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Equity method investments | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract] |
Equity method investments | Equity Method Investments Investments in companies in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for using the equity method. The Company's equity method investments at December 31, 2012 and 2011, include ECTE. In August 2006, MDU Brasil acquired ownership interests in the Brazilian Transmission Lines. The electric transmission lines are primarily in northeastern and southern Brazil. The transmission contracts provide for revenues denominated in the Brazilian Real, annual inflation adjustments and change in tax law adjustments. The functional currency for the Brazilian Transmission Lines is the Brazilian Real. In 2009, multiple sales agreements were signed with three separate parties for the Company to sell its ownership interests in the Brazilian Transmission Lines. In November 2010, the Company completed the sale and recognized a gain of $22.7 million ($13.8 million after tax). The Company's entire ownership interest in ENTE and ERTE and 59.96 percent of the Company's ownership interest in ECTE was sold. The remaining interest in ECTE is being purchased over a four-year period. In August 2012 and November 2011, the Company completed the sale of one-fourth of the remaining interest in each year. The Company recognized an immaterial gain in 2012 and a $1.0 million ($600,000 after tax) gain in 2011. The gains are recorded in earnings from equity method investments on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Alusa, CEMIG and CELESC hold the remaining ownership interests in ECTE. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company's equity method investments had total assets of $129.0 million and $111.1 million, respectively, and long-term debt of $65.5 million and $37.1 million, respectively. The Company's investment in its equity method investments was approximately $6.9 million and $9.2 million, including undistributed earnings of $3.4 million and $3.7 million, at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for equity method investments and joint ventures. Equity method investments are investments that give the investor the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of an investee. Joint ventures are entities owned and operated by a small group of businesses as a separate and specific business or project for the mutual benefit of the members of the group. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 32 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658923&loc=d3e32787-111569 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 20 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 35 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658923&loc=d3e32847-111569 + Details
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