XML 36 R24.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.21.1

Regulatory Matters (Tables) | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2021
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract] |
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities | We had the following regulatory assets and liabilities (in thousands) as of:
| As of | As of
| March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020
Regulatory assets |  |
Winter Storm Uri (a) | $ | 480,842 |  | $ | — |
Deferred energy and fuel cost adjustments (a) (b) | 68,402 |  | 39,035 |
Deferred gas cost adjustments (a) (b) | 17,066 |  | 3,200 |
Gas price derivatives (b) | 324 |  | 2,226 |
Deferred taxes on AFUDC (c) | 7,469 |  | 7,491 |
Employee benefit plans and related deferred taxes (d) | 117,886 |  | 116,598 |
Environmental (b) | 1,413 |  | 1,413 |
Loss on reacquired debt (b) | 22,386 |  | 22,864 |
Deferred taxes on flow through accounting (d) | 51,823 |  | 47,515 |
Decommissioning costs (c) | 7,827 |  | 8,988 |
Gas supply contract termination (b) | 1,013 |  | 2,524 |
Other regulatory assets (b) | 25,806 |  | 26,404 |
Total regulatory assets | 802,257 |  | 278,258 |
Less current regulatory assets | (129,951) |  | (51,676) |
Regulatory assets, non-current | $ | 672,306 |  | $ | 226,582 |
Regulatory liabilities |  |
Deferred energy and gas costs (b) | $ | 426 |  | $ | 13,253 |
Employee benefit plan costs and related deferred taxes (d) | 40,471 |  | 40,256 |
Cost of removal (b) | 177,003 |  | 172,902 |
Excess deferred income taxes (d) | 271,492 |  | 285,259 |
Other regulatory liabilities (d) | 21,998 |  | 21,050 |
Total regulatory liabilities | 511,390 |  | 532,720 |
Less current regulatory liabilities | (13,580) |  | (25,061) |
Regulatory liabilities, non-current | $ | 497,810 |  | $ | 507,659 |
__________ (a) We are in discussions with our regulators regarding the timing of Winter Storm Uri incremental cost recovery. See further information below. (b) Recovery of costs, but we are not allowed a rate of return. (c) In addition to recovery of costs, we are allowed a rate of return. (d) In addition to recovery or repayment of costs, we are allowed a return on a portion of this amount or a reduction in rate base.
February 2021 Winter Storm Uri Fuel Costs | As of March 31, 2021, our estimate of incremental costs from Winter Storm Uri which was recorded to a regulatory asset is shown below by jurisdiction. This information is based on anticipated filings that we expect to complete in the second quarter of 2021 and is subject to adjustments as applications are submitted and final decisions are issued.
Costs by Jurisdiction | (in thousands) |  |  |
Gas Utilities: |  |  |  |
Arkansas Gas | $ | 137,500 |  |  |  |
Colorado Gas | 77,850 |  |  |  |
Iowa Gas | 95,450 |  |  |  |
Kansas Gas | 87,900 |  |  |  |
Nebraska Gas | 79,750 |  |  |  |
Wyoming Gas | 29,409 |  |  |  |
Gas Utilities Total | $ | 507,859 |  |  |  |
Electric Utilities: |  |  |  |
Colorado Electric | $ | 25,500 |  |  |  |
South Dakota Electric | 22,200 |  |  |  |
Wyoming Electric | 3,266 |  |  |  |
Electric Utilities Total | $ | 50,966 |  |  |  |
Total Winter Storm Uri Incremental Costs Recorded to Regulatory Asset | $ | 558,825 |  |  |  |
Costs by Regulatory Asset |  |  |  |
Winter Storm Uri (a) | $ | 480,842 |  |  |  |
Deferred energy and fuel cost adjustments | 27,166 |  |  |  |
Deferred gas cost adjustments (b) | 50,817 |  |  |  |
| $ | 558,825 |  |  |  |
__________ (a) We expect to recover most of the Winter Storm Uri incremental costs through a separately tracked regulatory mechanism but also expect to recover a portion through our existing mechanisms. (b) Incremental natural gas costs from Winter Storm Uri are reflected as an increase in the Deferred gas cost adjustments regulatory asset, net of existing Deferred energy and gas cost regulatory liabilities, for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

X
- Definition February 2021 Winter Storm Uri Fuel Costs + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | bkh_February2021WinterStormUriFuelCostsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | bkh_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for detailed information about regulatory assets and liabilities, including current and noncurrent assets created when regulatory agencies permit the deferral of costs to the balance sheet that would otherwise be required to appear on the company's income statement and would be charged against current expenses or revenues, as well as current and noncurrent liabilities created when regulatory agencies permit. [Table Text Block] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | bkh_ScheduleOfRegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilitiesTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | bkh_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilitiesDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration