|**Financial Instruments & Related Fair Value (Tables)**                                                                                                                                       | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
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|**Financial Instruments And Related Fair Value [Abstract]**                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Assets And Liabilities Measured And Recorded At Fair Value On Recurring Basis                                                                                                                 | Recurring Fair Value Measurements as of July 31, 2016In thousandsQuoted Pricesin ActiveMarkets(Level 1)SignificantOtherObservableInputs(Level 2)SignificantUnobservableInputs(Level 3)Effects ofNetting andCash CollateralReceivables /PayablesTotalCarryingValueAssets:Derivatives - gas purchase options held for utility operations$4,231$—$—$—$4,231Debt and equity securities held as trading securities:Money markets605———605Mutual funds4,807———4,807Total fair value assets$9,643$—$—$—$9,643Liabilities:Derivatives - gas supply contracts held for utility operations$—$—$182,900$—$182,900Recurring Fair Value Measurements as of October 31, 2015In thousandsQuoted Pricesin ActiveMarkets(Level 1)SignificantOtherObservableInputs(Level 2)SignificantUnobservableInputs(Level 3)Effects ofNetting andCash CollateralReceivables /PayablesTotalCarryingValueAssets:Derivatives - gas purchase options held for utility operations$1,343$—$—$—$1,343Debt and equity securities held as trading securities:Money markets516———516Mutual funds4,386———4,386Total fair value assets$6,245$—$—$—$6,245The following table sets forth, by level of the fair value hierarchy, our financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as ofJuly 31, 2016andOctober 31, 2015.
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|Recurring Fair Value Measurements as of July 31, 2016                                                                                                                                        
|In thousands                                                                                                                                                                                  | Quoted Pricesin ActiveMarkets(Level 1)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Assets:                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Derivatives - gas purchase options held for utility operations                                                                                                                                | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Debt and equity securities held as trading securities:                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Money markets                                                                                                                                                                                 | 605                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Mutual funds                                                                                                                                                                                  | 4,807                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Total fair value assets                                                                                                                                                                       | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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|Liabilities:                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Derivatives - gas supply contracts held for utility operations                                                                                                                                | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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|Recurring Fair Value Measurements as of October 31, 2015                                                                                                                                     
|In thousands                                                                                                                                                                                  | Quoted Pricesin ActiveMarkets(Level 1)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Assets:                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Derivatives - gas purchase options held for utility operations                                                                                                                                | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Debt and equity securities held as trading securities:                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Money markets                                                                                                                                                                                 | 516                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Mutual funds                                                                                                                                                                                  | 4,386                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Total fair value assets                                                                                                                                                                       | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation                                                                                                        | The following is a reconciliation of the gas supply derivative liabilities that are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy for thethree months and ninemonths endedJuly 31, 2016.In thousandsThree MonthsNine MonthsGas supply derivative liabilities, beginning balance$164,900$—Realized and unrealized losses:Recorded to regulatory assets *18,000182,900Purchases, sales and settlements (net)——Transfer in/out of Level 3——Gas supply derivative liabilities, ending balance$182,900$182,900* Included are the actual costs recorded in "Cost of Gas" in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income due to the confidential nature of contract pricing.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
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|In thousands                                                                                                                                                                                  | Three Months                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Gas supply derivative liabilities, beginning balance                                                                                                                                          | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Realized and unrealized losses:                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Recorded to regulatory assets *                                                                                                                                                               | 18,000                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Purchases, sales and settlements (net)                                                                                                                                                        | —                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Transfer in/out of Level 3                                                                                                                                                                    | —                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Gas supply derivative liabilities, ending balance                                                                                                                                             | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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|* Included are the actual costs recorded in "Cost of Gas" in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income due to the confidential nature of contract pricing.
|Schedule of Other Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Statements of Financial Performance and Financial Position, Location                                                     | The following table presents the impact that our gas purchase options not designated as hedging instruments under derivative accounting standards would have had on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for thethree months and ninemonths endedJuly 31, 2016and2015, absent the regulatory treatment under our approved PGA procedures.Amount of Loss Recognizedon Derivative Instruments and Deferred Under PGA ProceduresLocation of LossRecognized throughPGA ProceduresThree Months Ended  July 31Nine Months Ended  July 31In thousands2016201520162015Gas purchase options$(886)$(1,007)$(4,428)$(3,296)Cost of GasThe following table presents the fair value and balance sheet classification of our gas purchase options and gas supply derivative contracts for natural gas as ofJuly 31, 2016andOctober 31, 2015.Fair Value of Derivative InstrumentsJuly 31,October 31,In thousands20162015Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments under Derivative Accounting Standards:Financial Asset Instruments:Current Assets – Gas purchase derivative assets$4,231$1,343Nonfinancial Liability Instruments:Current Liabilities – Gas supply derivative liabilities33,300Noncurrent Liabilities – Gas supply derivative liabilities149,600                                           
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|                                                                                                                                                                                              | Amount of Loss Recognizedon Derivative Instruments and Deferred Under PGA Procedures                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|                                                                                                                                                                                              | Three Months Ended  July 31                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|In thousands                                                                                                                                                                                  | 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Gas purchase options                                                                                                                                                                          | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Fair Value of Derivative Instruments                                                                                                                                                         
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|                                                                                                                                                                                              | July 31,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|In thousands                                                                                                                                                                                  | 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments under Derivative Accounting Standards:                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Financial Asset Instruments:                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Current Assets – Gas purchase derivative assets                                                                                                                                               | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Nonfinancial Liability Instruments:                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Current Liabilities – Gas supply derivative liabilities                                                                                                                                       | 33,300                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Noncurrent Liabilities – Gas supply derivative liabilities                                                                                                                                    | 149,600                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|Fair Value By Balance Sheet Grouping                                                                                                                                                          | The principal and fair value of our long-term debt, including the current portion, which is classified within Level 2, are shown below.In thousandsPrincipalFair ValueAs of July 31, 2016$1,835,000$2,131,778As of October 31, 20151,575,0001,720,586                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
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|In thousands                                                                                                                                                                                  | Principal                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|As of July 31, 2016                                                                                                                                                                           | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|As of October 31, 2015                                                                                                                                                                        | 1,575,000                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

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