Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Entity [Domain] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Operating Activities
Net Income	$ 27,403	$ 22,815
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	14,518	13,371
Depreciation and accretion included in other costs	3,486	3,447
Deferred income taxes, net	(1,366)	166
Realized gain on commodity contracts/sales of assets/investments	(686)	(420)
Unrealized loss on investments/commodity contracts	(187)	(90)
Employee benefits	601	319
Share-based compensation	947	1,065
Other, net	8	(1)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable and accrued revenue	20,194	36,713
Propane inventory, storage gas and other inventory	4,405	6,074
Increase (Decrease) in Regulatory Assets and Liabilities	12,728	(3,147)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	3,261	3,183
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(8,990)	(22,491)
Income taxes receivable	19,300	3,305
Customer deposits and refunds	(3,748)	(2,658)
Accrued compensation	(3,788)	(2,975)
Other assets and liabilities, net	(315)	(113)
Net cash provided by operating activities	87,771	58,563
Investing Activities
Property, plant and equipment expenditures	(64,719)	(42,882)
Proceeds from sales of assets	49	459
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(20,930)	0
Environmental expenditures	(73)	(79)
Net cash used in investing activities	(85,673)	(42,502)
Financing Activities
Common stock dividends	(7,532)	(7,120)
Purchase of stock for Dividend Reinvestment Plan	417	(26)
Change in cash overdrafts due to outstanding checks	2,367	(806)
Net borrowing (repayment) under line of credit agreements	4,114	(56,990)
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	0	49,975
Repayment of long-term debt	(3,934)	(1,921)
Net cash used in financing activities	(4,568)	(16,888)
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(2,470)	(827)
Cash and Cash Equivalents-Beginning of Period	4,574	3,356
Cash and Cash Equivalents-End of Period	$ 2,104	$ 2,529