| Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block] |
The following table reflects goodwill allocated to each reporting segment at December 31, 2014 and 2013:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Electricity | | Gas | | Water | | Total Company | | (in thousands) | Goodwill balance at January 1, 2013 | | | | | | | | Goodwill before impairment | $ | 475,711 |
| | $ | 383,743 |
| | $ | 414,394 |
| | $ | 1,273,848 |
| Accumulated impairment losses | (249,502 | ) | | — |
| | (323,330 | ) | | (572,832 | ) | Goodwill, net | 226,209 |
| | 383,743 |
| | 91,064 |
| | 701,016 |
| | | | | | | | | Goodwill impairment | (173,249 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (173,249 | ) | Adjustments of previous acquisitions | 3,958 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 3,958 |
| Effect of change in exchange rates | 3,314 |
| | 11,135 |
| | 2,404 |
| | 16,853 |
| | | | | | | | | Goodwill balance at December 31, 2013 | | | | | | | | Goodwill before impairment | 493,610 |
| | 394,878 |
| | 429,783 |
| | 1,318,271 |
| Accumulated impairment losses | (433,378 | ) | | — |
| | (336,315 | ) | | (769,693 | ) | Goodwill, net | 60,232 |
| | 394,878 |
| | 93,468 |
| | 548,578 |
| | | | | | | | | Goodwill impairment | (977 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (977 | ) | Effect of change in exchange rates | (3,568 | ) | | (35,393 | ) | | (7,820 | ) | | (46,781 | ) | | | | | | | | | Goodwill balance at December 31, 2014 | | | | | | | | Goodwill before impairment | 449,668 |
| | 359,485 |
| | 382,655 |
| | 1,191,808 |
| Accumulated impairment losses | (393,981 | ) | | — |
| | (297,007 | ) | | (690,988 | ) | Goodwill, net | $ | 55,687 |
| | $ | 359,485 |
| | $ | 85,648 |
| | $ | 500,820 |
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