Average Finance Receivable Term

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- Definition

Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Average Balance 0 to 60 Days Past Due

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

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- Definition

The amount of the recorded investment in a contractual right to receive money on demand or on fixed or determinable dates that is recognized as an asset in the creditor's statement of financial position. Examples include, but are not limited to, accounts receivable (with terms exceeding one year), notes receivable and receivables relating to lessor's rights to payments from leases other than operating leases that have been recorded as assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Receivable

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6953735

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivable
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

A valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953423-111524

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Charge to expense for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Financing receivables that are equal to or greater than 90 days past due.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7A

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953401-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDue
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Aug. 31, 2011 Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Alabama Gas Corporation	Dec. 31, 2010 Alabama Gas Corporation	Sep. 30, 2011 Alabama Gas Corporation Long-term Debt, Including Current Portion, Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure	Sep. 30, 2011 Alabama Gas Corporation Long-term Debt, Including Current Portion, Carrying Value, Fair Value Disclosure	Sep. 30, 2011 Long-term Debt, Including Current Portion, Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure	Sep. 30, 2011 Long-term Debt, Including Current Portion, Carrying Value, Fair Value Disclosure
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 400,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		4.625%
Long-term Debt, Fair Value					221,900,000	200,400,000	860,300,000	805,400,000
Financing Receivable			10,200,000	8,800,000
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Average Balance 0 to 60 Days Past Due			3,000
Average Finance Receivable Term			up to 60 months
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due			428,000
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]
Allowance for credit losses, beginning balance	447,000
Provision	(24,000)
Allowance for credit losses, ending balance	$ 423,000