Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net Income	$ 119,847,000	$ 113,568,000	$ 141,954,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	109,230,000	107,046,000	102,776,000
Amortization of investment tax credits	(335,000)	(141,000)	(277,000)
Allowance for doubtful accounts	232,000	418,000	(61,000)
Gain on sale of interest in equity method investment, net of tax.	0	0	(30,286,000)
Net gain on sale of property	0	0	(89,000)
Income from equity method investments	(23,904,000)	(24,027,000)	(28,854,000)
Distributions of earnings from equity method investments	19,590,000	22,685,000	28,834,000
Deferred income taxes, net	99,494,000	76,962,000	21,831,000
Changes in assets and liabilities
Gas purchase derivatives, at fair value	(381,000)	47,000	(30,863,000)
Receivables	5,403,000	(3,019,000)	23,493,000
Inventories	18,897,000	13,789,000	2,565,000
Amounts due from/to customers	(45,566,000)	26,304,000	133,794,000
Settlement of legal asset retirement obligations	(2,038,000)	(1,493,000)	(1,141,000)
Overfunded postretirement asset	22,879,000	(5,537,000)	(17,342,000)
Regulatory asset for postretirement benefits	(42,217,000)	(16,298,000)	12,130,000
Other assets	(10,388,000)	972,000	18,184,000
Accounts payable	4,283,000	(4,085,000)	(3,007,000)
Provision for postretirement benefits	22,628,000	(134,000)	(16,836,000)
Other liabilities	6,861,000	4,188,000	3,706,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	304,515,000	311,245,000	360,511,000
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Utility capital expenditures	(529,576,000)	(243,641,000)	(199,059,000)
Allowance for funds used during construction	(25,211,000)	(8,619,000)	(9,981,000)
Contributions to equity method investments	(3,566,000)	(6,222,000)	0
Distributions of capital from equity method investments	5,372,000	3,029,000	18,260,000
Proceeds from sale of interest in equity method investment	0	0	57,500,000
Proceeds from sale of property	1,250,000	1,074,000	1,653,000
Investments in marketable securities	(606,000)	(486,000)	(498,000)
Other	3,044,000	2,292,000	3,554,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(549,293,000)	(252,573,000)	(128,571,000)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Borrowings under credit facility	350,000,000	1,723,000,000	1,058,000,000
Repayments under credit facility	(681,000,000)	(1,634,000,000)	(1,122,000,000)
Net borrowings - commercial paper	365,000,000	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	300,000,000	200,000,000	0
Retirement of long-term debt	0	(256,922,000)	(60,590,000)
Expenses related to issuance of debt	(3,908,000)	(3,902,000)	(46,000)
Issuance of common stock through dividend reinvestment and employee stock plans	22,123,000	20,233,000	19,099,000
Repurchases of common stock	(26,528,000)	(23,004,000)	(47,295,000)
Dividends paid	(85,693,000)	(82,913,000)	(80,255,000)
Other	(34,000)	(6,000)	(792,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	239,960,000	(57,514,000)	(233,879,000)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(4,818,000)	1,158,000	(1,939,000)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	6,777,000	5,619,000	7,558,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	1,959,000	6,777,000	5,619,000
Cash Paid During the Year for
Interest	44,571,000	50,136,000	56,554,000
Income Taxes
Income taxes paid	4,770,000	5,649,000	32,305,000
Income taxes refunded	8,437,000	16,958,000	1,845,000
Income taxes, net	(3,667,000)	(11,309,000)	30,460,000
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities
Accrued construction expenditures	43,643,000	18,055,000	3,225,000
Guaranty	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,234,000