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Long-term debt - Narrative (Detail) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 2 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Oct. 13, 2020 USD ($) creditFacility unsecuredBond | Jul. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Jun. 01, 2020 USD ($) | Apr. 30, 2020 USD ($) | Feb. 15, 2020 USD ($) | Jul. 01, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 CLP ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 CLP ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) utilityNote | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) businessUnit | Dec. 31, 2020 CAD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 CLP ($) | Nov. 08, 2020 USD ($) termLoanFacility | Oct. 13, 2020 CLP ($) creditFacility | Oct. 05, 2020 creditFacility | Sep. 23, 2020 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) creditFacility | Feb. 24, 2020 USD ($) | Feb. 14, 2020 CAD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 CAD ($) | Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Jul. 12, 2019 USD ($) | Jun. 27, 2019 CAD ($) | May 23, 2019 USD ($) | Jan. 29, 2019 USD ($) | Jan. 29, 2019 CAD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short-term debt |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 194,478,000 |  | $ 194,478,000 | $ 194,478,000 |  | $ 194,478,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest on long-term debt |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50,486,000 |  | 50,486,000 | 50,486,000 |  | 50,486,000 | $ 44,229,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense during the year on long-term liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 175,358,000 | $ 175,664,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revolving Credit Facility | Commercial Paper |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Par value |  |  |  |  |  | $ 500,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum maturity of amounts drawn under the commercial paper program |  |  |  |  |  | 270 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Bank Credit Facilities | Line of Credit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 135,000,000 |  |  |
U.S. Dollar Subordinated Unsecured Notes | Interest rate swaps |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative notional amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 350,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt repaid upon maturity |  | $ 25,000,000 | $ 100,000,000 | $ 100,000,000 | $ 6,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt | Interest rate swaps |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate (percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4.60% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4.60% |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative notional amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 300,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt | U.S. Dollar Senior Unsecured Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Par value |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,700,000,000 |  | 1,700,000,000 | 1,700,000,000 |  | 1,700,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 600,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate (percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.05% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt | Senior Unsecured Bank Credit Facilities | Revolving Credit Facility | Ascendant |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt assumed in acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 97,029,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of new credit facilities | termLoanFacility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repayments of unsecured debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,655,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt | Senior Unsecured Bank Credit Facilities | Revolving Credit Facility | ESSAL |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt assumed in acquisition | $ 55,786,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 44,408,558,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of new credit facilities | creditFacility | 7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repayments of unsecured debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,474,000 | $ 1,759,423,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt | Senior Unsecured Bank Credit Facilities | Line of Credit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,600,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of new credit facilities | creditFacility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt | Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit Facilities | Letter of Credit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 350,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt | Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit Facilities | Revolving Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 500,000,000 |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt | Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit Facilities | Revolving Credit Facility | Ascendant |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt assumed in acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 62,654,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt | Senior Unsecured Debentures Due February 2050 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Par value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 200,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate (percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3.315% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt | Canadian Dollar Senior Unsecured Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Par value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,150,669,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 300,000,000
Interest rate (percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4.60% | 4.60%
Senior Unsecured Debt | Canadian Dollar Senior Unsecured Notes | Interest rate swaps |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative notional amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 135,000,000 |
Senior Unsecured Debt | Chilean Unidad de Fomento borrowings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Par value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,868,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of debt instruments repaid | unsecuredBond | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt | Chilean Unidad de Fomento borrowings | ESSAL |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt assumed in acquisition | $ 82,320,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,926,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt | Chilean Senior Unsecured Utility Notes, Series B | ESSAL |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repayments of unsecured debt |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,550,000 | $ 58,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate (percent) | 6.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt | Chilean Senior Unsecured Utility Notes, Series C | ESSAL |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate (percent) | 2.80% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.80% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt | U.S. Dollar Subordinated Unsecured Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Par value |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 637,500,000 |  | $ 637,500,000 | $ 637,500,000 |  | $ 637,500,000 | $ 350,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 350,000,000 |  |
Interest rate (percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.20% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.20% |  |  |  |  |  |
Available interest deferral period | businessUnit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Redemption price (percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt | U.S. Dollar Subordinated Unsecured Notes | Interest Rate Reset, Period One |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4.01% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt | U.S. Dollar Subordinated Unsecured Notes | Interest Rate Reset, Period Two |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4.26% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Debt | U.S. Dollar Subordinated Unsecured Notes | Interest Rate Reset, Period Three |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.01% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Secured Utility Bonds |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of debt instruments repaid | utilityNote |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Secured Utility Bonds | Senior Unsecured Utility Note One |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt repaid upon maturity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 45,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Secured Utility Bonds | Senior Unsecured Utility Note Two |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt repaid upon maturity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 30,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
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- Definition Amount of long-term debt due within one year or within the normal operating cycle, if longer, assumed at the acquisition date. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121647850&loc=d3e4845-128472 + Details
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