Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flow - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 350,305	$ 315,106
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	240,252	221,623
Deferred income taxes	(12,794)	12,645
Provision for doubtful accounts	18,519	21,220
Stock-based compensation	8,164	7,343
Gain on sale of other assets	(777)	(1,208)
Net change in receivables, inventory and prepayments	(116,804)	(20,488)
Net change in payables, accrued interest, accrued taxes and other accrued liabilities	65,845	16,181
Pension and other postretirement benefits contributions	(20,390)	(15,109)
Other	(13,161)	4,539
Net cash flows from operating activities	519,159	561,852
Cash flows from investing activities:
Property, plant and equipment additions, including the debt component of allowance for funds used during construction of $4,527 and $2,885	(719,688)	(675,845)
Acquisitions of utility systems, net	(104,383)	(36,325)
Net proceeds from the sale of other assets	797	1,420
Other	205	(120)
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(823,069)	(710,870)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Customers' advances and contributions in aid of construction	10,732	12,473
Repayments of customers' advances	(1,726)	(3,091)
Net proceeds (repayments) of short-term debt	148,235	(31,616)
Proceeds from long-term debt	944,882	795,153
Repayments of long-term debt	(521,792)	(717,816)
Change in cash overdraft position	(64,326)	(23,255)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under dividend reinvestment plan	12,421	12,597
Proceeds from issuance of common stock from forward equity sale agreement		299,739
Proceeds from exercised stock options	1,909	3,293
Repurchase of common stock	(1,056)	(3,287)
Dividends paid on common stock	(213,354)	(190,862)
Other	784	599
Net cash flows from financing activities	316,709	153,927
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	12,799	4,909
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	10,567	4,827
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	23,366	9,736
Non-cash investing activities:
Property, plant and equipment additions purchased at the period end, but not yet paid for	97,777	78,727
Non-cash customer advances and contributions in aid of construction	$ 21,736	$ 30,075