Financial Instruments & Related Fair Value (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2014 MMBTU	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013 MMBTU
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long gas purchase options providing total coverage	10,800,000				25,400,000
Fair value measurement transfers between levels activity	$ 0	$ 0
ASSETS
Derivatives held for utility operations	1,023,000		1,023,000		1,834,000
Debt and equity securities held as trading securities	3,950,000		3,950,000		3,194,000
Total fair value assets	4,973,000		4,973,000		5,028,000
Long-term debt, carry amount	1,175,000,000		1,175,000,000		1,275,000,000
Long-term debt, fair value	1,327,019,000		1,327,019,000		1,409,892,000
Discount on issuance of notes	139,000		139,000		143,000
Current Assets, Gas purchase derivative assets	1,023,000		1,023,000		1,834,000
Gas purchase options	(515,000)	(829,000)	7,311,000	(5,120,000)
Amount Of Gain (Loss) Deferred Under PGA Procedures	(515,000)	(829,000)	7,311,000	(5,120,000)
Percentage of annual gas costs approved for recovery under TIP	1.00%
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, description			“Trade accounts receivable” in “Current Assets” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
Concentration risk, customer			We are exposed to credit risk as a result of transactions for the purchase and sale of natural gas and related products and services and management agreements of our transportation capacity, storage capacity and supply contracts with major companies in the energy industry and within our utility operations serving industrial, commercial, power generation, residential and municipal energy consumers. These transactions principally occur in the eastern, gulf coast and mid-west regions of the United States. We believe that this geographic concentration does not contribute significantly to our overall exposure to credit risk. Credit risk associated with trade accounts receivable for the natural gas distribution segment is mitigated by the large number of individual customers and diversity in our customer base. We enter into contracts with third parties to buy and sell natural gas. A significant portion of these transactions are with, or are associated with, energy producers, utility companies, off-system municipalities and natural gas marketers.
Accounts Receivable [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk amount	2,800,000		2,800,000
Accounts Receivable [Member] | Credit Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	4.00%
Money markets [Member]
ASSETS
Debt and equity securities held as trading securities	474,000		474,000		380,000
Mutual funds [Member]
ASSETS
Debt and equity securities held as trading securities	3,476,000		3,476,000		2,814,000
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member]
ASSETS
Derivatives held for utility operations	1,023,000		1,023,000		1,834,000
Total fair value assets	4,973,000		4,973,000		5,028,000
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member] | Money markets [Member]
ASSETS
Debt and equity securities held as trading securities	474,000		474,000		380,000
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member] | Mutual funds [Member]
ASSETS
Debt and equity securities held as trading securities	3,476,000		3,476,000		2,814,000
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
ASSETS
Derivatives held for utility operations
Total fair value assets	0		0		0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Money markets [Member]
ASSETS
Debt and equity securities held as trading securities
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Mutual funds [Member]
ASSETS
Debt and equity securities held as trading securities
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
ASSETS
Derivatives held for utility operations
Total fair value assets	0		0		0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Money markets [Member]
ASSETS
Debt and equity securities held as trading securities
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Mutual funds [Member]
ASSETS
Debt and equity securities held as trading securities