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Electric utility subsidiary (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011 Y | Dec. 31, 2010 Y
Regulatory assets |  |
Regulatory assets | $ 669,389 | $ 478,330
Regulatory liabilities |  |
Regulatory liabilities | 315,466 | 296,797
Electric utility |  |
Regulatory assets |  |
Regulatory assets | 669,389 | 478,330
Regulatory liabilities |  |
Regulatory liabilities | 315,466 | 296,797
Electric utility | Cost of removal in excess of salvage value |  |
Regulatory liabilities |  |
Regulatory liabilities | 294,817 | 277,341
Electric utility | Retirement benefit plans, regulatory liabilities |  |
Regulatory liabilities |  |
Authorized amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 5 | 5
Remaining amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 5 | 5
Regulatory liabilities | 20,000 | 18,617
Electric utility | Other, regulatory liabilities |  |
Regulatory liabilities |  |
Authorized amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 5 | 5
Regulatory liabilities | 649 | 839
Electric utility | Retirement benefit plans, regulatory assets |  |
Regulatory assets |  |
Regulatory assets | 523,640 | 356,591
Electric utility | Income taxes, net |  |
Regulatory assets |  |
Regulatory assets | 83,386 | 82,615
Electric utility | Decoupling revenue balancing account |  |
Regulatory assets |  |
Authorized amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 1 |
Regulatory assets | 20,780 |
Electric utility | Unamortized expense and premiums on retired debt and equity issuances |  |
Regulatory assets |  |
Regulatory assets | 12,267 | 13,589
Electric utility | Vacation earned, but not yet taken |  |
Regulatory assets |  |
Authorized amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 1 | 1
Regulatory assets | 8,161 | 7,349
Electric utility | Postretirement benefits other than pensions |  |
Regulatory assets |  |
Authorized amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 18 | 18
Remaining amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 1 | 1
Regulatory assets | 1,861 | 3,579
Electric utility | Other, regulatory assets |  |
Regulatory assets |  |
Regulatory assets | $ 19,294 | $ 14,607
Electric utility | Maximum | Cost of removal in excess of salvage value |  |
Regulatory liabilities |  |
Authorized amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 60 | 60
Electric utility | Maximum | Other, regulatory liabilities |  |
Regulatory liabilities |  |
Remaining amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 5 | 5
Electric utility | Maximum | Income taxes, net |  |
Regulatory assets |  |
Authorized amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 48 | 48
Electric utility | Maximum | Unamortized expense and premiums on retired debt and equity issuances |  |
Regulatory assets |  |
Authorized amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 30 | 30
Remaining amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 17 | 17
Electric utility | Maximum | Other, regulatory assets |  |
Regulatory assets |  |
Authorized amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 50 | 50
Remaining amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 48 | 48
Electric utility | Minimum | Cost of removal in excess of salvage value |  |
Regulatory liabilities |  |
Authorized amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 1 | 1
Electric utility | Minimum | Other, regulatory liabilities |  |
Regulatory liabilities |  |
Remaining amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 1 | 1
Electric utility | Minimum | Income taxes, net |  |
Regulatory assets |  |
Authorized amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 1 | 1
Electric utility | Minimum | Unamortized expense and premiums on retired debt and equity issuances |  |
Regulatory assets |  |
Authorized amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 14 | 14
Remaining amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 1 | 1
Electric utility | Minimum | Other, regulatory assets |  |
Regulatory assets |  |
Authorized amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 1 | 1
Remaining amortization or recovery periods (in years) | 1 | 1

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- Details
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- Definition Regulatory assets as of the end of the period. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The remaining amortization period for the individual regulatory liability in a schedule of regulatory liabilities. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The amortization period for recovery of the individual regulatory noncurrent asset in a schedule of regulatory noncurrent assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 71 -Paragraph 9, 10 -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. + Details
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- Definition The amortization period for recovery of the individual regulatory noncurrent liability in a schedule of regulatory noncurrent liabilities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 71 -Paragraph 11 -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. + Details
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