Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Operating Revenues	$ 1,278,229,000	$ 1,122,780,000	$ 1,433,905,000
Cost of Gas	656,739,000	547,334,000	860,266,000
Margin	621,490,000	575,446,000	573,639,000
Operating Expenses
Operations and maintenance	253,120,000	242,599,000	225,351,000
Depreciation	112,207,000	103,192,000	102,829,000
General taxes	34,635,000	34,831,000	38,380,000
Utility income taxes	77,334,000	69,101,000	64,068,000
Total operating expenses	477,296,000	449,723,000	430,628,000
Operating Income	144,194,000	125,723,000	143,011,000
Other Income (Expense)
Income from equity method investments	26,056,000	23,904,000	24,027,000
Non-operating income	2,839,000	1,288,000	1,762,000
Non-operating expense	(5,122,000)	(1,855,000)	(3,022,000)
Other income (expense) income taxes	(8,612,000)	(9,116,000)	(8,218,000)
Total other income (expense)	15,161,000	14,221,000	14,549,000
Utility Interest Charges
Interest on long-term debt	54,158,000	41,412,000	46,070,000
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(30,975,000)	(25,211,000)	(8,619,000)
Other interest	1,755,000	3,896,000	6,541,000
Total utility interest charges	24,938,000	20,097,000	43,992,000
Net Income	134,417,000	119,847,000	113,568,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax
Unrealized loss from hedging activities of equity method investments, net of tax	(109,000)	(826,000)	(576,000)
Reclassification adjustment of realized gain from hedging activities of equity method investments included in net income, net of tax	130,000	973,000	654,000
Total other comprehensive income	21,000	147,000	78,000
Comprehensive Income	$ 134,438,000	$ 119,994,000	$ 113,646,000
Average Shares of Common Stock
Basic	74,884,000	71,977,000	72,056,000
Diluted	75,333,000	72,278,000	72,266,000
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock
Basic	$ 1.80	$ 1.67	$ 1.58
Diluted	$ 1.78	$ 1.66	$ 1.57