CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$ 5,704	$ 20,954	$ 20,749
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(27,733)	(21,098)	(17,472)
Distributions received from affiliates	19,385	14,235	10,695
Depreciation	19,306	17,570	16,921
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits	10,020	20,322	9,633
Amortization of capital leases	946	991	946
Regulatory and other deferrals and amortization	(4,802)	(3,523)	(797)
Non-cash employee benefit plan costs	6,375	6,423	6,275
Other non-cash expense and (income), net	(140)	5,163	5,225
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Fortis termination fee reimbursement from Gaz Metro	19,500	0	0
Increase in accounts receivable and unbilled revenues	(1,386)	(4,949)	(6,520)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable	(38)	(1,728)	4,979
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable - affiliates	3,299	(206)	702
Decrease (increase) in other current assets	1,422	(916)	4,409
(Increase) decrease in special deposits and restricted cash	(1,107)	5,370	(1,734)
Employee benefit plan funding	(7,705)	(6,493)	(7,122)
Increase (decrease) in other current liabilities	5,395	(867)	(4,986)
Increase (decrease) in other long-term assets	(4,524)	640	132
Increase in other long-term liabilities and other	1,796	1,639	7
Net cash provided by operating activities	45,713	53,527	42,042
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction and plant expenditures	(41,129)	(33,021)	(31,413)
Investment in affiliates (Transco)	0	(34,918)	(20,843)
Acquisition of utility property (Vermont Marble and Readsboro)	(30,159)	0	0
Increase in restricted cash - project fund investments	0	(29,767)	0
Reimbursements of restricted cash - bond proceeds	17,465	6,288	0
Project reimbursement from DOE	1,130	791	0
Investments in available-for-sale securities	(1,801)	(1,624)	(3,761)
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities	1,555	1,337	3,436
Other investing activities	(462)	(491)	(350)
Net cash used for investing activities	(53,401)	(91,405)	(52,931)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock	2,110	31,942	1,655
Decrease in special deposits for preferred stock mandatory redemption	0	1,000	0
Retirement of preferred stock subject to mandatory redemption	0	(1,000)	(1,000)
Common and preferred dividends paid	(12,694)	(11,712)	(11,088)
Proceeds from revolving credit facility and other short-term borrowings	100,640	128,113	48,501
Repayments under revolving credit facility and other short-term borrowings	(102,057)	(137,729)	(25,190)
Proceeds from long-term debt	40,000	29,767	0
Repayment of long-term debt	(20,000)	0	(5,450)
Common stock offering and debt issue costs	(225)	(879)	(210)
Reduction in capital lease and other financing activities	(1,028)	(1,017)	(982)
Net cash provided by financing activities	6,746	38,485	6,236
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(942)	607	(4,653)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	2,676	2,069	6,722
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	$ 1,734	$ 2,676	$ 2,069