SEGMENTS OF BUSINESS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	$ 133,271	$ 122,592	$ 483,472	$ 378,222
Operating Income (Loss)	3,755	(10,593)	66,265	41,386
Depreciation and Amortization	19,290	17,256	38,089	31,664
Interest Charges	6,846	3,420	13,930	8,128
Income Taxes	(9,510)	(11,632)	2,359	(3,860)
Property Additions	76,539	60,899	119,167	101,267
Identifiable Assets	3,006,538		3,006,538		2,924,855
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	142,463	132,301	502,150	398,340
Interest Charges	8,292	4,408	16,859	10,408
Operating Segments [Member] | Gas Utility Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	69,159	66,536	279,704	240,634
Operating Income (Loss)	9,005	8,069	72,445	65,864
Depreciation and Amortization	12,757	12,929	25,433	23,953
Interest Charges	4,292	2,789	8,634	5,750
Income Taxes	2,379	2,269	24,906	23,040
Property Additions	59,067	44,764	91,598	81,806
Identifiable Assets	2,009,849		2,009,849		1,909,126
Operating Segments [Member] | Energy Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	49,818	45,305	177,089	116,364
Operating Income (Loss)	(9,499)	(19,697)	(9,240)	(24,362)
Depreciation and Amortization	66	76	128	149
Interest Charges	63	100	310	228
Income Taxes	(2,891)	(7,901)	(2,530)	(9,420)
Property Additions	237	60	407	71
Identifiable Assets	360,954		360,954		407,062
Operating Segments [Member] | Energy Group [Member] | Wholesale Energy Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	(2,936)	(10,699)	32,436	(4,482)
Operating Income (Loss)	(8,468)	(19,200)	(10,123)	(24,357)
Depreciation and Amortization	46	55	86	106
Interest Charges	(5)	33	116	85
Income Taxes	(2,628)	(7,710)	(3,181)	(9,691)
Property Additions	8	25	10	34
Identifiable Assets	300,680		300,680		331,182
Operating Segments [Member] | Energy Group [Member] | Retail Gas and Other Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	24,875	24,585	76,381	58,698
Operating Income (Loss)	(191)	(160)	1,777	(132)
Depreciation and Amortization	20	21	42	43
Interest Charges	68	67	194	143
Income Taxes	80	(52)	1,016	220
Property Additions	229	35	397	37
Identifiable Assets	34,424		34,424		50,384
Operating Segments [Member] | Energy Group [Member] | Retail Electric Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	27,879	31,419	68,272	62,148
Operating Income (Loss)	(840)	(337)	(894)	127
Income Taxes	(343)	(139)	(365)	51
Identifiable Assets	25,850		25,850		25,496
Operating Segments [Member] | Energy Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	17,034	13,098	31,034	25,500
Operating Income (Loss)	3,993	1,067	2,638	(120)
Depreciation and Amortization	6,232	4,030	12,074	7,116
Income Taxes	(9,193)	(6,128)	(20,241)	(17,688)
Property Additions	16,432	14,949	25,581	17,526
Identifiable Assets	608,549		608,549		578,127
Operating Segments [Member] | Energy Services [Member] | On-site Energy Production [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	14,397	9,965	25,743	19,059
Operating Income (Loss)	3,636	268	2,376	(905)
Depreciation and Amortization	6,165	3,958	11,940	6,970
Interest Charges	2,147	307	4,275	1,710
Income Taxes	(9,404)	(6,466)	(20,429)	(18,030)
Property Additions	16,426	14,949	25,575	17,526
Identifiable Assets	605,781		605,781		576,315
Operating Segments [Member] | Energy Services [Member] | Appliance Service Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	2,637	3,133	5,291	6,441
Operating Income (Loss)	357	799	262	785
Depreciation and Amortization	67	72	134	146
Income Taxes	211	338	188	342
Property Additions	6	0	6	0
Identifiable Assets	2,768		2,768		1,812
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate and Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	6,452	7,362	14,323	15,842
Operating Income (Loss)	256	(32)	422	4
Depreciation and Amortization	235	221	454	446
Interest Charges	1,790	1,212	3,640	2,720
Income Taxes	195	128	224	208
Property Additions	803	1,126	1,581	1,864
Identifiable Assets	390,939		390,939		406,245
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable Assets	1,772		1,772		1,068
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	(9,192)	(9,709)	(18,678)	(20,118)
Interest Charges	(1,446)	(988)	(2,929)	(2,280)
Identifiable Assets	$ (365,525)		$ (365,525)		$ (376,773)