Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets - current	$ 28,715	$ 77,204
Regulatory assets - noncurrent	170,624	169,102
Regulatory assets, Total	199,339	246,306
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities - current	61,956	0
Regulatory liabilities - noncurrent	553,030	541,897
Regulatory liabilities, Total	614,986	541,897
Amount Due To Customers [Member]
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities - current	61,956	0
Regulatory Cost of Removal [Member]
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities - noncurrent	502,557	493,111
Deferred Income Taxes [Member]
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities - noncurrent	50,345	48,647
Amounts Not Yet Recognized As Component Of Pension and Other Post Retirement Benefit Costs [Member]
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities - noncurrent	128	139
Unamortized Debt Expense [Member]
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets - current	1,383	1,274
Regulatory assets - noncurrent	13,524	14,149
Amounts Due From Customers [Member]
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets - current	16,304	66,321
Environmental Costs [Member]
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets - current	1,558	1,480
Regulatory assets - noncurrent	6,801	7,936
Deferred Operations And Maintenance Expenses [Member]
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets - current	916	739
Regulatory assets - noncurrent	4,911	5,637
Deferred Pipeline Integrity Expenses [Member]
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets - current	3,470	3,149
Regulatory assets - noncurrent	22,420	16,300
Deferred Pension and Other Retirement Benefit Costs [Member]
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets - current	2,769	2,768
Regulatory assets - noncurrent	19,488	17,968
Amounts Not Yet Recognized As Component Of Pension and Other Post Retirement Benefit Costs [Member]
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets - noncurrent	76,371	80,604
Regulatory Cost of Removal [Member]
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets - noncurrent	24,213	22,974
Robeson LNG Development Cost [Member]
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets - current	382	382
Regulatory assets - noncurrent	1,140	1,426
Other [Member]
Regulatory Asset [Line Items]
Regulatory assets - current	1,933	1,091
Regulatory assets - noncurrent	$ 1,756	$ 2,108