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Pension and other post-retirement benefits - Components of Net Benefit Costs for Pension Plans and OPEB Recorded as Part of Administrative Expenses (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Pension Plans |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |
Service cost | $ 15,481 | $ 14,747
Interest cost | 18,717 | 20,191
Expected return on plan assets | (27,820) | (24,842)
Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain) | 1,119 | 1,140
Amortization of prior service credits | (649) | (622)
Amortization of regulatory assets/liability | 9,823 | 13,031
Net benefit cost | 16,671 | 23,645
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |
Service cost | 5,791 | 4,838
Interest cost | 6,727 | 6,642
Expected return on plan assets | (7,451) | (6,404)
Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain) | (272) | (230)
Amortization of prior service credits | (262) | (262)
Amortization of regulatory assets/liability | 3,982 | 391
Net benefit cost | $ 8,515 | $ 4,975

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- Definition Defined Benefit Plan Amortization Of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of gain (loss) recognized in net periodic benefit (cost) credit of defined benefit plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (h)(4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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- Definition Amount of prior service cost (credit) recognized in net periodic benefit cost (credit) of defined benefit plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (h)(5) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of expected return (loss) recognized in net periodic benefit (cost) credit, calculated based on expected long-term rate of return and market-related value of plan assets of defined benefit plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (h)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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- Definition Amount of cost recognized for passage of time related to defined benefit plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (h)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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- Definition Amount of net periodic benefit cost (credit) for defined benefit plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (h) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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- Definition Amount of cost for actuarial present value of benefits attributed to service rendered by employee for defined benefit plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (h)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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