Financial Instruments & Related Fair Value (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2012

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, 2012 and 2011.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements as of October 31, 2012
				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	$	3,153	$	-	$	-	$	3,153
Debt and equity securities held as trading securities:
Money markets		243		-		-		243
Mutual funds		2,045		-		-		2,045
Total fair value assets	$	5,441	$	-	$	-	$	5,441

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

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

The carrying amount and fair value of our long-term debt, which is classified within Level 2,are shown below.

		Carrying
In thousands		Amount		Fair Value
As of October 31, 2012	$	975,000	$	1,163,227
As of October 31, 2011		675,000		831,323

The following table presents the fair value and balance sheet classification of our financial options for natural gas as of October 31, 2012 and 2011.

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
In thousands	2012			2011
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments under Derivative Accounting Standards:
Asset Financial Instruments:
Current Assets - Gas purchase derivative assets (December 2012 - October 2013)	$	3,153
Current Assets - Gas purchase derivative assets (December 2011 - October 2012)			$	2,772

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 theConsolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the twelve months ended October 31, 2012 and 2011, 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
		2012		2011		2012		2011
Gas purchase options	$	8	$	10	$	8	$	10	Cost of Gas