Business segment data (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Information on the Company's businesses

Information on the Company's segments was as follows:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2018			2017
	(In thousands)
External operating revenues:
Regulated operations:
Electric	$	87,404		$	88,225
Natural gas distribution	332,664			342,519
Pipeline and midstream	4,391			2,870
	424,459			433,614
Nonregulated operations:
Pipeline and midstream	4,442			3,643
Construction materials and contracting	213,284			200,776
Construction services	334,050			299,572
Other	58			320
	551,834			504,311
Total external operating revenues	$	976,293		$	937,925
Intersegment operating revenues:
Regulated operations:
Electric	$	—		$	—
Natural gas distribution	—			—
Pipeline and midstream	21,735			21,489
	21,735			21,489
Nonregulated operations:
Pipeline and midstream	24			34
Construction materials and contracting	101			86
Construction services	11			6
Other	2,638			1,743
	2,774			1,869
Intersegment eliminations	(24,509		)	(23,358		)
Total intersegment operating revenues	$	—		$	—

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Earnings on common stock:
Regulated operations:
Electric	$	13,084		$	14,333
Natural gas distribution	32,623			27,861
Pipeline and midstream	5,459			4,557
	51,166			46,751
Nonregulated operations:
Pipeline and midstream	(179		)	(628		)
Construction materials and contracting	(23,521		)	(19,912		)
Construction services	15,090			7,362
Other	(596		)	(279		)
	(9,206		)	(13,457		)
Intersegment eliminations*	—			2,173
Earnings on common stock before income from discontinued operations	41,960			35,467
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax*	477			1,687
Total earnings on common stock	$	42,437		$	37,154

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