Financial Instruments & Related Fair Value (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2013

Financial Instruments And Related Fair Value Tables [Abstract]

Assets And Liabilities Measured And Recorded At Fair Value On Recurring Basis

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 April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements as of April 30, 2013
			Significant
	Quoted Prices		Other		Significant
	in Active		Observable		Unobservable		Total
	Markets		Inputs		Inputs		Carrying
In thousands	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Value
Recurring Fair Value Measurements:
Assets:
Derivatives held for distribution operations	$	4,091	$	-	$	-	$	4,091
Debt and equity securities held as trading securities:
Money markets		335		-		-		335
Mutual funds		2,651		-		-		2,651
Total recurring fair value assets	$	7,077	$	-	$	-	$	7,077

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
Recurring Fair Value Measurements:
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 recurring fair value assets	$	5,441	$	-	$	-	$	5,441

Fair Value By Balance Sheet Grouping

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

		Carrying
In thousands		Amount		Fair Value
As of April 30, 2013	$	975,000	$	1,165,585
As of October 31, 2012		975,000		1,163,227

The following table presents the fair value and balance sheet classification of our financial options for natural gas as of April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012.

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
		Fair Value		Fair Value
In thousands		April 30, 2013		October 31, 2012
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments under Derivative Accounting Standards:
Asset Financial Instruments:
Current Assets - Gas purchase derivative assets (June 2013-January 2014)	$	4,091
Current Assets - Gas purchase derivative assets (December 2012-October 2013)			$	3,153

Impact That Financial Instruments Would Have Had On Statement Of Operations

The following table presents the impact that financial instruments not designated as hedging instruments under derivative accounting standards would have had on theConsolidated Statements ofComprehensive Income for the three months and sixmonths ended April 30, 2013 and 2012, absent the regulatory treatment under our approved PGA procedures.

									Location of Loss
									Recognized through
In thousands		Amount of Loss Recognized on Derivatives and Deferred Under PGA Procedures							PGA Procedures
		Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
		April 30				April 30
		2013		2012		2013		2012
Gas purchase options	$	1,816	$	2,365	$	4,291	$	5,288	Cost of Gas