Financial Instruments & Related Fair Value (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2014 MMBTU	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013 MMBTU
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives Held For Utility Operations	$ 2,001,000		$ 2,001,000		$ 1,834,000
Total trading (fair value)	3,858,000		3,858,000		3,194,000
Total Recurring Fair Value Assets	5,859,000		5,859,000		5,028,000
Long Term Debt Fair Value	1,321,226,000		1,321,226,000		1,409,892,000
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount	1,175,000,000		1,175,000,000		1,275,000,000
Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount	140,000		140,000		143,000
Gas Options Total Coverage	4,600,000				25,400,000
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized on Derivatives	3,297,000	(1,816,000)	7,826,000	(4,291,000)
Amount Of Gain (Loss) Deferred Under PGA Procedures	3,297,000	(1,816,000)	7,826,000	(4,291,000)
Percentage Of Annual Gas Costs Approved For Recovery Under TIP	1.00%
Fair Value Measurement Transfers Between Levels Activity	0	0
Derivative [Line Items]
Gas Purchase Options Current Assets	2,001,000		2,001,000		1,834,000
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	3,100,000		3,100,000
Accounts Receivable [Member] | Credit Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	2.00%
Money markets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total trading (fair value)	474,000		474,000		380,000
Mutual funds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total trading (fair value)	3,384,000		3,384,000		2,814,000
Quoted Prices In Active Markets [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives Held For Utility Operations	2,001,000		2,001,000		1,834,000
Total Recurring Fair Value Assets	5,859,000		5,859,000		5,028,000
Quoted Prices In Active Markets [Member] | Money markets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total trading (fair value)	474,000		474,000		380,000
Quoted Prices In Active Markets [Member] | Mutual funds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total trading (fair value)	3,384,000		3,384,000		2,814,000
Significant Other Observable Inputs [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives Held For Utility Operations	0		0		0
Total Recurring Fair Value Assets	0		0		0
Significant Other Observable Inputs [Member] | Money markets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total trading (fair value)	0		0		0
Significant Other Observable Inputs [Member] | Mutual funds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total trading (fair value)	0		0		0
Significant Unobservable Inputs [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives Held For Utility Operations	0		0		0
Total Recurring Fair Value Assets	0		0		0
Significant Unobservable Inputs [Member] | Money markets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total trading (fair value)	0		0		0
Significant Unobservable Inputs [Member] | Mutual funds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total trading (fair value)	0		0		0
Effects of Netting and Cash Collateral Receivables and Payable [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives Held For Utility Operations	0		0		0
Total Recurring Fair Value Assets	0		0		0
Effects of Netting and Cash Collateral Receivables and Payable [Member] | Money markets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total trading (fair value)	0		0		0
Effects of Netting and Cash Collateral Receivables and Payable [Member] | Mutual funds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total trading (fair value)	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0