|**Variable Interest Entities**                                                | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
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|**Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary, Disclosures [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Variable Interest Entities                                                    | Variable Interest EntitiesAs ofJuly 31, 2016, we have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary under variable interest entity (VIE) accounting guidance in any of our equity method investments, as presented inNote 13to the condensed consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-Q. Based on our involvement in these investments, we do not have the power to direct the activities of these investments that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and we will continue to apply equity method accounting to these investments.Our maximum loss exposure related to these equity method investments is limited to our equity investment in each entity included in "Equity method investments in non-utility activities" in "Noncurrent Assets" in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As ofJuly 31, 2016andOctober 31, 2015, our investment balances are as follows.In thousandsJuly 31, 2016October 31, 2015Cardinal$14,456$15,083Pine Needle17,15518,396SouthStar41,37141,325Hardy Storage41,75339,706Constitution93,58782,403ACP31,32810,043Total equity method investments in non-utility activities$239,650$206,956We have also reviewed various lease arrangements, contracts to purchase, sell or deliver natural gas and other agreements in which we hold a variable interest. In these cases, we have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of the related VIE because we do not have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, or the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
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|In thousands                                                                  | July 31, 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Cardinal                                                                      | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Pine Needle                                                                   | 17,155                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|SouthStar                                                                     | 41,371                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Hardy Storage                                                                 | 41,753                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Constitution                                                                  | 93,587                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|ACP                                                                           | 31,328                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Total equity method investments in non-utility activities                     | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

X- DefinitionThe entire disclosure for a variable interest entity (VIE), including but not limited to, judgments and assumptions in determining whether to consolidate and in identifying the primary beneficiary, gain (loss) recognized on the initial consolidation of the VIE, terms of arrangements, amounts and classification of the VIE's assets and liabilities, and the entity's maximum exposure to loss.
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