Restructuring (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Restructuring Project [Line Items]

Schedule of Restructuring Reserve by Type of Cost [Table Text Block]

The following table summarizes the activity within the restructuring related balance sheet accounts for the 2016 and 2014 Projects during the year ended December 31, 2017:

	Accrued Employee Severance			Asset Impairments & Net Gain on Sale or Disposal			Other Accrued Costs			Total
	(in thousands)
Beginning balance, January 1, 2017	$	45,368		$	—		$	2,602		$	47,970
Costs incurred and charged to expense	169			(2,297		)	8,546			6,418
Cash receipts (payments)	(12,423		)	3,704			(8,683		)	(17,402		)
Net assets disposed and impaired	—			(1,407		)	—			(1,407		)
Effect of change in exchange rates	4,540			—			6			4,546
Ending balance, December 31, 2017	$	37,654		$	—		$	2,471		$	40,125

2016 Projects [Member]

Restructuring Project [Line Items]

Restructuring and Related Costs [Table Text Block]

The total expected restructuring costs, costs recognized in prior periods, costs recognized during the year ended December 31, 2017, and the remaining expected costs as of December 31, 2017 related to the 2016 Projects are as follows:

	Total Expected Costs at December 31, 2017		Costs Recognized in Prior Periods		Costs Recognized During the Year Ended December 31, 2017			Remaining Costs to be Recognized at December 31, 2017
	(in thousands)
Employee severance costs	$	39,855	$	39,686	$	169		$	—
Asset impairments & net gain on sale or disposal	4,922		7,219		(2,297		)	—
Other restructuring costs	15,435		889		8,546			6,000
Total	$	60,212	$	47,794	$	6,418		$	6,000
Segments:
Electricity	$	10,525	$	8,827	$	198		$	1,500
Gas	31,181		23,968		5,213			2,000
Water	15,761		13,061		700			2,000
Corporate unallocated	2,745		1,938		307			500
Total	$	60,212	$	47,794	$	6,418		$	6,000