Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2012

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The consolidated financial statements have not been audited. We have prepared the unaudited 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 in the United States of America are omitted in this interim report under these SEC rules and regulations. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes included in our Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2011.

Seasonality

The unaudited consolidated financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of financial position at July 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011, the results of operations for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2012 and 2011, cash flows for the nine months ended July 31, 2012 and 2011 and stockholders' equity for the nine months ended July 31, 2012 and 2011. Our business is seasonal in nature. The results of operations for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2012 do not necessarily reflect the results to be expected for the full year.

Use of Estimates

We make estimates and assumptions when preparing the consolidated financial statements. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from estimates.

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.

Inter-company transactions have been eliminated in consolidation where appropriate; however, we have not eliminated inter-company profit on sales to affiliates and costs from affiliates in accordance with accounting regulations prescribed under rate-based regulation.

Fair Value Measurements

Our financial assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value. Theyconsist primarilyofderivatives that are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets in accordance with derivativeaccounting standards and marketable securities that are classified as trading securities and are held in rabbi trusts established for our deferred compensation plans.

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability inan 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 thevaluation technique. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated or generallyunobservable. We primarily apply the market approach for fair value measurements andendeavor to utilize the best available information. Accordingly, we use valuation techniques thatmaximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

Marketable Securities

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

Trading securities are recorded at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets with any gains or losses recognized currently in earnings.

Earnings Per Share

We compute basic earnings per share (EPS) using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Shares of common stock to be issued under approved incentive compensation plans are contingently issuable shares, as determined by applying the treasury stock method, and are included in our calculation of diluted EPS.

Subsequent Events Policy Text Block

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.

ConsolidationVariableInterestEntityPolicy

we have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary, as defined by the authoritative guidance related to consolidations, in any of our equity method investments, as discussed in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-Q. Based on our involvement in these investments, we do not have the power to direct the activities of these investments that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance.

We have also reviewed various lease arrangements, contracts to purchase, sell or deliver natural gas and other agreements in which we hold a variable interest. In these cases, we have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of the related VIE because we do not have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance, or the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.