GENERAL (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Supplementary cash flows information:
Interest paid (net of interest capitalized)		$ 60,966	$ 61,633
Income taxes paid — net		18,444	19,817
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment and other long-lived assets	[1]	99,395	71,219
Allowance for equity funds used during construction		$ 7,519	$ 7,549

[1] Amounts consist of accrued liabilities for construction, labor, materials and other costs that have not been included in investing activities. These amounts have not been paid for as of March 31, 2016 or 2015, respectively, but have been or will be included as a cash outflow from investing activities for expenditures for property, plant and equipment when paid.