Debt Obligations 1 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified							6 Months Ended																							12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] Southern Union [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] ETE [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] 7.60% Senior Notes due 2024 [Member] Southern Union [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] 8.25% Senior Notes Due 2029 [Member] Southern Union [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] 7.24% to 9.44% First Mortgage Bonds due 2020 to 2027 [Member] Southern Union [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] 7.20% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2066 [Member] Southern Union [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Successor [Member] 7.20% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2066 [Member] Southern Union [Member]		Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] Term Loan due 2013 [Member] Southern Union [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] Note Payable [Member] Southern Union [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] Unamortized fair value adjustment [Member] Southern Union [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] Unamortized fair value adjustment [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] 6.05% Senior Notes due 2013 [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] 6.20% Senior Notes due 2017 [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] 8.125% Senior Notes due 2019 [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] 7.00% Senior Notes due 2029 [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] 7.00% Senior Notes due 2018 [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] Term Loan due 2012 [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] Term Loan due 2015 [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor [Member] Net premiums on long-term debt [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] Southern Union [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] ETE [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] 7.60% Senior Notes due 2024 [Member] Southern Union [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] 8.25% Senior Notes Due 2029 [Member] Southern Union [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] 7.24% to 9.44% First Mortgage Bonds due 2020 to 2027 [Member] Southern Union [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] 7.20% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2066 [Member] Southern Union [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] Term Loan due 2013 [Member] Southern Union [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] Note Payable [Member] Southern Union [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] Unamortized fair value adjustment [Member] Southern Union [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] Unamortized fair value adjustment [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] 6.05% Senior Notes due 2013 [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] 6.20% Senior Notes due 2017 [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] 8.125% Senior Notes due 2019 [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] 7.00% Senior Notes due 2029 [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] 7.00% Senior Notes due 2018 [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] Term Loan due 2012 [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] Term Loan due 2015 [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Predecessor [Member] Net premiums on long-term debt [Member] Panhandle [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 LIBOR [Member] 7.20% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2066 [Member] Southern Union [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Revolver 2012 [Member] Annualized Interest Rate [Member] LIBOR [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Revolver 2012 [Member] Commitment Fee Rate [Member] LIBOR [Member]
Long Term Debt Obligations:
Senior Notes					$ 359,765	$ 300,000										$ 250,000	$ 300,000	$ 150,000	$ 66,305	$ 400,000								$ 359,765	$ 300,000								$ 250,000	$ 300,000	$ 150,000	$ 66,305	$ 400,000
Long-term Debt	3,112,536	1,340,543	1,771,993				19,500	600,000	[1]	600,000	[1]	0	7,465								0	455,000	0	3,503,626	1,537,011	1,966,615				19,500	600,000	[1]	250,000	7,746								797,386	0	2,924
Unamortized fair value adjustments														53,813	150,688																				0	0
Credit Facilities	235,000																							200,000
Notes Payable - ETE				166,217																							0
Total consolidated debt obligations	3,513,753																							3,703,626
Less: Current portion of long-term debt	(853)																							(343,254)
Less: Short-term debt	401,217																							200,000
Total long-term debt	3,111,683																							3,160,372
Total consolidated debt obligations fair value	$ 3,542,118																							$ 3,964,549
Debt instrument, three month LIBOR, basis spread on variable rate																																													3.0175%	1.625%	0.25%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum							7.24%																							7.24%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum							9.44%																							9.44%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage					7.60%	8.25%		7.20%								6.05%	6.20%	8.125%	7.00%	7.00%								7.60%	8.25%		7.20%						6.05%	6.20%	8.125%	7.00%	7.00%

[1] Effective November 1, 2011, the interest rate on the Junior Subordinated Notes changed to a variable rate based upon the three-month LIBOR rate plus 3.0175%, reset quarterly. See Interest Rate Swaps below for more information regarding the interest rate on these notes.