Derivatives And Risk Management (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Derivative Instruments and Hedges, Assets [Abstract]

Energy Commodity Derivatives

	Purchases				Sales
	Electric Derivatives		Gas Derivatives		Electric Derivatives		Gas Derivatives
Year	Physical (1) MWH	Financial (1) MWH	Physical mmBTUs	Financial mmBTUs	Physical MWH	Financial MWH	Physical mmBTUs	Financial mmBTUs
2013	713	3,365	18,523	88,391	264	2,712	7,252	91,962
2014	397	801	6,394	55,407	377	1,844	1,786	33,623
2015	379	614	3,390	42,930	286	982	—	35,575
2016	367	—	1,365	455	287	—	—	—
2017	366	—	—	—	286	—	—	—
Thereafter	583	—	—	—	443	—	—	—

(1) Physical transactions represent commodity transactions where Avista will take delivery of either electricity or natural gas and financial transactions represent derivative instruments with no physical delivery, such as futures, swaps, options, or forward contracts.

Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

	2012		2011
Number of contracts	20		28
Notional amount (in United States dollars)	$	12,621	$	7,033
Notional amount (in Canadian dollars)	12,502		7,192

Interest Rate Swap Agreements

	2012		2011
Number of contracts	—		3
Notional amount	$	—	$	75,000
Mandatory cash settlement date	—		July 2012
Number of contracts	2		2
Notional amount	$	85,000	$	85,000
Mandatory cash settlement date	June 2013		June 2013
Number of contracts	2		—
Notional amount	$	50,000	$	—
Mandatory cash settlement date	October 2014		—
Number of contracts	1		—
Notional amount	$	25,000	$	—
Mandatory cash settlement date	October 2015		—

Derivative Instruments Summary

		Fair Value
Derivative	Balance Sheet Location	Asset		Liability			Collateral Netting		Net Asset (Liability)
Foreign currency contracts	Other current liabilities	$	7	$	(34	)	$	—	$	(27	)
Interest rate contracts	Other current liabilities	—		(1,406		)	—		(1,406		)
Interest rate contracts	Other property and investments - net	7,265		—			—		7,265
Commodity contracts	Current utility energy commodity derivative assets	10,772		(6,633		)	—		4,139
Commodity contracts	Non-current utility energy commodity derivative assets	18,779		(17,686		)	—		1,093
Commodity contracts	Current utility energy commodity derivative liabilities	50,227		(89,449		)	9,707		(29,515		)
Commodity contracts	Other non-current liabilities and deferred credits	2,247		(28,558		)	—		(26,311		)
Total derivative instruments recorded on the balance sheet		$	89,297	$	(143,766	)	$	9,707	$	(44,762	)

The following table presents the fair values and locations of derivative instruments recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2011 (in thousands):

		Fair Value
Derivative	Balance Sheet Location	Asset		Liability			Net Asset (Liability)
Foreign currency contracts	Other current assets	$	32	$	—		$	32
Interest rate contracts	Other property and investments-net	—		(16,253		)	(16,253		)
Interest rate contracts	Other non-current liabilities and deferred credits	—		(2,642		)	(2,642		)
Commodity contracts	Current utility energy commodity derivative assets	1,618		(479		)	1,139
Commodity contracts	Non-current utility energy commodity derivative assets	185		—			185
Commodity contracts	Current utility energy commodity derivative liabilities	40,090		(110,914		)	(70,824		)
Commodity contracts	Other non-current liabilities and deferred credits	44,308		(84,838		)	(40,530		)
Total derivative instruments recorded on the balance sheet		$	86,233	$	(215,126	)	$	(128,893	)