CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating Activities
Net Income	$ 253,562	$ 259,624	$ 290,807
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	419,598	283,997	247,865
Asset impairment	21,545	0	0
Accretion expense	7,534	6,837	6,178
Deferred income taxes	124,399	129,041	133,840
Bad debt expense	153	2,525	1,565
Change in derivative fair value	(41,819)	36,210	(819)
Gain on sale of assets	(529)	(5,994)	(2,521)
Other, net	15,681	13,298	(568)
Exploratory expense	16,757	10,916	63,668
Net change in:
Accounts receivable	(11,923)	(16,359)	(31,939)
Inventories	10,018	(14,710)	4,022
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable	(16,392)	12,978	18,889
Amounts due customers including gas supply pass-through	(57,747)	(2,597)	20,751
Income tax receivable	679	37,146	(39,937)
Pension and other postretirement benefit contributions	(5,996)	(5,986)	(42,233)
Other current assets and liabilities	217	14,905	1,454
Net cash provided by operating activities	735,737	761,831	671,022
Investing Activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(1,184,300)	(889,614)	(434,121)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(139,563)	(310,193)	(410,348)
Proceeds from sale of assets	2,562	7,987	3,155
Purchase of short-term investments	0	0	(154,880)
Sale of short-term investments	0	0	154,965
Other, net	(881)	(1,679)	(1,464)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,322,182)	(1,193,499)	(842,693)
Financing Activities
Payment of dividends on common stock	(40,392)	(38,922)	(37,377)
Issuance of common stock	1,224	6,415	685
Issuance of long-term debt	0	749,952	0
Reduction of long-term debt	(1,218)	(5,547)	(150,729)
Net change in short-term debt	628,000	(290,000)	305,000
Tax benefit on stock compensation	550	986	907
Other	(1,556)	(4,334)	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	586,608	418,550	118,486
Increase (decrease) in cash	163	(13,118)	(53,185)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	9,541	22,659	75,844
Cash and Cash Equivalents at end of period	9,704	9,541	22,659
Alabama Gas Corporation
Operating Activities
Net Income	49,402	46,602	46,883
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	42,270	39,916	44,042
Deferred income taxes	11,278	28,058	28,861
Bad debt expense	146	2,457	1,561
Other, net	10,667	1,560	(10,958)
Net change in:
Accounts receivable	(13,528)	4,862	(26,567)
Inventories	10,544	(7,371)	5,854
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable	(5,906)	(1,499)	2,663
Amounts due customers including gas supply pass-through	(57,747)	(2,597)	20,751
Income tax receivable	7,000	553	(6,846)
Pension and other postretirement benefit contributions	(2,725)	(2,811)	(26,083)
Other current assets and liabilities	(8,654)	(2,802)	14,273
Net cash provided by operating activities	42,747	106,928	94,434
Investing Activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(69,860)	(73,447)	(92,099)
Other, net	(3,252)	(2,743)	(1,827)
Net cash used in investing activities	(73,112)	(76,190)	(93,926)
Financing Activities
Payment of dividends on common stock	(33,637)	(29,183)	(37,367)
Issuance of long-term debt	0	50,000	0
Reduction of long-term debt	(218)	(5,547)	(729)
Net decreases in advances from affiliates	0	0	(24,962)
Net change in short-term debt	62,000	(55,000)	70,000
Other	38	101	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	28,107	(39,831)	6,942
Increase (decrease) in cash	(2,258)	(9,093)	7,450
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	7,817	16,910	9,460
Cash and Cash Equivalents at end of period	$ 5,559	$ 7,817	$ 16,910