Fair value measurements

The Company measures its investments in certain fixed-income and equity securities at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in income. The Company anticipates using these investments, which consist of an insurance contract, to satisfy its obligations under its unfunded, nonqualified benefit plans for executive officers and certain key management employees, and invests in these fixed-income and equity securities for the purpose of earning investment returns and capital appreciation. These investments, which totaled $64.4 million, $54.0 million and $62.4 million, at June 30, 2014 and 2013, and December 31, 2013, respectively, are classified as Investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The net unrealized gains on these investments were $1.1 million and $2.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively. The net unrealized gains on these investments were $700,000 and $5.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively. The change in fair value, which is considered part of the cost of the plan, is classified in operation and maintenance expense on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company did not elect the fair value option, which records gains and losses in income, for its available-for-sale securities, which include mortgage-backed securities and U.S. Treasury securities. These available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value and are classified as Investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Unrealized gains or losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Details of available-for-sale securities were as follows:



June 30, 2014	Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Mortgage-backed securities	$	7,989	$	91	$	(5	)	$	8,075
U.S. Treasury securities	2,066		30		—			2,096
Total	$	10,055	$	121	$	(5	)	$	10,171



June 30, 2013	Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Mortgage-backed securities	$	8,035	$	58	$	(41	)	$	8,052
U.S. Treasury securities	1,920		15		(15		)	1,920
Total	$	9,955	$	73	$	(56	)	$	9,972



December 31, 2013	Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Mortgage-backed securities	$	8,151	$	69	$	(27	)	$	8,193
U.S. Treasury securities	1,906		15		(4		)	1,917
Total	$	10,057	$	84	$	(31	)	$	10,110

The fair value of the Company's money market funds approximates cost.

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The ASC establishes a hierarchy for grouping assets and liabilities, based on the significance of inputs.

The estimated fair values of the Company's assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis are determined using the market approach.

The Company's Level 2 money market funds consist of investments in short-term unsecured promissory notes and the value is based on comparable market transactions taking into consideration the credit quality of the issuer. The estimated fair value of the Company's Level 2 mortgage-backed securities and U.S. Treasury securities are based on comparable market transactions, other observable inputs or other sources, including pricing from outside sources.

The estimated fair value of the Company's Level 2 insurance contract is based on contractual cash surrender values that are determined primarily by investments in managed separate accounts of the insurer. These amounts approximate fair value. The managed separate accounts are valued based on other observable inputs or corroborated market data.

The estimated fair value of the Company's Level 2 commodity derivative instruments is based upon futures prices, volatility and time to maturity, among other things. Counterparty statements are utilized to determine the value of the commodity derivative instruments and are reviewed and corroborated using various methodologies and significant observable inputs. The Company's and the counterparties' nonperformance risk is also evaluated.

The estimated fair value of the Company's Level 2 interest rate derivative instruments is measured using quoted market prices or pricing models using prevailing market interest rates as of the measurement date. Counterparty statements are utilized to determine the value of the interest rate derivative instruments and are reviewed and corroborated using various methodologies and significant observable inputs. The Company's and the counterparties' nonperformance risk is also evaluated.

Though the Company believes the methods used to estimate fair value are consistent with those used by other market participants, the use of other methods or assumptions could result in a different estimate of fair value. For the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, there were no transfers between Levels 1 and 2.

The Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:



	Fair Value Measurements at June 30, 2014, Using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Balance at June 30, 2014
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Money market funds	$	—	$	19,990	$	—	$	19,990
Insurance contract*	—		64,449		—		64,449
Available-for-sale securities:
Mortgage-backed securities	—		8,075		—		8,075
U.S. Treasury securities	—		2,096		—		2,096
Commodity derivative instruments	—		260		—		260
Total assets measured at fair value	$	—	$	94,870	$	—	$	94,870
Liabilities:
Commodity derivative instruments	$	—	$	17,449	$	—	$	17,449
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	17,449	$	—	$	17,449

* The insurance contract invests approximately 21 percent in common stock of mid-cap companies, 18 percent in common stock of small-cap companies, 29 percent in common stock of large-cap companies, 31 percent in fixed-income investments and 1 percent in cash equivalents.



	Fair Value Measurements at June 30, 2013, Using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Balance at June 30, 2013
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Money market funds	$	—	$	29,902	$	—	$	29,902
Insurance contract*	—		54,039		—		54,039
Available-for-sale securities:
Mortgage-backed securities	—		8,052		—		8,052
U.S. Treasury securities	—		1,920		—		1,920
Commodity derivative instruments	—		11,244		—		11,244
Total assets measured at fair value	$	—	$	105,157	$	—	$	105,157
Liabilities:
Commodity derivative instruments	$	—	$	1,388	$	—	$	1,388
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	1,388	$	—	$	1,388

* The insurance contract invests approximately 28 percent in common stock of mid-cap companies, 28 percent in common stock of small-cap companies, 28 percent in common stock of large-cap companies and 16 percent in fixed-income investments.



	Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013, Using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Balance at December 31, 2013
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Money market funds	$	—	$	19,227	$	—	$	19,227
Insurance contract*	—		62,370		—		62,370
Available-for-sale securities:
Mortgage-backed securities	—		8,193		—		8,193
U.S. Treasury securities	—		1,917		—		1,917
Commodity derivative instruments	—		1,950		—		1,950
Total assets measured at fair value	$	—	$	93,657	$	—	$	93,657
Liabilities:
Commodity derivative instruments	$	—	$	7,483	$	—	$	7,483
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	—	$	7,483	$	—	$	7,483

* The insurance contract invests approximately 29 percent in common stock of mid-cap companies, 28 percent in common stock of small-cap companies, 28 percent in common stock of large-cap companies and 15 percent in fixed-income investments.

The Company applies the provisions of the fair value measurement standard to its nonrecurring, non-financial measurements, including long-lived asset impairments. These assets are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances. The Company reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets, excluding goodwill and oil and natural gas properties, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that such carrying amounts may not be recoverable. During the second quarter of 2013, coalbed natural gas gathering assets were reviewed for impairment and found to be impaired and were written down to their estimated fair value using the income approach. Under this approach, fair value is determined by using the present value of future estimated cash flows. The factors used to determine the estimated future cash flows include, but are not limited to, internal estimates of gathering revenue, future commodity prices and operating costs and equipment salvage values. The estimated cash flows are discounted using a rate that approximates the weighted average cost of capital of a market participant. These fair value inputs are not typically observable. At June 30, 2013, coalbed natural gas gathering assets were written down to the nonrecurring fair value measurement of $9.7 million. The fair value of these coalbed natural gas gathering assets have been categorized as Level 3 (Significant Unobservable Inputs) in the fair value hierarchy.

The Company's long-term debt is not measured at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the fair value is being provided for disclosure purposes only. The fair value was based on discounted future cash flows using current market interest rates. The estimated fair value of the Company's Level 2 long-term debt was as follows:



	Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Long-term debt at June 30, 2014	$	2,187,094	$	2,283,351
Long-term debt at June 30, 2013	$	2,006,754	$	2,090,208
Long-term debt at December 31, 2013	$	1,854,563	$	1,912,590

The carrying amounts of the Company's remaining financial instruments included in current assets and current liabilities approximate their fair values.