Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 121,806,000	$ 123,145,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	81,038,000	79,707,000
Amortization of investment tax credits	(260,000)	(122,000)
Allowance for doubtful accounts (provision)	1,094,000	1,929,000
Income from equity method investments	(21,234,000)	(22,500,000)
Distributions of earnings from equity method investments	13,988,000	14,961,000
Deferred income taxes, net	106,218,000	67,292,000
Changes in assets and liabilities
Gas purchase derivatives, at fair value	(793,000)	1,406,000
Receivables	14,873,000	(10,494,000)
Inventories	19,103,000	11,445,000
Amounts due from/to customers	(27,047,000)	48,202,000
Settlement of legal asset retirement obligations	(1,156,000)	(1,137,000)
Overfunded postretirement asset	(57,000)	(22,807,000)
Regulatory asset for postretirement benefits	3,424,000	1,558,000
Other assets	(16,109,000)	15,258,000
Accounts payable	(15,243,000)	(12,461,000)
Provision for postretirement benefits	145,000	607,000
Other liabilities	(13,648,000)	(16,015,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	266,142,000	279,974,000
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Utility construction expenditures	(350,986,000)	(137,591,000)
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(17,131,000)	(5,603,000)
Contributions to equity method investments	(3,566,000)	(6,222,000)
Distributions of capital from equity method investments	10,222,000	8,968,000
Proceeds from sale of property	734,000	885,000
Investments in marketable securities	(687,000)	(466,000)
Other	1,911,000	2,065,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(359,503,000)	(137,964,000)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Borrowings under credit facility	350,000,000	1,451,000,000
Repayments under credit facility	(681,000,000)	(1,423,500,000)
Net borrowings - commercial paper	400,000,000	0
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	100,000,000	200,000,000
Retirement of long-term debt	0	(196,922,000)
Expenses related to issuance of debt	(2,548,000)	(3,924,000)
Issuance of common stock through dividend reinvestment and employee stock plans	16,483,000	15,392,000
Repurchases of common stock	(26,528,000)	(23,004,000)
Dividends paid	(64,068,000)	(61,980,000)
Other	(34,000)	(6,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	92,305,000	(42,944,000)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(1,056,000)	99,066,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	6,777,000	5,619,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	5,721,000	104,685,000
Cash Paid During the Year for
Interest	43,075,000	46,904,000
Income Taxes
Income taxes paid	4,215,000	4,935,000
Income taxes refunded	88,000	1,893,000
Income taxes, net	4,127,000	3,042,000
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities
Accrued construction expenditures	$ 3,384,000	$ 4,937,000