Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Operating Activities
Net Income	$ 27,622	$ 26,056	$ 15,897
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net operating cash:
Depreciation and amortization	20,153	18,536	11,588
Depreciation and accretion included in other costs	5,116	4,364	2,789
Deferred income taxes, net	17,714	13,389	10,065
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	(453)	113	47
Unrealized (gain) loss on commodity contracts	(41)	(116)	1,606
Unrealized gain on investments	(282)	(181)	(212)
Employee benefits and compensation	(723)	(757)	1,217
Share based compensation	1,450	1,155	1,306
Other, net	(50)	(17)	(40)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Sale (purchase) of investments	660	(297)	(146)
Accounts receivable and accrued revenue	14,979	(20,467)	(13,652)
Propane inventory, storage gas and other inventory	(2,484)	151	2,597
Regulatory assets	(324)	1,677	(1,842)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(345)	1,157	(757)
Other deferred charges	179	(156)	(83)
Long-term receivables	76	286	191
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(13,612)	15,853	10,185
Income taxes receivable	(237)	(3,761)	5,020
Accrued interest	(152)	(97)	66
Customer deposits and refunds	5,096	2,038	(75)
Accrued compensation	19	1,339	(2,066)
Regulatory liabilities	(2,527)	665	1,071
Other liabilities	(713)	187	1,074
Net cash provided by operating activities	71,121	61,118	45,846
Investing Activities
Property, plant and equipment expenditures	(47,037)	(45,637)	(26,703)
Cash acquired in the merger, net of cash paid			359
Proceeds from sale of assets	937	113	53
(Purchases of) proceeds from investments	(1,091)	(3,108)	3,519
Environmental expenditures	(645)	(290)	(418)
Net cash used by investing activities	(47,836)	(48,922)	(23,190)
Financing Activities
Common stock dividends	(11,663)	(11,013)	(7,957)
(Purchase) issuance of stock for Dividend Reinvestment Plan	(1,244)	568	392
Change in cash overdrafts due to outstanding checks	91	3,255	835
Net borrowing (repayment) under line of credit agreements	(241)	1,579	(3,812)
Other short-term borrowing	(29,100)	29,100
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	29,000
Repayment of long-term debt	(9,134)	(36,860)	(10,907)
Net cash used in financing activities	(22,291)	(13,371)	(21,449)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	994	(1,175)	1,207
Cash and Cash Equivalents - Beginning of Period	1,643	2,818	1,611
Cash and Cash Equivalents - End of Period	$ 2,637	$ 1,643	$ 2,818