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Financial instruments - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Detail) - CAD CAD in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
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Cross currency swap | Net Investment Hedging |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | CAD 72,023 |
Foreign exchange forward | Net Investment Hedging |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 432 |
Commodity contracts for regulatory operations |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 3,422 |
Interest rate swaps |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 10,613 |
Level 1 |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Long-term debt | 817,895 | CAD 517,637
Convertible debentures | 1,277 | 455,975
Total financial liabilities | 819,172 | 973,612
Level 2 |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Notes receivable | 47,912 | 47,933
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 8,041 | 66,316
Total financial assets | 55,953 | 114,249
Long-term debt | 3,275,176 | 3,481,629
Convertible debentures | 0 |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 86,393 | 108,825
Total financial liabilities | 3,380,542 | 3,609,067
Level 2 | Energy contracts | Designated as a hedge | Cash flow hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 0 |
Level 2 | Energy contracts | Not designated as a hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 137 |
Level 2 | Energy contracts | Not designated as a hedge | Cash flow hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 39 |
Level 2 | Cross currency swap | Designated as a hedge | Net Investment Hedging |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 72,023 | 95,404
Level 2 | Foreign exchange forward | Not designated as a hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 432 |
Level 2 | Foreign exchange forward | Not designated as a hedge | Cash flow hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets |  | 17,864
Level 2 | Commodity contracts for regulatory operations |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 92 | 359
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 3,286 | 36
Level 2 | Transmission congestion rights |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 7,812 |
Level 2 | Interest rate swaps | Designated as a hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 10,613 | 13,385
Level 2 | Interest rate swaps | Designated as a hedge | Cash flow hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets |  | 48,093
Level 2 | Series C Preferred Stock |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Convertible debentures |  | 18,613
Preferred shares, Series C | 18,973 |
Level 3 |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Notes receivable | 0 | 0
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 79,490 | 84,554
Total financial assets | 79,490 | 84,554
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 97 | 0
Total financial liabilities | 97 | 0
Level 3 | Energy contracts | Designated as a hedge | Cash flow hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 79,490 | 84,554
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 97 |
Level 3 | Energy contracts | Not designated as a hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 0 |
Level 3 | Commodity contracts for regulatory operations |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 0 |
Level 3 | Transmission congestion rights |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 0 |
Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Commodity contracts for regulatory operations |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 553 | 314
Carrying amount |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Notes receivable | 41,873 | 38,183
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 87,531 | 150,870
Total financial assets | 129,404 | 189,053
Long-term debt | 3,863,296 | 3,913,415
Convertible debentures | 1,218 | 358,619
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 86,490 | 108,825
Total financial liabilities | 3,969,468 | 4,399,319
Carrying amount | Energy contracts | Designated as a hedge | Cash flow hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 79,490 | 84,554
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 97 |
Carrying amount | Energy contracts | Not designated as a hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 137 |
Carrying amount | Energy contracts | Not designated as a hedge | Cash flow hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 39 |
Carrying amount | Cross currency swap | Designated as a hedge | Net Investment Hedging |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 72,023 | 95,404
Carrying amount | Foreign exchange forward | Not designated as a hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 432 |
Carrying amount | Foreign exchange forward | Not designated as a hedge | Cash flow hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets |  | 17,864
Carrying amount | Commodity contracts for regulatory operations |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 92 | 359
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 3,286 | 36
Carrying amount | Transmission congestion rights |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 7,812 |
Carrying amount | Interest rate swaps | Designated as a hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 10,613 | 13,385
Carrying amount | Interest rate swaps | Designated as a hedge | Cash flow hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets |  | 48,093
Carrying amount | Series C Preferred Stock |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Convertible debentures |  | 18,460
Preferred shares, Series C | 18,464 |
Fair Value |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Notes receivable | 47,912 | 47,933
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 87,531 | 150,870
Total financial assets | 135,443 | 198,803
Long-term debt | 4,093,071 | 3,999,266
Convertible debentures | 1,277 | 455,975
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 86,490 | 108,825
Total financial liabilities | 4,199,811 | 4,582,679
Fair Value | Energy contracts | Designated as a hedge | Cash flow hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 79,490 | 84,554
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 97 |
Fair Value | Energy contracts | Not designated as a hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 137 |
Fair Value | Energy contracts | Not designated as a hedge | Cash flow hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 39 |
Fair Value | Cross currency swap | Designated as a hedge | Net Investment Hedging |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 72,023 | 95,404
Fair Value | Foreign exchange forward | Not designated as a hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 432 |
Fair Value | Foreign exchange forward | Not designated as a hedge | Cash flow hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets |  | 17,864
Fair Value | Commodity contracts for regulatory operations |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 92 | 359
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 3,286 | 36
Fair Value | Transmission congestion rights |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets | 7,812 |
Fair Value | Interest rate swaps | Designated as a hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 10,613 | 13,385
Fair Value | Interest rate swaps | Designated as a hedge | Cash flow hedge |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, assets |  | 48,093
Fair Value | Series C Preferred Stock |  |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Convertible debentures |  | CAD 18,613
Preferred shares, Series C | CAD 18,973 |

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- Definition Fair value portion of probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition Fair value portion of borrowing which can be exchanged for a specified number of another security at the option of the issuer or the holder, for example, but not limited to, the entity's common stock. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77997519&loc=d3e13433-108611 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77997519&loc=d3e13495-108611 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82849420&loc=SL20226008-175313 + Details
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- Definition Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82849420&loc=SL20226008-175313 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77997519&loc=d3e13495-108611 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77997519&loc=d3e13433-108611 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958 + Details
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- Definition The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. + References No definition available. + Details
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