Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Unaudited Interim Financial Information and Seasonality	Our business is seasonal in nature. The results of operations for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2016 do not necessarily reflect the results to be expected for the full year. The condensed consolidated financial statements have not been audited. We have prepared the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Therefore, certain financial information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States of America are omitted in this interim report under these SEC rules and regulations.
Use of Estimates	In accordance with GAAP, we make certain estimates and assumptions regarding reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the related disclosures, using historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable at the time. Our estimates may involve complex situations requiring a high degree of judgment in the application and interpretation of existing literature or in the development of estimates that impact our financial statements. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions, which are evaluated on a continual basis.
Rate Regulated Basis of Accounting	Our utility operations are subject to regulation with respect to rates, service area, accounting and various other matters by the regulatory commissions in the states in which we operate. The accounting regulations provide that rate-regulated public utilities account for and report assets and liabilities consistent with the economic effect of the manner in which independent third-party regulators establish rates. In applying these regulations, we capitalize certain costs and benefits as regulatory assets and liabilities, respectively, in order to provide for recovery from or refund to utility customers in future periods. Generally, regulatory assets are amortized to expense and regulatory liabilities are amortized to income over the period authorized by our regulators.
Fair Value Measurements	We have financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurement. The financial assets and liabilities measured and carried at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities held in rabbi trusts established for our deferred compensation plans and purchased call option derivative assets and liabilities, if any, that are held for our utility operations. The carrying values of receivables, short-term debt, accounts payable, accrued interest and other current assets and liabilities approximate fair value as all amounts reported are to be collected or paid within one year. Our nonfinancial assets and liabilities include our qualified pension and postretirement plan assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets in accordance with employers’ accounting and related disclosures of postretirement plans. As discussed below, effective in our first quarter 2016, we have certain forward gas supply derivative contracts that are nonfinancial assets and liabilities requiring fair value treatment. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, or exit date. We utilize market data or assumptions that market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated or generally unobservable. We primarily apply the market approach for fair value measurements and endeavor to utilize the best available information for the specific instrument, location or commodity being valued. Accordingly, we use valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.
Equity Method Investments	On a quarterly basis, or when events or changes in circumstances indicate, we evaluate our investments in our equity method investments for impairment. Each investment is recorded at cost plus post-acquisition contributions and earnings based on our ownership share less any distributions as received from the joint venture investment, and if applicable, less any impairment in value of the investment.
Earnings per Share	We compute basic earnings per share (EPS) using the daily weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. In the calculation of fully diluted EPS, shares of common stock to be issued under approved incentive compensation plan (ICP) awards and forward sale agreements (FSAs) are contingently issuable shares, as determined by applying the treasury stock method, and are added to average common shares outstanding, resulting in a potential reduction in diluted EPS.
Marketable Securities	The fair values of the equity securities are based on quoted market prices as traded on the exchanges. Trading securities are recorded at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets with any gains or losses recognized currently in earnings.
Derivatives	We have included gas supply contracts requiring fair value accounting in "Gas supply derivative liabilities, at fair value" in "Current Liabilities" and "Noncurrent Liabilities" in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As these contracts have been entered into for our regulated utility operations, and as commodity costs are recoverable through our purchased gas adjustment (PGA) clauses in the jurisdictions in which we operate, we have recorded the offset to an applicable regulatory asset. We evaluate all of our gas supply contracts at inception to determine if they meet the definition of a derivative in accordance with accounting guidance, whether any derivative contracts qualify as "normal purchases and normal sales" and would not be subject to fair value accounting requirements, or if they can be designated for hedge accounting purposes.
Subsequent Events	We monitor significant events occurring after the balance sheet date and prior to the issuance of the financial statements to determine the impacts, if any, of events on the financial statements to be issued.

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2016

Unaudited Interim Financial Information and Seasonality

Our business is seasonal in nature. The results of operations for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2016 do not necessarily reflect the results to be expected for the full year.

The condensed consolidated financial statements have not been audited. We have prepared the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Therefore, certain financial information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States of America are omitted in this interim report under these SEC rules and regulations.

Use of Estimates

In accordance with GAAP, we make certain estimates and assumptions regarding reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the related disclosures, using historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable at the time. Our estimates may involve complex situations requiring a high degree of judgment in the application and interpretation of existing literature or in the development of estimates that impact our financial statements. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions, which are evaluated on a continual basis.

Rate Regulated Basis of Accounting

Our utility operations are subject to regulation with respect to rates, service area, accounting and various other matters by the regulatory commissions in the states in which we operate. The accounting regulations provide that rate-regulated public utilities account for and report assets and liabilities consistent with the economic effect of the manner in which independent third-party regulators establish rates. In applying these regulations, we capitalize certain costs and benefits as regulatory assets and liabilities, respectively, in order to provide for recovery from or refund to utility customers in future periods. Generally, regulatory assets are amortized to expense and regulatory liabilities are amortized to income over the period authorized by our regulators.

Fair Value Measurements

We have financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurement. The financial assets and liabilities measured and carried at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities held in rabbi trusts established for our deferred compensation plans and purchased call option derivative assets and liabilities, if any, that are held for our utility operations. The carrying values of receivables, short-term debt, accounts payable, accrued interest and other current assets and liabilities approximate fair value as all amounts reported are to be collected or paid within one year. Our nonfinancial assets and liabilities include our qualified pension and postretirement plan assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets in accordance with employers’ accounting and related disclosures of postretirement plans. As discussed below, effective in our first quarter 2016, we have certain forward gas supply derivative contracts that are nonfinancial assets and liabilities requiring fair value treatment.

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, or exit date. We utilize market data or assumptions that market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated or generally unobservable. We primarily apply the market approach for fair value measurements and endeavor to utilize the best available information for the specific instrument, location or commodity being valued. Accordingly, we use valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

Equity Method Investments

On a quarterly basis, or when events or changes in circumstances indicate, we evaluate our investments in our equity method investments for impairment. Each investment is recorded at cost plus post-acquisition contributions and earnings based on our ownership share less any distributions as received from the joint venture investment, and if applicable, less any impairment in value of the investment.

Earnings per Share

We compute basic earnings per share (EPS) using the daily weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. In the calculation of fully diluted EPS, shares of common stock to be issued under approved incentive compensation plan (ICP) awards and forward sale agreements (FSAs) are contingently issuable shares, as determined by applying the treasury stock method, and are added to average common shares outstanding, resulting in a potential reduction in diluted EPS.

Marketable Securities

The fair values of the equity securities are based on quoted market prices as traded on the exchanges.

Trading securities are recorded at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets with any gains or losses recognized currently in earnings.

Derivatives

We have included gas supply contracts requiring fair value accounting in "Gas supply derivative liabilities, at fair value" in "Current Liabilities" and "Noncurrent Liabilities" in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As these contracts have been entered into for our regulated utility operations, and as commodity costs are recoverable through our purchased gas adjustment (PGA) clauses in the jurisdictions in which we operate, we have recorded the offset to an applicable regulatory asset.

We evaluate all of our gas supply contracts at inception to determine if they meet the definition of a derivative in accordance with accounting guidance, whether any derivative contracts qualify as "normal purchases and normal sales" and would not be subject to fair value accounting requirements, or if they can be designated for hedge accounting purposes.

Subsequent Events

We monitor significant events occurring after the balance sheet date and prior to the issuance of the financial statements to determine the impacts, if any, of events on the financial statements to be issued.