Long-Term Debt - Outstanding Long-Term Debt (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt		$ 230,100		$ 205,200
Capital lease obligation		1,712		2,070
Total Long-term debt		231,403		206,816
Less: current maturities		(9,389)		(9,421)
Less: debt issuance costs		(418)		(433)
Total long-term debt, net of current maturities		222,014		197,395
9.08% bond, due June 1, 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	[1]	7,983		7,982
5.50% note, due October 12, 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt		6,000		6,000
5.93% note, due October 31, 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt		18,000		18,000
5.68% note, due June 30, 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt		26,100		26,100
Uncollateralized Senior Notes Due On May Two Thousand Twenty Eight [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt		7,000		7,000
Uncollateralized Senior Note Two Due on December Two Thousand Twenty Eight [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt		20,000		20,000
Uncollateralized Senior Notes Due On Two Thousand Twenty Nine [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt		50,000		50,000
3.25% note, due April 30, 2032 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt		70,000		70,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt		25,000	[2]	0
Promissory note [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt		$ 26		$ 97

[1] FPU secured first mortgage bonds are guaranteed by Chesapeake Utilities.

[2] FPU secured first mortgage bonds are guaranteed by Chesapeake Utilities.(2) In January 2018, we borrowed an additional $25.0 million under the Revolver, which we classified as long-term debt. The maturity date of the Revolver is October 8, 2020. The interest rate on the Revolver is a variable interest rate that is dependent on various factors and resets every thirty days. As of March 31, 2018, the interest rate on the Revolver was LIBOR + 1.00% or 2.88%.