Jointly Owned Electric Facilities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 30, 2007	Dec. 31, 2011 Colstrip Generating Project [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Colstrip Generating Project [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Utility plant in service			$ 342,539	$ 336,796
Accumulated depreciation			$ (225,746)	$ (219,770)
Owners percentage interest	15.00%	15.00%

The period end amount owned by the reporting utility of a jointly owned utility plant in service.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 10

-Section C

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 980

-SubTopic 360

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 10.C)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6500719&loc=d3e659983-123033

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- Definition

The period end amount of accumulated depreciation in a jointly owned electricity generation plant.

+ References

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- Definition

The proportionate share of interest (percent) in a jointly owned utility plant.

+ References

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