Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015		Jan. 31, 2014
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Operating Revenues (1)	$ 607,271	[1]	$ 657,733	[1]
Cost of Gas (1)	337,201	[1]	396,221	[1]
Margin	270,070		261,512
Operating Expenses:
Operations and maintenance	66,150		60,639
Depreciation	31,893		29,643
General taxes	9,997		9,109
Utility income taxes	56,272		59,802
Total operating expenses	164,312		159,193
Operating Income	105,758		102,319
Other Income (Expense):
Income from equity method investments	8,265		9,941
Non-operating income	630		250
Non-operating expense	(700)		(608)
Income taxes	(3,264)		(3,728)
Total other income (expense)	4,931		5,855
Utility Interest Charges:
Interest on long-term debt	17,489		15,593
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(2,272)		(5,952)
Other	2,494		961
Total utility interest charges	17,711		10,602
Net Income	92,978		97,572
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax:
Unrealized gain (loss) from hedging activities of equity method investments, net of tax of ($600) and $111 for the three months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively	(944)		174
Reclassification adjustment of realized gain from hedging activities of equity method investments included in net income, net of tax of $75 and $88 for the three months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively	117		137
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(827)		311
Comprehensive Income	$ 92,151		$ 97,883
Average Shares of Common Stock:
Basic (in shares)	78,620		76,988
Diluted (in shares)	78,945		77,327
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock:
Basic (usd per share)	$ 1.18		$ 1.27
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 1.18		$ 1.26

[1] See Note 12 for amounts attributable to affiliates.