XML 118 R84.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8

Common Stock (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.6950	$ 0.6750	$ 0.6550
Company's subsidiaries net assets restricted from being used to transfer funds to the Company	$ 2,100,000,000
Credit agreement limitation on company ratio of funded debt to capitalization (excluding subsidiaries)	65.00%
Company's (excluding its subsidiaries) net assets restricted from use for dividend payments	$ 219,000,000
Parent company [Member]
Shares of common stock reserved for original issuance under the Stock Purchase Plan and K-Plan (in shares)	15.6
Centennial [Member]
Maximum distributions to the company as a percentage of consolidated net income after taxes, excluding noncash write-downs, for the preceding fiscal year (in hundredths)	100.00%

X

- Definition

Company's (excluding its subsidiaries) net assets restricted from use for dividend payments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mdu_CompanysExcludingItsSubsidiariesNetAssetsRestrictedFromUseForDividendPayments
Namespace Prefix:	mdu_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The maximum distributions to the company by the subsidiary as a percentage of consolidated net income after taxes,excluding noncash write-downs, for the preceding fiscal year, pursuant to a covenant under a credit agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mdu_MaximumDistributionsToCompanyAsPercentageOfConsolidatedNetIncomeAfterTaxesExcludingNoncashWriteDownsForPrecedingFiscalYearMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	mdu_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Ratio of earnings before interest and taxes to interest expense as specified in debt convenants.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mdu_RatioOfEarningsBeforeInterestAndTaxesToInterestExpenseAsSpecifiedInDebtConvenants
Namespace Prefix:	mdu_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount of restricted net assets of consolidated and unconsolidated subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(e)(3)(ii))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph e

-Subparagraph 3

-Article 4

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AmountOfRestrictedNetAssetsForConsolidatedAndUnconsolidatedSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Aggregate number of common shares reserved for future issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration