Operations by Business Segment and Geographic Information Operations by business segment (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

Information on reportable segments and reconciliation to the consolidated financial statements follows: 

	Utility Services		Residential Commercial Services		All Other			Reconciling  Adjustments				Consolidated
Fiscal Year 2013
Revenues	$	376,520	$	334,878	$	2,450		$	—			$	713,848
Income (loss) from operations	16,070		33,566		(2,869		)	(5,978		)	(a)	40,789
Interest expense								(2,708		)		(2,708		)
Interest income								311				311
Other income (expense), net								(2,827		)		(2,827		)
Income before income taxes												$	35,565
Depreciation	$	22,261	$	13,286	$	—		$	2,684		(b)	$	38,231
Amortization	359		1,440		—			181				1,980
Capital expenditures	21,642		17,577		—			5,986				45,205
Segment assets, total	145,021		122,542		—			65,815			(c)	333,378
Fiscal Year 2012
Revenues	$	375,300	$	303,420	$	1,433		$	—			$	680,153
Income (loss) from operations	20,107		30,787		(1,366		)	(3,761		)	(a)	45,767
Interest expense								(2,698		)		(2,698		)
Interest income								200				200
Other income (expense), net								(2,611		)		(2,611		)
Income before income taxes												$	40,658
Depreciation	$	22,844	$	12,236	$	—		$	2,285		(b)	$	37,365
Amortization	465		1,058		—			219				1,742
Capital expenditures	15,737		10,266		—			3,731				29,734
Segment assets, total	150,294		122,298		—			58,340			(c)	330,932
Fiscal Year 2011
Revenues	$	363,365	$	280,938	$	1,731		$	—			$	646,034
Income (loss) from operations	13,541		24,243		1,342			(6,325		)	(a)	32,801
Interest expense								(3,794		)		(3,794		)
Interest income								43				43
Litigation settlement								(2,900		)		(2,900		)
Other income (expense), net								(2,850		)		(2,850		)
Income before income taxes												$	23,300
Depreciation	$	23,734	$	12,157	$	—		$	1,927		(b)	$	37,818
Amortization	466		1,039		—			403				1,908
Capital expenditures	17,241		13,362		—			4,098				34,701
Segment assets, total	137,689		105,552		—			60,493			(c)	303,734

Schedule of Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Foreign Countries by Geographic Area [Table Text Block]

Geographic Information--The following presents revenues and long-lived assets by geographic territory:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Revenues
United States	$	637,524	$	607,339	$	577,613
Canada	76,324		72,814		68,421
	$	713,848	$	680,153	$	646,034
	December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Long-lived assets, net
United States	$	166,598	$	153,946	$	141,108
Canada	14,764		15,237		16,121
	$	181,362	$	169,183	$	157,229