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Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

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Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Amount of issuance costs recognized in a share-lending arrangement entered into by the entity, in contemplation of a convertible debt offering or other financing, after deduction of accumulated amortization or the effects of subsequent adjustments.

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Aggregate amount of interest expense on all borrowings.

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Amount of operating interest income, including, but not limited to, amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on securities.

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The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

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Identification of whether the entity has been in compliance with any credit facility debt covenants during the period.

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Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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Borrowings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Borrowings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 16, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Interest expense	$ 33,789	$ 33,098	$ 100,886	$ 99,156
Interest income	(795)	(1,115)	(4,021)	(3,148)
Interest expense, net	32,994	$ 31,983	96,865	$ 96,008
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	6,880		6,880			$ 122
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	101,241		101,241
Short-term borrowings [Abstract]
Commercial Paper	507,100		507,100			151,000
Debt, Current	513,980		513,980			151,122
Deferred Finance Costs, Own-share Lending Arrangement, Issuance Costs, Net	(12,417)		(12,417)			(13,687)
Long-term borrowings [Abstract]
Carrying amount of long-term debt	2,626,178		2,626,178			2,617,342
Long-term debt	2,613,761		2,613,761			2,603,655
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Unsecured revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	1,000,000		$ 1,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Compliance			The Company was in compliance with its revolving credit and other long-term debt covenants at September 30, 2016 and had a coverage ratio of 9.2 to 1.0.
Term loan agreement					$ 500,000
Credit Agreement [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date			Nov. 10, 2020
Note due 2018 [Member]
Long-term borrowings [Abstract]
Long-term debt	$ 349,505		$ 349,505			349,258
Debt instruments, maturity date			Mar. 15, 2018
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (in hundredths)	5.45%		5.45%
Term of debt instrument (in years)			10 years
Note due 2020 [Member]
Long-term borrowings [Abstract]
Long-term debt	$ 336,389		$ 336,389			328,592
Debt instruments, maturity date			Dec. 01, 2020
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (in hundredths)	2.125%		2.125%
Term of debt instrument (in years)			7 years
Note due 2021 [Member]
Long-term borrowings [Abstract]
Long-term debt	$ 449,885		$ 449,885			449,865
Debt instruments, maturity date			Mar. 01, 2021
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (in hundredths)	4.30%		4.30%
Term of debt instrument (in years)			10 years
Note due 2025 [Member]
Long-term borrowings [Abstract]
Long-term debt	$ 397,182		$ 397,182			396,951
Debt instruments, maturity date			Nov. 15, 2025
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (in hundredths)	3.15%		3.15%
Term of debt instrument (in years)			10 years
Debentures due 2028 [Member]
Long-term borrowings [Abstract]
Long-term debt	$ 199,578		$ 199,578			199,552
Debt instruments, maturity date			Jun. 01, 2028
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (in hundredths)	6.65%		6.65%
Term of debt instrument (in years)			30 years
Debenture due 2035 [Member]
Long-term borrowings [Abstract]
Long-term debt	$ 296,963		$ 296,963			296,844
Debt instruments, maturity date			Oct. 15, 2035
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (in hundredths)	5.375%		5.375%
Term of debt instrument (in years)			30 years
Note due 2038 [Member]
Long-term borrowings [Abstract]
Long-term debt	$ 248,102		$ 248,102			248,036
Debt instruments, maturity date			Mar. 15, 2038
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (in hundredths)	6.60%		6.60%
Term of debt instrument (in years)			30 years
Note due 2041 [Member]
Long-term borrowings [Abstract]
Long-term debt	$ 346,109		$ 346,109			345,989
Debt instruments, maturity date			Mar. 01, 2041
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (in hundredths)	5.375%		5.375%
Term of debt instrument (in years)			30 years
Other long term debt instruments [Member]
Long-term borrowings [Abstract]
Long-term debt	$ 2,465		$ 2,465			$ 2,255
Minimum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date			Dec. 31, 2016
Maximum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date			Dec. 31, 2024