Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2013

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, 2013 and 2012are as follows.

In thousands	2013		2012
Regulatory Assets:
Unamortized debt expense	$	15,423	$	13,583
Amounts due from customers		66,321		81,626
Environmental costs		9,416		10,202
Deferred operations and maintenance expenses		6,376		7,050
Deferred pipeline integrity expenses		19,449		13,691
Deferred pension and other retirement benefits costs		20,736		20,139
Amounts not yet recognized as a component of pension
and other retirement benefit costs		80,604		123,290
Regulatory cost of removal asset		22,974		21,129
Robeson LNG development costs		1,808		-
Other		3,199		2,394
Total	$	246,306	$	293,104

Schedule of Regulatory Liabilities [Table Text Block]

Regulatory Liabilities:
Regulatory cost of removal obligations	$	493,111	$	464,334
Amounts due to customers		-		28
Deferred income taxes		48,647		25,330
Amounts not yet recognized as a component of pension
and other retirement costs		139		-
Total	$	541,897	$	489,692

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

The classification of total utility plant, net, for the years ended October 31, 2013 and 2012 is presented below.

In thousands	2013		2012
Intangible plant	$	3,374	$	3,374
Other storage plant		171,349		118,277
Transmission plant		1,403,829		866,000
Distribution plant		2,505,160		2,422,988
General plant		335,847		329,867
Asset retirement cost		7,565		10,819
Contributions in aid of construction		(5,187)		(5,147)
Total utility plant in service		4,421,937		3,746,178
Less accumulated depreciation		(1,088,331)		(1,036,814)
Total utility plant in service, net		3,333,606		2,709,364
Construction work in progress		297,717		388,979
Plant held for future use		3,155		6,743
Total utility plant, net	$	3,634,478	$	3,105,086

Allowance For Funds Used During Construction [Table Text Block]

AFUDC for the years ended October 31, 2013,2012 and 2011 is presented below.

In thousands	2013	2012	2011
AFUDC	$ 30,975	$ 25,211	$ 8,619

Financing Receivable Detail [Table Text Block]

As of October 31, 2013 and 2012, our trade accounts receivable consisted of the following.

In thousands		2013		2012
Gas receivables	$	78,540	$	55,956
Non-regulated merchandise and service work receivables		2,274		2,323
Allowance for doubtful accounts		(1,604)		(1,579)
Trade accounts receivable	$	79,210	$	56,700

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, 2013, 2012and2011 is presented below.

In thousands		2013		2012		2011
Balance at beginning of year	$	1,579	$	1,347	$	929
Additions charged to uncollectibles expense		5,314		4,584		4,842
Accounts written off, net of recoveries		(5,289)		(4,352)		(4,424)
Balance at end of year	$	1,604	$	1,579	$	1,347

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

The composition of these securities as of October 31, 2013and 2012 is as follows.

In thousands	2013				2012
	Cost		Fair Value		Cost		Fair Value
Current trading securities:
Money markets	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-
Mutual funds		134		199		134		157
Total current trading securities		134		199		134		157
Noncurrent trading securities:
Money markets		380		380		243		243
Mutual funds		1,995		2,615		1,668		1,888
Total noncurrent trading securities		2,375		2,995		1,911		2,131
Total trading securities	$	2,509	$	3,194	$	2,045	$	2,288

Schedule of Asset Retirement Obligations [Table Text Block]

The cost of removal obligations recorded in theConsolidated Balance Sheets as of October 31, 2013 and 2012are presented below.

In thousands	2013		2012
Regulatory non-legal AROs	$	493,111	$	464,334
Conditional AROs		27,016		28,629
Total cost of removal obligations	$	520,127	$	492,963

Asset Retirement Obligations Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of the changes in conditional AROs for the year ended October 31, 2013 and 2012 is presented below.

In thousands	2013		2012
Beginning of period	$	28,629	$	27,395
Liabilities incurred during the period		2,052		1,705
Liabilities settled during the period		(2,389)		(2,038)
Accretion		1,641		1,570
Adjustment to estimated cash flows		(2,917)		(3)
End of period	$	27,016	$	28,629