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Business segment data
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting [Abstract]  
Business segment data
Business Segment Data
The Company's reportable segments are those that are based on the Company's method of internal reporting, which generally segregates the strategic business units due to differences in products, services and regulation. The vast majority of the Company's operations are located within the United States. The Company also has investments in foreign countries, which largely consist of Centennial Resources' equity method investment in ECTE.

The electric segment generates, transmits and distributes electricity in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. The natural gas distribution segment distributes natural gas in those states as well as in Idaho, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington. These operations also supply related value-added services.

The pipeline and energy services segment provides natural gas transportation, underground storage and gathering services through regulated and nonregulated pipeline systems primarily in the Rocky Mountain and northern Great Plains regions of the United States. This segment also provides cathodic protection and other energy-related services.

The exploration and production segment is engaged in natural gas and oil acquisition, exploration, development and production activities in the Rocky Mountain and Mid-Continent regions of the United States and in and around the Gulf of Mexico.

The construction materials and contracting segment mines aggregates and markets crushed stone, sand, gravel and related construction materials, including ready-mixed concrete, cement, asphalt, liquid asphalt and other value-added products. It also performs integrated contracting services. This segment operates in the central, southern and western United States and Alaska and Hawaii.

The construction services segment specializes in constructing and maintaining electric and communication lines, gas pipelines, fire suppression systems, and external lighting and traffic signalization equipment. This segment also provides utility excavation services and inside electrical wiring, cabling and mechanical services, sells and distributes electrical materials, and manufactures and distributes specialty equipment.

The Other category includes the activities of Centennial Capital, which insures various types of risks as a captive insurer for certain of the Company's subsidiaries. The function of the captive insurer is to fund the deductible layers of the insured companies' general liability and automobile liability coverages. Centennial Capital also owns certain real and personal property. The Other category also includes Centennial Resources' equity method investment in ECTE.

The information below follows the same accounting policies as described in the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. Information on the Company's businesses as of December 31 and for the years then ended was as follows:

 
2011

 
2010

 
2009

 
(In thousands)
External operating revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
Electric
$
225,468

 
$
211,544

 
$
196,171

Natural gas distribution
907,400

 
892,708

 
1,072,776

Pipeline and energy services
210,846

 
254,776

 
235,322

 
1,343,714

 
1,359,028

 
1,504,269

Exploration and production
359,873

 
318,570

 
338,425

Construction materials and contracting
1,509,538

 
1,445,148

 
1,515,122

Construction services
834,918

 
786,802

 
818,685

Other
2,449

 
147

 
—

 
2,706,778

 
2,550,667

 
2,672,232

Total external operating revenues
$
4,050,492

 
$
3,909,695

 
$
4,176,501

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2011

 
2010

 
2009

 
(In thousands)
Intersegment operating revenues:
 

 
 

 
 

Electric
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

Natural gas distribution
—

 
—

 
—

Pipeline and energy services
67,497

 
75,033

 
72,505

Exploration and production
93,713

 
115,784

 
101,230

Construction materials and contracting
472

 
—

 
—

Construction services
19,471

 
2,298

 
379

Other
8,997

 
7,580

 
9,487

Intersegment eliminations
(190,150
)
 
(200,695
)
 
(183,601
)
Total intersegment operating revenues
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization:
 

 
 

 
 

Electric
$
32,177

 
$
27,274

 
$
24,637

Natural gas distribution
44,641

 
43,044

 
42,723

Pipeline and energy services
25,502

 
26,001

 
25,581

Exploration and production
142,645

 
130,455

 
129,922

Construction materials and contracting
85,459

 
88,331

 
93,615

Construction services
11,399

 
12,147

 
12,760

Other
1,572

 
1,591

 
1,304

Total depreciation, depletion and amortization
$
343,395

 
$
328,843

 
$
330,542

 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense:
 

 
 

 
 

Electric
$
13,745

 
$
12,216

 
$
9,577

Natural gas distribution
29,444

 
28,996

 
30,656

Pipeline and energy services
10,516

 
9,064

 
8,896

Exploration and production
7,445

 
8,580

 
10,621

Construction materials and contracting
16,241

 
19,859

 
20,495

Construction services
4,473

 
4,411

 
4,490

Other
—

 
47

 
43

Intersegment eliminations
(510
)
 
(162
)
 
(679
)
Total interest expense
$
81,354

 
$
83,011

 
$
84,099

 
 
 
 
 
 
Income taxes:
 

 
 

 
 

Electric
$
7,242

 
$
11,187

 
$
8,205

Natural gas distribution
16,931

 
12,171

 
16,331

Pipeline and energy services
12,912

 
13,933

 
22,982

Exploration and production
46,298

 
49,034

 
(187,000
)
Construction materials and contracting
11,227

 
13,822

 
25,940

Construction services
13,426

 
11,456

 
15,189

Other
2,238

 
10,927

 
2,261

Total income taxes
$
110,274

 
$
122,530

 
$
(96,092
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings (loss) on common stock:
 

 
 

 
 

Electric
$
29,258

 
$
28,908

 
$
24,099

Natural gas distribution
38,398

 
36,944

 
30,796

Pipeline and energy services
23,082

 
23,208

 
37,845

Exploration and production
80,282

 
85,638

 
(296,730
)
Construction materials and contracting
26,430

 
29,609

 
47,085

Construction services
21,627

 
17,982

 
25,589

Other
6,190

 
21,046

 
7,357

Earnings (loss) on common stock before loss from discontinued operations
225,267

 
243,335

 
(123,959
)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax*
(12,926
)
 
(3,361
)
 
—

Total earnings (loss) on common stock
$
212,341

 
$
239,974

 
$
(123,959
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2011

 
2010

 
2009

 
(In thousands)
Capital expenditures:
 

 
 

 
 

Electric
$
52,072

 
$
85,787

 
$
115,240

Natural gas distribution
70,624

 
75,365

 
43,820

Pipeline and energy services
45,556

 
14,255

 
70,168

Exploration and production
272,855

 
355,845

 
183,140

Construction materials and contracting
52,303

 
25,724

 
26,313

Construction services
9,711

 
14,849

 
12,814

Other
18,759

 
2,182

 
3,196

Net proceeds from sale or disposition of property and other
(40,857
)
 
(78,761
)
 
(26,679
)
Total net capital expenditures
$
481,023

 
$
495,246

 
$
428,012

 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 

 
 

 
 

Electric**
$
672,940

 
$
643,636

 
$
569,666

Natural gas distribution**
1,679,091

 
1,632,012

 
1,588,144

Pipeline and energy services
526,797

 
523,075

 
538,230

Exploration and production
1,481,556

 
1,342,808

 
1,137,628

Construction materials and contracting
1,374,026

 
1,382,836

 
1,449,469

Construction services
418,519

 
387,627

 
328,895

Other***
403,196

 
391,555

 
378,920

Total assets
$
6,556,125

 
$
6,303,549

 
$
5,990,952

 
 
 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment:
 

 
 

 
 

Electric**
$
1,068,524

 
$
1,027,034

 
$
941,791

Natural gas distribution**
1,568,866

 
1,508,845

 
1,456,208

Pipeline and energy services
719,291

 
683,807

 
675,199

Exploration and production
2,615,146

 
2,356,938

 
2,028,794

Construction materials and contracting
1,499,852

 
1,486,375

 
1,514,989

Construction services
124,796

 
122,940

 
116,236

Other
49,747

 
32,564

 
33,365

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization
3,361,208

 
3,103,323

 
2,872,465

Net property, plant and equipment
$
4,285,014

 
$
4,115,180

 
$
3,894,117

    * Reflected in the Other category.
  ** Includes allocations of common utility property.
*** Includes assets not directly assignable to a business (i.e. cash and cash equivalents, certain accounts receivable, certain investments and other miscellaneous current and deferred assets).
Note: The results reflect a $620.0 million ($384.4 million after tax) noncash write-down of natural gas and oil properties in 2009.

Excluding the natural gas gathering arbitration charge of $16.5 million (after tax) in 2010, as discussed in Note 19, earnings from electric, natural gas distribution and pipeline and energy services are substantially all from regulated operations. Earnings from exploration and production, construction materials and contracting, construction services and other are all from nonregulated operations.

Capital expenditures for 2011, 2010 and 2009 include noncash transactions, including the issuance of the Company's equity securities, in connection with acquisitions. The net noncash transactions were $24.0 million in 2011, $17.5 million in 2010 and immaterial in 2009.