Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Utility Plant:
Utility plant in service	$ 3,332,302	$ 3,176,312
Less accumulated depreciation	948,926	917,300
Utility plant in service, net	2,383,376	2,259,012
Construction work in progress	94,724	171,901
Plant held for future use	6,751	6,751
Total utility plant, net	2,484,851	2,437,664
Other Physical Property, at cost (net of accumulated depreciation of $768 in 2011 and $729 in 2010)	490	528
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	9,326	5,619
Trade accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,696 in 2011 and $929 in 2010)	112,450	62,370
Income taxes receivable	0	24,856
Other receivables	2,344	2,289
Unbilled utility revenues	21,588	21,337
Inventories:
Gas in storage	79,615	101,734
Materials, supplies and merchandise	2,807	4,547
Gas purchase derivative assets, at fair value	5,599	2,819
Amounts due from customers	1,834	62,336
Prepayments	15,228	39,832
Other current assets	103	101
Total current assets	250,894	327,840
Noncurrent Assets:
Equity method investments in non-utility activities	83,097	80,287
Goodwill	48,852	48,852
Marketable securities, at fair value	1,571	997
Overfunded postretirement asset	39,792	17,342
Regulatory asset for postretirement benefits	63,961	64,775
Unamortized debt expense	10,262	8,576
Regulatory cost of removal asset	18,571	17,825
Other noncurrent assets	55,459	48,589
Total noncurrent assets	321,565	287,243
Total	3,057,800	3,053,275
Stockholders' equity:
Cumulative preferred stock - no par value - 175 shares authorized	0	0
Common stock - no par value - shares authorized: 200,000; shares outstanding: 71,961 in 2011 and 72,282 in 2010	436,293	445,640
Retained earnings	610,620	519,831
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	31	(530)
Total stockholders' equity	1,046,944	964,941
Long-term debt	475,000	671,922
Total capitalization	1,521,944	1,636,863
Current Liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	256,843	60,000
Bank debt	103,500	242,000
Trade accounts payable	63,965	66,019
Other accounts payable	32,283	49,645
Income taxes accrued	15,989	0
Accrued interest	20,494	20,134
Customers' deposits	28,118	25,631
Deferred income taxes	124	4,933
General taxes accrued	9,815	20,100
Amounts due to customers	18,733	0
Other current liabilities	5,696	10,098
Total current liabilities	555,560	498,560
Noncurrent Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes	477,270	429,225
Unamortized federal investment tax credits	1,960	2,145
Accumulated provision for postretirement benefits	15,190	14,805
Cost of removal obligations	449,800	436,072
Other noncurrent liabilities	36,076	35,605
Total noncurrent liabilities	980,296	917,852
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 14)
Total	$ 3,057,800	$ 3,053,275