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GEOTHERMAL
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
GEOTHERMAL [Abstract]  
GEOTHERMAL
G.           GEOTHERMAL

During the year ended December 31, 2011, USE's minority interest investment in Standard Steam Trust, LLC (“SST”), a Denver, Colorado based private geothermal resource acquisition and development company, decreased.  Due to not funding cash calls from SST during 2011, USE's ownership interest decreased from 22.8% to 22.4%.