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Business segment data
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting [Abstract]  
Business segment data Business Segment Data
The Company's reportable segments are those that are based on the Company's method of internal reporting, which generally segregates the strategic business units due to differences in products, services and regulation. The internal reporting of these operating segments is defined based on the reporting and review process used by the Company's chief executive officer. The Company's operations are located within the United States.
The electric segment generates, transmits and distributes electricity in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. The natural gas distribution segment distributes natural gas in those states, as well as in Idaho, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington. These operations also supply related value-added services.
The pipeline segment provides natural gas transportation and underground storage services through a regulated pipeline system primarily in the Rocky Mountain and northern Great Plains regions of the United States. This segment also provides non-regulated cathodic protection and other energy-related services.
The construction materials and contracting segment mines, processes and sells construction aggregates (crushed stone, sand and gravel); produces and sells asphalt mix; and supplies ready-mix concrete. This segment focuses on vertical integration of its contracting services with its construction materials to support the aggregate-based product lines including aggregate placement, asphalt and concrete paving, and site development and grading. Although not common to all locations, other products include the sale of cement, asphalt oil for various commercial and roadway applications, various finished concrete products and other building materials and related contracting services. This segment operates in the central, southern and western United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.
The construction services segment provides a full spectrum of construction services through its electrical and mechanical and transmission and distribution specialty contracting services across the country. These specialty contracting services are provided to utilities and manufacturing, transportation, commercial, industrial, institutional, renewable and governmental customers. Its electrical and mechanical contracting services include construction and maintenance of electrical and communication wiring and infrastructure, fire suppression systems, and mechanical piping and services. Its transmission and distribution contracting services include construction and maintenance of overhead and underground electrical, gas and communication infrastructure, as well as manufacturing and distribution of transmission line construction equipment and tools.
The Other category includes the activities of Centennial Capital, which, through its subsidiary InterSource Insurance Company, insures various types of risks as a captive insurer for certain of the Company's subsidiaries. The function of the captive insurer is to fund the self-insured layers of the insured Company's general liability, automobile liability, pollution liability and other coverages. Centennial Capital also owns certain real and personal property. In addition, the Other category includes certain assets, liabilities and tax adjustments of the holding company primarily associated
with corporate functions and certain general and administrative costs (reflected in operation and maintenance expense) and interest expense, which were previously allocated to the refining business and Fidelity and do not meet the criteria for income (loss) from discontinued operations.
Discontinued operations include the supporting activities of Fidelity other than certain general and administrative costs and interest expense as described above.
The information below follows the same accounting policies as described in Note 2. Information on the Company's segments as of December 31 and for the years then ended was as follows:
 20212020 2019 
 (In thousands)
External operating revenues:   
Regulated operations:
Electric$349,039 $331,538 $351,725 
Natural gas distribution971,364 847,651 865,222 
Pipeline69,940 69,957 62,357 
 1,390,343 1,249,146 1,279,304 
Non-regulated operations:
Pipeline12,918 15,389 21,835 
Construction materials and contracting2,228,306 2,177,585 2,189,651 
Construction services2,049,082 2,090,685 1,845,896 
Other84 (55)90 
 4,290,390 4,283,604 4,057,472 
Total external operating revenues$5,680,733 $5,532,750 $5,336,776 
Intersegment operating revenues:   
Regulated operations:
Electric$543 $491 $— 
Natural gas distribution576 534 — 
Pipeline58,989 57,977 56,037 
60,108 59,002 56,037 
Non-regulated operations:
Pipeline689 554 215 
Construction materials and contracting624 417 1,066 
Construction services2,555 5,038 3,370 
Other13,630 11,958 16,461 
17,498 17,967 21,112 
Intersegment eliminations(77,606)(76,969)(77,149)
Total intersegment operating revenues$— $— $— 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization:   
Electric$66,750 $62,998 $58,721 
Natural gas distribution86,065 84,580 79,564 
Pipeline20,569 21,669 21,220 
Construction materials and contracting100,974 89,626 77,450 
Construction services20,270 23,523 17,038 
Other4,586 2,704 2,024 
Total depreciation, depletion and amortization$299,214 $285,100 $256,017 
Operating income (loss):
Electric$66,335 $63,434 $64,039 
Natural gas distribution89,173 73,082 69,188 
Pipeline48,078 49,436 42,796 
Construction materials and contracting191,077 214,498 179,955 
Construction services145,754 147,644 126,426 
Other(6,198)(3,169)(1,184)
Total operating income$534,219 $544,925 $481,220 
 20212020 2019 
 (In thousands)
Interest expense:   
Electric$26,712 $26,699 $25,334 
Natural gas distribution37,265 36,798 35,488 
Pipeline7,010 7,622 7,198 
Construction materials and contracting19,218 20,577 23,792 
Construction services3,540 4,095 5,331 
Other342 883 1,859 
Intersegment eliminations(103)(155)(415)
Total interest expense$93,984 $96,519 $98,587 
Income tax expense (benefit):   
Electric$(7,626)$(11,636)$(12,650)
Natural gas distribution8,366 5,746 1,405 
Pipeline9,594 7,650 7,219 
Construction materials and contracting43,459 47,431 37,389 
Construction services35,426 35,797 29,973 
Other(299)(398)(57)
Total income tax expense$88,920 $84,590 $63,279 
Net income (loss):   
Regulated operations:
Electric$51,906 $55,601 $54,763 
Natural gas distribution51,596 44,049 39,517 
Pipeline39,583 35,453 28,255 
143,085 135,103 122,535 
Non-regulated operations:
Pipeline1,313 1,559 1,348 
Construction materials and contracting129,755 147,325 120,371 
Construction services109,402 109,721 92,998 
Other(5,824)(3,181)(2,086)
234,646 255,424 212,631 
Income from continuing operations377,731 390,527 335,166 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax400 (322)287 
Net income$378,131 $390,205 $335,453 
Capital expenditures:   
Electric$82,427 $114,676 $99,449 
Natural gas distribution170,411 193,048 206,799 
Pipeline234,803 62,224 71,477 
Construction materials and contracting417,524 191,635 190,092 
Construction services29,140 83,651 60,500 
Other1,501 3,045 8,181 
Total capital expenditures (a)$935,806 $648,279 $636,498 
 20212020 2019 
 (In thousands)
Assets:   
Electric (b)$1,810,695 $2,123,693 $1,680,194 
Natural gas distribution (b)2,929,519 2,302,770 2,574,965 
Pipeline913,945 703,377 677,482 
Construction materials and contracting2,161,653 1,798,493 1,684,161 
Construction services845,262 818,662 761,127 
Other (c)248,489 305,157 303,279 
Assets held for sale872 1,220 1,851 
Total assets$8,910,435 $8,053,372 $7,683,059 
Property, plant and equipment:   
Electric (b)$2,295,646 $2,323,403 $2,227,145 
Natural gas distribution (b)3,015,164 2,868,853 2,688,123 
Pipeline1,051,868 821,697 834,215 
Construction materials and contracting2,347,696 2,028,476 1,910,562 
Construction services225,758 220,796 213,370 
Other36,717 37,545 35,213 
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization3,216,461 3,133,831 2,991,486 
Net property, plant and equipment$5,756,388 $5,166,939 $4,917,142 
(a)Capital expenditures for 2021, 2020 and 2019 include noncash transactions such as capital expenditure-related accounts payable, AFUDC and accrual of holdback payments in connection with acquisitions totaling $38.7 million, $(15.7) million and $4.8 million, respectively.
(b)Includes allocations of common utility property.
(c)Includes assets not directly assignable to a business (i.e. cash and cash equivalents, certain accounts receivable, certain investments and other miscellaneous current and deferred assets).