Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Commitments and Contingencies
Annual expense under non-cancellable operating lease agreements and long-term propane storage agreement	$ 25,800,000	$ 20,800,000	$ 15,000,000
Minimum future payments under non-cancellable operating lease agreements and long-term propane storage agreement
2014	20,557,000
2015	17,014,000
2016	15,144,000
2017	14,534,000
2018	11,405,000
2019 and thereafter	62,552,000
Total	141,206,000
SMR Product Supply Agreement, Future Minimum Payments, Net Minimum Payments
2014	17,412,000
2015	17,412,000
2016	17,412,000
2017	17,412,000
2018	17,412,000
2019 and thereafter	195,205,000
Total minimum payments	282,265,000
Less: Services element	(107,974,000)
Less: Interest	(84,699,000)
Total SMR liability	89,592,000
Less: Current portion of SMR Liability	(2,479,000)
Long-term portion of SMR Liability	$ 87,113,000	$ 89,592,000