Financial Instruments & Related Fair Value (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014 MMBTU	Oct. 31, 2013 MMBTU
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Gas Options Total Coverage	29,200,000	25,400,000
Fair Value Measurement Transfers Between Levels Activity	$ 0	$ 0
Derivative Liability	0	0
Derivative Asset, Collateral, Obligation to Return Cash, Offset	0	0
Derivative Liability, Collateral, Right to Reclaim Cash, Offset	0	0
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative Asset	4,898,000	1,834,000
Marketable Securities	3,941,000	3,194,000
Total Recurring Fair Value Assets	8,839,000	5,028,000
Long-term debt, carrying value	1,425,000,000	1,275,000,000
Long-term debt, fair value	1,617,453,000	1,409,892,000
Discount on issuance of notes	570,000	143,000
Current Assets, Gas purchase derivative assets	4,898,000	1,834,000
Gas purchase options	6,162,000	(6,303,000)
Amount Of Gain (Loss) Deferred Under PGA Procedures	6,162,000	(6,303,000)
Percentage Of Annual Gas Purchase Options and All Other Costs Related To Hedging Approved For Recovery Under TIP	1.00%
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Benchmark 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	3,500,000
Accounts Receivable [Member] | Credit Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	5.00%
Money Market Funds [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Marketable Securities	469,000	380,000
Equity Funds [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Marketable Securities	3,472,000	2,814,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative Asset	4,898,000	1,834,000
Total Recurring Fair Value Assets	8,839,000	5,028,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Marketable Securities	469,000	380,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Equity Funds [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Marketable Securities	3,472,000	2,814,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative Asset
Total Recurring Fair Value Assets	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Marketable Securities
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Equity Funds [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Marketable Securities
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative Asset
Total Recurring Fair Value Assets	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Marketable Securities
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Equity Funds [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Marketable Securities