Debt Obligations 1 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified													3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Southern Union [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Southern Union [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Panhandle [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Panhandle [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Senior Notes due 2024 [Member] Southern Union [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior Notes due 2024 [Member] Southern Union [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Senior Notes Due 2029 [Member] Southern Union [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior Notes Due 2029 [Member] Southern Union [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Senior Notes Due 2029 [Member] Panhandle [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior Notes Due 2029 [Member] Panhandle [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 First Mortgage Bonds due 2020 to 2027 [Member] Southern Union [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 First Mortgage Bonds due 2020 to 2027 [Member] Southern Union [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Junior Subordinated Notes due 2066 [Member] Southern Union [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Junior Subordinated Notes due 2066 [Member] Southern Union [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Term Loan 2013 [Member] Southern Union [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Term Loan 2013 [Member] Southern Union [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Note Payable [Member] Southern Union [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Note Payable [Member] Southern Union [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Net premiums on long-term debt [Member] Southern Union [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Net premiums on long-term debt [Member] Southern Union [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Net premiums on long-term debt [Member] Panhandle [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Net premiums on long-term debt [Member] Panhandle [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Senior Notes due 2013 [Member] Panhandle [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior Notes due 2013 [Member] Panhandle [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Senior Notes due 2017 [Member] Panhandle [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior Notes due 2017 [Member] Panhandle [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Senior Notes due 2019 [Member] Panhandle [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior Notes due 2019 [Member] Panhandle [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Senior Notes due 2018 [Member] Panhandle [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior Notes due 2018 [Member] Panhandle [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Term Loan 2012 [Member] Panhandle [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Term Loan 2012 [Member] Panhandle [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Term Loan 2015 [Member] Panhandle [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Term Loan 2015 [Member] Panhandle [Member] Predecessor [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate							7.60%	7.60%	8.25%	8.25%	7.00%	7.00%			7.20%	7.20%									6.05%	6.05%	6.20%	6.20%	8.125%	8.125%	7.00%	7.00%
Interest Rate Minimum													7.24%	7.24%
Interest Rate Maximum													9.44%	9.44%
Long Term Debt Carrying Value	$ 3,120,599	$ 3,503,626	$ 1,341,031	$ 1,537,011	$ 1,779,568	$ 1,966,615	$ 359,765	$ 359,765	$ 300,000	$ 300,000	$ 66,305	$ 66,305	$ 19,500	$ 19,500	$ 600,000	$ 600,000	$ 0	$ 250,000	$ 7,603	$ 7,746	$ 54,163	$ 0	$ 158,263	$ 0	$ 250,000	$ 250,000	$ 300,000	$ 300,000	$ 150,000	$ 150,000	$ 400,000	$ 400,000	$ 0	$ 797,386	$ 455,000	$ 0
Credit Facilities	165,000	200,000
Total consolidated debt obligations	3,506,816	3,703,626
Total consolidated debt obligations fair value	3,484,307	3,964,549
Less current portion of long-term debt	860	343,254
Less short-term debt	386,217	200,000
Total long-term debt	$ 3,119,739	$ 3,160,372