| **Commitments & Contingent Liabilities (Tables)**           | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
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| **Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]**         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| Schedule of Operating Lease Payments                            | Operating lease payments for the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are as follows.In thousands2015 2014 2013Operating lease payments (1)$5,024 $4,701 $4,729(1) Operating lease payments do not include payments for common area maintenance, utilities or tax payments.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases | Future minimum lease obligations for the next five years ending October 31 and thereafter are as follows.In thousands 2016$5,05220174,70620184,60920194,43320204,477Thereafter24,413Total$47,690                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Schedule of Future Unconditional Purchase Obligations           | As of October 31, 2015, future unconditional purchase obligations for the next five years ending October 31 and thereafter are as follows.  Pipeline Gas Supply Gas Supply Telecommunications      and Storage Reservation Purchase  and Information    In thousands Capacity         Fees Commitments Technology     Other     Total        2016 $178,594 $4,577 $65,286 $6,164 $45,577 $300,1982017 163,806 165 89,784 1,639 — 255,3942018 143,728 — 69,569 669 — 213,9662019 132,259 — 69,569 610 — 202,4382020 114,400 — 69,759 — — 184,159Thereafter 516,333 — 707,698 — — 1,224,031Total $1,249,120 $4,742 $1,071,665 $9,082 $45,577 $2,380,186 |

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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of key provisions of an arrangement under which the entity has agreed to purchase goods or services over a period of time greater than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, including the item for which expenditures will be made, minimum quantities, milestones, time period and committed amount.
+ References
No definition available.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of future minimum payments required in the aggregate and for each of the five succeeding fiscal years for operating leases having initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year and the total minimum rentals to be received in the future under noncancelable subleases as of the balance sheet date.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6453985&loc=d3e41502-112717
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of rental expense from operating leases for each period for which an income statement is presented with separate amounts for minimum rentals, contingent rentals, and sublease rentals.  Rental payments under leases with terms of a month or less that were not renewed need not be included.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6453985&loc=d3e41499-112717
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