Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net Income	$ 134,417,000	$ 119,847,000	$ 113,568,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	120,797,000	109,230,000	107,046,000
Allowance for doubtful accounts	25,000	232,000	418,000
Net gain on sale of property	(349,000)	0
Income from equity method investments	(26,056,000)	(23,904,000)	(24,027,000)
Distributions of earnings from equity method investments	22,139,000	19,590,000	22,685,000
Deferred income taxes, net	57,637,000	99,159,000	76,821,000
Changes in assets and liabilities
Gas purchase derivatives, at fair value	1,319,000	(381,000)	47,000
Receivables	(23,327,000)	5,403,000	(3,019,000)
Inventories	(2,059,000)	18,897,000	13,789,000
Settlement of legal asset retirement obligations	(2,389,000)	(2,038,000)	(1,493,000)
Overfunded postretirement asset	(28,258,000)	22,879,000	(5,537,000)
Other assets	47,967,000	(95,582,000)	8,360,000
Accounts payable	2,381,000	4,283,000	(4,085,000)
Provision for postretirement benefits	(25,257,000)	22,628,000	(134,000)
Other liabilities	34,260,000	4,272,000	6,806,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	313,247,000	304,515,000	311,245,000
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Utility capital expenditures	(599,999,000)	(529,576,000)	(243,641,000)
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(30,975,000)	(25,211,000)	(8,619,000)
Contributions to equity method investments	(41,348,000)	(3,566,000)	(6,222,000)
Distributions of capital from equity method investments	4,700,000	5,372,000	3,029,000
Proceeds from sale of property	1,951,000	1,250,000	1,074,000
Investments in marketable securities	(414,000)	(606,000)	(486,000)
Other	2,609,000	3,044,000	2,292,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(663,476,000)	(549,293,000)	(252,573,000)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Borrowings under credit facility	10,000,000	350,000,000	1,723,000,000
Repayments under credit facility	(10,000,000)	(681,000,000)	(1,634,000,000)
Net borrowings - commercial paper	35,000,000	365,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discount	299,856,000	300,000,000	200,000,000
Retirement of long-term debt	0		(256,922,000)
Expenses related to issuance of debt	(3,250,000)	(3,908,000)	(3,902,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of expenses	92,271,000
Issuance of common stock through dividend reinvestment and employee stock plans	24,610,000	22,123,000	20,233,000
Repurchases of common stock	0	(26,528,000)	(23,004,000)
Dividends paid	(92,146,000)	(85,693,000)	(82,913,000)
Other	(8,000)	(34,000)	(6,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	356,333,000	239,960,000	(57,514,000)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	6,104,000	(4,818,000)	1,158,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	1,959,000	6,777,000	5,619,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	8,063,000	1,959,000	6,777,000
Cash Paid During the Year for
Interest	50,275,000	44,571,000	50,136,000
Income Taxes
Income taxes paid	5,760,000	4,770,000	5,649,000
Income taxes refunded	169,000	8,437,000	16,958,000
Income taxes, net	5,591,000	(3,667,000)	(11,309,000)
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities
Accrued construction expenditures	$ 39,389,000	$ 43,643,000	$ 18,055,000