Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Activities
Net Income		$ 41,140	$ 36,092	$ 32,787
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use		0	6,881	0
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net operating cash:
Depreciation and amortization		29,972	26,316	23,965
Depreciation and accretion included in other costs		6,978	6,577	6,123
Deferred income taxes, net	[1]	20,520	22,235	14,860
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets		340	7,293	854
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Commodity Contracts		(96)	(501)	706
Employee benefits and compensation		1,235	684	1,119
Share-based compensation		1,937	1,958	1,631
Other, net		47	3	(28)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable and accrued revenue		17,097	20,683	(21,244)
Propane inventory, storage gas and other inventory		1,527	4,177	(4,492)
Increase (Decrease) in Regulatory Assets and Liabilities		(3,883)	11,014	(2,328)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(759)	(699)	(1,064)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities		(10,897)	(8,047)	18,824
Income taxes receivable		(4,967)	(15,936)	2,311
Customer deposits and refunds		1,976	(927)	(3,362)
Accrued compensation		(331)	37	837
Other liabilities		(3,972)	(2,944)	(104)
Net cash provided by operating activities		105,142	79,284	72,931
Investing Activities
Property, plant and equipment expenditures		(144,618)	(97,164)	(97,120)
Increase (Decrease) in Intangible Assets, Current		0	14	0
Proceeds from sale of assets		164	10,797	199
Proceeds from sale of investments		0	0	2,300
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(20,930)	0	(20,201)
Environmental expenditures		(174)	(233)	41
Net cash used by investing activities		(165,558)	(86,586)	(114,781)
Financing Activities
Common stock dividends		(15,924)	(13,887)	(13,081)
Issuance (Purchase) of stock for Dividend Reinvestment Plan		813	(165)	(1,342)
Change in cash overdrafts due to outstanding checks		2,450	(921)	(1,666)
Net borrowing (repayment) under line of credit agreements		82,178	(16,513)	46,133
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		0	49,975	26,766
Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligation		(10,820)	(9,969)	(14,957)
Other		0	0	(8)
Net cash provided by financing activities		58,697	8,520	41,845
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents		(1,719)	1,218	(5)
Cash and Cash Equivalents — Beginning of Period		4,574	3,356
Cash and Cash Equivalents — End of Period		$ 2,855	$ 4,574	$ 3,356

[1] Includes $2.1 million, $2.6 million, and $2.1 million of deferred state income taxes for the years 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.