Fair Value Measurement (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Financial Instruments, Financial Assets, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract]

Schedule Of Assets And Liabilities Measured At Fair Value On A Recurring Basis Valuation Techniques

The following tables present information about the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the Company to determine such fair value:

	December 31, 2012
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(Amounts in thousands)
Assets
Fixed maturity securities:
U.S. government bonds and agencies	$	14,204	$	0	$	0	$	14,204
Municipal securities	0		2,165,095		0		2,165,095
Mortgage-backed securities	0		30,703		0		30,703
Corporate securities	0		155,551		0		155,551
Collateralized debt obligations	0		0		42,801		42,801
Equity securities:
Common stock:
Public utilities	85,106		0		0		85,106
Banks, trusts and insurance companies	22,166		0		0		22,166
Energy and other	346,809		0		0		346,809
Non-redeemable preferred stock	0		11,701		0		11,701
Partnership interest in a private credit fund	0		0		11,306		11,306
Short-term bonds	0		24,530		0		24,530
Money market instruments	270,123		0		0		270,123
Total assets at fair value	$	738,408	$	2,387,580	$	54,107	$	3,180,095
Liabilities
Equity contracts	$	175	$	0	$	0	$	175
Interest rate swap agreements	0		103		0		103
Total liabilities at fair value	$	175	$	103	$	0	$	278

	December 31, 2011
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(Amounts in thousands)
Assets
Fixed maturity securities:
U.S. government bonds and agencies	$	14,298	$	0	$	0	$	14,298
Municipal securities	0		2,271,275		0		2,271,275
Mortgage-backed securities	0		37,371		0		37,371
Corporate securities	0		75,142		0		75,142
Collateralized debt obligations	0		0		47,503		47,503
Equity securities:
Common stock:
Public utilities	26,342		0		0		26,342
Banks, trusts and insurance companies	16,027		0		0		16,027
Energy and other	316,592		0		0		316,592
Non-redeemable preferred stock	0		11,419		0		11,419
Partnership interest in a private credit fund	0		0		10,008		10,008
Short-term bonds	0		9,011		0		9,011
Money market instruments	227,433		0		0		227,433
Total assets at fair value	$	600,692	$	2,404,218	$	57,511	$	3,062,421
Liabilities
Equity contracts	$	655	$	0	$	0	$	655
Interest rate swap agreements	0		670		0		670
Total liabilities at fair value	$	655	$	670	$	0	$	1,325

Summary Of Changes In Fair Value Of Level 3 Financial Assets And Financial Liabilities Held At Fair Value

The following table presents a summary of changes in fair value of Level 3 financial assets and financial liabilities held at fair value at December 31:

	2012					2011
	Collateralized Debt Obligations			Partnership Interest in a Private Credit Fund		Municipal Securities			Collateralized Debt Obligations			Partnership Interest in a Private Credit Fund
	(Amounts in thousands)
Beginning Balance	$	47,503		$	10,008	$	1,624		$	55,692		$	0
Realized gains (losses) included in earnings	7,975			1,298		39			(9,300		)	8
Purchase	25,000			0		0			0			10,000
Sales	(37,677		)	0		(1,663		)	0			0
Settlements	0			0		0			1,111			0
Ending Balance	$	42,801		$	11,306	$	0		$	47,503		$	10,008
The amount of total (losses) gains for the period included in earnings attributable to assets still held at December 31	$	(3,017	)	$	1,298	$	0		$	(8,189	)	$	8