CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Operating Activities
Net income	$ 259,624	$ 290,807	$ 256,325
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	283,997	247,865	235,084
Accretion expense	6,837	6,178	4,935
Deferred income taxes	129,041	133,840	84,616
Bad debt expense	2,525	1,565	10,688
Change in derivative fair value	36,210	(819)	(104)
Gain on sale of assets	(5,994)	(2,521)	(5,617)
Other, net	13,298	(568)	23,843
Exploratory expense	10,916	63,668	9,874
Net change in:
Accounts receivable	(16,359)	(31,939)	(31,914)
Inventories	(14,710)	4,022	30,679
Accounts payable	12,978	18,889	5,539
Amounts due customers including gas supply pass-through	(2,597)	20,751	16,967
Income tax receivable	37,146	(39,937)	45,924
Pension and other postretirement benefit contributions	(5,986)	(42,233)	(24,137)
Other current assets and liabilities	14,905	1,454	16,755
Net cash provided by operating activities	761,831	671,022	679,457
Investing Activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(889,614)	(434,121)	(340,107)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(310,193)	(410,348)	(185,131)
Proceeds from sale of assets	7,987	3,155	7,923
Purchase of short-term investments	0	(154,880)	0
Sale of short-term investments	0	154,965	0
Other, net	(1,679)	(1,464)	(1,808)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,193,499)	(842,693)	(519,123)
Financing Activities
Payment of dividends on common stock	(38,922)	(37,377)	(35,542)
Issuance of common stock	6,415	685	621
Issuance of long-term debt	749,952	0	0
Reduction of long-term debt	(5,547)	(150,729)	(1,035)
Net change in short-term debt	(290,000)	305,000	(62,000)
Tax benefit on stock compensation	986	907	606
Other	(4,334)	0	(317)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	418,550	118,486	(97,667)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(13,118)	(53,185)	62,667
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	22,659	75,844	13,177
Cash and Cash Equivalents at end of period	9,541	22,659	75,844
Alabama Gas Corporation
Operating Activities
Net income	46,602	46,883	45,415
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	39,916	44,042	50,995
Deferred income taxes	28,058	28,861	16,257
Bad debt expense	2,457	1,561	10,605
Other, net	1,560	(10,958)	9,092
Net change in:
Accounts receivable	4,862	(26,567)	7,001
Inventories	(7,371)	5,854	34,585
Accounts payable	(1,499)	2,663	(30,320)
Amounts due customers including gas supply pass-through	(2,597)	20,751	16,967
Income tax receivable	553	(6,846)	27,185
Pension and other postretirement benefit contributions	(2,811)	(26,083)	(14,731)
Other current assets and liabilities	(2,802)	14,273	585
Net cash provided by operating activities	106,928	94,434	173,636
Investing Activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(73,447)	(92,099)	(77,070)
Other, net	(2,743)	(1,827)	(1,320)
Net cash used in investing activities	(76,190)	(93,926)	(78,390)
Financing Activities
Payment of dividends on common stock	(29,183)	(37,367)	(35,859)
Issuance of long-term debt	50,000	0	0
Reduction of long-term debt	(5,547)	(729)	(1,035)
Net decreases in advances from affiliates	0	(24,962)	3,380
Net change in short-term debt	(55,000)	70,000	(62,000)
Debt issuance costs	(101)	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(39,831)	6,942	(95,514)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(9,093)	7,450	(268)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	16,910	9,460	9,728
Cash and Cash Equivalents at end of period	$ 7,817	$ 16,910	$ 9,460