Plan
	Infrastructure Solutions participates in a multiemployer direct benefit pension plan for employees covered under our collective bargaining agreement. We do not administer the plan. We do not significantly participate in this plan. As of December 31, 2012, this plan was funded at 84.9%.

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
	11. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
	Fair Value Measurement Accounting
	Fair value is considered the price to sell an asset, or transfer a liability, between market participants on the measurement date. Fair value measurements assume that the asset or liability is (1) exchanged in an orderly manner, (2) the exchange is in the principal market for that asset or liability, and (3) the market participants are independent, knowledgeable, able and willing to transact an exchange. Fair value accounting and reporting establishes a framework for measuring fair value by creating a hierarchy for observable independent market inputs and unobservable market assumptions and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Considerable judgment is required to interpret the market data used to develop fair value estimates. As such, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that could be realized in a current exchange. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methods could have a material effect on the estimated fair value.
	We estimate the fair value of our interest rate swap agreement with Wells Fargo to be $12 at December 31, 2013, using Level 2 inputs, including an estimated market valuation from Wells Fargo Bank. For additional information, please see Note 15, “Derivative Instruments.”
	We estimate the fair value of the contingent consideration related to the acquisition of certain assets from the Acro Group to be $30 at December 31, 2013, using Level 3 inputs, including a discounted revenue projection. The fair value of this contingent liability will vary depending on actual revenues earned. For additional information, please see Note 16, “Business Combinations – Acquisition of certain assets from the Acro Group.”
	We estimate the fair value of our unfavorable MISCOR leases to be $(461), using Level 2 inputs, including estimated market valuation including market rates from comparable properties. For additional information, please see Note 16, “Business Combinations – Acquisition of MISCOR.”
	Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2013, are summarized in the following table by the type of inputs applicable to the fair value measurements:
				Total Fair Value			Quoted Prices (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable (Level 3)
	Executive savings plan assets		$	619		$	619	$	-	$	-
	Executive savings plan liabilities			-506			-506		-		-
	Interest rate swap agreement			12			-		12		-
	Contingent consideration agreement			-30			-		-		-30
	Unfavorable acquired leases			-461			-		-461		-
	Total		$	-366		$	113	$	-449	$	-30
	The table below presents a reconciliation of the fair value of our contingent consideration obligation, which uses significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).
					Contingent Consideration Agreement
		Fair Value at September 30, 2013		$	95
		Issuances			-
		Settlements			-
		Adjustments to Fair Value			-65
		Fair Value at December 31, 2013		$	30
	Below is a description of the inputs used to value the assets summarized in the preceding table:
	Level 1 — Inputs represent unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets exchanged in active markets.
	Level 2 — Inputs include directly or indirectly observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs such as quoted prices for similar assets exchanged in active or inactive markets; quoted prices for identical assets exchanged in inactive markets; and other inputs that are considered in fair value determinations of the assets.
	Level 3 — Inputs include unobservable inputs used in the measurement of assets. Management is required to use its own assumptions regarding unobservable inputs because there is little, if any, market activity in the assets or related observable inputs that can be corroborated at the measurement date.

Inventory

Inventory	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventory Disclosure	'
	12. INVENTORY
	Inventories consist of the following components:
		December 31,		September 30,
		2013		2013
	Raw materials	$	2,611	$	2,389
	Work in process		3,180		3,519
	Finished goods		1,368		1,545
	Parts and supplies		9,493		12,694
	Total inventories	$	16,652	$	20,147

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure	'
	13. INTANGIBLE ASSETS
	Intangible assets consist of the following:
				31-Dec-13
			Estimated
			Useful Lives		Gross Carrying			Accumulated
			(in Years)		Amount			Amortization	Net
	Trademarks/trade names		Indefinite	$	1,200		$	-	$	1,200
	Technical library		20		400			6		394
	Customer relationships		6.3		2,100			134		1,966
	Order backlog		0.4		350			350		-
	Covenants not to compete		3		140			39		101
	Developed technology		4		400			83		317
	Total			$	4,590		$	612	$	3,978
	Amortization of intangible assets was $134 for the three months ended December 31, 2013. Our future amortization expense for years ended September 30, is as follows:
		Year Ended September 30,
		January 1 - September 30, 2014			$	339
		2015				499
		2016				471
		2017				398
		2018				358
		Thereafter				713
		Total			$	2,778

Commitments_And_Contingencies

Commitments And Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]	'
Legal Matters	'
	14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	Legal Matters
	From time to time we are a party to various claims, lawsuits and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. We maintain various insurance coverages to minimize financial risk associated with these proceedings. None of these proceedings, separately or in the aggregate, are expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. With respect to all such proceedings, we record reserves when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. We expense routine legal costs related to these proceedings as they are incurred.
	The following is a discussion of our significant legal matters:
	Ward Transformer Site
	One of our subsidiaries has been identified as one of more than 200 potentially responsible parties (“PRPs”) with respect to the clean-up of an electric transformer resale and reconditioning facility, known as the Ward Transformer Site, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, due to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (“PCBs”) contamination on and off the site. The subsidiary, which we acquired in January 1999, is believed to have sent transformers to the facility during the 1990s. Based on our investigation to date, there is evidence to support our defense that our subsidiary contributed no PCB contamination to the site.
	In April 2009, two PRPs, Carolina Power and Light Company and Consolidation Coal Company, filed suit against us and most of the other PRPs in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (Western Division) to contribute to the cost of the clean-up. The plaintiffs were two of four PRPs that have commenced clean-up of on-site contaminated soils under an Emergency Removal Action pursuant to a settlement agreement and Administrative Order on Consent entered into between the four PRPs and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) in September 2005. We are not a party to that settlement agreement or Order on Consent.
	In addition to the on-site clean-up, the EPA has selected approximately 50 PRPs to which it sent a Special Notice Letter in late 2008 to organize the clean-up of soils off site and address contamination of groundwater and other miscellaneous off-site issues. We were not a recipient of that letter. On January 8, 2013, the EPA held a meeting with those PRPs as well as others that were not recipients of the letter to discuss potential settlement of its costs associated with the site. The Company was invited to attend this meeting and asked to confirm whether it would participate in settlement discussions, which the Company confirmed. The Company intends to present to the EPA the evidence developed in litigation to support the argument that the Company did not contribute PCB contamination to the site. The Company has tendered a demand for indemnification to the former owner of the acquired corporation that may have transacted business with the facility. As of December 31, 2013, we have not recorded a reserve for this matter, as we believe the likelihood of our responsibility for damages is not probable and a potential range of exposure is not estimable.
	Hamilton Wage and Hour
	The Company is a defendant in three wage-and-hour suits seeking class action certification that were filed between August 29, 2012 and June 24, 2013, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Each of these cases is among several others filed by Plaintiffs’ attorney against contractors working in the Port Arthur, Texas Motiva plant on various projects over the last few years. The claims are based on alleged failure to compensate for time spent bussing to and from the plant, donning safety wear and other activities. It does not appear the Company will face significant exposure for any unpaid wages. In a separate earlier case based on the same allegations, a federal district court ruled that the time spent traveling on the busses is not compensable. On January 11, 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld the district court’s ruling finding no liability for wages for time spent bussing into the facility, and on October 8, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review plaintiffs’ appeal of the Fifth Circuit dismissal of their claims for compensation for time spent bussing to the facility, effectively reducing the Company’s risk of liability on this issue in its cases. Our investigation indicates that all claims for time spent on other activities either were inapplicable to the Company’s employees or took place during times for which the Company’s employees were compensated. We have filed responsive pleadings and, following initial discovery, are positioning the cases to obtain a dismissal of all claims. As of December 31, 2013, we have not recorded a reserve for this matter, as we believe the likelihood of our responsibility for damages is not probable and a potential range of exposure is not estimable.
	Risk-Management
	We retain the risk for workers’ compensation, employer’s liability, automobile liability, general liability and employee group health claims, as well as pollution coverage, resulting from uninsured deductibles per accident or occurrence which are subject to annual aggregate limits. Our general liability program provides coverage for bodily injury and property damage. Losses up to the deductible amounts are accrued based upon our known claims incurred and an estimate of claims incurred but not reported. As a result, many of our claims are effectively self-insured. Many claims against our insurance are in the form of litigation. At December 31, 2013, we had $4,873 accrued for insurance liabilities. We are also subject to construction defect liabilities, primarily within our Residential segment. As of December 31, 2013, we had $432 reserved for these claims.
	Some of the underwriters of our casualty insurance program require us to post letters of credit as collateral. This is common in the insurance industry. To date, we have not had a situation where an underwriter has had reasonable cause to effect payment under a letter of credit. At December 31, 2013, $6,347 of our outstanding letters of credit were utilized to collateralize our insurance program.
	Surety
	Many customers, particularly in connection with new construction, require us to post performance and payment bonds issued by a surety. Those bonds provide a guarantee to the customer that we will perform under the terms of our contract and that we will pay our subcontractors and vendors. If we fail to perform under the terms of our contract or to pay subcontractors and vendors, the customer may demand that the surety make payments or provide services under the bond. We must reimburse the sureties for any expenses or outlays they incur on our behalf. To date, we have not been required to make any reimbursements to our sureties for bond-related costs.
	As is common in the surety industry, sureties issue bonds on a project-by-project basis and can decline to issue bonds at any time. We believe that our relationships with our sureties will allow us to provide surety bonds as they are required. However, current market conditions, as well as changes in our sureties' assessment of our operating and financial risk, could cause our sureties to decline to issue bonds for our work. If our sureties decline to issue bonds for our work, our alternatives would include posting other forms of collateral for project performance, such as letters of credit or cash, seeking bonding capacity from other sureties, or engaging in more projects that do not require surety bonds. In addition, if we are awarded a project for which a surety bond is required but we are unable to obtain a surety bond, the result can be a claim for damages by the customer for the costs of replacing us with another contractor.
	As of December 31, 2013, the estimated cost to complete our bonded projects was approximately $55,195. We evaluate our bonding requirements on a regular basis, including the terms offered by our sureties. We believe the bonding capacity presently provided by our current sureties is adequate for our current operations and will be adequate for our operations for the foreseeable future. As of December 31, 2013, we had cash totaling $500 to collateralize our obligations to certain of our previous sureties (as is included in Other Non-Current Assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheet). Posting letters of credit in favor of our sureties reduces the borrowing availability under our 2012 Credit Facility.
	On May 7, 2013, the Company and certain of its current and future subsidiaries and affiliates entered into a new agreement of indemnity (the “Surety Agreement”) with certain entities affiliated with Suremerica Surety Underwriting Services, LLC (“Suremerica”). Pursuant to the Surety Agreement, we have agreed to assign to Suremerica, among other things, as collateral to secure our obligations under the Surety Agreement, our rights, title and interest in, and all accounts receivable and related proceeds arising pursuant to, any contract bonded by Suremerica on our behalf. Further, under the Surety Agreement, we have also agreed that, upon written demand, we will deposit with Suremerica, as additional collateral, an amount determined by Suremerica to be sufficient to discharge any claim made against Suremerica on a bond issued on our behalf.
	Other Commitments and Contingencies
	Some of our customers and vendors require us to post letters of credit as a means of guaranteeing performance under our contracts and ensuring payment by us to subcontractors and vendors. If our customer has reasonable cause to effect payment under a letter of credit, we would be required to reimburse our creditor for the letter of credit. At December 31, 2013, $313 of our outstanding letters of credit were to collateralize our vendors.
	On January 9, 2012, we entered into a settlement agreement with regard to $2,000 of collateral held by a surety who previously issued construction payment and performance bonds for us. The agreement called for a total settlement of $2,200 to be paid in monthly installments through February 2013, and based on subsequent payment defaults, was amended to provide for additional collateral and a total settlement amount of $2,025 ($2,200 less the $175 already received) to be paid in monthly installments beginning September 30, 2012 through July 2014 with an interest rate of 12%. Following a subsequent amendment to postpone or modify payment dates, on January 2, 2013, the Company tendered a notice of default to the surety and its coal mining operations, which had been pledged as additional collateral. Given the surety’s failure to make the payments due on December 31, 2012, and January 31, 2013, and its continued attempts to restructure the underlying settlement agreement, the Company concluded the collection of the receivable was not probable as of December 31, 2012, and recorded a reserve in the amount $1,725 for the first quarter of fiscal 2013, bringing the receivable’s net carrying value to zero. The charge was recorded as other expense within our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and the reserve was recorded within our current assets within the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
	On March 8, 2013, the Company issued a notice of acceleration of the promissory notes signed by the two mining companies, and subsequently filed suit to enforce the acceleration and to domesticate the agreed judgment against the surety and its owner in Virginia. Following these actions, the surety entered into an amended agreement with the Company which provided for payment of $300, which was received on June 24, 2013, and additional monthly installments with final payment due June 30, 2014. As of the filing of this report on Form 10-Q, the Company had received installment payments totaling $550. The defendants have defaulted on payments due in November 2013, December 2013 and January 2014. The defendants have indicated that they are pursuing financing and expect to become current on all payments due in the near term. In the meantime, the Company expects to reinstate legal actions targeted at recovering the full amount due. The extent of recovery of the remaining balance, if any, cannot be determined. However, the possibility of a partial or full recovery exists, particularly if the defendants are successful in obtaining financing. We have classified the $550 received as of December 31, 2013 as other income within our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Any subsequent recovery will be included in other income.
	From time to time, we may enter into firm purchase commitments for materials such as copper or aluminum wire which we expect to use in the ordinary course of business. These commitments are typically for terms less than one year and require us to buy minimum quantities of materials at specific intervals at a fixed price over the term. As of December 31, 2013, we had no such open purchase commitments.

Derivative_Instruments

Derivative Instruments	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Instruments And Hedges Liabilities [Abstract]	'
Derivative Instruments	'
	15. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
	On March 1, 2013, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. in conjunction with our Wells Fargo Term Loan to hedge interest rate risk. Borrowings under the Wells Fargo Term Loan bore interest at a per annum rate equal to Daily Three Month LIBOR plus an applicable margin. Our interest rate swap agreement bears interest of 1.00% less the per annum rate equal to Daily Three Month LIBOR, thus mitigating the interest rate risk associated with the Daily Three Month LIBOR and ensuring a fixed rate for hedged borrowings under the Wells Fargo Term Loan.
	Our derivative instrument is held at fair value on our consolidated balance sheet. Related cash flows are recorded as operating activities on the consolidated statement of cash flows. Gains and losses related to this derivative instrument are recognized within other comprehensive income. As of December 31, 2013, the interest rate swap agreement was 100% effective, as interest for both the Wells Fargo Term Loan and interest rate swap agreement were calculated utilizing the Daily Three Month LIBOR rate on the same principal basis.
	The following table presents the gross fair value of our interest rate swap derivative, and the line items where it appears on our consolidated balance sheet:
			December 31,		September 30,
			2013		2013
	Assets
		Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	12	$	17
	Stockholder's equity		$	12	$	17
		Accumulated other comprehensive income

Business_Combinations

Business Combinations	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Business Combination Disclosure	'
	16. BUSINESS COMBINATION
	Acquisition of Certain Assets from the Acro Group
	On February 8, 2013, IES Renewable Energy, LLC (“IES Renewable”), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with a group of entities operating under the name of the Acro Group: Residential Renewable Technologies, Inc., Energy Efficiency Solar, Inc. and Lonestar Renewable Technologies Acquisition Corp. (collectively, the “Acro Group”). Pursuant to the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to acquire certain assets in connection with the Acro Group’s turn-key residential solar integration business (the “Acquired Assets”). The Acquired Assets include, but are not limited to, assets relating to the Acro Group’s solar installation sales and marketing platform and the backlog of contracts entered into by the Acro Group with residential solar customers, which provide for the payment of sales and marketing fees in connection with the sale, installation and third-party financing of residential solar equipment. The transaction closed on February 15, 2013 (the “Closing Date”).
	Following consummation of the transaction, IES Residential, Inc. (“IES Residential”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, began offering full-service residential solar integration services, including design, procurement, permitting, installation, financing services through third parties and warranty services for residential customers. IES Residential had previously provided solar installation subcontracting services to the Acro Group, and as of February 8, 2013, was owed $3,800 for subcontracting services provided up to that date (such balance, as of the day prior to the Closing Date, the “Accounts Receivable Balance”).
	Total consideration received by the Acro Group for the Acquired Assets consisted of (i) IES Residential’s release of the Accounts Receivable Balance, (ii) payment by IES Renewable to the Acro Group of a percentage of future gross revenue generated from the Acquired Assets in an amount not to exceed $2,000 over the 12-month period beginning the first full month following the Closing Date, subject to certain reductions as described in the Asset Purchase Agreement, and (iii) $828 representing amounts paid by IES Residential, to the Acro Group to fund certain of its operating expenses between January 4, 2013 and the Closing Date.
	Purchase price and fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed
	The Company accounted for the transaction under the acquisition method of accounting, which requires recording assets and liabilities at fair value (Level 3). These Level 3 fair value assessments were measured based on a third party valuation, utilizing methodologies including discounted cash flow, replacement cost, and excess earnings. The total purchase price was allocated to the tangible assets and separately identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values on the Closing Date.
	The valuations were derived based on assumptions made by management. While management believes that its assumptions underlying the valuations are reasonable, different estimates and assumptions could result in different values being assigned to individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed on the Closing Date is as follows:
		IES receivable from the Acro Group as of December 31, 2012 (a)				$	2,263
		IES deferred cost recorded in connection with transactions with Acro Group between January 1, 2013 and February 15, 2013					1,042
		Cash purchase consideration					828
		Fair value of contingent consideration (b)					665
		Total consideration transferred				$	4,798
		(a)		As of the Closing Date, IES had a receivable from the Acro Group from past transactions between the two companies. This receivable was forgiven by IES as a portion of the consideration paid to acquire the Acro Group assets and liabilities.
		(b)		The contingent consideration is based on a formula of the Acro Group's revenue for the first 12 months after February 15, 2013, with a maximum and minimum amount payable by IES.
		Total estimate of consideration expected to be transferred						4,798
		Fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
			Trade receivables				$	317
			Prepaid commissions					46
			Inventory					16
			Property and equipment					40
			Order backlog					350
			Covenant not-to-compete					140
			Developed technology					400
			Vacation payable					-26
			Customer incentive payable					-70
			Deferred revenue					-600
		Goodwill: (c)					$	4,185
			(c)		The goodwill is attributable to the workforce of the acquired business and other intangibles that do not qualify for separate recognition.
	Acquisition of MISCOR
	On September 13, 2013 we completed the acquisition of 100% of the voting equity interests of MISCOR Group, Ltd. (“MISCOR”), a provider of maintenance and repair services including engine parts and components to the industrial and rail services. MISCOR operates in locations in Indiana, Alabama, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, and California. Following the consummation of the transaction, MISCOR represents the sole component of our Infrastructure Solutions segment.
	Total consideration received by MISCOR shareholders consisted of 2,795,577 shares of IES common stock valued at $11,853, combined with cash totaling $4,364.
	Purchase price and fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed
	The Company accounted for the transaction under the acquisition method of accounting, which requires recording assets and liabilities at fair value (Level 3). These Level 3 fair value assessments were measured based on a third party valuation, utilizing methodologies including discounted cash flow, replacement cost, and excess earnings, which are subject to finalization. The total estimated purchase price was allocated to the tangible assets and separately identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their preliminary estimated fair values on September 13, 2013.
	The valuations derived from estimated fair value assessments and assumptions used by management are preliminary pending finalization of certain intangible asset valuations. While management believes that its preliminary estimates and assumptions underlying the valuations are reasonable, different estimates and assumptions could result in different values being assigned to individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed. This may result in adjustments to the preliminary amounts recorded and goodwill, which could be material. The preliminary valuation of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of September 13, 2013 is as follows:
		IES Common Shares (2,795,577)				$	11,853
		Cash purchase consideration					4,364
		Total consideration transferred				$	16,217
		Total estimate of consideration expected to be transferred					$	16,217
		Fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
			Trade receivables				$	4,925
			Prepaids					532
			Inventory					7,530
			Property and equipment					5,355
			Customer relationships					2,100
			Technical library					400
			Trade names					1,200
			Other assets					552
			Trade payables					-4,143
			Accrued liabilities					-2,016
			Term loan					-5,511
		Goodwill: (a)					$	5,293
			(a)		Although this goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes, we acquired tax basis of $10.0 million in goodwill and intangible assets recognized by MISCOR prior to our purchase agreement with them. The deferred tax asset associated with the basis is fully offset by a corresponding valuation allowance. No value was assigned in the purchase price allocation above to the original intangible assets recognized by MISCOR prior to our purchase agreement.
	Unaudited Pro Forma Information – 2013 Acquisitions
	The following unaudited supplemental pro forma results of operations include the results of each MISCOR and the assets acquired from the Acro Group acquired during the year ended September 30, 2013, described above as if each had been consolidated as of October 1, 2011, and have been provided for illustrative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of the actual results that would have been achieved by the combined companies for the periods presented or that may be achieved by the combined companies in the future. Future results may vary significantly from the results reflected in the following pro forma financial information because of future events and transactions, as well as other factors, many of which are beyond IES’s control.
	The unaudited pro forma financial information reflects certain adjustments related to the acquisition, such as the recording of incremental depreciation expense in connection with fair value adjustments to property and equipment, incremental amortization expense in connection with recording acquired identifiable intangible assets at fair value, and the elimination of the impact of historical transactions between IES and the Acro Group that would have been treated as intercompany transactions had the companies been consolidated. The unaudited pro forma financial information also includes the effect of certain non-recurring items as of October 1, 2011 such as $3,034 in acquisition related costs incurred during the year ended September 30, 2013. The unaudited pro forma financial statements include these acquisition related costs as if they had been incurred on October 1, 2011.
	The supplemental pro forma results of operations for the years ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, as if the assets of Acro Group had been acquired and the acquisition of MISCOR had been completed on October 1, 2011, are as follows:
				Unaudited
				Three Months Ended			Three Months Ended
				31-Dec-13			31-Dec-12
	Revenues			$	120,079		$	142,002
	Net income from continuing operations			$	265		$	729

Discontinued_Operations

Discontinued Operations	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'
Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Disclosure	'
	17. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
	In 2011, we initiated the closure of all or portions of our Commercial & Industrial and Communications facilities in Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada and Texas. These facilities were a key aspect of our commitment to return the Company to profitability and selected based on their current business prospects and the extended time frame needed to return the facilities to a profitable position. From the time of identification through December 31, 2013, we have sub-leased or terminated our lease contracts for leased facilities. We have satisfied substantially all of our contracts through either the subcontracting or self-performance. We have completed the wind down of these facilities as of December 31, 2013. Results from operations of these facilities for the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 are presented in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income as discontinued operations.
	The components of the results of discontinued operations for these facilities are as follows:
			Three Months Ended December 31,
				2013		2012
	Revenues			$	58	$	516
	Cost of services				117		450
	Gross profit				-59		66
	Selling, general and administrative				82		161
	Restructuring charge				-		43
	Loss from discontinued operations				-141		-138
	(Benefit) provision for income taxes				-		-15
	Net loss from discontinued operations			$	-141	$	-123
	Included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 are the following major classes of assets and liabilities associated with discontinued operations:
				31-Dec-13		30-Sep-13
	Assets of discontinued operations:
		Current		$	714	$	1,123
	Liabilities of discontinued operations:
		Current		$	636	$	889

Strategic_Actions_Tables

Strategic Actions (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Strategic Actions [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Restructuring and Related Costs [Table Text Block]	'
			Severance		Lease Termination
			Charges		& Other Charges		Total
		Restructuring liability at September 30, 2013	$	115	$	160	$	275
		Cash payments made		-58		-19		-77
		Restructuring liability at December 31, 2013	$	57	$	141	$	198

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block]	'
				December 31,			September 30,
				2013			2013
	Wells Fargo Term Loan, paid in installments thru Aug 9, 2016			$	12,833		$	13,708
	Capital leases and other				29			64
		Total debt			12,862			13,772
	Less — Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt				-3,529			-3,562
		Total long-term debt		$	9,333		$	10,210
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt [Table Text Block]	'
			Capital Leases and Other
						Term Debt			Total
	2014		$	27		$	2,625		$	2,652
	2015			2			3,500			3,502
	2016			-			6,708			6,708
	Total		$	29		$	12,833		$	12,862
Schedule of Line of Credit Facilities [Table Text Block]	'
	Level		Thresholds		Interest Rate Margin
	I		Liquidity ≤ $20,000 at any time during the period; or Excess Availability ≤ $7,500 at any time during the period; or Fixed charge coverage ratio < 1.0:1.0		4.00 percentage points
	II		Liquidity > $20,000 at all times during the period; and Liquidity ≤ $30,000 at any time during the period; and Excess Availability $7,500; and Fixed charge coverage ratio ≥ 1.0:1.0		3.50 percentage points
	III		Liquidity > $30,000 at all times during the period; and Excess Availability > $7,500; and Fixed charge coverage ratio ≥ 1.0:1.0		3.00 percentage points
	Level		Thresholds		Interest Rate Margin
	I		Liquidity ≤ $20,000 at any time during the period; or Excess Availability ≤ $7,500 at any time during the period; or Fixed charge coverage ratio < 1.0:1.0		5.00 percentage points
	II		Liquidity > $20,000 at all times during the period; and Liquidity ≤ $30,000 at any time during the period; and Excess Availability $7,500; and Fixed charge coverage ratio ≥ 1.0:1.0		4.50 percentage points
	III		Liquidity > $30,000 at all times during the period; and Excess Availability > $7,500; and Fixed charge coverage ratio ≥ 1.0:1.0		4.00 percentage points

Per_Share_Information_Tables

Per Share Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Per Share Information [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted [Table Text Block]	'
		Three Months Ended December 31,
		2013		2012
	Numerator:
	Net earnings from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	$	264	$	623
	Net earnings from continuing operations attributable to restricted shareholders		1		10
	Net earnings from continuing operations	$	265	$	633
	Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders	$	-141	$	-123
	Net loss from discontinued operations	$	-141	$	-123
	Net earnings attributable to common shareholders	$	123	$	500
	Net earnings attributable to restricted shareholders		1		10
	Net earnings	$	124	$	510
	Denominator:
	Weighted average common shares outstanding — basic		17,817,254		14,801,903
	Effect of dilutive stock options and non-vested restricted stock		81,578		117,286
	Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding — diluted		17,898,832		14,919,189
	Basic earnings (loss) per share:
	Basic earnings per share from continuing operations	$	0.02	$	0.04
	Basic loss per share from discontinued operations	$	-0.01	$	-0.01
	Basic earnings per share	$	0.01	$	0.03
	Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
	Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations	$	0.02	$	0.04
	Diluted loss per share from discontinued operations	$	-0.01	$	-0.01
	Diluted earnings per share	$	0.01	$	0.03

Operation_Segments_Tables

Operation Segments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Segments [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	'
			Three Months Ended December 31, 2013
								Commercial &		Infrastructure
				Communications		Residential		Industrial		Solutions		Corporate		Total
	Revenues			$	24,591	$	41,212	$	41,230	$	13,046	$	-	$	120,079
	Cost of services				20,659		33,794		37,316		10,194		-		101,963
	Gross profit				3,932		7,418		3,914		2,852		-		18,116
	Selling, general and administrative				2,982		6,481		3,480		2,387		2,242		17,572
	Loss (gain) on sale of assets				-		-40		-4		3		-		-41
	Income (loss) from operations			$	950	$	977	$	438	$	462	$	-2,242	$	585
	Other data:
		Depreciation and amortization expense		$	100	$	123	$	67	$	242	$	85	$	617
		Capital expenditures			7		5		55		54		115		236
		Total assets		$	22,006	$	34,670	$	46,372	$	27,817	$	34,357	$	165,222
			Three Months Ended December 31, 2012
								Commercial &		Infrastructure
				Communications		Residential		Industrial		Solutions		Corporate		Total
	Revenues			$	40,119	$	36,005	$	51,140	$	-	$	-	$	127,264
	Cost of services				32,887		29,899		46,498		-		-		109,284
	Gross profit				7,232		6,106		4,642		-		-		17,980
	Selling, general and administrative				3,558		5,228		3,736		-		2,400		14,922
	Loss (gain) on sale of assets				1		-9		-11		-		-		-19
	Income (loss) from operations			$	3,673	$	887	$	917	$	-	$	-2,400	$	3,077
	Other data:
		Depreciation and amortization expense		$	87	$	95	$	57	$	-	$	300	$	539
		Capital expenditures			41		26		13		-		-		80
		Total assets		$	34,072	$	31,914	$	54,436	$	-	$	44,736	$	165,158

Other_Comprehensive_Income_Tab

Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease (Abstract)	'
Schedule Of Amounts Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Table Text Block]	'
		Balance at September 30, 2013	$	17
		Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		1
		Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income		-6
		Balance at at December 31, 2013	$	12

Stockholders_Equity_Tables

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock Units Award Activity [Table Text Block]	'
	Restricted Stock Awards:
	Fiscal Year		Shares Granted		Weighted Average Fair Value at Date of Grant		Shares Vested		Shares Forfeited		Shares Outstanding		Expense recognized through December 31, 2013
	2006		384,850		$24.78		258,347		126,503		-		$6,402
	2006		25,000		17.36		25,000		-		-		434
	2007		20,000		25.08		20,000		-		-		502
	2007		4,000		26.48		4,000		-		-		106
	2008		101,650		19.17		85,750		15,900		-		1,779
	2009		185,100		8.71		146,400		38,700		-		1,344
	2010		225,486		3.64		147,456		78,030		-		495
	2011		320,000		3.39		240,129		73,205		6,666		816
	2012		107,500		2.07		69,167		-		38,333		160
	2013		12,500		5		4,167		-		8,333		24
	2014		7,500		4.6		-		-		7,500		1
Schedule Of Unvested Restricted Stock Units Roll Forward Table [Text Block]	'
			Three Months Ended			Years Ended September 30,
				31-Dec-13		2013		2012
	Unvested at beginning of year			159,246		257,826		376,200
		Granted		7,500		12,500		107,500
		Vested		-105,914		-111,080		-192,973
		Forfeited		-		-		-32,901
	Unvested at end of period			60,832		159,246		257,826
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]	'
				Years Ended September 30,
					2013		2012
	Weighted average value per option granted during the period			$	3.43			N/A
	Dividends (1)			$	-			N/A
	Stock price volatility (2)				66.60%			N/A
	Risk-free rate of return				0.90%			N/A
	Option term				10.0 years			N/A
	Expected life				6.0 years			N/A
	Forfeiture rate (3)				10.00%			N/A
		(1) We do not currently pay dividends on our common stock.
		(2) Based upon the Company's historical volatility.
		(3) Based upon the company's historical data.
Schedule Of Stock Options Roll Forward Table [Text Block]	'
					Weighted Average
			Shares		Exercise Price
	Outstanding, September 30, 2011		20,000		$	3.24
	Options granted		-			-
	Exercised		-			-
	Forfeited and Cancelled		-			-
	Outstanding, September 30, 2012		20,000		$	3.24
	Options granted		150,000			5.76
	Exercised		-			-
	Forfeited and Cancelled		-			-
	Outstanding, September 30, 2013		170,000		$	5.46
	Options granted		-			-
	Exercised		-			-
	Forfeited and Cancelled		-			-
	Outstanding, December 31, 2013		170,000		$	5.46
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, by Exercise Price Range [Table Text Block]	'
	Exercise Prices		Outstanding as of December 31, 2013		Remaining Contractual Life in Years			Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Exercisable as of December 31, 2013			Weighted-Average Exercise Price
	$3.24		20,000		7.55		$	3.24		13,333		$	3.24
	$5.76		150,000		9.33		$	5.76		-		$	-
			170,000				$	5.46		13,333		$	3.24

Securities_and_Equity_Investme1

Securities and Equity Investments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Cost Method Investments [Table Text Block]	'
		December 31,		September 30,
		2013		2013
	Carrying value	$	919	$	919
	Unrealized gains		129		138
	Fair value	$	1,048	$	1,057

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]	'
				Total Fair Value			Quoted Prices (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable (Level 3)
	Executive savings plan assets		$	619		$	619	$	-	$	-
	Executive savings plan liabilities			-506			-506		-		-
	Interest rate swap agreement			12			-		12		-
	Contingent consideration agreement			-30			-		-		-30
	Unfavorable acquired leases			-461			-		-461		-
	Total		$	-366		$	113	$	-449	$	-30
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Text Block]	'
					Contingent Consideration Agreement
		Fair Value at September 30, 2013		$	95
		Issuances			-
		Settlements			-
		Adjustments to Fair Value			-65
		Fair Value at December 31, 2013		$	30

Inventory_Tables

Inventory (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Inventory Current [Table Text Block]	'
		December 31,		September 30,
		2013		2013
	Raw materials	$	2,611	$	2,389
	Work in process		3,180		3,519
	Finished goods		1,368		1,545
	Parts and supplies		9,493		12,694
	Total inventories	$	16,652	$	20,147

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets1

Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Intangible Assets And Goodwill [Table Text Block]	'
				31-Dec-13
			Estimated
			Useful Lives		Gross Carrying			Accumulated
			(in Years)		Amount			Amortization	Net
	Trademarks/trade names		Indefinite	$	1,200		$	-	$	1,200
	Technical library		20		400			6		394
	Customer relationships		6.3		2,100			134		1,966
	Order backlog		0.4		350			350		-
	Covenants not to compete		3		140			39		101
	Developed technology		4		400			83		317
	Total			$	4,590		$	612	$	3,978
Schedule of Finite Lived Intangible Assets Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]	'
		Year Ended September 30,
		January 1 - September 30, 2014			$	339
		2015				499
		2016				471
		2017				398
		2018				358
		Thereafter				713
		Total			$	2,778

Derivative_Instruments_Tables

Derivative Instruments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Instruments And Hedges Liabilities [Abstract]	'
Fair Value of Derivative Instrument	'
			December 31,		September 30,
			2013		2013
	Assets
		Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	12	$	17
	Stockholder's equity		$	12	$	17
		Accumulated other comprehensive income

Business_Combination_Tables

Business Combination (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Business Combination Considerations	'
		IES receivable from the Acro Group as of December 31, 2012 (a)				$	2,263
		IES deferred cost recorded in connection with transactions with Acro Group between January 1, 2013 and February 15, 2013					1,042
		Cash purchase consideration					828
		Fair value of contingent consideration (b)					665
		Total consideration transferred				$	4,798
		(a)		As of the Closing Date, IES had a receivable from the Acro Group from past transactions between the two companies. This receivable was forgiven by IES as a portion of the consideration paid to acquire the Acro Group assets and liabilities.
		(b)		The contingent consideration is based on a formula of the Acro Group's revenue for the first 12 months after February 15, 2013, with a maximum and minimum amount payable by IES.
		IES Common Shares (2,795,577)				$	11,853
		Cash purchase consideration					4,364
		Total consideration transferred				$	16,217
Allocation to Fair Value of Net Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed	'
		Total estimate of consideration expected to be transferred						4,798
		Fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
			Trade receivables				$	317
			Prepaid commissions					46
			Inventory					16
			Property and equipment					40
			Order backlog					350
			Covenant not-to-compete					140
			Developed technology					400
			Vacation payable					-26
			Customer incentive payable					-70
			Deferred revenue					-600
		Goodwill: (c)					$	4,185
			(c)		The goodwill is attributable to the workforce of the acquired business and other intangibles that do not qualify for separate recognition.
		Total estimate of consideration expected to be transferred					$	16,217
		Fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
			Trade receivables				$	4,925
			Prepaids					532
			Inventory					7,530
			Property and equipment					5,355
			Customer relationships					2,100
			Technical library					400
			Trade names					1,200
			Other assets					552
			Trade payables					-4,143
			Accrued liabilities					-2,016
			Term loan					-5,511
		Goodwill: (a)					$	5,293
			(a)		Although this goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes, we acquired tax basis of $10.0 million in goodwill and intangible assets recognized by MISCOR prior to our purchase agreement with them. The deferred tax asset associated with the basis is fully offset by a corresponding valuation allowance. No value was assigned in the purchase price allocation above to the original intangible assets recognized by MISCOR prior to our purchase agreement.
Pro Forma Results of Operations	'
				Unaudited
				Three Months Ended			Three Months Ended
				31-Dec-13			31-Dec-12
	Revenues			$	120,079		$	142,002
	Net income from continuing operations			$	265		$	729

Discontinued_Operations_Tables

Discontinued Operations (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures [Table Text Block]	'
			Three Months Ended December 31,
				2013		2012
	Revenues			$	58	$	516
	Cost of services				117		450
	Gross profit				-59		66
	Selling, general and administrative				82		161
	Restructuring charge				-		43
	Loss from discontinued operations				-141		-138
	(Benefit) provision for income taxes				-		-15
	Net loss from discontinued operations			$	-141	$	-123
				31-Dec-13		30-Sep-13
	Assets of discontinued operations:
		Current		$	714	$	1,123
	Liabilities of discontinued operations:
		Current		$	636	$	889

Business_Details

Business (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Tontine Associate [Member]	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'
Related Party Lease	'sublease agreement with Tontine Associates, LLC, an affiliate of Tontine Capital Partners, L.P. (together with its affiliates, bTontineb), for corporate office space in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Lease expiration date	31-Mar-14
Monthly Lease Payments	$6
Communications [Member]	'
Business Transactions [Line Items]	'
Number Of Locations	10
Residential [Member]	'
Business Transactions [Line Items]	'
Number Of Locations	24
Commercial & Industrial [Member]	'
Business Transactions [Line Items]	'
Number Of Locations	18
Infrastructure Solutions [Member]	'
Business Transactions [Line Items]	'
Number Of Locations	9

Strategic_Actions_Details

Strategic Actions (Details) (2011 Restructuring Plan [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012
2011 Restructuring Plan [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Severance Charges	($4)
Consulting Services	47
Loss on Lease Termination	$0

Strategic_Actions_Restructurin

Strategic Actions - Restructuring Costs (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]	'
Restructuring liability Beginning of Period	$275
Payments for Restructuring	-77
Restructuring liability End of Period	198
Severance Charges	'
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]	'
Restructuring liability Beginning of Period	115
Payments for Restructuring	-58
Restructuring liability End of Period	57
Lease Termination & Other Charges	'
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]	'
Restructuring liability Beginning of Period	160
Payments for Restructuring	-19
Restructuring liability End of Period	$141

Debt_Details

Debt (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended				3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Feb. 13, 2013	1-May-10	Feb. 14, 2013	Dec. 12, 2007	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
			Tontine Term Loan [Member]	Tontine Term Loan [Member]	Tontine Term Loan [Member]	Tontine Term Loan [Member]	Revolving Credit Facility 2012 [Member]	Revolving Credit Facility 2012 [Member]	Revolving Credit Facility 2012 [Member]	Wells Fargo Term Loan [Member]	Wells Fargo Term Loan [Member]
								Minimum [Member]	Maximum [Member]	Loan Agreement [Member]	Amendment Agreement [Member]
Debt [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest expense	$518	$607	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital Leases, Income Statement, Amortization Expense	22	46	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Initiation Date	'	'	'	'	'	'	9-Aug-12	'	'	'	'
Revolving credit facility amount	'	'	'	'	'	'	30,000	'	'	'	'
Line Of Credit Facility, Expiration Date	'	'	'	'	'	'	9-Aug-16	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Description	'	'	'	'	'	'	'The 2012 Credit Facility contains customary affirmative, negative and financial covenants. The 2012 Credit Facility requires that we maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.0:1.0 at any time that our Liquidity (defined as the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents on hand plus Excess Availability (as defined in the Credit Facility)) or Excess Availability fall below stipulated levels. The Second Amendment provided for tiered thresholds. Through December 31, 2013, our Liquidity must not fall below $15,000. Thereafter, our Liquidity must not fall below $20,000. Additionally, our Excess Availability must not fall below $5,000. As of December 31, 2013, our Liquidity was in excess of $15,000 and Excess Availability was in excess of $5,000; had we not met these thresholds at December 31, 2013, we would not have met the required 1.0:1.0 fixed charge coverage ratio test.	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity	'	'	'	'	'	'	5,811	'	'	'	'
Letters of Credit Outstanding	'	'	'	'	'	'	6,660	'	'	'	'
Unused commitment fee	'	'	'	'	'	'	0.50%	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Collateral Fees, Amount	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1	2	'	'
Initiation Date of Wells Fargo Term Loan	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	15-Feb-13
Expiration Date of Wells Fargo Term Loan	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	9-Aug-16
Monthly Payment Of Wells Fargo Term Loan	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	292
Frequency of Wells Farg Term Loan Payments	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'monthly
Wells Fargo Term Loan Amount	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	10,147	13,708
Description of Wells Fargo Term Loan	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'The Second Amendment to the 2012 Credit Facility increased our total Term Loan by $10,147 to $13,708 at September 30, 2013. The Wells Fargo Term Loan is payable in equal monthly installments of $292 through August 9, 2016, with the residual unpaid principal balance due on that date. The Second Amendment also extended the term and reduced the annual interest rate to 5% plus 3 Month LIBOR, through September 13, 2014.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Beginning Balance	'	'	'	'	0	25,000	'	'	'	'	'
Repayments of Subordinated Debt	'	'	10,000	15,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Ending Balance	'	'	'	'	$0	$25,000	'	'	'	'	'
Subordinated Borrowing Interest Rate	'	'	11.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

Debt_Debt_Reconciliation_Detai

Debt - Debt Reconciliation (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term Debt	$12,862	$13,772
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	3,529	3,562
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities	9,333	10,210
Capital Lease Obligations [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term Debt	29	64
Wells Fargo Term Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term Debt	$12,833	$13,708

Debt_Future_Payment_Details

Debt - Future Payment (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	$2,652	'
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	3,502	'
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	6,708	'
Long-term Debt	12,862	13,772
Capital Lease Obligations [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	27	'
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	2	'
Long-term Debt	29	64
Wells Fargo Term Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	2,625	'
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	3,500	'
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	6,708	'
Long-term Debt	$12,833	$13,708

Debt_Borrowing_Thresholds_Deta

Debt - Borrowing Thresholds (Details)	Dec. 31, 2013
Level I | Revolving Credit Facility 2012 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Liquidity is less than or equal to at any time during the period	'Liquidity b $ $20,000 at any time during the period
Excess Availability is less than or equal to at any time during the period	'Excess Availability b $ $7,500 at any time during the period
Fixed charge coverage ratio is less than	'Fixed charge coverage ratio < 1.0:1.0
Percentage points	'4.00 percentage points
Level I | Wells Fargo Term Loan [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Liquidity is less than or equal to at any time during the period	'Liquidity b $ $20,000 at any time during the period
Excess Availability is less than or equal to at any time during the period	'Excess Availability b $ $7,500 at any time during the period
Fixed charge coverage ratio is less than	'Fixed charge coverage ratio < 1.0:1.0
Percentage points	'5.00 percentage points
Level II | Revolving Credit Facility 2012 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Liquidity is greater than at all times during the period	'Liquidity > $20,000 at all times during the period; and Liquidity b $ $30,000 at any time during the period; and
Excess availability is	'Excess Availability $7,500
Fixed charge coverage is greater than or equal to	'Fixed charge coverage ratio b % 1.0:1.0
Percentage points	'3.50 percentage points
Level II | Wells Fargo Term Loan [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Liquidity is greater than at all times during the period	'Liquidity > $20,000 at all times during the period; and Liquidity b $ $30,000 at any time during the period; and
Excess availability is	'Excess Availability $7,500
Fixed charge coverage is greater than or equal to	'Fixed charge coverage ratio b % 1.0:1.0
Percentage points	'4.50 percentage points
Level III | Revolving Credit Facility 2012 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Liquidity is greater than at all times during the period	'Liquidity > $30,000 at all times during the period
Excess Availability Greater Than Equal	'Excess Availability > $7,500
Fixed charge coverage is greater than or equal to	'Fixed charge coverage ratio b % 1.0:1.0
Percentage points	'3.00 percentage points
Level III | Wells Fargo Term Loan [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Liquidity is greater than at all times during the period	'Liquidity > $30,000 at all times during the period
Excess Availability Greater Than Equal	'Excess Availability > $7,500
Fixed charge coverage is greater than or equal to	'Fixed charge coverage ratio b % 1.0:1.0
Percentage points	'4.00 percentage points

Per_Share_Information_Details

Per Share Information (Details) (Stock Option [Member])	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Stock Option [Member]	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	150,000	0

Per_Share_Information_EPS_Deta

Per Share Information EPS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	'	'
Net Income (Loss) from Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	$264	$623
Net income (loss) attributable to restricted shareholders	1	10
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	265	633
Net Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations	'	'
DiscontinuedNetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-141	-123
Net income (loss) attributable to restricted shareholders	0	0
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	-141	-123
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders	123	500
Net income (loss) attributable to restricted shareholders	1	10
Net Income (Loss)	$124	$510
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	17,817,254	14,801,903
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Share-based Payment Arrangements	81,578	117,286
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	17,898,832	14,919,189
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]	'	'
Continuing operations	$0.02	$0.04
Discontinued operations	($0.01)	($0.01)
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$0.10	$0.03
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]	'	'
Continuing operations	$0.02	$0.04
Discontinued operations	($0.01)	($0.01)
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$0.10	$0.03

Operating_Segments_Details

Operating Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenues	$120,079	$127,264	'
Cost of Services	101,963	109,284	'
Gross Profit	18,116	17,980	'
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	17,572	14,922	'
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	-41	-19	'
Operating Income (Loss)	585	3,077	'
Depreciation and amortization	617	539	'
Capital Expenditures	236	80	'
Assets	165,222	165,158	179,252
Communications [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenues	24,591	40,119	'
Cost of Services	20,659	32,887	'
Gross Profit	3,932	7,232	'
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	2,982	3,558	'
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	0	1	'
Operating Income (Loss)	950	3,673	'
Depreciation and amortization	100	87	'
Capital Expenditures	7	41	'
Assets	22,006	34,072	'
Residential	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenues	41,212	36,005	'
Cost of Services	33,794	29,899	'
Gross Profit	7,418	6,106	'
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	6,481	5,228	'
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	-40	-9	'
Operating Income (Loss)	977	887	'
Depreciation and amortization	123	95	'
Capital Expenditures	5	26	'
Assets	34,670	31,914	'
Commercial & Industrial [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenues	41,230	51,140	'
Cost of Services	37,316	46,498	'
Gross Profit	3,914	4,642	'
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	3,480	3,736	'
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	-4	-11	'
Operating Income (Loss)	438	917	'
Depreciation and amortization	67	57	'
Capital Expenditures	55	13	'
Assets	46,372	54,436	'
Infrastructure Solutions [Member]	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenues	13,046	0	'
Cost of Services	10,194	0	'
Gross Profit	2,852	0	'
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	2,387	0	'
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	3	0	'
Operating Income (Loss)	462	0	'
Depreciation and amortization	242	0	'
Capital Expenditures	54	0	'
Assets	27,817	0	'
Corporate	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenues	0	0	'
Cost of Services	0	0	'
Gross Profit	0	0	'
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	2,242	2,400	'
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	0	0	'
Operating Income (Loss)	-2,242	-2,400	'
Depreciation and amortization	85	300	'
Capital Expenditures	115	0	'
Assets	$34,357	$44,736	'

Other_Comprehensive_Income_Det

Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease (Abstract)	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	$17
Other Comprehensive Income Before Reclassifications	1
Amounts Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	-6
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	$12

Stockholders_Equity_Details

Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2015

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2015

Two Thousand Six Equity Incentive Plan [Member]

Phantom Share Units PSU's - Employee

Phantom Share Units PSU's - BOD [Member]

Phantom Share Units PSU's - BOD [Member]

Restricted Stock [Member]

Restricted Stock [Member]

Restricted Stock [Member]

Restricted Stock [Member]

Stock Option [Member]

Stock Option [Member]

Stock Option [Member]

Stock Option [Member]

Two Thousand Six Equity Incentive Plan [Member]

Two Thousand Six Equity Incentive Plan [Member]

Two Thousand Six Equity Incentive Plan [Member]

Two Thousand Six Equity Incentive Plan [Member]

Two Thousand Six Equity Incentive Plan [Member]

Two Thousand Six Equity Incentive Plan [Member]

Two Thousand Six Equity Incentive Plan [Member]

Two Thousand Six Equity Incentive Plan [Member]

Two Thousand Six Equity Incentive Plan [Member]

Two Thousand Six Equity Incentive Plan [Member]

Two Thousand Six Equity Incentive Plan [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Common stock, shares authorized

100,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Common stock, shares outstanding

17,918,254

17,944,322

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Common shares repurchased for tax withholding

'

'

'

33,568

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Unvested shares forfeited

0

0

-32,901

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Shares issued under share based compensation program

'

'

'

7,500

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Recognized compensation expense

'

'

'

'

$363

$36

$36

$104

$91

'

'

$62

$3

'

'

Unamortized compensation cost

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

147

'

'

'

317

'

'

'

Compensation expense to be recognized

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

93

54

'

'

93

135

Intrinsic Value

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$33

$31

'

'

Stockholders_Equity_RS_Award_A

Stockholders' Equity RS Award Activity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Shares Granted	7,500	12,500	107,500	'
Vested	-105,914	-111,080	-192,973	'
Unvested shares forfeited	0	0	-32,901	'
Share outstanding	60,832	159,246	257,826	376,200
Two Thousand Six [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Shares Granted	384,850	'	'	'
Weighted Average Fair Value at Date of Grant	24.78	'	'	'
Vested	258,347	'	'	'
Unvested shares forfeited	126,503	'	'	'
Recognized compensation expense	6,402	'	'	'
Two Thousand Six [Member] | Two Thousand Six 1 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Shares Granted	25,000	'	'	'
Weighted Average Fair Value at Date of Grant	17.36	'	'	'
Vested	25,000	'	'	'
Unvested shares forfeited	0	'	'	'
Recognized compensation expense	434	'	'	'
Two Thousand Seven [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Shares Granted	20,000	'	'	'
Weighted Average Fair Value at Date of Grant	25.08	'	'	'
Vested	20,000	'	'	'
Unvested shares forfeited	0	'	'	'
Recognized compensation expense	502	'	'	'
Two Thousand Seven [Member] | Two Thousand Seven 1 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Shares Granted	4,000	'	'	'
Weighted Average Fair Value at Date of Grant	26.48	'	'	'
Vested	4,000	'	'	'
Unvested shares forfeited	0	'	'	'
Recognized compensation expense	106	'	'	'
Two Thousand Eight [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Shares Granted	101,650	'	'	'
Weighted Average Fair Value at Date of Grant	19.17	'	'	'
Vested	85,750	'	'	'
Unvested shares forfeited	15,900	'	'	'
Recognized compensation expense	1,779	'	'	'
Two Thousand Nine [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Shares Granted	185,100	'	'	'
Weighted Average Fair Value at Date of Grant	8.71	'	'	'
Vested	146,400	'	'	'
Unvested shares forfeited	38,700	'	'	'
Recognized compensation expense	1,344	'	'	'
Two Thousand Ten [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Shares Granted	225,486	'	'	'
Weighted Average Fair Value at Date of Grant	3.64	'	'	'
Vested	147,456	'	'	'
Unvested shares forfeited	78,030	'	'	'
Recognized compensation expense	495	'	'	'
Two Thousand Eleven [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Shares Granted	320,000	'	'	'
Weighted Average Fair Value at Date of Grant	3.39	'	'	'
Vested	240,129	'	'	'
Unvested shares forfeited	73,205	'	'	'
Share outstanding	6,666	'	'	'
Recognized compensation expense	816	'	'	'
Two Thousand Twelve [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Shares Granted	107,500	'	'	'
Weighted Average Fair Value at Date of Grant	2.07	'	'	'
Vested	69,167	'	'	'
Unvested shares forfeited	0	'	'	'
Share outstanding	38,333	'	'	'
Recognized compensation expense	160	'	'	'
Two Thousand Thirteen [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Shares Granted	12,500	'	'	'
Weighted Average Fair Value at Date of Grant	5	'	'	'
Vested	4,167	'	'	'
Unvested shares forfeited	0	'	'	'
Share outstanding	8,333	'	'	'
Recognized compensation expense	24	'	'	'
TwoThousandFourteenMember [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Shares Granted	7,500	'	'	'
Weighted Average Fair Value at Date of Grant	4.6	'	'	'
Vested	0	'	'	'
Unvested shares forfeited	0	'	'	'
Share outstanding	7,500	'	'	'
Recognized compensation expense	1	'	'	'

Stockholders_Equity_RS_Rollfor

Stockholders' Equity RS Rollforward (Details)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Unvested at beginning of year	159,246	257,826	376,200
Shares Granted	7,500	12,500	107,500
Vested	-105,914	-111,080	-192,973
Unvested shares forfeited	0	0	-32,901
Unvested at end of year	60,832	159,246	257,826

Stockholders_Equity_Stock_Valu

Stockholders' Equity Stock Valuations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions and Methodology [Abstract]	'
Weighted average value per option granted during the period	$3.43
Stock price volatility	66.60%
Risk-free rate of return	0.90%
Option term	'10 years
Expected life	'6 years
Forfeiture rate	10.00%

Stockholders_Equity_Stock_Opt_

Stockholders' Equity Stock Opt Rollforward (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Share Based Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding Roll Forward	'	'	'
Outstanding (Shares)	170,000	20,000	20,000
Options granted (Shares)	0	150,000	0
Exercised (Shares)	0	0	0
Forfeited and Cancelled (Shares)	0	0	0
Outstanding (Shares)	170,000	170,000	20,000
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price Rollforward [Abstract]	'	'	'
Outstanding (Weighted Average Price)	$5.46	$3.24	$3.24
Options granted (Weighted Average Price)	$0	$5.76	$0
Exercised (Weighted Average Price)	$0	$0	$0
Forfeited and Cancelled (Weighted Average Price)	$0	$0	$0
Outstanding (Weighted Average Price)	$5.46	$5.46	$3.24

Stockholders_Equity_Options_Ou

Stockholders' Equity Options Outstanding (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Shares Outstanding	170,000
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$5.46
Share Exercisable	13,333
Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price	$3.24
Three Twenty Four [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Range of Exercise Prices	$3.24
Shares Outstanding	20,000
Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans ExercisePrice Range Outstanding Options Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term 2	'7 years 6 months 18 days
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$3.24
Share Exercisable	13,333
Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price	$3.24
Five Seventy Six [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Range of Exercise Prices	$5.76
Shares Outstanding	150,000
Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans ExercisePrice Range Outstanding Options Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term 2	'9 years 3 months 29 days
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$5.76
Share Exercisable	0
Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price	$0

Securities_and_Equity_Investme2

Securities and Equity Investments (Details) (Enertech [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Enertech [Member]	'
Schedule of Equity Cost Investments [Line Items]	'
Cost Method Investments Original Cost	$5,000
Ownership Percentage In Enertech	2.21%

Securities_and_Equity_Investme3

Securities and Equity Investments - Enertech FV (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'	'
Carrying Value	$919	$919
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments	129	138
Fair Value	$1,048	$1,057

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Details

Employee Benefit Plans (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			IES 401 (k) [Member]	MISCOR 401 (k) [Member]
			years
Employee 401 (k) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Plans Fully Vested Number Of Years	'	'	3	'
Defined Benefit Plan Minimum Age	'	'	21	'
Expenses Recognized	'	'	$65	$19
Executive Saving Plan [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Maximum percentage of salary permitted for deferral	75.00%	'	'	'
Post Retirement Benefit Plan [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Minimum Age	'	'	21	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Percentage Vest After Ten Years Of Service	5.00%	'	'	'
Denfied Benefits Plan, Annual Percentage Vested	1.00%	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Plans Fully Vested Number Of Years	'	'	3	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Plans with Benefit Obligations in Excess of Plan Assets, Aggregate Benefit Obligation	$844	$833	'	'
MultiemployerPlansAbstract	'	'	'	'
Percentage of Plan Funded	84.90%	'	'	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail

Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Total Fair Value [Member]	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Esecutive Savings Plan - Assets	$619
Esecutive Savings Plan - Liabilities	-506
Interest Rate Swap	12
Unfavorable Leases	-461
ContingentConsiderationCurrentFairValue	-30
Total Assts And Liabilities Disclosure	-366
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Esecutive Savings Plan - Assets	619
Esecutive Savings Plan - Liabilities	-506
Total Assts And Liabilities Disclosure	113
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Interest Rate Swap	12
Unfavorable Leases	-461
Total Assts And Liabilities Disclosure	-449
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
ContingentConsiderationCurrentFairValue	-30
Total Assts And Liabilities Disclosure	($30)

Fair_Value_Measurements_Unobse

Fair Value Measurements - Unobservable Inputs (Details) (Contingent Consideration [Member], Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Contingent Consideration [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'
Fair Value Beginning Balance	$95
Issuances	0
Settlements	0
Adjustments to Fair Value	-65
Fair Value Ending Balance	$30

Inventory_Details

Inventory (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Raw Materials	$2,611	$2,389
Work in Process	3,180	3,519
Finished Goods	1,368	1,545
Parts and Supplies	9,493	12,694
Inventory, Net	$16,652	$20,147

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets2

Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$134

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets3

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
IntangibleAssets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	'	$4,590
Accumulated Amortization	'	612
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net of amortization	4,138	3,978
Customer Relationships [Member]	'	'
IntangibleAssets [Line Items]	'	'
Estimated Useful Lives	'6 years 3 months 20 days	'
Gross Carrying Amount	'	2,100
Accumulated Amortization	'	134
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net of amortization	'	1,966
Technical Library [Member]	'	'
IntangibleAssets [Line Items]	'	'
Estimated Useful Lives	'20 years	'
Gross Carrying Amount	'	400
Accumulated Amortization	'	6
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net of amortization	'	394
Order Backlog [Member]	'	'
IntangibleAssets [Line Items]	'	'
Estimated Useful Lives	'0 years 5 months	'
Gross Carrying Amount	'	350
Accumulated Amortization	'	350
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net of amortization	'	0
Covenants Not to Compete [Member]	'	'
IntangibleAssets [Line Items]	'	'
Estimated Useful Lives	'3 years	'
Gross Carrying Amount	'	140
Accumulated Amortization	'	39
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net of amortization	'	101
Develeoped Technology [Member]	'	'
IntangibleAssets [Line Items]	'	'
Estimated Useful Lives	'4 years	'
Gross Carrying Amount	'	400
Accumulated Amortization	'	83
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net of amortization	'	317
Trademarks And Trade Names [Member]	'	'
IntangibleAssets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	'	1,200
Accumulated Amortization	'	0
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net of amortization	'	$1,200

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets4

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Future Amortization Expense (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsFutureAmortizationExpenseAbstract	'
Amortization Expense Year 1	$339
Amortization Expense Year 2	499
Amortization Expense Year 3	471
Amortization Expense Year 4	398
Amortization Expense Year 5	358
Amortization Expense After Year 5	713
FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	$2,778

Commitments_And_Contingencies_

Commitments And Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]	'	'
Accrued Insurance	'	$4,873
Reserve for construction defect liabilities	'	432
Estimated cost of completion of bonded project	'	55,195
Cash Collateral	'	500
Surety Bond [Member]	'	'
Loss Contingency [Line Items]	'	'
Total settlement to be paid in monthly installments	'	2,200
Interest rate on settlement value gross	'	1.20%
Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Cost And Expense	1,725	'
Receipt of payments	'	550
Insurance Related [Member]	'	'
Other Commitments [Line Items]	'	'
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	'	6,347
Vendor Related [Member]	'	'
Other Commitments [Line Items]	'	'
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	'	$313

Derivative_Instruments_Details

Derivative Instruments (Details) (Interest Rate Swap [Member])	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Interest Rate Swap [Member]	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'
Description of Derivative Terms	'Borrowings under the Wells Fargo Term Loan bore interest at a per annum rate equal to Daily Three Month LIBOR plus an applicable margin. Our interest rate swap agreement bears interest of 1.00% less the per annum rate equal to Daily Three Month LIBOR, thus mitigating the interest rate risk associated with the Daily Three Month LIBOR and ensuring a fixed rate for hedged borrowings under the Wells Fargo Term Loan.
Type of Derivative Instrument	'interest rate swap agreement
Objective of Derivative	'to hedge interest rate risk

Derivative_Instruments_Balance

Derivative Instruments - Balance Sheet Location (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Shareholders Equity [Member]	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Balance Sheet Location of Interest Rate Swap	'Accumulated other comprehensive income	'
Interest Rate Swap Fair Value	$12	$17
Assets [Member]	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Balance Sheet Location of Interest Rate Swap	'Prepaid expenses and other current assets	'
Interest Rate Swap Fair Value	$12	$17

Business_Combination_Details

Business Combination (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Business Acquisition Acro [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'
Name of Acquired Business	'Acro Group	'
Discription of Acquired Business	'a group of entities operating under the name of the Acro Group: Residential Renewable Technologies, Inc., Energy Efficiency Solar, Inc. and Lonestar Renewable Technologies Acquisition Corp. (collectively, the bAcro Groupb).	'
Reason for Business Combination	'offering full-service residential solar integration services, including design, procurement, permitting, installation, financing services through third parties and warranty services for residential customers.	'
Prexisitng Relationship	'IES Residential had previously provided solar installation subcontracting services to the Acro Group	'
Date of Acquisition Agreement	8-Feb-13	'
Date of Acquisition	15-Feb-13	'
Receivable Owed By Acro Used In Purchase Price	'	$3,800
Business Acquistion Miscor [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'
Name of Acquired Business	'MISCOR Group, Ltd	'
Discription of Acquired Business	'a provider of maintenance and repair services including engine parts and components to the industrial and rail services	'
Date of Acquisition	13-Sep-13	'
TaxBasisOfInvestmentsAdditionalInformation	'Although this goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes, we acquired tax basis of $10.0 million in goodwill and intangible assets recognized by MISCOR prior to our purchase agreement with them. The deferred tax asset associated with the basis is fully offset by a corresponding valuation allowance. No value was assigned in the purchase price allocation above to the original intangible assets recognized by MISCOR prior to our purchase agreement.	'

Business_Combination_Prelimina

Business Combination - Preliminary Valuation (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 14, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Feb. 15, 2013
Business Acquisition Acro [Member]	'	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Receivable Owed to IES	$1,042	'	$2,263	'
Cash Purchase Consideration	'	828	'	'
Fair Value of Contingent Consideration	'	'	'	665
Total Consideration Transferred	'	4,798	'	'
Business Acquistion Miscor [Member]	'	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash Purchase Consideration	'	4,364	'	'
Total Consideration Transferred	'	16,217	'	'
IES Shares provided in MISCOR consideration	'	2,795,577	'	'
Value of IES Shares provided in MISCOR consideration	'	$11,853	'	'

Business_Combination_Fair_Valu

Business Combination - Fair Value Allocation (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition Acro [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Total Consideration Transferred	$4,798
Trade Receivable	317
Prepaid Commissions	46
Inventory	16
Property & Equipment	40
Order Backlog	350
Covenant Not-to-Complete	140
Developed Technology	400
Vacation Payable	-26
Customer Incentive Payable	-70
Deferred Revenue	-600
Goodwill	4,185
Business Acquistion Miscor [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Total Consideration Transferred	16,217
Trade Receivable	4,925
Prepaid Commissions	532
Inventory	7,530
Property & Equipment	5,355
Customer Relationships	2,100
Technical Library	400
Trade Names	1,200
Other Assets	552
Trade Payables	-4,143
Accrued Liabilities	-2,016
Term Loan	-5,511
Goodwill	$5,293

Business_Combination_Pro_Forma

Business Combination - Pro Forma (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
BusinessAcquisitionProFormaInformationAbstract	'	'
Pro Forma Revenue	$120,079	$142,002
Pro Forma Net Income	$265	$729

Discontinued_Operations_IS_Det

Discontinued Operations IS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'	'
DISCOPS Revenue	$58	$516
DISCOPS COGS	117	450
DISCOPS Gross Profit	-59	66
DISCOPS SGA	82	161
Restructuring Charges	0	43
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax	-141	-138
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Discontinued Operation	0	-15
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	($141)	($123)

Discontinued_Operations_BS_Det

Discontinued Operations BS (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'	'
Discontinued Operations - Current Assets	$714	$1,123
Discontinued Operations - Current Liabilities	$636	$889