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Debt (Details) - USD ($)
 12 Months Ended
Oct. 29, 2016
Oct. 25, 2016
Oct. 20, 2016
Oct. 05, 2016
Oct. 15, 2014
Sep. 30, 2016
Sep. 30, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]              
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount           $ 2,460,000,000 $ 2,460,000,000
Debt Issuance Costs, Net           16,951,000 17,873,000
Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount           4,270,000 4,612,000
Current maturities of long-term debt           250,000,000 0
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities           2,188,779,000 2,437,515,000
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity           1,300,000,000  
Long-term Debt, Other Disclosures [Abstract]              
Commercial Paper           $ 829,800,000 $ 457,900,000
Commercial Paper Weighted Average Interest Rate           0.81% 0.42%
Term Loan Agreement, Maximum Borrowing Capacity           $ 200,000,000  
Term Loan Agreement, Incremental Borrowings           1,000,000  
Term Loan Agreement, Amount Outstanding           0  
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]              
2017           250,000,000  
2018           0  
2019           450,000,000  
2020           0  
2021           0  
Thereafter           $ 1,760,000,000  
Subsequent Event [Member]              
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity       $ 1,600,000,000      
Subsequent Event, Date Oct. 29, 2016 Oct. 25, 2016 Oct. 20, 2016 Oct. 05, 2016      
Subsequent Event, Description
AEH entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the Agreement) with CenterPoint Energy Services, Inc., a subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. to sell all of the equity interests of AEM for $40.0 million plus working capital at the date of closing. No material gain or loss is currently anticipated in connection with the closing of this transaction. We expect this transaction to close during the second quarter of fiscal 2017.
the uncommitted $25 million 364-day bilateral credit facility was renewed through July 31, 2017.
the Society of Actuaries released its annually-updated mortality improvement scale for pension plans incorporating new assumptions surrounding life expectancies in the United States.  As of September 30, 2016, we updated our assumed mortality rates to incorporate the updated mortality table.
we amended our existing $1.25 billion unsecured credit facility (the five-year unsecured credit facility) which increased the committed loan to $1.5 billion and extended the facility through September 25, 2021.
     
Required by Covenant [Member]              
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Ratio of Total Debt to Total Capital           70.00%  
Actual [Member]              
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Ratio of Total Debt to Total Capital           50.00%  
Unregulated Operation [Member]              
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity           $ 32,800,000  
Minimum [Member] | Required by Covenant [Member]              
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Excess of Debt           15,000,000  
Maximum [Member] | Required by Covenant [Member]              
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Excess of Debt           $ 100,000,000  
Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]              
Debt Instrument [Line Items]              
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage         4.95%    
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount         $ 500,000,000    
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount         $ 500,000,000    
Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]              
Debt Instrument [Line Items]              
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage           6.35% 6.35%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date           Jun. 15, 2017 Jun. 15, 2017
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount           $ 250,000,000 $ 250,000,000
Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member]              
Debt Instrument [Line Items]              
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage           8.50% 8.50%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date           Mar. 15, 2019 Mar. 15, 2019
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount           $ 450,000,000 $ 450,000,000
Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2034 [Member]              
Debt Instrument [Line Items]              
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage           5.95% 5.95%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date           Oct. 15, 2034 Oct. 15, 2034
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount           $ 200,000,000 $ 200,000,000
Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2041 [Member]              
Debt Instrument [Line Items]              
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage           5.50% 5.50%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date           Jun. 15, 2041 Jun. 15, 2041
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount           $ 400,000,000 $ 400,000,000
Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2043 [Member]              
Debt Instrument [Line Items]              
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage           4.15% 4.15%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date           Jan. 15, 2043 Jan. 15, 2043
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount           $ 500,000,000 $ 500,000,000
Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2044 [Member]              
Debt Instrument [Line Items]              
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage         4.125% 4.125% 4.125%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date           Oct. 15, 2044 Oct. 15, 2044
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount         $ 500,000,000 $ 500,000,000 $ 500,000,000
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Effective Percentage         4.086%    
Net Proceeds From Issuance of Debt         $ 494,000,000    
Medium Term Notes Due 2025 [Member]              
Debt Instrument [Line Items]              
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage           6.67% 6.67%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date           Dec. 15, 2025 Dec. 15, 2025
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount           $ 10,000,000 $ 10,000,000
Unsecured Debentures Due 2028 [Member]              
Debt Instrument [Line Items]              
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage           6.75% 6.75%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date           Jul. 15, 2028 Jul. 15, 2028
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount           $ 150,000,000 $ 150,000,000
Commercial Paper [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Five Year Unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement [Member]              
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity           1,250,000,000  
Line of Credit Facility, Accordion Feature           250,000,000  
Commercial Paper [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Five Year Unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]              
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity       $ 1,500,000,000      
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity with Accordion Feature       $ 1,750,000,000      
Uncommitted Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Five Year Unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement [Member]              
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Line Of Credit Facility Amount Outstanding           0  
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity           420,200,000  
Uncommitted Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | Uncommitted Revolving Credit Facility and Promissory Note (AEH to AEC) [Member]              
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity           500,000,000  
Line Of Credit Facility Amount Outstanding           197,000,000  
Uncommitted Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Unregulated Operation [Member] | Uncommitted Revolving Credit Facility and Promissory Note (AEC to AEH) [Member]              
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity           500,000,000  
Line Of Credit Facility Amount Outstanding           $ 0  
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate           3.00%  
Uncommitted Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Unregulated Operation [Member] | $25 Million Uncommitted Facility [Member]              
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity           $ 25,000,000  
Unsecured Revolving Credit Note [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | $10 Million Revolving Credit Note [Member]              
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity           10,000,000  
Line Of Credit Facility Amount Outstanding           $ 0  
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate           1.50%  
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount           $ 5,900,000  
Unsecured Revolving Credit Note [Member] | Unregulated Operation [Member] | $15 Million Revolving Credit Note [Member]              
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity           15,000,000  
Unsecured Loan Agreement [Member] | Regulated Operation [Member] | $25 Million Bank Loan Agreement [Member]              
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity           25,000,000  
Line Of Credit Facility Amount Outstanding           $ 0