Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Operating Activities
Net Income	$ 71,498	$ 65,153	$ 56,580
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net operating cash:
Depreciation and amortization	58,117	45,900	40,802
Depreciation and accretion included in operations expenses	9,599	8,752	8,535
Deferred income taxes, net	24,709	24,476	21,226
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	(200)	(7,344)
Realized gain (loss) on sale of assets/commodity contracts	(6,243)	(4,135)	5,497
Unrealized loss (gain) on investments/commodity contracts	(1,482)	(1,595)	429
Employee benefits and compensation	207	1,985	856
Share-based compensation	4,829	4,279	2,813
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable and accrued revenue	(7,426)	36,489	(16,311)
Propane inventory, storage gas and other inventory	1,709	8,227	2,107
Regulatory assets/liabilities, net	(4,973)	(7,812)	2,250
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,424	11,115	(7,421)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	4,941	(62,021)	35,907
Income taxes receivable (payable)	7,165	(4,750)	(522)
Customer deposits and refunds	2,238	(1,811)	(596)
Accrued compensation	(2,473)	2,120	708
Other assets and liabilities, net	(5,723)	(16,064)	(35,498)
Net cash provided by operating activities	158,916	102,964	117,362
Investing Activities
Property, plant and equipment expenditures	(165,511)	(184,727)	(240,351)
Proceeds from sale of assets	8,080	427	782
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(22,231)	(23,988)	(16,654)
Proceeds from the sale of discontinued operations	200	22,871
Environmental expenditures	(2,169)	(1,170)	(625)
Net cash used in investing activities	(181,631)	(186,587)	(256,848)
Financing Activities
Common stock dividends	(27,161)	(24,693)	(22,043)
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock, Dividend Reinvestment Plan	22,627
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock		(721)	(706)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of expenses	60,980	0	0
Payment, Tax Withholding, Share-based Payment Arrangement	(977)	(692)	(1,210)
Change in cash overdrafts due to outstanding checks	(825)	(1,174)	(5,943)
Net borrowings (repayments) under line of credit agreements	(71,637)	(45,913)	49,432
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	89,822	199,648	154,819
Repayment of long-term debt and finance lease obligation	(53,600)	(41,936)	(34,388)
Net cash provided by financing activities	19,229	84,519	139,961
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(3,486)	896	475
Cash and Cash Equivalents — Beginning of Period	6,985	6,089	5,614
Cash and Cash Equivalents — End of Period	$ 3,499	$ 6,985	$ 6,089