Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Utility Plant
Utility plant in service	$ 4,655,624,000	$ 4,421,937,000
Less accumulated depreciation	1,134,930,000	1,088,331,000
Utility plant in service, net	3,520,694,000	3,333,606,000
Construction work in progress	303,992,000	297,717,000
Plant held for future use	3,155,000	3,155,000
Total utility plant, net	3,827,841,000	3,634,478,000
Other Physical Property at cost, net	368,000	382,000
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	13,847,000	8,063,000
Trade accounts receivable, net	149,082,000	79,210,000
Income taxes receivable	26,404,000	31,065,000
Other receivables	3,401,000	1,988,000
Unbilled utility revenues	24,573,000	24,967,000
Gas in storage	49,751,000	73,929,000
Materials, supplies and merchandise	1,689,000	1,725,000
Gas purchase derivative assets, at fair value	2,001,000	1,834,000
Regulatory assets - current	25,459,000	77,204,000
Prepayments	18,252,000	35,038,000
Deferred income taxes	12,308,000	12,695,000
Other current assets	405,000	338,000
Total current assets	327,172,000	348,056,000
Noncurrent Assets
Equity method investments in non-utility activities	147,457,000	128,469,000
Goodwill	48,852,000	48,852,000
Regulatory assets - noncurrent	169,744,000	169,102,000
Marketable securities, at fair value	3,557,000	2,995,000
Overfunded postretirement asset	48,258,000	28,258,000
Other noncurrent assets	5,651,000	8,017,000
Total noncurrent assets	423,519,000	385,693,000
Total Assets	4,578,900,000	4,368,609,000
Stockholders' equity
Cumulative preferred stock - no par value	0	0
Common stock - no par value	623,319,000	561,644,000
Retained earnings	738,342,000	627,236,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	20,000	(284,000)
Total stockholders' equity	1,361,681,000	1,188,596,000
Long-term debt	1,174,860,000	1,174,857,000
Total capitalization	2,536,541,000	2,363,453,000
Current Liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt	0	100,000,000
Short-term debt	370,000,000	400,000,000
Trade accounts payable	98,380,000	96,281,000
Other accounts payable	34,356,000	43,855,000
Income taxes accrued	9,973,000	0
Accrued interest	26,765,000	28,205,000
Customers' deposits	21,316,000	19,831,000
General taxes accrued	10,820,000	21,454,000
Regulatory liabilities - current	79,439,000	0
Other current liabilities	8,446,000	7,024,000
Total current liabilities	659,495,000	716,650,000
Noncurrent Liabilities
Deferred income taxes	767,273,000	681,369,000
Unamortized federal investment tax credits	1,288,000	1,402,000
Accumulated provision for postretirement benefits	11,973,000	12,042,000
Regulatory liabilities - noncurrent	549,811,000	541,897,000
Conditional cost of removal obligations	27,779,000	27,016,000
Other noncurrent liabilities	24,740,000	24,780,000
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,382,864,000	1,288,506,000
Commitments and Contingencies
Total Capitalization and Liabilities	$ 4,578,900,000	$ 4,368,609,000