CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating Activities
Net Income	$ 204,554	$ 253,562	$ 259,624
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	497,381	385,453	253,757
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	527,845	419,598	283,997
Asset impairment	29,794	21,545	0
Accretion expense	8,192	7,534	6,837
Deferred income taxes	83,650	124,399	129,041
Bad debt expense	781	153	2,525
Change in derivative fair value	48,029	(41,819)	36,210
Gain on sale of assets	(46,377)	(529)	(5,994)
Stock-based compensation expense	14,892	6,047	9,011
Exploratory expense	16,008	16,757	10,916
Other, net	23,810	8,597	7,537
Net change in:
Accounts receivable	4,216	(11,923)	(16,359)
Inventories	11,596	10,018	(14,710)
Accounts payable	(58,859)	(16,392)	12,978
Amounts due customers, including gas supply pass-through	40,542	(57,747)	(2,597)
Income tax receivable	899	679	37,146
Pension and other postretirement benefit contributions	(11,747)	(5,996)	(5,986)
Other current assets and liabilities	29,552	1,254	11,655
Net cash provided by operating activities	927,377	735,737	761,831
Investing Activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(1,195,402)	(1,184,300)	(889,614)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(31,331)	(139,563)	(310,193)
Proceeds from sale of assets	174,824	2,562	7,987
Purchase of short-term investments	(310,000)	0	0
Sale of short-term investments	310,000	0	0
Other, net	(1,701)	(881)	(1,679)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,053,610)	(1,322,182)	(1,193,499)
Financing Activities
Payment of dividends on common stock	(41,993)	(40,392)	(38,922)
Issuance of common stock	17,780	1,224	6,415
Issuance of long-term debt	600,000	0	749,952
Reduction of long-term debt	(350,105)	(1,218)	(5,547)
Net change in short-term debt	(104,000)	628,000	(290,000)
Tax benefit on stock compensation	3,142	550	986
Other	(2,740)	(1,556)	(4,334)
Net cash provided by financing activities	122,084	586,608	418,550
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(4,149)	163	(13,118)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	9,704	9,541	22,659
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	5,555	9,704	9,541
Alabama Gas Corporation
Operating Activities
Net Income	57,399	49,402	46,602
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	43,907	42,270	39,916
Deferred income taxes	15,000	11,278	28,058
Bad debt expense	774	146	2,457
Gain on sale of assets	(10,889)	0	0
Other, net	14,068	10,667	1,560
Net change in:
Accounts receivable	(23,955)	(13,528)	4,862
Inventories	31	10,544	(7,371)
Accounts payable	(2,464)	(5,906)	(1,499)
Amounts due customers, including gas supply pass-through	40,542	(57,747)	(2,597)
Income tax receivable	(882)	7,000	553
Pension and other postretirement benefit contributions	(6,070)	(2,725)	(2,811)
Other current assets and liabilities	2,700	(8,654)	(2,802)
Net cash provided by operating activities	130,161	42,747	106,928
Investing Activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(86,037)	(69,860)	(73,447)
Proceeds from sale of assets	13,838	0	0
Other, net	(62)	(3,252)	(2,743)
Net cash used in investing activities	(72,261)	(73,112)	(76,190)
Financing Activities
Payment of dividends on common stock	(33,322)	(33,637)	(29,183)
Issuance of long-term debt	0	0	50,000
Reduction of long-term debt	(105)	(218)	(5,547)
Net change in short-term debt	(27,000)	62,000	(55,000)
Other	0	(38)	(101)
Net cash provided by financing activities	(60,427)	28,107	(39,831)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(2,527)	(2,258)	(9,093)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	5,559	7,817	16,910
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 3,032	$ 5,559	$ 7,817