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REGULATORY ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Notes)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
SCHEDULE OF REGULATED ASSETS AND LIABILITIES [Line Items]  
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
2.
REGULATORY ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

The tables below present a summary of regulatory assets, net of amortization, and liabilities for the periods indicated:
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
Current
 
Noncurrent
 
Total
 
 
 
 
(Thousands of dollars)
Under-recovered purchased-gas costs
 

 
$
17,914

 
$

 
$
17,914

Pension and postemployment benefit costs
 

 
32,110

 
417,402

 
449,512

Weather normalization
 
 
 
19,781

 

 
19,781

Reacquired debt costs
 

 
812

 
7,906

 
8,718

Other
 

 
4,019

 
5,030

 
9,049

Total regulatory assets, net of amortization
 
 
 
74,636

 
430,338

 
504,974

Over-recovered purchased-gas costs (a)
 

 
(12,838
)
 

 
(12,838
)
Ad valorem tax (a)
 
 
 
(1,142
)
 

 
(1,142
)
Total regulatory liabilities
 
 
 
(13,980
)
 

 
(13,980
)
Net regulatory assets (liabilities)
 
 
 
$
60,656

 
$
430,338

 
$
490,994

(a) Included in other current liabilities in our Balance Sheets.
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
Current
 
Noncurrent
 
Total
 
 
 
 
(Thousands of dollars)
Under-recovered purchased-gas costs
 

 
$
29,901

 
$

 
$
29,901

Pension and postemployment benefit costs
 

 
31,498

 
427,448

 
458,946

Weather normalization
 
 
 
17,661

 

 
17,661

Reacquired debt costs
 

 
812

 
8,108

 
8,920

Other
 

 
3,274

 
4,966

 
8,240

Total regulatory assets, net of amortization
 
 
 
83,146

 
440,522

 
523,668

Over-recovered purchased-gas costs (a)
 

 
(10,154
)
 

 
(10,154
)
Ad valorem tax (a)
 
 
 
(1,768
)
 

 
(1,768
)
Total regulatory liabilities
 
 
 
(11,922
)
 

 
(11,922
)
Net regulatory assets (liabilities)
 
 
 
$
71,224

 
$
440,522

 
$
511,746

(a) Included in other current liabilities in our Balance Sheets.

Regulatory assets on our Balance Sheets, as authorized by various regulatory authorities, are probable of recovery. Base rates are designed to provide a recovery of costs during the period rates are in effect, but do not generally provide for a return on investment for amounts we have deferred as regulatory assets. All of our regulatory assets are subject to review by the respective regulatory authorities during future regulatory proceedings. We are not aware of any evidence that these costs will not be recoverable through either riders or base rates, and we believe that we will be able to recover such costs, consistent with our historical recoveries.