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INVESTMENTS:
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Investments [Abstract]  
Investments in Debt and Equity Securities INVESTMENTS
 
The table below summarizes IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s investments as of December 31 (in thousands of dollars): 
 20232022
Idaho Power investments:  
Bridger Coal Company (equity method investment)$24,078 $14,187 
Exchange traded short-term bond funds and cash equivalents36,617 33,687 
Held-to-Maturity securities31,639 30,475 
Executive deferred compensation plan investments703 442 
Total Idaho Power investments93,037 78,791 
IFS investments in real estate tax credit projects, such as affordable housing developments57,286 29,454 
Ida-West joint ventures (equity method investments)9,897 10,311 
Other investments3,751 2,796 
Total IDACORP investments$163,971 $121,352 
 
Equity Method Investments

Idaho Power, through its subsidiary IERCo, is a 33 percent owner of BCC. Ida-West, through separate subsidiaries, owns 50 percent of three electric generation projects that are accounted for using the equity method: South Forks Joint Venture, Hazelton/Wilson Joint Venture, and Snow Mountain Hydro LLC. All projects are reviewed periodically for impairment. The table below presents IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s earnings of unconsolidated equity-method investments (in thousands of
dollars):
 202320222021
Bridger Coal Company (Idaho Power)$10,540 $10,211 $10,211 
Ida-West joint ventures1,886 1,300 1,224 
Total$12,426 $11,511 $11,435 
 
Investments in Equity Securities

Investments in equity securities are reported at fair value. Any unrealized gains or losses on equity securities are included in income. Unrealized gains and losses on equity securities were immaterial at December 31, 2023 and 2022. The following table summarizes sales of equity securities (in thousands of dollars):
 202320222021
Proceeds from sales$8,921 $63,857 $11,328 
Gross realized gains from sales— — — 

Held-to-Maturity Securities

Idaho Power has a rabbi trust designated to provide funding for obligations related to the SMSP. During 2023 and 2022, the rabbi trust purchased $1.6 million and $31.2 million, respectively of held-to-maturity investments in corporate fixed-income and asset-backed debt securities. Substantially all of these debt securities mature between 2027 and 2037. Held-to-maturity investments are carried at amortized cost, reflecting Idaho Power’s ability and intent to hold the securities to maturity. Held-to-maturity investments are adjusted for the amortization or accretion of premiums or discounts, which are amortized or accreted over the life of the related held-to-maturity security. Such amortization and accretion are included in the “Other income, net” line in the consolidated statements of income. Due to increases in market interest rates in 2023 and 2022, all held-to-maturity securities were in a gross unrealized holding loss position totaling $3.3 million and $5.0 million at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Based on ongoing credit evaluations of these holdings, Idaho Power does not expect material payment defaults or delinquencies and has not recorded an allowance for credit losses for these securities as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

IDACORP Financial Services Investments

IFS invests primarily in real estate tax credit projects, such as affordable housing developments, which provide a return principally by reducing federal and state income taxes through tax credits and accelerated tax depreciation benefits. IFS has focused on a diversified approach to its investment strategy in order to limit both geographic and operational risk, with most of IFS’s investments having been made through syndicated funds. IDACORP accounts for its equity-method investments in qualified real estate projects using the proportional amortization method and recognizes the net investment performance in the consolidated statements of income as a component of income tax expense.