Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2012

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Regulatory Assets [Table Text Block]

Regulatory assets and liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 31, 2012 and 2011are as follows.

In thousands	2012		2011
Regulatory Assets:
Unamortized debt expense	$	13,583	$	11,315
Amounts due from customers		81,626		38,649
Environmental costs *		10,202		9,644
Deferred operations and maintenance expenses *		7,050		7,676
Deferred pipeline integrity expenses *		13,691		7,927
Deferred pension and other retirement benefits costs *		20,139		22,119
Amounts not yet recognized as a component of pension
and other retirement benefit costs		123,290		81,073
Regulatory cost of removal asset		21,129		19,336
Other *		2,394		2,396
Total	$	293,104	$	200,135

Schedule of Regulatory Liabilities [Table Text Block]

Regulatory Liabilities:
Regulatory cost of removal obligations	$	464,334	$	438,605
Amounts due to customers		28		2,617
Deferred income taxes*		25,330		25,731
Total	$	489,692	$	466,953
* Regulatory assets are included in “Other noncurrent assets” in “Noncurrent Assets” and regulatory liabilities are included in “Other noncurrent liabilities” in “Noncurrent Liabilities” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Schedule of Public Utility Property, Plant, and Equipment [Table Text Block]

The classification of total utility plant, net, for the years ended October 31, 2012 and 2011 is presented below.

In thousands	2012		2011
Intangible plant	$	3,374	$	3,377
Other storage plant		118,277		56,064
Transmission plant		866,000		652,069
Distribution plant		2,422,988		2,347,287
General plant		329,867		312,482
Asset retirement cost		10,819		11,156
Contributions in aid of construction		(5,147)		(5,125)
Total utility plant in service		3,746,178		3,377,310
Less accumulated depreciation		(1,036,814)		(974,631)
Total utility plant in service, net		2,709,364		2,402,679
Construction work in progress		388,979		217,832
Plant held for future use		6,743		6,751
Total utility plant, net	$	3,105,086	$	2,627,262

Allowance For Funds Used During Construction [Table Text Block]

AFUDC for the years ended October 31, 2012,2011 and 2010 is presented below.

In thousands	2012	2011	2010
AFUDC	$ 25,211	$ 8,619	$ 9,981

Financing Receivable Detail [Table Text Block]

As of October 31, 2012 and 2011, our trade accounts receivable consisted of the following.

In thousands		2012		2011
Gas receivables	$	55,956	$	55,928
Non-regulated merchandise and service work receivables		2,323		2,454
Allowance for doubtful accounts		(1,579)		(1,347)
Trade accounts receivable	$	56,700	$	57,035

Reconciliation of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of the changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended October 31, 2012, 2011and2010 is presented below.

In thousands		2012		2011		2010
Balance at beginning of year	$	1,347	$	929	$	990
Additions charged to uncollectibles expense		4,584		4,842		4,886
Accounts written off, net of recoveries		(4,352)		(4,424)		(4,947)
Balance at end of year	$	1,579	$	1,347	$	929

Schedule Marketable Securities Contained In Rabbi Trust [Table Text Block]

The composition of these securities as of October 31, 2012and 2011 is as follows.

In thousands	2012				2011
	Cost		Fair Value		Cost		Fair Value
Current trading securities:
Money markets	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-
Mutual funds		134		157		47		52
Total current trading securities		134		157		47		52
Noncurrent trading securities:
Money markets		243		243		217		217
Mutual funds		1,668		1,888		1,107		1,222
Total noncurrent trading securities		1,911		2,131		1,324		1,439
Total trading securities	$	2,045	$	2,288	$	1,371	$	1,491

Schedule of Asset Retirement Obligations [Table Text Block]

The cost of removal obligations recorded in theConsolidated Balance Sheets as of October 31, 2012 and 2011are presented below.

In thousands	2012		2011
Regulatory non-legal AROs	$	464,334	$	438,605
Conditional AROs		28,629		27,395
Total cost of removal obligations	$	492,963	$	466,000

Asset Retirement Obligations Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of the changes in conditional AROs for the year ended October 31, 2012 and 2011 is presented below.

In thousands	2012		2011
Beginning of period	$	27,395	$	23,295
Liabilities incurred during the period		1,705		3,102
Liabilities settled during the period		(2,038)		(1,493)
Accretion		1,570		1,365
Adjustment to estimated cash flows		(3)		1,126
End of period	$	28,629	$	27,395