Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flow - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 265,772	$ 191,434
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	89,804	83,794
Deferred income taxes	(12,323)	(33,257)
Provision for doubtful accounts	7,756	4,532
Stock-based compensation	1,061	3,422
Gain on sale of utility systems and other assets	(91,625)	(249)
Net change in receivables, deferred purchased gas costs, inventory and prepayments	122	219,624
Net change in payables, accrued interest, accrued taxes and other accrued liabilities	(18,212)	(58,361)
Other	(1,642)	(9,311)
Net cash flows from operating activities	240,713	401,628
Cash flows from investing activities:
Property, plant and equipment additions, including the debt component of allowance for funds used during construction of $1,807 and $1,428	(252,998)	(243,730)
Acquisitions of utility systems, net		(136)
Net proceeds from the sale of utility systems and other assets	166,563	337
Other	(48)	321
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(86,483)	(243,208)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Customers' advances and contributions in aid of construction	4,094	7,010
Repayments of customers' advances	(2,171)	(984)
Net repayments of short-term debt	(72,623)	(206,000)
Proceeds from long-term debt	618,008	229,770
Repayments of long-term debt	(586,649)	(114,889)
Change in cash overdraft position	(2,420)	(8,624)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under dividend reinvestment plan	3,882	4,117
Proceeds from issuance of common stock from at-the-market sale agreement		19,294
Proceeds from exercised stock options	175	103
Repurchase of common stock	(2,231)	(3,911)
Dividends paid on common stock	(83,930)	(75,808)
Other	223	253
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(123,642)	(149,669)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	30,588	8,751
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	4,612	11,398
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	35,200	20,149
Non-cash investing activities:
Property, plant and equipment additions purchased at the period end, but not yet paid for	91,576	86,136
Non-cash utility property contributions	$ 5,740	$ 13,126