| **Stockholders' Equity**                 | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
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| **Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Stockholders' Equity                     | Stockholders’ EquityCapital StockChanges in common stock for the three months ended January 31, 2015 are as follows.In thousandsShares AmountBalance, October 31, 201478,531 $636,835Issued to participants in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)7 279Issued to participants in the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan126 4,781Issued to participants in the Incentive Compensation Plan (ICP)103 3,935Costs from issuance of common stock  (137)Balance, January 31, 201578,767$645,693Under our effective combined debt and equity shelf registration statement, we established an at-the-market (ATM) equity sales program, including a forward sale component. On January 7, 2015, we entered into separate ATM Equity Offering Sales Agreements (Sales Agreements) with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, in their capacity as agents and/or as principals (Agents). Under the terms of the Sales Agreements, we may issue and sell, through either of the Agents, shares of our common stock, up to an aggregate sales price of $170 million (subject to certain exceptions) during the period ending October 31, 2016.In addition to the issuance and sale of shares by us through the Agents, we may also enter into forward sale agreements (FSAs) with affiliates of the Agents as Forward Purchasers. In connection with each FSA, the Forward Purchasers will, at our request, borrow from third parties and, through the Agents, sell a number of shares of our common stock equal to the number of shares underlying the FSA as its hedge.Under the Sales Agreements, we specify the maximum number of our shares to be sold and the minimum price per share. We will pay each Agent (or, in the case of a FSA, the Forward Purchaser through a reduced initial forward sale price) a commission of 1.5% of the sales price of all shares sold through it as sales agent under the applicable Sales Agreement. The shares offered under the Sales Agreements may be offered, issued and sold in ATM sales through the Agents or offered in connection with one or more FSAs. There were no transactions under the ATM program in the first quarter of 2015. Cash dividends paid per share of common stock for the three months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows.  Three Months 2015 2014Cash dividends paid per share of common stock$.32 $.31Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)Our OCIL is a part of our accumulated OCIL and is comprised of hedging activities from our equity method investments. For further information on these hedging activities by our equity method investments, see Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-Q. Beginning in July 2014, another component of our accumulated OCIL is the allocation of retirement benefits to SouthStar Energy Services, LLC (SouthStar) by its majority member. Changes in each component of accumulated OCIL are presented below for the three months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014.  Changes in Accumulated OCIL(1) Three MonthsIn thousands2015 2014Accumulated OCIL beginning balance, net of tax$(237) $(284)Hedging activities of equity method investments:    OCIL before reclassifications, net of tax(944) 174 Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCIL, net of tax117 137Total current period activity of hedging activities of equity method investments, net of tax(827)311Net current period benefit activities of equity method investments, net of tax—  Accumulated OCIL ending balance, net of tax$(1,064)$27(1) Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to accumulated OCIL.   A reconciliation of the effect on certain line items of net income on amounts reclassified out of each component of accumulated OCIL is presented below for the three months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014. Reclassification Out ofAccumulated OCIL (1) Affected Line Items on CondensedStatements of Operations and Comprehensive Income Three Months In thousands2015 2014 Hedging activities of equity method investments$192 $225 Income from equity method investmentsIncome tax expense(75) (88) Income taxesHedging activities of equity method investments117137  Net benefit activities of equity method investments—   Income from equity method investmentsIncome tax expense—   Income taxesNet benefit activities of equity method investments—    Total reclassification for the period, net of tax$117 $137  (1) Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to accumulated OCIL.  |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure for shareholders' equity comprised of portions attributable to the parent entity and noncontrolling interest, including other comprehensive income. Includes, but is not limited to, balances of common stock, preferred stock, additional paid-in capital, other capital and retained earnings, accumulated balance for each classification of other comprehensive income and amount of comprehensive income.
+ References
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