Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

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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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Decrease for amounts of indebtedness forgiven by the holder of the debt instrument.

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Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

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Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

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

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Average variable interest rate related to the group of interest rate derivatives.

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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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Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of long-term unsecured obligations issued by corporations and other borrowers to investors (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer).

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The redemption (or callable) amount of currently redeemable preferred stock. Includes amounts representing dividends not currently declared or paid but which will be payable under the redemption features or for which ultimate payment is solely within the control of the issuer.

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The cash outflow due to repaying amounts borrowed by issuing commercial paper.

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Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2017	Nov. 01, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal payments of long-term obligations				$ 371,007,000	$ 516,070,000	$ 599,850,000
Repayments of commercial paper	$ 300,000,000
Debt issued				3,364,890,000	2,950,668,000
Maximum borrowing capacity				1,000,000,000
Cash Flow Hedging
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notional amount of outstanding contracts				$ 13,000,000	$ 13,000,000
Cash Flow Hedging \| Interest rate contract
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notional amount of outstanding contracts	$ 300,000,000
Fixed interest rate	0.8826%
Notes due December 2020 \| Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt face amount			$ 300,000,000
Effective interest rate percentage				2.20%
Notes due December 2020 \| Term Loan \| Eurodollar
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis Spread on variable rate			1.50%		1.25%
Debt Due 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal payments of long-term obligations			$ 371,000,000
Notes due May 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt face amount				$ 350,000,000	$ 350,000,000
Interest rate				4.75%
State of Connecticut DECD Loan - Development Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt forgiveness		$ 10,000,000
Notes due October 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.375%			3.375%
Debt issued	$ 600,000,000			$ 600,000,000	0
Notes due March 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt face amount				$ 500,000,000	500,000,000
Interest rate				4.625%
Notes due March 2043
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt face amount				$ 425,000,000	425,000,000
Interest rate				6.70%
Notes due January 2037
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt face amount				$ 115,041,000	115,041,000
Interest rate				5.25%
Notes due January 2037 \| Forecast [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt redemption							$ 79,000,000
Commercial Paper
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Commercial paper				$ 0	$ 90,000,000
Redeemable Preferred Stock
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption amount								$ 300,000,000