Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Operating Activities
Net Income	$ 87,212	$ 89,796	$ 83,466
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net operating cash:
Depreciation and amortization	65,501	68,973	62,661
Depreciation and accretion included in operations expenses	11,934	11,044	10,228
Deferred income taxes, net	3,413	23,705	26,658
Realized (loss) on sale of assets/commodity contracts	(824)	(7,532)	(9,026)
Unrealized loss (gain) on investments/commodity contracts	(1,916)	1,817	(1,464)
Employee benefits and compensation	342	(1,111)	(53)
Share-based compensation	7,622	6,438	5,945
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable and accrued revenue	2,270	(11,159)	(1,634)
Propane inventory, storage gas and other inventory	293	(7,847)	(9,517)
Regulatory assets/liabilities, net	20,102	(38,671)	(18,464)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	18,689	9,124	(1,520)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(16,795)	2,724	8,285
Income taxes receivable	(1,288)	14,919	(4,575)
Customer deposits and refunds	3,928	664	3,176
Accrued compensation	1,462	(1,231)	1,198
Other assets and liabilities, net	1,367	(2,771)	(4,860)
Net cash provided by operating activities	203,482	158,882	150,504
Investing Activities
Property, plant and equipment expenditures	(188,618)	(128,276)	(186,924)
Proceeds from sale of assets	2,926	3,860	1,033
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(925,034)	(11,766)	(36,371)
Environmental expenditures	(665)	(266)	(761)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,111,391)	(136,448)	(223,023)
Financing Activities
Common stock dividends	(40,009)	(35,147)	(31,537)
Issuance of stock for Dividend Reinvestment Plan	(28)	4,534	15,851
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of expenses	366,417	0	0
Payment, Tax Withholding, Share-based Payment Arrangement	(2,455)	(2,838)	(1,478)
Change in cash overdrafts due to outstanding checks	(301)	955	(1,154)
Net borrowings (repayments) under line of credit agreements	(22,544)	(20,608)	46,647
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	627,011	49,859	59,478
Repayment of long-term debt and finance lease obligation	(21,482)	(17,961)	(13,811)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	906,609	(21,206)	73,996
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(1,300)	1,228	1,477
Other Operating Activities, Cash Flow Statement	170	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents — Beginning of Period	6,204	4,976	3,499
Cash and Cash Equivalents — End of Period	$ 4,904	$ 6,204	$ 4,976