Financial Instruments & Related Fair Value (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2011

Financial Instruments And Related Fair Value Tables [Abstract]

Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]

The following table sets forth, by level of the fair value hierarchy, our financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of October 31, 2011 and 2010.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements as of October 31, 2011
				Significant
		Quoted Prices		Other		Significant
		in Active		Observable		Unobservable		Total
		Markets		Inputs		Inputs		Carrying
In thousands		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Value
Assets:
Derivatives held for distribution operations	$	2,772	$	-	$	-	$	2,772
Debt and equity securities held as trading securities:
Money markets		217		-		-		217
Mutual funds		1,274		-		-		1,274
Total fair value assets	$	4,263	$	-	$	-	$	4,263

Recurring Fair Value Measurements as of October 31, 2010
				Significant
		Quoted Prices		Other		Significant
		in Active		Observable		Unobservable		Total
		Markets		Inputs		Inputs		Carrying
In thousands		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Value
Assets:
Derivatives held for distribution operations	$	2,819	$	-	$	-	$	2,819
Debt and equity securities held as trading securities:
Money markets		254		-		-		254
Mutual funds		748		-		-		748
Total fair value assets	$	3,821	$	-	$	-	$	3,821

Schedule Long Term Debt Fair Value Carrying Amount [Table Text Block]

The carrying amount and fair value of our long-term debt, including the current portion, are shown below.

		Carrying
In thousands		Amount		Fair Value
As of October 31, 2011	$	675,000	$	831,323
As of October 31, 2010		731,922		890,277

Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table Text Block]

The following table presents the fair value and balance sheet classification of our financial options for natural gas as of October 31, 2011 and 2010.

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
		Fair Value		Fair Value
In thousands	October 31, 2011		October 31, 2010
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments under Derivative Accounting Standards:
Asset Financial Instruments
Current Assets - Gas purchase derivative assets (December 2011 - October 2012)	$	2,772
Current Assets - Gas purchase derivative assets (December 2010 - November 2011)			$	2,819

Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings [Table Text Block]

The following table presents the impact that financial instruments not designated as hedging instruments under derivative accounting standards would have had on our consolidated statements of income for the twelve months ended October 31, 2011 and 2010, absent the regulatory treatment under our approved PGA procedures.

									Location of Loss
	Amount of Loss Recognized				Amount of Loss Deferred				Recognized through
In thousands	on Derivative Instruments				Under PGA Procedures				PGA Procedures
		Twelve Months Ended				Twelve Months Ended
		October 31				October 31
		2011		2010		2011		2010
Gas purchase options	$	10	$	62,516	$	10	$	62,516	Cost of Gas