Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss

Details of the Company's expected credit losses were as follows:

	Electric		Natural gas distribution		Pipeline		Construction services		Total
	(In thousands)
At December 31, 2021	$	269	$	1,506	$	2	$	2,533	$	4,310
Current expected credit loss provision	1,325		4,084		—		186		5,595
Less write-offs charged against the allowance	1,625		4,913		—		625		7,163
Credit loss recoveries collected	406		938		—		68		1,412
At December 31, 2022	375		1,615		2		2,162		4,154
Current expected credit loss provision	1,645		5,777		—		6,202		13,624
Less write-offs charged against the allowance	1,994		7,355		2		455		9,806
Credit loss recoveries collected	388		1,152		—		58		1,598
At December 31, 2023	$	414	$	1,189	$	—	$	7,967	$	9,570

Schedule of Inventory, Current

Inventories at December 31 consisted of:

	2023		2022
	(In thousands)
Natural gas in storage (current)	$	39,377	$	22,533
Merchandise for resale	34,955		27,910
Materials and supplies	5,460		6,846
Other	7,600		6,959
Total	$	87,392	$	64,248

Allowance For Funds Used During Construction And Interest Capitalized

The amount of AFUDC for the years ended December 31 was as follows:

	2023		2022		2021
	(In thousands)
AFUDC - borrowed	$	10,035	$	2,236	$	2,833
AFUDC - equity	$	1,894	$	2,165	$	6,961

Contract receivable retainage

Amounts representing balances billed but not paid by customers under retainage provisions in contracts at December 31 were as follows:

	2023		2022
	(In thousands)
Short-term retainage*	$	84,474	$	91,474
Long-term retainage**	21,355		19,511
Total retainage	$	105,829	$	110,985

*    Expected to be paid within 12 months or less and included in receivables, net.

**    Included in noncurrent assets - other.

Schedule of earnings per share reconciliation

A reconciliation of the weighted average common shares outstanding used in the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations follows:

	2023		2022		2021
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	203,640		203,358		202,076
Effect of dilutive performance share awards	298		104		307
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	203,938		203,462		202,383
Earnings per share - basic:
Income from continuing operations	$	2.36	$	1.23	$	1.20
Discontinued operations, net of tax	(.32)		.58		.67
Earnings per share - basic	$	2.04	$	1.81	$	1.87
Earnings per share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations	$	2.36	$	1.23	$	1.20
Discontinued operations, net of tax	(.33)		.58		.67
Earnings per share - diluted	$	2.03	$	1.81	$	1.87
Shares excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share	—		14		—
Dividends declared per common share	$	.6950	$	.8750	$	.8550