Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2013

Income Taxes Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule Of Components Of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

The components of income tax expense for the years ended October 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 are presented below.

	2013				2012				2011
In thousands	Federal		State		Federal		State		Federal		State
Charged (Credited) to operating income:
Current	$	(3,032)	$	919	$	(29,062)	$	1,857	$	(11,403)	$	4,209
Deferred		67,885		11,829		86,496		10,144		64,806		6,597
Tax Credits:
Utilization		-		-		-		-		184		-
Amortization		(267)		-		(334)		-		(325)		-
Total		64,586		12,748		57,100		12,001		53,262		10,806
Charged (Credited) to other income (expense):
Current		6,049		984		5,636		1,027		3,263		(36)
Deferred		2,225		(646)		2,214		239		4,167		824
Total		8,274		338		7,850		1,266		7,430		788
Total	$	72,860	$	13,086	$	64,950	$	13,267	$	60,692	$	11,594

Schedule Of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of income tax expense at the federal statutory rate to recorded income tax expense for the years ended October 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 is presented below.

In thousands	2013		2012		2011
Federal taxes at 35%	$	77,127	$	69,322	$	65,049
State income taxes, net of federal benefit		8,506		8,624		7,536
Amortization of investment tax credits		(267)		(334)		(325)
Other, net		580		605		26
Total	$	85,946	$	78,217	$	72,286

Schedule Of Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities [Table Text Block]

As of October 31, 2013 and 2012, deferred income taxes consisted of the following temporary differences.

In thousands		2013		2012
Deferred tax assets:
Benefit of loss carryforwards	$	66,087	$	3,092
Employee benefits and compensation		13,834		22,286
Revenue requirement		19,062		10,148
Utility plant		10,386		11,285
Other		12,796		9,173
Total deferred tax assets		122,165		55,984
Valuation allowance		(505)		(505)
Total deferred tax assets, net		121,660		55,479
Deferred tax liabilities:
Utility plant		652,822		523,232
Revenues and cost of gas		21,257		26,816
Equity method investments		38,710		34,092
Deferred costs		59,221		73,744
Other		18,324		8,348
Total deferred tax liabilities		790,334		666,232
Net deferred income tax liabilities	$	668,674	$	610,753

Summary Of Valuation Allowance [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of changes in the deferred tax valuation allowance for the years ended October 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 is presented below.

In thousands		2013		2012		2011
Balance at beginning of year	$	505	$	505	$	1,324
Credited to income tax expense		-		-		(819)
Balance at end of year	$	505	$	505	$	505