Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Operating Activities
Net Income	$ 83,466	$ 71,498	$ 65,153
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net operating cash:
Depreciation and amortization	62,661	58,117	45,900
Depreciation and accretion included in operations expenses	10,228	9,599	8,752
Deferred income taxes, net	26,658	24,709	24,476
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	0	(200)	(7,344)
Realized (loss) on sale of assets/commodity contracts	(9,026)	(6,243)	(4,135)
Unrealized (gain) on investments/commodity contracts	(1,464)	(1,482)	(1,595)
Employee benefits and compensation	(53)	207	1,985
Share-based compensation	5,945	4,829	4,279
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable and accrued revenue	(1,634)	(7,426)	36,489
Propane inventory, storage gas and other inventory	(9,517)	1,709	8,227
Regulatory assets/liabilities, net	(18,464)	(4,973)	(7,812)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(1,520)	2,424	11,115
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	8,285	4,941	(62,021)
Income taxes receivable	(4,575)	7,165	(4,750)
Customer deposits and refunds	3,176	2,238	(1,811)
Accrued compensation	1,198	(2,473)	2,120
Other assets and liabilities, net	(4,860)	(5,723)	(16,064)
Net cash provided by operating activities	150,504	158,916	102,964
Investing Activities
Property, plant and equipment expenditures	(186,924)	(165,511)	(184,727)
Proceeds from sale of assets	1,033	8,080	427
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(36,371)	(22,231)	(23,988)
Proceeds from the sale of discontinued operations	0	200	22,871
Environmental expenditures	(761)	(2,169)	(1,170)
Net cash used in investing activities	(223,023)	(181,631)	(186,587)
Financing Activities
Common stock dividends	(31,537)	(27,161)	(24,693)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	15,851	22,627	(721)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of expenses	0	60,980	0
Payment, Tax Withholding, Share-based Payment Arrangement	(1,478)	(977)	(692)
Change in cash overdrafts due to outstanding checks	(1,154)	(825)	(1,174)
Net borrowings (repayments) under line of credit agreements	46,647	(71,637)	(45,913)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	59,478	89,822	199,648
Repayment of long-term debt and finance lease obligation	(13,811)	(53,600)	(41,936)
Net cash provided by financing activities	73,996	19,229	84,519
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	1,477	(3,486)	896
Cash and Cash Equivalents — Beginning of Period	3,499	6,985	6,089
Cash and Cash Equivalents — End of Period	$ 4,976	$ 3,499	$ 6,985