Derivative Instrument and Hedging Activities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Schedule Of Derivative Instruments In Statement Of Financial Position Fair Value Text Block

			Asset Derivatives (1)					Liability Derivatives (1)
			December 31,				December 31,
Balance Sheet Location			2011		2010		2011		2010
			(In thousands)				(In thousands)
Cash Flow Hedges:
Interest rate contracts
		Derivative instruments-liabilities	$	-	$	-	$	19,936	$	19,694
		Deferred credits		-		-		59,789		4,652
Commodity contracts - Gathering and Processing:
	Natural gas price swaps
		Prepayments and other assets		6,124		-		-		-
		Derivative instruments-liabilities		-		16,459		-		-
	NGL price swaps
		Prepayments and other assets		-		-		1,996		-
		Derivative instruments-liabilities		-		-		4,144		-
			$	6,124	$	16,459	$	85,865	$	24,346
Economic Hedges:
Commodity contracts - Gathering and Processing:
	NGL processing spread swaps
		Derivative instruments-liabilities	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	29,057
	Other derivative instruments
		Prepayments and other assets		-		133		-		-
		Derivative instruments-liabilities		-		-		50		-
Commodity contracts - Distribution:
	Natural gas price swaps
		Derivative instruments-liabilities		-		234		34,468		34,968
		Deferred credits		3		105		5,643		2,806
			$	3	$	472	$	40,161	$	66,831
	Total		$	6,127	$	16,931	$	126,026	$	91,177

Derivatives Effect On Income Table [Text Block]

				Years Ended December 31,
				2011		2010		2009
					(In thousands)
Cash Flow Hedges: (1)
	Interest rate contracts:
		Change in fair value - increase in Accumulated other comprehensive
			loss, excluding tax expense effect of $27,589, $5,237 and $3,051, respectively	$	74,059	$	13,028	$	7,589
		Reclassification of unrealized loss from Accumulated other
			comprehensive loss - increase of Interest expense, excluding tax
			expense effect of $(9,012), $(9,019) and $(8,222), respectively		(22,455)		(22,483)		(20,572)
	Commodity contracts - Gathering and Processing:
		Change in fair value - decrease in Accumulated other comprehensive
			loss, excluding tax expense effect of $(2,598), $(14,093) and $(3,773),
			respectively		(7,208)		(39,105)		(10,469)
		Reclassification of unrealized gain from Accumulated other comprehensive
			loss - increase of Operating revenues, excluding tax expense effect of $8,536,
			$6,787 and $16,231, respectively		23,685		18,833		45,035
Economic Hedges:
	Commodity contracts - Gathering and Processing:
		Change in fair value of strategic hedges - (increase)/decrease in Operating revenues (2)			29,855		31,154		88,799
		Change in fair value of other hedges - (increase)/decrease in Operating revenues			(96)		283		(12)
	Commodity contracts - Distribution:
		Change in fair value - increase/(decrease) in Deferred gas purchases			2,673		(6,166)		(49,083)