Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Summary of income tax expense

Income tax expense (benefit) is summarized as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2015			2014			2013
Current
Federal	$	983		$	44,887		$	56,544
State	(1,397		)	(4,387		)	10,841
	(414		)	40,500			67,385
Deferred
Federal	(72,869		)	(32,375		)	111,147
State	(99		)	(80,192		)	27,233
	(72,968		)	(112,567		)	138,380
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	(73,382	)	$	(72,067	)	$	205,765

Schedule of reconciliation of actual provision for income taxes and provision for income taxes computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate

was different than the amounts computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2015			2014			2013
Statutory federal income tax rate	35		%	35		%	35		%
Computed "expected" federal income tax	$	(65,546	)	$	11,341		$	169,938
State income tax, net of federal income tax benefit	(3,152		)	903			17,513
Deferred tax adjustment related to change in overall state tax rate	2,822			(86,956		)	15,220
Valuation allowance	187			3,977			—
Uncertain tax positions	—			(1,974		)	2,400
Provision to return adjustments	(6,326		)	(791		)	700
Other, net	(1,367		)	1,433			(6		)
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	(73,382	)	$	(72,067	)	$	205,765

Schedule of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets

deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets were as follows:

	December 31,
(In thousands)	2015			2014
Deferred Tax Assets
Net operating losses	$	223,402		$	141,961
Alternative minimum tax credits	228,693			227,719
Foreign tax credits	3,837			4,525
Incentive compensation	22,509			21,961
Deferred compensation	7,869			9,531
Post-retirement benefits	13,556			13,689
Other	2,905			5,526
Less valuation allowance	(4,965		)	(4,779		)
Total	497,806			420,133
Deferred Tax Liabilities
Properties and equipment	1,303,840			1,248,532
Equity method investments	1,202			—
Derivative instruments	—			50,750
Total	1,305,042			1,299,282
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	807,236		$	879,149

Schedule of reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits

A reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2015		2014			2013
Balance at beginning of year	$	663	$	3,700		$	—
Additions based on tax provisions related to the current year	—		—			3,700
Additions for tax positions of prior years	—		—			—
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	—		(3,037		)	—
Settlements	—		—			—
Balance at end of year	$	663	$	663		$	3,700