Business segment data (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Information on the Company's businesses

Information on the Company's businesses was as follows:

Three Months Ended June 30, 2014	External Operating Revenues		Inter- segment Operating Revenues			Earnings on Common Stock
	(In thousands)
Electric	$	65,149	$	—		$	7,823
Natural gas distribution	146,077		—			(4,494		)
Pipeline and energy services	43,463		7,888			5,789
	254,689		7,888			9,118
Exploration and production	129,309		10,271			19,180
Construction materials and contracting	434,452		8,106			10,554
Construction services	275,109		7,273			14,307
Other	487		1,744			1,608
	839,357		27,394			45,649
Intersegment eliminations	—		(35,282		)	(832		)
Total	$	1,094,046	$	—		$	53,935

Three Months Ended June 30, 2013	External Operating Revenues		Inter- segment Operating Revenues			Earnings on Common Stock
	(In thousands)
Electric	$	56,981	$	—		$	4,410
Natural gas distribution	127,584		—			(5,893		)
Pipeline and energy services	42,877		7,999			(6,395		)
	227,442		7,999			(7,878		)
Exploration and production	137,053		12,556			32,995
Construction materials and contracting	418,345		12,958			10,025
Construction services	277,259		2,340			12,915
Other	496		1,839			340
	833,153		29,693			56,275
Intersegment eliminations	—		(37,692		)	(2,056		)
Total	$	1,060,595	$	—		$	46,341

Six Months Ended June 30, 2014	External Operating Revenues		Inter- segment Operating Revenues			Earnings on Common Stock
	(In thousands)
Electric	$	138,796	$	—		$	18,856
Natural gas distribution	520,311		—			22,768
Pipeline and energy services	87,124		26,164			10,138
	746,231		26,164			51,762
Exploration and production	245,976		31,139			40,120
Construction materials and contracting	598,875		12,123			(13,019		)
Construction services	545,002		11,010			30,875
Other	815		3,468			1,872
	1,390,668		57,740			59,848
Intersegment eliminations	—		(83,904		)	(1,184		)
Total	$	2,136,899	$	—		$	110,426

Six Months Ended June 30, 2013	External Operating Revenues		Inter- segment Operating Revenues			Earnings on Common Stock
	(In thousands)
Electric	$	121,635	$	—		$	14,235
Natural gas distribution	459,337		—			26,624
Pipeline and energy services	70,593		26,717			(4,064		)
	651,565		26,717			36,795
Exploration and production	252,415		22,369			53,279
Construction materials and contracting	580,323		17,251			(10,557		)
Construction services	507,065		3,914			24,579
Other	830		3,657			645
	1,340,633		47,191			67,946
Intersegment eliminations	—		(73,908		)	(2,056		)
Total	$	1,992,198	$	—		$	102,685