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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Utility Plant) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended | 34 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Aug. 21, 2013 | Oct. 27, 2010
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Immediate increase requested, percentage |  |  |  |  | 38.00%
Total increase requested, percentage |  |  |  |  | 71.00%
Regulatory Rate Filings, Increase, Percent of Authorized Revenue Approved |  |  |  | 33.00% |
Capitalized interest costs | $ 905 | $ 913 | $ 699 |  |
Construction in progress | 30,846 | 24,298 |  |  |
Major components of depreciable plant and equipment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Equipment | 226,557 | 214,670 |  |  |
Transmission and distribution | 967,031 | 892,957 |  |  |
Office buildings and other structures | 60,998 | 58,593 |  |  |
Total depreciable plant and equipment | 1,254,586 | 1,166,220 |  |  |
Estimated Useful Lives of Plant and Equipment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation expense as percentage of beginning of year balance of depreciable plant | 3.40% | 3.50% | 3.50% |  |
Customer Refund for Over Rate Collections |  |  |  | 982 |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Estimated Useful Lives of Plant and Equipment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Estimated service lives of assets | 5 years |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life of equipment | 5 years |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life of transmission and distribution plant | 35 years |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of office buildings and other structures | 7 years |  |  |  |
Useful life of intangible assets | 5 years |  |  |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Estimated Useful Lives of Plant and Equipment [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Estimated service lives of assets | 75 years |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life of equipment | 35 years |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life of transmission and distribution plant | 75 years |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of office buildings and other structures | 50 years |  |  |  |
Useful life of intangible assets | 70 years |  |  |  |
General and Administrative Expense [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation | 1,556 | 1,531 | 1,516 |  |
Water Plant [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation | $ 32,616 | $ 31,005 | $ 29,141 |  |

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