Business segment data (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Information on the Company's businesses

Information on the Company's businesses was as follows:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2017			2016
	(In thousands)
External operating revenues:
Regulated operations:
Electric	$	88,225		$	82,923
Natural gas distribution	342,519			299,395
Pipeline and midstream	2,870			3,547
	433,614			385,865
Nonregulated operations:
Pipeline and midstream	3,643			8,697
Construction materials and contracting	200,776			209,852
Construction services	299,572			255,500
Other	320			300
	504,311			474,349
Total external operating revenues	$	937,925		$	860,214
Intersegment operating revenues:
Regulated operations:
Electric	$	—		$	—
Natural gas distribution	—			—
Pipeline and midstream	21,489			21,098
	21,489			21,098
Nonregulated operations:
Pipeline and midstream	34			84
Construction materials and contracting	86			118
Construction services	6			462
Other	1,743			1,669
	1,869			2,333
Intersegment eliminations	(23,358		)	(23,431		)
Total intersegment operating revenues	$	—		$	—

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2017			2016
	(In thousands)
Earnings on common stock:
Regulated operations:
Electric	$	14,333		$	11,119
Natural gas distribution	27,861			25,241
Pipeline and midstream	4,557			5,288
	46,751			41,648
Nonregulated operations:
Pipeline and midstream	(628		)	1
Construction materials and contracting	(19,912		)	(14,471		)
Construction services	7,362			5,974
Other	(279		)	(1,458		)
	(13,457		)	(9,954		)
Intersegment eliminations*	2,173			—
Earnings on common stock before income (loss) from discontinued operations	35,467			31,694
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax*	1,687			(18,036		)
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			(11,040		)
Total earnings on common stock	$	37,154		$	24,698

* Includes an elimination for the presentation of income tax adjustments between continuing and

discontinued operations.