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v3.3.1.900

Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) |  |  |
Amount of advertising expense included in selling general and administrative expense | $ 900 | $ 300 | $ 200
Description of percentage of consolidated revenue from utility companies | The percentage of consolidated revenues from customers by utility company that equal or exceed 10% of consolidated revenues in the period (no other single utility company accounted for more than 10% of consolidated revenues in any periods |  |
Description of percentage of consolidated gross trade accounts receivable by utility companies | The percentage of consolidated gross trade accounts receivable by utility company that equal or exceed 10% of consolidated gross trade accounts receivable at December 31, 2015 and 2014. |  |
Underground storage facilities | $ 1,600 | 2,500 |
Inventory renewable energy credits | 9,800 | 8,700 |
Exploration costs | 6,583 | 6,971 | 4,032
Deferred income tax assets, net |  | 1,500 |
Capitalized exploration costs - unproved oil and gas property | $ 26,900 |  |
AMSO [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) |  |  |
Ownership interest of company | 98.30% |  |
Accounts Receivable [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) |  |  |
Description of concentration risk percentage | No other single utility company accounted for 10% or greater of our consolidated gross trade accounts receivable. |  |
Computer software and development [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) |  |  |
Estimated useful lives | 2, 3 or 5 years |  |
Computers and computer hardware [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) |  |  |
Estimated useful lives | 5 years |  |
Laboratory and drilling equipment [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) |  |  |
Estimated useful lives | 7 years |  |
Office equipment and other [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) |  |  |
Estimated useful lives | 5 or 7 |  |
Genie Oil and Gas, Inc [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) |  |  |
Company's investment, ownership percentage in subsidiary | 92.00% |  |
Genie Energy International Corporation [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) |  |  |
Company's investment, ownership percentage in subsidiary | 99.30% |  |
American Shale Oil L.L.C [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) |  |  |
Ownership interest of company | 41.30% |  |
IEI [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) |  |  |
Company's investment, ownership percentage in subsidiary | 86.10% |  |
Afek Oil and Gas, Ltd. [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) |  |  |
Company's investment, ownership percentage in subsidiary | 86.50% |  |
Exploration costs |  | $ 7,000 | $ 4,000
Genie Mongolia [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) |  |  |
Company's investment, ownership percentage in subsidiary | 88.40% |  |
Genie Retail Energy [Member] |  |  |
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) |  |  |
Company's investment, ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00% |  |
Ownership interest of company | 3.90% |  |

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- Definition Exploration expenses (including prospecting) related to oil and gas producing entities and would be included in operating expenses of that entity. Costs incurred in identifying areas that may warrant examination and in examining specific areas that are considered to have prospects of containing oil and gas reserves, including costs of drilling exploratory wells and exploratory-type stratigraphic test wells. Exploration costs may be incurred both before acquiring the related property (sometimes referred to in part as prospecting costs) and after acquiring the property. Principal types of exploration costs, which include depreciation and applicable operating costs of support equipment and facilities and other costs of exploration activities, are: (i) Costs of topographical, geographical and geophysical studies, rights of access to properties to conduct those studies, and salaries and other expenses of geologists, geophysical crews, and others conducting those studies. Collectively, these are sometimes referred to as geological and geophysical or "G&G" costs. (ii) Costs of carrying and retaining undeveloped properties, such as delay rentals, ad valorem taxes on properties, legal costs for title defense, and the maintenance of land and lease records. (iii) Dry hole contributions and bottom hole contributions. (iv) Costs of drilling and equipping exploratory wells. (v) Costs of drilling exploratory-type stratigraphic test wells. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 360 -Section 25 -Paragraph 9 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56951519&loc=d3e64954-109465 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-10.(a)(15)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50486907&loc=d3e511914-122862 + Details
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