|**Financial Instruments & Related Fair Value (Tables)**                                                               | 3 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                                         | The following table sets forth, by level of the fair value hierarchy, our financial assets that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as ofJanuary 31, 2015andOctober 31, 2014.Recurring Fair Value Measurements as of January 31, 2015In thousandsQuoted Pricesin ActiveMarkets(Level 1)SignificantOtherObservableInputs(Level 2)SignificantUnobservableInputs(Level 3)Effects ofNetting andCash CollateralReceivables /PayablesTotalCarryingValueAssets:Derivatives held for utility operations$1,013$—$—$—$1,013Debt and equity securities held as trading securities:Money markets524———524Mutual funds4,217———4,217Total fair value assets$5,754$—$—$—$5,754Recurring Fair Value Measurements as of October 31, 2014In thousandsQuoted Pricesin ActiveMarkets(Level 1)SignificantOtherObservableInputs(Level 2)SignificantUnobservableInputs(Level 3)Effects ofNetting andCash CollateralReceivables /PayablesTotalCarryingValueAssets:Derivatives held for utility operations$4,898$—$—$—$4,898Debt and equity securities held as trading securities:Money markets469———469Mutual funds3,472———3,472Total fair value assets$8,839$—$—$—$8,839
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|Recurring Fair Value Measurements as of January 31, 2015                                                             
|In thousands                                                                                                          | Quoted Pricesin ActiveMarkets(Level 1)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Assets:                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Derivatives held for utility operations                                                                               | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Debt and equity securities held as trading securities:                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Money markets                                                                                                         | 524                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Mutual funds                                                                                                          | 4,217                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Total fair value assets                                                                                               | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
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|Recurring Fair Value Measurements as of October 31, 2014                                                             
|In thousands                                                                                                          | Quoted Pricesin ActiveMarkets(Level 1)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Assets:                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Derivatives held for utility operations                                                                               | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Debt and equity securities held as trading securities:                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Money markets                                                                                                         | 469                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Mutual funds                                                                                                          | 3,472                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Total fair value assets                                                                                               | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Fair Value By Balance Sheet Grouping                                                                                  | The following table presents the fair value and balance sheet classification of our financial options for natural gas as ofJanuary 31, 2015andOctober 31, 2014.Fair Value of Derivative InstrumentsJanuary 31,October 31,In thousands20152014Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments under Derivative Accounting Standards:Asset Financial Instruments:Current Assets – Gas purchase derivative assets (March 2015 - January 2016)$1,013Current Assets – Gas purchase derivative assets (December 2014 - November 2015)$4,898The carrying amount and fair value of our long-term debt, including the current portion, which is classified within Level 2, are shown below.In thousandsCarryingAmount(1)Fair ValueAs of January 31, 2015$1,425,000$1,711,196As of October 31, 20141,425,0001,617,453(1)Excludes discount on issuance of notes of $564 and $570 as of January 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014, respectively.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|Fair Value of Derivative Instruments                                                                                 
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|                                                                                                                      | January 31,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|In thousands                                                                                                          | 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments under Derivative Accounting Standards:                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Asset Financial Instruments:                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Current Assets – Gas purchase derivative assets (March 2015 - January 2016)                                           | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Current Assets – Gas purchase derivative assets (December 2014 - November 2015)                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
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|In thousands                                                                                                          | CarryingAmount(1)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|As of January 31, 2015                                                                                                | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|As of October 31, 2014                                                                                                | 1,425,000                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|(1)Excludes discount on issuance of notes of $564 and $570 as of January 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014, respectively.
|Amount Of Gain Loss Recognized On Derivatives And Deferred Under PGA Procedures                                       | The following table presents the impact that financial instruments not designated as hedging instruments under derivative accounting standards would have had on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for thethreemonths endedJanuary 31, 2015and2014, absent the regulatory treatment under our approved PGA procedures.Amount of Gain (Loss)Recognizedon Derivative InstrumentsAmount of Gain (Loss) Deferred  Under PGA ProceduresLocation of Gain (Loss)Recognized throughPGA ProceduresThree Months Ended  January 31Three Months Ended  January 31In thousands2015201420152014Gas purchase options$(558)$4,529$(558)$4,529Cost of Gas                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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|                                                                                                                      | Amount of Gain (Loss)Recognizedon Derivative Instruments                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|                                                                                                                      | Three Months Ended  January 31                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|In thousands                                                                                                          | 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Gas purchase options                                                                                                  | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

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                    duration X- DefinitionTabular disclosure of the fair value of financial instruments, including financial assets and financial liabilities, and the measurements of those instruments, assets, and liabilities.+ ReferencesReference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13433-108611Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13467-108611Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13476-108611Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 30 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14172-108612Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6447952&loc=d3e13220-108610+ Details**Name:**
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