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Financial Instruments Descriptions (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
MMcf
Dec. 31, 2013
General Discussion Of Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities [Abstract]    
Minimum Hedge Percentage Of Anticipated Heating Season Gas 25.00%ato_MinimumHedgePercentageOfAnticipatedHeatingSeasonGas  
Maximum Hedge Percentage Of Anticipated Heating Season Gas 50.00%ato_MaximumHedgePercentageOfAnticipatedHeatingSeasonGas  
Hedge Percentage Of Anticipated Heating Season Gas 37.00%ato_HedgePercentageOfAnticipatedHeatingSeasonGas  
Hedge Volume Of Anticipated Heating Season Gas 28,200ato_HedgeVolumeOfAnticipatedHeatingSeasonGas  
Minimum Length Of Time Hedged In Cash Flow Hedge 1 month  
Maximum Length Of Time Hedged In Cash Flow Hedge 58 months  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Interest Rate Agreements, Realized Gain (Loss), Net of Tax $ (18.9)ato_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingasHedgesInterestRateAgreementsRealizedGainLossNetofTax  
Gain (Loss) On Hedge Ineffectiveness (2.2)ato_GainLossOnHedgeIneffectiveness 5.1ato_GainLossOnHedgeIneffectiveness
Regulated Segments Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate 37.00%ato_RegulatedSegmentsEffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate  
Nonregulated Segment Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate 39.00%ato_NonregulatedSegmentEffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate  
Gain (Loss) On Derivative Instruments Not Designated Hedges Net Pretax 0.9ato_GainLossOnDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedHedgesNetPretax (0.8)ato_GainLossOnDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedHedgesNetPretax
Interest Rate Hedges, Senior Notes 2017 Issuance [Member]    
Derivative [Line Items]    
Notional Amount of Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedge Derivatives 250invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis
= ato_InterestRateHedgesSeniorNotes2017IssuanceMember
 
Anticipated Debt Issuance, Amount 250ato_AnticipatedDebtIssuanceAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis
= ato_InterestRateHedgesSeniorNotes2017IssuanceMember
 
Derivative, Average Forward Interest Rate 3.37%us-gaap_DerivativeAverageForwardInterestRate
/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis
= ato_InterestRateHedgesSeniorNotes2017IssuanceMember
 
Interest Rate Hedges, Senior Notes 2019 Issuance [Member]    
Derivative [Line Items]    
Notional Amount of Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedge Derivatives 450invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis
= ato_InterestRateHedgesSeniorNotes2019IssuanceMember
 
Anticipated Debt Issuance, Amount $ 450ato_AnticipatedDebtIssuanceAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis
= ato_InterestRateHedgesSeniorNotes2019IssuanceMember
 
Derivative, Average Forward Interest Rate 3.78%us-gaap_DerivativeAverageForwardInterestRate
/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis
= ato_InterestRateHedgesSeniorNotes2019IssuanceMember