REGULATORY ASSETS AND LIABILITIES REGULATORY ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 2 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory Liabilities	$ 47,946	$ 48,311
Excess Plant Removal Costs [Member]
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory Liabilities	46,668	47,230
Other Regulatory Liablities [Member]
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory Liabilities	$ 1,278	$ 1,081

The amount for the individual regulatory liability as itemized in a table of regulatory liabilities as of the end of the period.

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

Name:	us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant