$ATO
Atmos Energy Corp Stock $ato

$ato Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2010 Q3 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000095012311100074 Filed on November 22, 2011

Income Statement

Concept	2010 Q3	2010 Q2	2010 Q1
Revenue	$778.6M	$761.3M	$2.047B
YoY Change	19.67%	-2.5%	12.37%
Cost Of Revenue	$537.2M	$517.0M	$1.486B
YoY Change	28.27%	-0.79%	9.15%
Gross Profit	$241.4M	$247.7M	$445.4M
YoY Change	4.14%	-4.61%	-3.16%
Gross Profit Margin	31.0%	32.53%	21.76%
Selling, General & Admin
YoY Change
% of Gross Profit
Research & Development
YoY Change
% of Gross Profit
Depreciation & Amortization	$56.80M	$53.30M	$53.10M
YoY Change	0.71%	-1.66%	-0.75%
% of Gross Profit	23.53%	21.52%	11.92%
Operating Expenses	$202.8M	$215.4M	$229.8M
YoY Change	-6.89%	-0.25%	-1.59%
Operating Profit	$38.54M	$32.26M	$219.8M
YoY Change	175.26%	-26.15%	-2.98%
Interest Expense	-$38.90M	$37.27M	$39.58M
YoY Change	5.71%	-10.22%	-211.5%
% of Operating Profit	-100.94%	115.52%	18.01%
Other Income/Expense, Net	$700.0K	-$798.0K	$49.00K
YoY Change	-125.93%	-165.46%	-103.06%
Pretax Income	$400.0K	-$5.806M	$185.0M
YoY Change	-101.57%	-271.22%	-2.32%
Income Tax	$200.0K	-$1.577M	$70.88M
% Of Pretax Income	50.0%		38.31%
Net Earnings	$1.537M	-$3.154M	$114.1M
YoY Change	-109.61%	-260.59%	-11.53%
Net Earnings / Revenue	0.2%	-0.41%	5.58%
Basic Earnings Per Share	$0.02	-$0.03	$1.22
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$0.02	-$0.03	$1.22
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	90.15M shares	92.65M shares	92.52M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding		92.65M shares	92.85M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2010 Q3	2010 Q2	2010 Q1
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$173.4M	$180.0M	$231.0M
YoY Change	56.23%	42.86%	-52.07%
Cash & Equivalents	$132.0M	$180.4M	$231.2M
Short-Term Investments	$41.47M
Other Short-Term Assets	$151.0M	$130.0M	$121.0M
YoY Change	14.21%	17.12%	-11.68%
Inventory	$319.0M	$264.0M	$209.0M
Prepaid Expenses	$24.75M
Receivables	$273.2M	$299.8M	$546.0M
Other Receivables	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total Short-Term Assets	$875.2M	$874.0M	$1.107B
YoY Change	5.58%	9.8%	-25.15%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$4.793B	$4.669B	$4.590B
YoY Change	7.97%	7.61%	7.67%
Goodwill	$739.3M
YoY Change
Intangibles
YoY Change
Long-Term Investments
YoY Change
Other Assets	$355.4M	$303.0M	$316.0M
YoY Change	-1.0%	36.5%	54.15%
Total Long-Term Assets	$5.889B	$5.712B	$5.646B
YoY Change	6.33%	7.77%	8.43%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$875.2M	$874.0M	$1.107B
Total Long-Term Assets	$5.889B	$5.712B	$5.646B
Total Assets	$6.764B	$6.586B	$6.753B
YoY Change	6.23%	8.03%	1.0%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$266.0M	$254.0M	$522.0M
YoY Change	28.5%	14.41%	10.59%
Accrued Expenses
YoY Change
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$126.1M	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change	73.81%
Long-Term Debt Due	$360.1M	$360.1M	$10.00M
YoY Change	274809.16%		-97.5%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$1.166B	$1.008B	$965.0M
YoY Change	58.13%	56.48%	-24.96%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$1.810B	$1.810B	$2.159B
YoY Change	-16.59%	-16.57%	-0.46%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$430.2M	$384.2M	$696.0M
YoY Change	16.84%	-33.76%	18.97%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$2.240B	$2.194B	$2.855B
YoY Change	-11.74%	-20.2%	3.67%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$1.166B	$1.008B	$965.0M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$2.240B	$2.194B	$2.855B
Total Liabilities	$3.406B	$3.201B	$4.414B
YoY Change	3.99%	-18.02%	-2.06%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$486.9M	$515.7M
YoY Change	20.12%
Common Stock	$1.715B	$1.813B
YoY Change	-4.29%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$2.178B	$2.314B	$2.339B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$6.764B	$6.586B	$6.753B
YoY Change	6.23%	8.03%	1.0%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2010 Q3	2010 Q2	2010 Q1
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$1.537M	-$3.154M	$114.1M
YoY Change	-109.61%	-260.59%	-11.53%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$56.80M	$53.30M	$53.10M
YoY Change	0.71%	-1.66%	-0.75%
Cash From Operating Activities	$131.9M	$111.1M	$388.3M
YoY Change	39.43%	-47.1%	-16.3%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$180.3M	-$129.7M	-$117.2M
YoY Change	7.83%	7.19%	2.9%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	$300.0K	$500.0K	$1.000M
YoY Change	-118.75%	-122.73%	-137.04%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$179.9M	-$129.2M	-$116.3M
YoY Change	6.58%	4.96%	-0.34%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	-400.0K	-32.70M	-215.7M
YoY Change	-100.67%	-92.62%	-431.34%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	131.9M	111.1M	388.3M
Cash From Investing Activities	-179.9M	-129.2M	-116.3M
Cash From Financing Activities	-400.0K	-32.70M	-215.7M
Net Change In Cash	-48.40M	-50.80M	56.30M
YoY Change	233.79%	-85.74%	-86.34%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$131.9M	$111.1M	$388.3M
Capital Expenditures	-$180.3M	-$129.7M	-$117.2M
Free Cash Flow	$312.2M	$240.8M	$505.5M
YoY Change	19.25%	-27.25%	-12.51%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2011	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2011	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2011-09-30
CY2011	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2011	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	Atmos Energy Corporation
CY2011	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0000731802
CY2011	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2011	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2011	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--09-30
CY2011	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2011	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	Yes
CY2011	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2011
CY2011	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
CY2011Q4	dei	Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding	90364061	shares
CY2011Q1	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	3008806271	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Construction In Progress Gross ConstructionInProgressGross	209242000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1668876000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	5147918000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	131419000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	273303000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Energy Related Inventory Gas Stored Underground EnergyRelatedInventoryGasStoredUnderground	289760000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	316471000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	1010953000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Goodwill And Intangible Assets GoodwillAndIntangibleAssets	740207000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	383793000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Assets Assets	7282871000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1749243000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	4793075000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	131952000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	273207000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Energy Related Inventory Gas Stored Underground EnergyRelatedInventoryGasStoredUnderground	319038000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	150995000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	875192000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Goodwill And Intangible Assets GoodwillAndIntangibleAssets	740148000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	355376000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Assets Assets	6763791000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	451000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	1732935000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-48460000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	570495000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	2255421000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Noncurrent LongTermDebtNoncurrent	2206117000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Capitalization Longterm Debt And Equity CapitalizationLongtermDebtAndEquity	4461538000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities Current AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	291205000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	367563000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Short Term Borrowings ShortTermBorrowings	206396000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Current LongTermDebtCurrent	2434000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	867598000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	960093000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Regulatory Cost Of Removal Liability RegulatoryCostOfRemovalLiability	428947000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	6763791000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	1166079000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	829128000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	564695000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	7282871000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities Current AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	266208000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	413640000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Short Term Borrowings ShortTermBorrowings	126100000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Current LongTermDebtCurrent	360131000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Regulatory Cost Of Removal Liability RegulatoryCostOfRemovalLiability	350521000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	430164000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Construction In Progress Gross ConstructionInProgressGross	157922000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	451000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	1714364000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-23372000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	486905000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Noncurrent LongTermDebtNoncurrent	1809551000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Capitalization Longterm Debt And Equity CapitalizationLongtermDebtAndEquity	3987899000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	90296482	shares
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	90164103	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	200000000	shares
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	200000000	shares
CY2011Q3	ato	Common Stock Stated Value Per Share CommonStockStatedValuePerShare	0.005
CY2010Q3	ato	Common Stock Stated Value Per Share CommonStockStatedValuePerShare	0.005
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.000
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.000
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	2178348000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	7440000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	12701000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Property Plant And Equipment Excluding Cip Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentExcludingCipGross	6607552000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Property Plant And Equipment Excluding Cip Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentExcludingCipGross	6384396000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	6816794000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	6542318000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Regulated And Unregulated Operating Revenue RegulatedAndUnregulatedOperatingRevenue	4347634000	USD
CY2011	ato	Purchased Gas Cost PurchasedGasCost	3020393000	USD
CY2010	ato	Purchased Gas Cost PurchasedGasCost	3382330000	USD
CY2009	ato	Purchased Gas Cost PurchasedGasCost	3549433000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Regulated And Unregulated Operating Revenue RegulatedAndUnregulatedOperatingRevenue	4869111000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Regulated And Unregulated Operating Revenue RegulatedAndUnregulatedOperatingRevenue	4719835000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	1327241000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	1337505000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	1319678000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Selling General And Administrative Expense OtherSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	449290000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Selling General And Administrative Expense OtherSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	460513000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Selling General And Administrative Expense OtherSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	485704000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	227099000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	211589000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	211984000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Taxes Other TaxesOther	178683000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Taxes Other TaxesOther	188252000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Taxes Other TaxesOther	180242000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	30270000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	5382000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	885342000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	860354000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	883312000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	441899000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Expirations In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriod	-171649	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	477151000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	436366000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	21499000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	-156000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	-3067000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	150825000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	154360000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	152638000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	312573000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	322635000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	280661000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	113689000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	124362000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	97362000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	198884000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	198273000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	183299000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax	8717000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax	7566000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax	7679000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	207601000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	205839000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	190978000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.10
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	2.18
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	2.14
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.99
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.08
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.09
CY2011	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.28
CY2010	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.22
CY2009	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.08
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	2.17
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	2.12
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.98
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.10
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.08
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.09
CY2011	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.27
CY2010	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.20
CY2009	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.07
CY2011	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	90201000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	91852000	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	91117000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	90652000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	92422000	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	91620000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Tax Effect Of Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period DiscontinuedOperationTaxEffectOfIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriod	5502000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Tax Effect Of Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period DiscontinuedOperationTaxEffectOfIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriod	4425000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Adjustments Noncash Items To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Other AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesOther	-1245000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Tax Effect Of Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period DiscontinuedOperationTaxEffectOfIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriod	2929000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	1.36
CY2010	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	1.34
CY2009	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	1.32
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Depreciation And Amortization OtherDepreciationAndAmortization	228000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Depreciation And Amortization OtherDepreciationAndAmortization	173000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Depreciation And Amortization OtherDepreciationAndAmortization	94000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	117353000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	196731000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	129759000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	11586000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	12655000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	14494000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Amortization Of Financing Costs And Discounts AmortizationOfFinancingCostsAndDiscounts	9438000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Amortization Of Financing Costs And Discounts AmortizationOfFinancingCostsAndDiscounts	11908000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Amortization Of Financing Costs And Discounts AmortizationOfFinancingCostsAndDiscounts	10364000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Adjustments Noncash Items To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Other AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesOther	-961000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Adjustments Noncash Items To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Other AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesOther	-1177000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	96000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	40401000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	-244713000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	-27737000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	-54014000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	-194287000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	38048000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	18387000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	-117737000	USD
CY2011	ato	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentOperatingAssets	53519000	USD
CY2010	ato	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentOperatingAssets	-14886000	USD
CY2009	ato	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentOperatingAssets	106231000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	23904000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	58069000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	-181978000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	-57495000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	-48992000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	-717000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	726476000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	919233000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	582844000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Productive Assets PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets	622965000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Productive Assets PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets	542636000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Productive Assets PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets	509494000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	4421000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	66000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	7707000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-627386000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-542702000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-517201000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Short Term Debt ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt	83306000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Short Term Debt ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt	54268000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Short Term Debt ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt	-283981000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	394466000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	445623000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Hedge Financing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromHedgeFinancingActivities	-20079000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Hedge Financing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromHedgeFinancingActivities	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Hedge Financing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromHedgeFinancingActivities	-1938000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	360131000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	131000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	407353000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Common Stock PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	124011000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Common Stock PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	124287000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Common Stock PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	121460000	USD
CY2011	ato	Repurchase Of Equity Awards RepurchaseOfEquityAwards	5299000	USD
CY2010	ato	Repurchase Of Equity Awards RepurchaseOfEquityAwards	1191000	USD
CY2009	ato	Repurchase Of Equity Awards RepurchaseOfEquityAwards	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	7796000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	8766000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	27687000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	44009000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-163025000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-337546000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-533000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	64486000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	20749000	USD
CY2011	ato	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentOperatingLiabilities	71691000	USD
CY2010	ato	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentOperatingLiabilities	64266000	USD
CY2009	ato	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentOperatingLiabilities	84320000	USD
CY2008Q3	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	46717000	USD
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	111203000	USD
CY2010	ato	Payments To Repurchase Common Stock PaymentsToRepurchaseCommonStock	100450000	USD
CY2009	ato	Payments To Repurchase Common Stock PaymentsToRepurchaseCommonStock	0	USD
CY2011	ato	Payments To Repurchase Common Stock PaymentsToRepurchaseCommonStock	0	USD
CY2011	ato	Depreciation And Amortization Cash Flow DepreciationAndAmortizationCashFlow	233155000	USD
CY2010	ato	Depreciation And Amortization Cash Flow DepreciationAndAmortizationCashFlow	216960000	USD
CY2009	ato	Depreciation And Amortization Cash Flow DepreciationAndAmortizationCashFlow	217208000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	27803000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Nature Of Operations NatureOfOperations	<p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:0px;">1.       </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Nature of Business</font></p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'> </p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;margin-left:0px;">Atmos Energy Corporation </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">(“Atmos Energy” or the “Company”) </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">and our subsidiaries are engaged primarily in the regulated natural gas distribution and transmission and storage businesses as well as certain other nonregulated businesses. Through our natural gas distribution business, we deliver natural gas through sales and transportation arrangements to </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">over </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">three</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;"> million residential, commercial, public-authority and industrial customers through our six regulated natural gas distribution divisions in the service areas described below:</font></p><p style='margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;'></p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;margin-top:20px;"><tr style="height: 21px"><td style="width: 287px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:287px;"><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;TEXT-ALIGN: center;">Division</font></td><td style="width: 14px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:14px;"> </td><td style="width: 278px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:278px;"><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;TEXT-ALIGN: center;">Service Area</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 21px"><td style="width: 287px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:287px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;">Atmos Energy Colorado-Kansas Division</font></td><td style="width: 14px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:14px;"> </td><td style="width: 278px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:278px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;TEXT-ALIGN: left;">Colorado, Kansas, Missouri(1)</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 42px"><td style="width: 287px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:287px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;">Atmos Energy Kentucky/Mid-States Division</font></td><td style="width: 14px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:14px;"> </td><td style="width: 278px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:278px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;TEXT-ALIGN: left;">Georgia(1), Illinois(1), Iowa(1), Kentucky, Missouri(1), Tennessee, Virginia(1)</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 21px"><td style="width: 287px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:287px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;">Atmos Energy Louisiana Division</font></td><td style="width: 14px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:14px;"> </td><td style="width: 278px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:278px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;TEXT-ALIGN: left;">Louisiana</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 42px"><td style="width: 287px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:287px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;">Atmos Energy Mid-Tex Division </font></td><td style="width: 14px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:14px;"> </td><td style="width: 278px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:278px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;TEXT-ALIGN: left;">Texas, including the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 21px"><td style="width: 287px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:287px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;">Atmos Energy Mississippi Division </font></td><td style="width: 14px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:14px;"> </td><td style="width: 278px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:278px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;TEXT-ALIGN: left;">Mississippi</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 21px"><td style="width: 287px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:287px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;">Atmos Energy West Texas Division</font></td><td style="width: 14px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:14px;"> </td><td style="width: 278px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:278px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;TEXT-ALIGN: left;">West Texas</font></td></tr></table></div><p style='margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;'></p><p style='margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt'><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;margin-left:0px;">(1)</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">Denotes locations where we have more limited service areas.</font></p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'> </p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;margin-left:0px;">In addition, we transport natural gas for others through our distribution system. Our natural gas distribution business is subject to federal and state regulation and/or regulation by local authorities in each of the states in which our natural gas distribution divisions operate. Our corporate headquarters and shared-services function are located in </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">Dallas</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">, </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">Texas</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">, and our customer support centers are located in </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">Amarillo</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;"> and </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">Waco</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">, </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">Texas</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">.</font></p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'> </p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;margin-left:0px;">In May 2011, we announced that we had entered into a definitive agreement to sell our natural gas distribution operations in Missouri, Illinois and Iowa</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">, representing approximately 84,000 customers</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">. The results of these operations have been separately reported as discontinued operations</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">. </font></p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'> </p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;margin-left:0px;">Our regulated transmission and storage business consists of </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">the regulated operations of our Atmos Pipeline–Texas Division, a division of the Company</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">. This division transports natural gas to our Mid-Tex Division, transports natural gas for third parties and manages five underground storage reservoirs in </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">Texas</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">. We also provide ancillary services customary to the pipeline industry including parking arrangements, lending and sales of inventory on hand. Parking arrangements provide short-term interruptible storage of gas on our pipeline. Lending services provide short-term interruptible loans of natural gas from our pipeline to meet market demands.</font></p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'> </p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;margin-left:0px;">Our nonregulated businesses operate primarily in the </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">Midwest</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;"> and Southeast through various wholly-owned subsidiaries of Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc, (AEH). AEH is wholly owned by the Company and based in </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">Houston</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">, </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">Texas</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">. Through AEH, we provide natural gas management and transportation services to municipalities, natural gas distribution companies, including certain divisions of Atmos Energy and third parties. </font></p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'> </p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;margin-left:0px;">AEH's primary business is to deliver gas and provide related services by aggregating and purchasing gas supply, arranging transportation and storage logistics and ultimately delivering gas to customers at competitive prices. In addition, AEH utilizes proprietary and customer-owned transportation and storage assets to provide various delivered gas services our customers request, including furnishing natural gas supplies at fixed and market-based prices, contract negotiation and administration, load forecasting, gas storage acquisition and management services, transportation services, peaking sales and balancing services, capacity utilization strategies and gas price hedging through the use of financial instruments.</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;"> </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;">AEH also seeks to maximize, through asset optimization activities, the economic value associated with storage and transportation capacity it owns or controls. Certain of these arrangements are with regulated affiliates of the Company, which have been approved by applicable state regulatory commissions.</font></p>
CY2011	ato	Schedule Of Divisions And Service Areas ScheduleOfDivisionsAndServiceAreas	<div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;margin-top:20px;"><tr style="height: 21px"><td style="width: 287px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:287px;"><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;TEXT-ALIGN: center;">Division</font></td><td style="width: 14px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:14px;"> </td><td style="width: 278px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:278px;"><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;TEXT-ALIGN: center;">Service Area</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 21px"><td style="width: 287px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:287px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;">Atmos Energy Colorado-Kansas Division</font></td><td style="width: 14px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:14px;"> </td><td style="width: 278px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:278px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;TEXT-ALIGN: left;">Colorado, Kansas, Missouri(1)</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 42px"><td style="width: 287px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:287px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;">Atmos Energy Kentucky/Mid-States Division</font></td><td style="width: 14px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:14px;"> </td><td style="width: 278px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:278px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;TEXT-ALIGN: left;">Georgia(1), Illinois(1), Iowa(1), Kentucky, Missouri(1), Tennessee, Virginia(1)</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 21px"><td style="width: 287px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:287px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;">Atmos Energy Louisiana Division</font></td><td style="width: 14px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:14px;"> </td><td style="width: 278px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:278px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;TEXT-ALIGN: left;">Louisiana</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 42px"><td style="width: 287px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:287px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;">Atmos Energy Mid-Tex Division </font></td><td style="width: 14px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:14px;"> </td><td style="width: 278px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:278px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;TEXT-ALIGN: left;">Texas, including the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 21px"><td style="width: 287px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:287px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;">Atmos Energy Mississippi Division </font></td><td style="width: 14px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:14px;"> </td><td style="width: 278px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:278px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;TEXT-ALIGN: left;">Mississippi</font></td></tr><tr style="height: 21px"><td style="width: 287px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:287px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;">Atmos Energy West Texas Division</font></td><td style="width: 14px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:14px;"> </td><td style="width: 278px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:278px;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 12pt;COLOR: #000000;TEXT-ALIGN: left;">West Texas</font></td></tr></table></div>
CY2011	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	Use of estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. The most significant estimates include the allowance for doubtful accounts, legal and environmental accruals, insurance accruals, pension and postretirement obligations, deferred income taxes, asset retirement obligations, impairment of long-lived assets, risk management and trading activities, fair value measurements and the valuation of goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and other long-lived assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
CY2011	us-gaap	Derivatives Reporting Of Derivative Activity DerivativesReportingOfDerivativeActivity	Financial instruments and hedging activities — We currently use financial instruments to mitigate commodity price risk. Additionally, we periodically use financial instruments to manage interest rate risk. The objectives and strategies for using financial instruments have been tailored to our regulated and nonregulated businesses. Currently, we utilize financial instruments in our natural gas distribution and nonregulated segments. The objectives and strategies for the use of financial instruments are discussed in Note 4. We record all of our financial instruments on the balance sheet at fair value, with changes in fair value ultimately recorded in the income statement. These financial instruments are reported as risk management assets and liabilities and are classified as current or noncurrent other assets or liabilities based upon the anticipated settlement date of the underlying financial instrument. The timing of when changes in fair value of our financial instruments are recorded in the income statement depends on whether the financial instrument has been designated and qualifies as a part of a hedging relationship or if regulatory rulings require a different accounting treatment. Changes in fair value for financial instruments that do not meet one of these criteria are recognized in the income statement as they occur. Financial Instruments Associated with Commodity Price Risk In our natural gas distribution segment, the costs associated with and the gains and losses arising from the use of financial instruments to mitigate commodity price risk are included in our purchased gas cost adjustment mechanisms in accordance with regulatory requirements. Therefore, changes in the fair value of these financial instruments are initially recorded as a component of deferred gas costs and recognized in the consolidated statement of income as a component of purchased gas cost when the related costs are recovered through our rates and recognized in revenue in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Accordingly, there is no earnings impact on our natural gas distribution segment as a result of the use of financial instruments. In our nonregulated segment, we have designated most of the natural gas inventory held by this operating segment as the hedged item in a fair-value hedge. This inventory is marked to market at the end of each month based on the Gas Daily index, with changes in fair value recognized as unrealized gains or losses in revenue in the period of change. The financial instruments associated with this natural gas inventory have been designated as fair-value hedges and are marked to market each month based upon the NYMEX price with changes in fair value recognized as unrealized gains or losses in revenue in the period of change. Changes in the spreads between the forward natural gas prices used to value the financial hedges designated against our physical inventory (NYMEX) and the market (spot) prices used to value our physical storage (Gas Daily) result in unrealized margins until the underlying physical gas is withdrawn and the related financial instruments are settled. Once the gas is withdrawn and the financial instruments are settled, the previously unrealized margins associated with these net positions are realized. We have elected to exclude this spot/forward differential for purposes of assessing the effectiveness of these fair-value hedges. Over time, we expect gains and losses on the sale of storage gas inventory to be offset by gains and losses on the fair-value hedges, resulting in the realization of the economic gross profit margin we anticipated at the time we structured the original transaction. In our nonregulated segment, we have elected to treat fixed-price forward contracts to deliver natural gas as normal purchases and normal sales. As such, these deliveries are recorded on an accrual basis in accordance with our revenue recognition policy. Financial instruments used to mitigate the commodity price risk associated with these contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges of anticipated purchases and sales at indexed prices. Accordingly, unrealized gains and losses on these open financial instruments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, and are recognized in earnings as a component of revenue when the hedged volumes are sold. Hedge ineffectiveness, to the extent incurred, is reported as a component of revenue. Gains and losses from hedge ineffectiveness are recognized in the income statement. Fair value and cash flow hedge ineffectiveness arising from natural gas market price differences between the locations of the hedged inventory and the delivery location specified in the financial instruments is referred to as basis ineffectiveness. Ineffectiveness arising from changes in the fair value of the fair value hedges due to changes in the difference between the spot price and the futures price, as well as the difference between the timing of the settlement of the futures and the valuation of the underlying physical commodity is referred to as timing ineffectiveness. In our nonregulated segment, we also utilize master netting agreements with significant counterparties that allow us to offset gains and losses arising from financial instruments that may be settled in cash with gains and losses arising from financial instruments that may be settled with the physical commodity. Assets and liabilities from risk management activities, as well as accounts receivable and payable, reflect the master netting agreements in place. Additionally, the accounting guidance for master netting arrangements requires us to include the fair value of cash collateral or the obligation to return cash in the amounts that have been netted under master netting agreements used to offset gains and losses arising from financial instruments. As of September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company netted $28.8 million and $24.9 million of cash held in margin accounts into its current risk management assets and liabilities. Financial Instruments Associated with Interest Rate Risk We periodically manage interest rate risk, typically when we issue new or refinance existing long-term debt. In fiscal 2011 and in prior years, we entered into Treasury lock agreements to fix the Treasury yield component of the interest cost associated with anticipated financings. We designated these Treasury lock agreements as cash flow hedges at the time the agreements were executed. Accordingly, unrealized gains and losses associated with the Treasury lock agreements were recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). When the Treasury locks were settled, the realized gain or loss was recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and is being recognized as a component of interest expense over the life of the related financing arrangement.
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	14000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	11400000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Asset Retirement Costs In Property Plant And Equipment AssetRetirementCostsInPropertyPlantAndEquipment	5400000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Asset Retirement Costs In Property Plant And Equipment AssetRetirementCostsInPropertyPlantAndEquipment	3800000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Deferred Cost Amortization Expense OtherDeferredCostAmortizationExpense	400000	USD
CY2009	ato	Nonrecurring Gross Profit NonrecurringGrossProfit	7600000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Price Risk Fair Value Hedging Instruments UnrealizedGainLossOnPriceRiskFairValueHedgingInstruments	-10400000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Price Risk Fair Value Hedging Instruments UnrealizedGainLossOnPriceRiskFairValueHedgingInstruments	-7800000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Price Risk Fair Value Hedging Instruments UnrealizedGainLossOnPriceRiskFairValueHedgingInstruments	-35900000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Costs Capitalized InterestCostsCapitalized	1700000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Public Utilities Property Plant And Equipment Disclosure Of Composite Depreciation Rate For Plants In Service PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisclosureOfCompositeDepreciationRateForPlantsInService	0.036	pure
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cumulative Changes In Net Gain Loss From Cash Flow Hedges Effect Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax	-16861000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Costs Capitalized InterestCostsCapitalized	3900000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Interest Costs Capitalized InterestCostsCapitalized	4900000	USD
CY2009	ato	Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses Investments Portion Recognized In Earnings Net Available For Sale Securities OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNetAvailableForSaleSecurities	5400000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Public Utilities Property Plant And Equipment Disclosure Of Composite Depreciation Rate For Plants In Service PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisclosureOfCompositeDepreciationRateForPlantsInService	0.035	pure
CY2009	us-gaap	Public Utilities Property Plant And Equipment Disclosure Of Composite Depreciation Rate For Plants In Service PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisclosureOfCompositeDepreciationRateForPlantsInService	0.038	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Deferred Cost Amortization Expense OtherDeferredCostAmortizationExpense	400000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Deferred Cost Amortization Expense OtherDeferredCostAmortizationExpense	500000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	2558000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cumulative Changes In Net Gain Loss From Interest Rate Hedges Effect Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromInterestRateHedgesEffectNetOfTax	-34157000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	4205000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cumulative Changes In Net Gain Loss From Interest Rate Hedges Effect Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromInterestRateHedgesEffectNetOfTax	-5468000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cumulative Changes In Net Gain Loss From Cash Flow Hedges Effect Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax	-22109000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	740000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	207000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	739314000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	834000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Useful Life FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsUsefulLife	10	pure
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	6926000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	6719000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	6926000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	6092000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year One FutureAmortizationExpenseYearOne	43000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year Two FutureAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	43000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year Three FutureAmortizationExpenseYearThree	43000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year Four FutureAmortizationExpenseYearFour	43000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year Five FutureAmortizationExpenseYearFive	35000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Current Liabilities Risk Management Assets DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationCurrentLiabilitiesRiskManagementAssets	1300000	USD
CY2011	ato	Gain Loss On Hedge Ineffectiveness GainLossOnHedgeIneffectiveness	24800000	USD
CY2010	ato	Gain Loss On Hedge Ineffectiveness GainLossOnHedgeIneffectiveness	51800000	USD
CY2009	ato	Gain Loss On Hedge Ineffectiveness GainLossOnHedgeIneffectiveness	6400000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Fair Value Hedging Instruments ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnFairValueHedgingInstruments	-16552000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Hedged Item In Fair Value Hedge ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnHedgedItemInFairValueHedge	-9824000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Fair Value Hedges Recognized In Earnings GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings	26376000	USD
CY2011	ato	Fair Value Hedge Basis Ineffectiveness FairValueHedgeBasisIneffectiveness	803000	USD
CY2011	ato	Fair Value Hedge Timing Ineffectiveness FairValueHedgeTimingIneffectiveness	25573000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Fair Value Hedging Instruments ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnFairValueHedgingInstruments	-34650000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Hedged Item In Fair Value Hedge ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnHedgedItemInFairValueHedge	-19867000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Fair Value Hedges Recognized In Earnings GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings	54517000	USD
CY2010	ato	Fair Value Hedge Basis Ineffectiveness FairValueHedgeBasisIneffectiveness	-1272000	USD
CY2010	ato	Fair Value Hedge Timing Ineffectiveness FairValueHedgeTimingIneffectiveness	55789000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Fair Value Hedging Instruments ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnFairValueHedgingInstruments	-45120000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Hedged Item In Fair Value Hedge ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnHedgedItemInFairValueHedge	28831000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Fair Value Hedges Recognized In Earnings GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings	16289000	USD
CY2009	ato	Fair Value Hedge Basis Ineffectiveness FairValueHedgeBasisIneffectiveness	5958000	USD
CY2009	ato	Fair Value Hedge Timing Ineffectiveness FairValueHedgeTimingIneffectiveness	10331000	USD
CY2011	ato	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Treasury Locks Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnTreasuryLocksArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-12720000	USD
CY2010	ato	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Treasury Locks Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnTreasuryLocksArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	343000	USD
CY2011	ato	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Forward Commodity Contracts Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnForwardCommodityContractsArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-12096000	USD
CY2010	ato	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Forward Commodity Contracts Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnForwardCommodityContractsArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-34296000	USD
CY2011	ato	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Treasury Locks Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnTreasuryLocksIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	-15969000	USD
CY2010	ato	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Treasury Locks Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnTreasuryLocksIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	1687000	USD
CY2011	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Nonvested Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value End Of Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueEndOfPeriod	29.56
CY2010	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Nonvested Number Beginning Balance ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumberBeginningBalance	1295841	shares
CY2010	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Nonvested Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Beginning Of Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueBeginningOfPeriod	27.23
CY2011	ato	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Forward Commodity Contracts Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnForwardCommodityContractsIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	17344000	USD
CY2010	ato	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Forward Commodity Contracts Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnForwardCommodityContractsIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	27333000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-23441000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-4933000	USD
CY2011	ato	Regulated Segments Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate RegulatedSegmentsEffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.37	pure
CY2011	ato	Nonregulated Segment Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate NonregulatedSegmentEffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.39	pure
CY2011	ato	Treasury Lock Gain Loss Reclassified To Earnings TreasuryLockGainLossReclassifiedToEarnings	8385000	USD
CY2011	ato	Commodity Contract Gain Loss Reclassified To Earnings CommodityContractGainLossReclassifiedToEarnings	-16861000	USD
CY2011	ato	Gain Loss On Derivative Instruments Not Designated Hedges Net Pretax GainLossOnDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedHedgesNetPretax	-1400000	USD
CY2010	ato	Gain Loss On Derivative Instruments Not Designated Hedges Net Pretax GainLossOnDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedHedgesNetPretax	15400000	USD
CY2009	ato	Gain Loss On Derivative Instruments Not Designated Hedges Net Pretax GainLossOnDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedHedgesNetPretax	36900000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Cash Collateral Right To Reclaim Cash CashCollateralRightToReclaimCash	24900000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Cash Held In Margin Accounts Offset Current Risk Management Liabilities CashHeldInMarginAccountsOffsetCurrentRiskManagementLiabilities	12600000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Cash Held In Margin Accounts Classified Current Risk Management Asset CashHeldInMarginAccountsClassifiedCurrentRiskManagementAsset	12300000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Cash Collateral Right To Reclaim Cash CashCollateralRightToReclaimCash	28800000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Cash Held In Margin Accounts Offset Current Risk Management Liabilities CashHeldInMarginAccountsOffsetCurrentRiskManagementLiabilities	12400000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Cash Held In Margin Accounts Classified Current Risk Management Asset CashHeldInMarginAccountsClassifiedCurrentRiskManagementAsset	16400000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Gas Gathering Assets Fair Value Nonrecurring GasGatheringAssetsFairValueNonrecurring	6000000	USD
CY2011	ato	Asset Impairment Charges Park City AssetImpairmentChargesParkCity	11000000	USD
CY2011	ato	Asset Impairment Charges Fort Necessity AssetImpairmentChargesFortNecessity	19300000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Grants In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod	551278	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	29.07
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Fair Value DebtInstrumentFairValue	2560945000	USD
CY2011	ato	Discontinued Operations Operating Revenues DiscontinuedOperationsOperatingRevenues	80028000	USD
CY2011	ato	Discontinued Operations Purchased Gas Cost DiscontinuedOperationsPurchasedGasCost	48759000	USD
CY2011	ato	Discontinued Operations Gross Profit DiscontinuedOperationsGrossProfit	31269000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Operating Expense DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingExpense	16854000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Operating Income Loss DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingIncomeLoss	14415000	USD
CY2011	ato	Discontinued Operations Miscellaneous And Interest Expense DiscontinuedOperationsMiscellaneousAndInterestExpense	196000	USD
CY2010	ato	Discontinued Operations Miscellaneous And Interest Expense DiscontinuedOperationsMiscellaneousAndInterestExpense	294000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Operating Income Loss DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingIncomeLoss	12285000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Operating Expense DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingExpense	15151000	USD
CY2010	ato	Discontinued Operations Gross Profit DiscontinuedOperationsGrossProfit	27436000	USD
CY2010	ato	Discontinued Operations Purchased Gas Cost DiscontinuedOperationsPurchasedGasCost	42419000	USD
CY2010	ato	Discontinued Operations Operating Revenues DiscontinuedOperationsOperatingRevenues	69855000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Before Income Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodBeforeIncomeTax	14219000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Before Income Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodBeforeIncomeTax	11991000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Before Income Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodBeforeIncomeTax	10608000	USD
CY2009	ato	Discontinued Operations Operating Revenues DiscontinuedOperationsOperatingRevenues	99969000	USD
CY2009	ato	Discontinued Operations Purchased Gas Cost DiscontinuedOperationsPurchasedGasCost	72945000	USD
CY2009	ato	Discontinued Operations Gross Profit DiscontinuedOperationsGrossProfit	27024000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Operating Expense DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingExpense	15988000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Operating Income Loss DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingIncomeLoss	11036000	USD
CY2009	ato	Discontinued Operations Miscellaneous And Interest Expense DiscontinuedOperationsMiscellaneousAndInterestExpense	428000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Property Plant And Equipment Net DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	127577000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Gas Stored Underground DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationGasStoredUnderground	11931000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Other Current Assets DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOtherCurrentAssets	786000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Other Noncurrent Assets DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOtherNoncurrentAssets	277000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Assets Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation AssetsOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperation	140571000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Accounts Payable DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationAccountsPayable	1917000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Other Current Liabilities DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOtherCurrentLiabilities	4877000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Regulatory Cost Of Removal Obligation DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationRegulatoryCostOfRemovalObligation	10498000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Other Noncurrent Liabilities DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOtherNoncurrentLiabilities	1153000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Liabilities Of Disposal Group LiabilitiesOfDisposalGroup	18445000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount	4014000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount	3014000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Authorized Commercial Paper AuthorizedCommercialPaper	750000000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Debt Securities Authorized For Issuance DebtSecuritiesAuthorizedForIssuance	950000000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Equity Securities Authorized For Issuance EquitySecuritiesAuthorizedForIssuance	350000000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Debt And Equity Securities Available For Issuance DebtAndEquitySecuritiesAvailableForIssuance	900000000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Debt Securities Available For Issuance DebtSecuritiesAvailableForIssuance	550000000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Equity Securities Available For Issuance EquitySecuritiesAvailableForIssuance	350000000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Ratio Of Total Debt To Total Capital RatioOfTotalDebtToTotalCapital	0.54	pure
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Carrying Amount DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	2212565000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Carrying Amount DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	2172696000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Commercial Paper CommercialPaper	206400000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Commercial Paper CommercialPaper	126100000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Aem Net Working Capital AemNetWorkingCapital	131800000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Aem Tangible Net Worth AemTangibleNetWorth	144500000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Debt And Equity Securities Authorized For Issuance DebtAndEquitySecuritiesAuthorizedForIssuance	1300000000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Regulated Operations Letters Of Credit Outstanding Amount RegulatedOperationsLettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount	5900000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Nonregulated Operations Letters Of Credit Outstanding Amount NonregulatedOperationsLettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount	20200000	USD
CY2011	ato	Nonregulated Operations Line Of Credit Facilities Covenant Terms NonregulatedOperationsLineOfCreditFacilitiesCovenantTerms	AEM is required by the financial covenants in this facility to maintain a ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth that does not exceed a maximum of 5 to 1. Additionally, AEM must maintain minimum levels of net working capital and net worth ranging from $20 million to $40 million.
CY2011Q3	ato	Ratio Of Liabilities To Tangible Net Worth RatioOfLiabilitiesToTangibleNetWorth	1.33 to 1
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Interest Rate Effective Percentage DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage	0.05381	pure
CY2011Q3	ato	Commercial Paper Weighted Average Interest Rate CommercialPaperWeightedAverageInterestRate	0.0029	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Covenant Description DebtInstrumentCovenantDescription	In addition to the financial covenants described above, our credit facilities and public indentures contain usual and customary covenants for our business, including covenants substantially limiting liens, substantial asset sales and mergers. Additionally, our public debt indentures relating to our senior notes and debentures, as well as our revolving credit agreements, each contain a default provision that is triggered if outstanding indebtedness arising out of any other credit agreements in amounts ranging from in excess of $15 million to in excess of $100 million becomes due by acceleration or is not paid at maturity. Further, AEM’s credit agreement contains a cross-default provision whereby AEM would be in default if it defaults on other indebtedness, as defined, by at least $250 thousand in the aggregate. Finally, AEM’s credit agreement contains a provision that would limit the amount of credit available if Atmos Energy were downgraded below an S&P rating of BBB and a Moody’s rating of Baa2. We have no other triggering events in our debt instruments that are tied to changes in specified credit ratings or stock price, nor have we entered into any transactions that would require us to issue equity, based on our credit rating or other triggering events.
CY2011	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Covenant Compliance DebtInstrumentCovenantCompliance	We were in compliance with all of our debt covenants
CY2011	ato	Regulated Operations Line Of Credit Facilities Covenant Terms RegulatedOperationsLineOfCreditFacilitiesCovenantTerms	The availability of funds under these credit facilities is subject to conditions specified in the respective credit agreements, all of which we currently satisfy. These conditions include our compliance with financial covenants and the continued accuracy of representations and warranties contained in these agreements. We are required by the financial covenants in each of these facilities to maintain, at the end of each fiscal quarter, a ratio of total debt to total capitalization of no greater than 70 percent.
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Next Twelve Months LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths	2434000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Two LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo	250131000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Three LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree	0	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Four LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour	500000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive	0	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal After Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive	1460000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Vested In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod	-464321	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Vested In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	27.21
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Forfeited In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod	-56842	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Forfeited In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	27.56
CY2011	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Nonvested Number Ending Balance ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumberEndingBalance	1264142	shares
CY2011Q3	ato	Accelerated Share Repurchases Payment AcceleratedShareRepurchasesPayment	100000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	14500000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Authorized ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized	6500000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Accelerated Share Repurchases Cash Or Stock Settlement AcceleratedShareRepurchasesCashOrStockSettlement	3,334,048
CY2010	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	12700000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	11600000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Available ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailable	319700	shares
CY2011	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Nonvested Number Beginning Balance ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumberBeginningBalance	1293960	shares
CY2011	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Nonvested Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Beginning Of Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueBeginningOfPeriod	27.28
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Grants In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod	491345	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	33.10
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Vested In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod	-493957	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Vested In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	29.24
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Forfeited In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod	-59202	shares
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Forfeited In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	26.54
CY2010	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Nonvested Number Ending Balance ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumberEndingBalance	1293960	shares
CY2010	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Nonvested Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value End Of Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueEndOfPeriod	27.28
CY2009	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Nonvested Number Beginning Balance ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumberBeginningBalance	1096770	shares
CY2009	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Nonvested Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Beginning Of Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueBeginningOfPeriod	29.04
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Grants In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod	711909	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	25.76
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Vested In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod	-499267	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Vested In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	29.05
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Forfeited In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod	-13571	shares
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Forfeited In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	28.92
CY2009	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Nonvested Number Ending Balance ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumberEndingBalance	1295841	shares
CY2009	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Nonvested Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value End Of Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueEndOfPeriod	27.23
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Expirations In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	25.31
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	22.54
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Vested In Period Total Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue	14400000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Vested In Period Total Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue	14500000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized	18000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Vested In Period Total Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue	12600000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Period For Recognition EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition	1.5	pure
CY2011	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number Beginning Balance ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumberBeginningBalance	434962	shares
CY2011Q3	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price Beginning Of Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePriceBeginningOfPeriod	22.46
CY2010Q3	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price Beginning Of Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePriceBeginningOfPeriod	21.88
CY2010	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number Beginning Balance ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumberBeginningBalance	611227	shares
CY2009	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number Beginning Balance ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumberBeginningBalance	913841	shares
CY2009Q3	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price Beginning Of Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePriceBeginningOfPeriod	22.54
CY2011	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Gross ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross	0	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2011	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	-348196	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod	0	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Expirations In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriod	0	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Expirations In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2011	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number Ending Balance ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumberEndingBalance	86766	shares
CY2011Q3	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price End Of Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePriceEndOfPeriod	22.16
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber	86766	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	22.16
CY2010	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Gross ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross	0	shares
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2010	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	-176265	shares
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	20.44
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod	0	shares
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Expirations In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriod	0	shares
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Expirations In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2010	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number Ending Balance ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumberEndingBalance	434962	shares
CY2010Q3	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price End Of Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePriceEndOfPeriod	22.46
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber	434962	shares
CY2009	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Gross ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross	0	shares
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2009	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	-130965	shares
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	21.99
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod	0	shares
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2009	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number Ending Balance ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumberEndingBalance	611227	shares
CY2009Q3	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price End Of Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePriceEndOfPeriod	21.88
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber	611227	shares
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	21.88
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	22.46
CY2010Q3	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	1.6	pure
CY2009Q3	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	2.4	pure
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	1600000	USD
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	2100000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm	1.6	pure
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm	2.4	pure
CY2010Q3	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1 ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1	1600000	USD
CY2009Q3	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1 ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1	2100000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	1.7	pure
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	300000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm	1.7	pure
CY2011Q3	ato	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1 ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1	300000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Outstanding Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfOutstandingOptions	86766	shares
CY2011Q3	ato	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Exercisable Options Weighted Average Exercise Price1 ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePrice1	22.16
CY2011Q3	ato	Sharebasedcompensationsharesauthorizedunderstockoptionplansexercisepricerangeexercisableoptionsweightedaverageremainingcontractualterm1 Sharebasedcompensationsharesauthorizedunderstockoptionplansexercisepricerangeexercisableoptionsweightedaverageremainingcontractualterm1	1.7	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	0
CY2011	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Cash Received From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions	7848000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit Realized From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions	1010000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	1263000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	0
CY2010	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Cash Received From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions	3604000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit Realized From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions	547000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	239000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	0
CY2009	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Cash Received From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions	2880000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit Realized From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions	177000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	262000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Minimum Initial Investment For Direct Stock Purchase Plan MinimumInitialInvestmentForDirectStockPurchasePlan	1250	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Minimum Continuing Investment For Direct Stock Purchase Plan MinimumContinuingInvestmentForDirectStockPurchasePlan	25	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Annual Maximum Investment For Direct Stock Purchase Plan AnnualMaximumInvestmentForDirectStockPurchasePlan	100000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Net Periodic Benefit Cost DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost	56600000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Gross Current AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent	285908000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Curtailments DefinedBenefitPlanCurtailments	-162000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Curtailments DefinedBenefitPlanCurtailments	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	10200000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	9800000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	9300000	USD
CY2010	ato	Defined Contribution Plan Discretionary Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanDiscretionaryCostRecognized	1300000	USD
CY2009	ato	Defined Contribution Plan Discretionary Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanDiscretionaryCostRecognized	1200000	USD
CY2011	ato	Defined Contribution Plan Discretionary Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanDiscretionaryCostRecognized	1300000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Defined Contribution Plan Percent Of Equity Securities Issued By Employer And Related Parties Included In Plan Assets DefinedContributionPlanPercentOfEquitySecuritiesIssuedByEmployerAndRelatedPartiesIncludedInPlanAssets	0.045	pure
CY2010Q3	ato	Defined Contribution Plan Percent Of Equity Securities Issued By Employer And Related Parties Included In Plan Assets DefinedContributionPlanPercentOfEquitySecuritiesIssuedByEmployerAndRelatedPartiesIncludedInPlanAssets	0.043	pure
CY2011Q3	ato	Billed Accounts Receivable BilledAccountsReceivable	216145000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Unbilled Revenues UnbilledRevenues	48006000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Other Receivables OtherReceivables	16592000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Gross Current AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent	280743000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Billed Accounts Receivable BilledAccountsReceivable	223129000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Unbilled Revenues UnbilledRevenues	47423000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Other Receivables OtherReceivables	15356000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Current DerivativeAssetsCurrent	18344000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Gas Cost DeferredGasCost	33976000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Receivable IncomeTaxReceivable	9215000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Current DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent	76725000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	22499000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Receivable Current CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableCurrent	2013000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Supplies Supplies	4113000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Assets Held For Sale Current AssetsHeldForSaleCurrent	140571000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Other Assets Current Other OtherAssetsCurrentOther	9015000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Current DerivativeAssetsCurrent	20575000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Gas Cost DeferredGasCost	22701000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Receivable IncomeTaxReceivable	19382000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Current DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent	53926000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	24754000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Receivable Current CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableCurrent	2973000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Supplies Supplies	3940000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Assets Held For Sale Current AssetsHeldForSaleCurrent	0	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Other Assets Current Other OtherAssetsCurrentOther	2744000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Property Plant And Equipment Transmission Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTransmissionGross	1108398000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Property Plant And Equipment Distribution Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentDistributionGross	4339277000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Property Plant And Equipment General Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGeneralGross	671953000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Property Plant And Equipment Intangible Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentIntangibleGross	54253000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Pension Plan Liabilities Noncurrent DefinedBenefitPensionPlanLiabilitiesNoncurrent	236227000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Property Plant And Equipment Production Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentProductionGross	7412000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Property Plant And Equipment Storage Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentStorageGross	198422000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Property Plant And Equipment Transmission Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTransmissionGross	1126509000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Property Plant And Equipment Distribution Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentDistributionGross	4496263000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Property Plant And Equipment General Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGeneralGross	737850000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Property Plant And Equipment Intangible Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentIntangibleGross	41096000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Property Plant And Equipment Production Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentProductionGross	17360000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Property Plant And Equipment Storage Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentStorageGross	193155000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Marketable Securities MarketableSecurities	52633000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Regulatory Assets Noncurrent RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent	278920000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Finance Costs Noncurrent Net DeferredFinanceCostsNoncurrentNet	35149000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Noncurrent DerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	998000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Other Assets Noncurrent Other OtherAssetsNoncurrentOther	16093000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Marketable Securities MarketableSecurities	41466000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Regulatory Assets Noncurrent RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent	254809000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Finance Costs Noncurrent Net DeferredFinanceCostsNoncurrentNet	35761000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Noncurrent DerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	937000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Other Assets Noncurrent Other OtherAssetsNoncurrentOther	22403000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Customer Deposits Current CustomerDepositsCurrent	106743000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Accrued Employee Benefits Current AccruedEmployeeBenefitsCurrent	38558000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Deferred Gas Cost Liability DeferredGasCostLiability	8130000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Interest Payable Current InterestPayableCurrent	37557000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	15453000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Taxes Payable Current TaxesPayableCurrent	57853000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans Current Liabilities PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansCurrentLiabilities	33036000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Regulatory Cost Of Removal Liability Current RegulatoryCostOfRemovalLiabilityCurrent	35078000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Other Liabilities Current Other OtherLiabilitiesCurrentOther	16710000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Customer Deposits Current CustomerDepositsCurrent	114215000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Accrued Employee Benefits Current AccruedEmployeeBenefitsCurrent	40642000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Deferred Gas Cost Liability DeferredGasCostLiability	43333000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Interest Payable Current InterestPayableCurrent	42901000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	49673000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Taxes Payable Current TaxesPayableCurrent	56616000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans Current Liabilities PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansCurrentLiabilities	14815000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Regulatory Cost Of Removal Liability Current RegulatoryCostOfRemovalLiabilityCurrent	30953000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Other Liabilities Current Other OtherLiabilitiesCurrentOther	20492000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plan Liabilities Noncurrent OtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlanLiabilitiesNoncurrent	202709000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Customer Advances For Construction CustomerAdvancesForConstruction	13967000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Regulatory Liability Noncurrent RegulatoryLiabilityNoncurrent	13823000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligations Noncurrent AssetRetirementObligationsNoncurrent	13574000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Noncurrent LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent DerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	78089000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Other Liabilities Noncurrent Other OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrentOther	6306000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plan Liabilities Noncurrent OtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlanLiabilitiesNoncurrent	167899000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Pension Plan Liabilities Noncurrent DefinedBenefitPensionPlanLiabilitiesNoncurrent	207234000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Customer Advances For Construction CustomerAdvancesForConstruction	15466000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Regulatory Liability Noncurrent RegulatoryLiabilityNoncurrent	6112000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligations Noncurrent AssetRetirementObligationsNoncurrent	11432000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Noncurrent LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent	6731000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent DerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	8924000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Other Liabilities Noncurrent Other OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrentOther	6366000	USD
CY2011	ato	Undistributed Earnings Allocated To Participating Securities UndistributedEarningsAllocatedToParticipatingSecurities	2077000	USD
CY2010	ato	Undistributed Earnings Allocated To Participating Securities UndistributedEarningsAllocatedToParticipatingSecurities	2029000	USD
CY2009	ato	Undistributed Earnings Allocated To Participating Securities UndistributedEarningsAllocatedToParticipatingSecurities	1712000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	196807000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	196244000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	181587000	USD
CY2011	ato	Undistributed Earnings From Discontinued Operations Allocated To Participating Securities UndistributedEarningsFromDiscontinuedOperationsAllocatedToParticipatingSecurities	91000	USD
CY2010	ato	Undistributed Earnings From Discontinued Operations Allocated To Participating Securities UndistributedEarningsFromDiscontinuedOperationsAllocatedToParticipatingSecurities	77000	USD
CY2009	ato	Undistributed Earnings From Discontinued Operations Allocated To Participating Securities UndistributedEarningsFromDiscontinuedOperationsAllocatedToParticipatingSecurities	72000	USD
CY2011	ato	Net Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	8626000	USD
CY2010	ato	Net Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	7489000	USD
CY2009	ato	Net Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	7607000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	4000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	5000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	4000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	196811000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	196249000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	181591000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Participating Nonvested Shares With Non Forfeitable Dividend Rights IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToParticipatingNonvestedSharesWithNonForfeitableDividendRights	451000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Participating Nonvested Shares With Non Forfeitable Dividend Rights IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToParticipatingNonvestedSharesWithNonForfeitableDividendRights	570000	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Participating Nonvested Shares With Non Forfeitable Dividend Rights IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToParticipatingNonvestedSharesWithNonForfeitableDividendRights	503000	shares
CY2011	ato	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units Discontinued Operations AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnitsDiscontinuedOperations	0	USD
CY2010	ato	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units Discontinued Operations AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnitsDiscontinuedOperations	0	USD
CY2009	ato	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units Discontinued Operations AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnitsDiscontinuedOperations	0	USD
CY2011	ato	Net Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	8626000	USD
CY2010	ato	Net Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	7489000	USD
CY2009	ato	Net Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	7607000	USD
CY2011	ato	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Participating Nonvested Shares With Non Forfeitable Dividend Rights Discontinued Operations IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToParticipatingNonvestedSharesWithNonForfeitableDividendRightsDiscontinuedOperations	451000	shares
CY2010	ato	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Participating Nonvested Shares With Non Forfeitable Dividend Rights Discontinued Operations IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToParticipatingNonvestedSharesWithNonForfeitableDividendRightsDiscontinuedOperations	570000	shares
CY2009	ato	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Participating Nonvested Shares With Non Forfeitable Dividend Rights Discontinued Operations IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToParticipatingNonvestedSharesWithNonForfeitableDividendRightsDiscontinuedOperations	503000	shares
CY2011	ato	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding Discontinued Operations WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstandingDiscontinuedOperations	90652000	shares
CY2010	ato	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding Discontinued Operations WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstandingDiscontinuedOperations	92422000	shares
CY2009	ato	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding Discontinued Operations WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstandingDiscontinuedOperations	91620000	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	70000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	-11204000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	-72234000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	-37141000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	6533000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	6179000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	112922000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	98231000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Deductions Dividends IncomeTaxReconciliationDeductionsDividends	1930000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Deductions Dividends IncomeTaxReconciliationDeductionsDividends	1785000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Deductions Dividends IncomeTaxReconciliationDeductionsDividends	1591000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	8184000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	11445000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	-13000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	8720000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	112612000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	179271000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	134912000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	5920000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	11429000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-8739000	USD
CY2011	ato	Investment Tax Credits InvestmentTaxCredits	-172000	USD
CY2009	ato	Investment Tax Credits InvestmentTaxCredits	-390000	USD
CY2010	ato	Investment Tax Credits InvestmentTaxCredits	-283000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	109401000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	690000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	1673000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	663000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Examination Liability Recorded IncomeTaxExaminationLiabilityRecorded	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Settlements Domestic IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxSettlementsDomestic	-4950000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Settlements Domestic IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxSettlementsDomestic	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Settlements Domestic IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxSettlementsDomestic	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	2294000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	107000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	72000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Accrued Liabilities DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAccruedLiabilities	10327000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Accrued Liabilities DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAccruedLiabilities	9182000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Deferred Tax Assets Customer Advances DeferredTaxAssetsCustomerAdvances	5271000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Deferred Tax Assets Customer Advances DeferredTaxAssetsCustomerAdvances	5723000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Other DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsOther	43924000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Other DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsOther	43427000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Postretirement Benefits DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsPostretirementBenefits	62274000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Postretirement Benefits DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsPostretirementBenefits	57386000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	-775202000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Credits DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredCredits	325000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Credits DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredCredits	587000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Hedging Transactions DeferredTaxAssetsHedgingTransactions	20060000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Hedging Transactions DeferredTaxAssetsHedgingTransactions	3211000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards General Business DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsGeneralBusiness	120000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards General Business DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsGeneralBusiness	183000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss And Credit Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossAndCreditCarryforwards	95293000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss And Credit Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossAndCreditCarryforwards	63621000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Deferred Tax Assets Unrealized Losses On Available For Sale Securities Gross DeferredTaxAssetsUnrealizedLossesOnAvailableForSaleSecuritiesGross	8039000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Deferred Tax Assets Unrealized Losses On Available For Sale Securities Gross DeferredTaxAssetsUnrealizedLossesOnAvailableForSaleSecuritiesGross	2159000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	3529000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	4559000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	248837000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	189451000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1108063000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	940914000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Prepaid Pension Costs DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPrepaidPensionCosts	7533000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Prepaid Pension Costs DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPrepaidPensionCosts	14936000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Regulatory Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesRegulatoryAssets	13570000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Regulatory Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesRegulatoryAssets	6473000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	3039000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	2330000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	1132205000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	964653000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	-883368000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Examination Liability Recorded IncomeTaxExaminationLiabilityRecorded	6700000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	10000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	500000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	100000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Federal Alternative Minimum Tax Credit Carryforwards FederalAlternativeMinimumTaxCreditCarryforwards	10100000	USD
CY2010	ato	Significant Purchase Commitment Amount Description SignificantPurchaseCommitmentAmountDescription	1562800000	USD
CY2009	ato	Significant Purchase Commitment Amount Description SignificantPurchaseCommitmentAmountDescription	1484500000	USD
CY2011	ato	Significant Purchase Commitment Amount Description SignificantPurchaseCommitmentAmountDescription	1498600000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Purchase Commitment Amount Maximum PurchaseCommitmentAmountMaximum	6.36	USD
CY2011	ato	Description Of Pending Litigation DescriptionOfPendingLitigation	Since April 2009, Atmos Energy and two subsidiaries of AEH, AEM and Atmos Gathering Company, LLC (AGC) (collectively, the Atmos Entities), have been involved in a lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court of Edmonson County, Kentucky related to our Park City Gathering Project. The dispute which gave rise to the litigation involves the amount of royalties due from a third party producer to landowners (who own the mineral rights) for natural gas produced from the landowners’ properties. The third party producer was operating pursuant to leases between the landowners and certain investors/working interest owners. The third party producer filed a petition in bankruptcy, which was subsequently dismissed due to the lack of meaningful assets to reorganize or liquidate. Although certain Atmos Energy companies entered into contracts with the third party producer to gather, treat and ultimately sell natural gas produced from the landowners’ properties, no Atmos Energy company had a contractual relationship with the landowners or the investors/working interest owners. After the lawsuit was filed, the landowners were successful in terminating for non-payment of royalties the leases related to the production of natural gas from their properties. Subsequent to termination, the investors/working interest owners under such leases filed additional claims against us for the termination of the leases. During the trial, the landowners and the investors/working interest owners requested an award of compensatory damages plus punitive damages against us. On December 17, 2010, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the landowners and investor/working interest owners and awarded compensatory damages of $3.8 million and punitive damages of $27.5 million payable by Atmos Energy and the two AEH subsidiaries. A hearing was held on February 28, 2011 to hear a number of motions, including a motion to dismiss the jury verdict and a motion for a new trial. The motions to dismiss the jury verdict and for a new trial were denied. However, the total punitive damages award was reduced from $27.5 million to $24.7 million. On March 30, 2011, we filed a notice of appeal of this ruling. We strongly believe that the trial court erred in not granting our motion to dismiss the lawsuit prior to trial and that the verdict is unsupported by law. After consultation with counsel, we believe that it is probable that any judgment based on this verdict will be overturned on appeal. In addition, in a related development, on July 12, 2011, the Atmos Entities filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court, Western District of Kentucky against the third party producer and its affiliates to recover all costs, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by the Atmos Entities, which are associated with the defense and appeal of the case discussed above as well as for all damages awarded to the plaintiffs in such case against the Atmos Entities. The total amount of damages being claimed in the lawsuit is “open-ended” since the appellate process and related costs are ongoing. This lawsuit is based upon the indemnification provisions agreed to by the third party producer in favor of Atmos Gathering that are contained in an agreement entered into between Atmos Gathering and the third party producer in May 2009. We have accrued what we believe is an adequate amount for the anticipated resolution of this matter; however, the amount accrued is less than the amount of the verdict. The Company does not have insurance coverage that could mitigate any losses that may arise from the resolution of this matter; however, we believe that the final outcome will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
CY2011Q3	ato	Significant Purchase Commitment Remaining Minimum Amount Committed Next Fiscal Year SignificantPurchaseCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommittedNextFiscalYear	274985000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Significant Purchase Commitment Remaining Minimum Amount Committed Second Fiscal Year SignificantPurchaseCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommittedSecondFiscalYear	102959000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Significant Purchase Commitment Remaining Minimum Amount Committed Third Fiscal Year SignificantPurchaseCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommittedThirdFiscalYear	82235000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Significant Purchase Commitment Remaining Minimum Amount Committed Fourth Fiscal Year SignificantPurchaseCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommittedFourthFiscalYear	0	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Significant Purchase Commitment Remaining Minimum Amount Committed Fifth Fiscal Year SignificantPurchaseCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommittedFifthFiscalYear	0	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Significant Purchase Commitment Remaining Minimum Amount Committed Thereafter SignificantPurchaseCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommittedThereafter	0	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Total Estimated Purchase Commitments TotalEstimatedPurchaseCommitments	460179000	USD
CY2010	ato	Capital Leases Accumulated Depreciation CapitalLeasesAccumulatedDepreciation	800000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Capital Leased Assets Gross CapitalLeasedAssetsGross	1300000	USD
CY2011	ato	Capital Leases Accumulated Depreciation CapitalLeasesAccumulatedDepreciation	900000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Contractual Demand Fees Demand Fees Due Next Fiscal Year ContractualDemandFeesDemandFeesDueNextFiscalYear	25362000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Contractual Demand Fees Demand Fees Due Second Fiscal Year ContractualDemandFeesDemandFeesDueSecondFiscalYear	16711000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Contractual Demand Fees Demand Fees Due Third Fiscal Year ContractualDemandFeesDemandFeesDueThirdFiscalYear	9988000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Contractual Demand Fees Demand Fees Due Fourth Fiscal Year ContractualDemandFeesDemandFeesDueFourthFiscalYear	4130000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Contractual Demand Fees Demand Fees Due Fifth Fiscal Year ContractualDemandFeesDemandFeesDueFifthFiscalYear	278000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Contractual Demand Fees Demand Fees Due Thereafter ContractualDemandFeesDemandFeesDueThereafter	165000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Total Estimated Contractual Demand Fees TotalEstimatedContractualDemandFees	56634000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Capital Leases Income Statement Sales Type Lease Revenue CapitalLeasesIncomeStatementSalesTypeLeaseRevenue	900000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Capital Leases Income Statement Sales Type Lease Revenue CapitalLeasesIncomeStatementSalesTypeLeaseRevenue	1200000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Capital Leases Net Investment In Sales Type Leases Minimum Payments To Be Received CapitalLeasesNetInvestmentInSalesTypeLeasesMinimumPaymentsToBeReceived	7800000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Capital Leases Income Statement Sales Type Lease Revenue CapitalLeasesIncomeStatementSalesTypeLeaseRevenue	500000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Capital Leases Net Investment In Sales Type Leases Minimum Payments To Be Received CapitalLeasesNetInvestmentInSalesTypeLeasesMinimumPaymentsToBeReceived	2000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Receivable Due Thereafter CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableDueThereafter	0	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Receivable CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivable	2013000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Capital Leased Assets Gross CapitalLeasedAssetsGross	1300000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Current CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	186000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	186000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	186000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Four Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	186000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Five Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears	186000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter	264000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue	1194000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Capital Lease Interest Included In Lease Payments CapitalLeaseInterestIncludedInLeasePayments	406000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Present Value Of Net Minimum Payments CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsPresentValueOfNetMinimumPayments	788000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Current OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	17718000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	16846000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	16519000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Four Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	15455000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Five Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears	14921000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter	118108000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue	199567000	USD
CY2009Q3	ato	Lease And Rental Expense1 LeaseAndRentalExpense1	13600000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Lease And Rental Expense1 LeaseAndRentalExpense1	16000000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Lease And Rental Expense1 LeaseAndRentalExpense1	19100000	USD
CY2011Q3	ato	Percentage Of Aem Investment Grade Customers PercentageOfAemInvestmentGradeCustomers	0.54	pure
CY2010Q3	ato	Percentage Of Aem Investment Grade Customers PercentageOfAemInvestmentGradeCustomers	0.58	pure
CY2011Q3	ato	Percentage Of Aem Non Investment Grade Customers PercentageOfAemNonInvestmentGradeCustomers	0.46	pure
CY2010Q3	ato	Percentage Of Aem Non Investment Grade Customers PercentageOfAemNonInvestmentGradeCustomers	0.42	pure
CY2011Q3	ato	Percentage Of Total Aem Customers PercentageOfTotalAemCustomers	1.00	pure
CY2010Q3	ato	Percentage Of Total Aem Customers PercentageOfTotalAemCustomers	1.00	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	157976000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	161925000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	163554000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	-8329000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	-63677000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	-36405000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.03
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.81
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.78
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.03
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.81
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	453668000	USD
CY2011	ato	Gas Sales Revenue Residential GasSalesRevenueResidential	1570723000	USD
CY2010	ato	Gas Sales Revenue Residential GasSalesRevenueResidential	1784051000	USD
CY2009	ato	Gas Sales Revenue Residential GasSalesRevenueResidential	1768082000	USD
CY2011	ato	Gas Sales Revenue Commercial GasSalesRevenueCommercial	698366000	USD
CY2010	ato	Gas Sales Revenue Commercial GasSalesRevenueCommercial	787433000	USD
CY2009	ato	Gas Sales Revenue Commercial GasSalesRevenueCommercial	807109000	USD
CY2011	ato	Gas Sales Revenue Industrial GasSalesRevenueIndustrial	106569000	USD
CY2010	ato	Gas Sales Revenue Industrial GasSalesRevenueIndustrial	110280000	USD
CY2009	ato	Gas Sales Revenue Industrial GasSalesRevenueIndustrial	132487000	USD
CY2011	ato	Gas Sales Revenue Public Authority And Other GasSalesRevenuePublicAuthorityAndOther	69176000	USD
CY2010	ato	Gas Sales Revenue Public Authority And Other GasSalesRevenuePublicAuthorityAndOther	70402000	USD
CY2009	ato	Gas Sales Revenue Public Authority And Other GasSalesRevenuePublicAuthorityAndOther	88972000	USD
CY2011	ato	Gas Sales Revenue GasSalesRevenue	2444834000	USD
CY2010	ato	Gas Sales Revenue GasSalesRevenue	2752166000	USD
CY2009	ato	Gas Sales Revenue GasSalesRevenue	2796650000	USD
CY2011	ato	Gas Transportation Revenue GasTransportationRevenue	59547000	USD
CY2010	ato	Gas Transportation Revenue GasTransportationRevenue	58511000	USD
CY2009	ato	Gas Transportation Revenue GasTransportationRevenue	56162000	USD
CY2011	ato	Gas Revenue Other GasRevenueOther	26599000	USD
CY2010	ato	Gas Revenue Other GasRevenueOther	31091000	USD
CY2009	ato	Gas Revenue Other GasRevenueOther	31185000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	364724000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	155289000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	71100000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax	2897000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	73997000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.78
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	211199000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	32259000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	-4229000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax	1075000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	128160000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax	4049000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	132209000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.41
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.04
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.45
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.41
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.04
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.45
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	266805000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	34078000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	-1474000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax	908000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-566000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	-0.02
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.01
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.01
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	-0.02
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.01
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.01
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	242044000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	41333000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	1098000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax	863000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1961000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.01
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.01
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.02
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.01
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.01
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.02
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	403003000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	186598000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	90975000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax	2355000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	93330000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.97
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.03
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.00
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.97
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.03
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.00
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	445444000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	219757000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	111283000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax	2843000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	114126000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.19
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.03
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.22
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.19
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.03
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.22
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	247666000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-3154000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	-0.04
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.01
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.03
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	-0.04
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.01
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.03
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	241392000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	38537000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	244000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax	1293000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1537000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.02
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.02
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.02
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.02
CY2010Q4	ato	Discontinued Operations Operating Revenues DiscontinuedOperationsOperatingRevenues	23700000	USD
CY2011Q1	ato	Discontinued Operations Operating Revenues DiscontinuedOperationsOperatingRevenues	35800000	USD
CY2009Q4	ato	Discontinued Operations Operating Revenues DiscontinuedOperationsOperatingRevenues	21100000	USD
CY2010Q1	ato	Discontinued Operations Operating Revenues DiscontinuedOperationsOperatingRevenues	32100000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Discontinued Operations Operating Revenues DiscontinuedOperationsOperatingRevenues	7700000	USD
CY2010Q4	ato	Discontinued Operations Gross Profit DiscontinuedOperationsGrossProfit	8800000	USD
CY2011Q1	ato	Discontinued Operations Gross Profit DiscontinuedOperationsGrossProfit	11200000	USD
CY2009Q4	ato	Discontinued Operations Gross Profit DiscontinuedOperationsGrossProfit	7800000	USD
CY2010Q1	ato	Discontinued Operations Gross Profit DiscontinuedOperationsGrossProfit	8900000	USD
CY2010Q3	ato	Discontinued Operations Gross Profit DiscontinuedOperationsGrossProfit	5200000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Operating Income Loss DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingIncomeLoss	4800000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Operating Income Loss DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingIncomeLoss	6700000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Operating Income Loss DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingIncomeLoss	4000000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Operating Income Loss DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingIncomeLoss	4800000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Operating Income Loss DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingIncomeLoss	1700000	USD

Files In Submission

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$ATO
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2010 Q3 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000095012311100074 Filed on November 22, 2011

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$ATO Atmos Energy Corp Stock $ato

2010 Q3 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000095012311100074 Filed on November 22, 2011

Income Statement

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Files In Submission

$ATO
Atmos Energy Corp Stock $ato