SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is a combined report of IDACORP, Inc. (IDACORP) and Idaho Power Company (Idaho Power). Therefore, these Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements apply to both IDACORP and Idaho Power. However, Idaho Power makes no representation as to the information relating to IDACORP’s other operations. Nature of Business IDACORP is a holding company formed in 1998 whose principal operating subsidiary is Idaho Power. Idaho Power is an electric utility with a service territory covering approximately 24,000 square miles in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. Idaho Power's utility operations are regulated primarily by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the state regulatory commissions of Idaho and Oregon. Idaho Power is the parent of Idaho Energy Resources Co. (IERCo), a joint venturer in Bridger Coal Company (BCC), which mines and supplies coal to the Jim Bridger generating plant owned in part by Idaho Power. IDACORP’s other subsidiaries include IDACORP Financial Services, Inc. (IFS), an investor in affordable housing and other real estate investments; Ida-West Energy Company (Ida-West), an operator of small hydroelectric generation projects that satisfy the requirements of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA); and IDACORP Energy (IE), a marketer of energy commodities, which wound down operations in 2003. Principles of Consolidation IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of each company, the subsidiaries that the companies control, and any variable interest entities (VIEs) for which the companies are the primary beneficiaries. Intercompany balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Investments in subsidiaries that the companies do not control and investments in VIEs for which the companies are not the primary beneficiaries, but have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. The entities that IDACORP and Idaho Power consolidate consist primarily of the wholly-owned subsidiaries discussed above. In addition, IDACORP consolidates one VIE, Marysville Hydro Partners (Marysville), which is a joint venture owned 50 percent by Ida-West and 50 percent by Environmental Energy Company (EEC). Marysville has approximately $20 million of assets, primarily a hydroelectric plant, and approximately $15 million of intercompany long-term debt, which is eliminated in consolidation. EEC has borrowed amounts from Ida-West to fund a portion of its required capital contributions to Marysville. The loans are payable from EEC’s share of distributions and are secured by the stock of EEC and EEC’s interest in Marysville. Ida-West is the primary beneficiary because the ownership of the intercompany note and the EEC note result in it controlling the entity. Creditors of Marysville have no recourse to the general credit of IDACORP and there are no other arrangements that could require IDACORP to provide financial support to Marysville or expose IDACORP to losses. Through IERCo, Idaho Power holds a variable interest in BCC, a VIE for which it is not the primary beneficiary. IERCo is not the primary beneficiary because the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of BCC is shared with the joint venture partner. The carrying value of BCC was $97 million at March 31, 2012, and Idaho Power's maximum exposure to loss is the carrying value, plus any additional future contributions to BCC and a $63 million guarantee for mine reclamation costs, which is discussed further in Note 8. Through IFS, IDACORP also holds variable interests in VIEs for which it is not the primary beneficiary. These VIEs are affordable housing developments and other real estate investments in which IFS holds limited partnership interests ranging from 5 to 99 percent. As a limited partner, IFS does not control these entities and they are not consolidated. These investments were acquired between 1996 and 2010. IFS’s maximum exposure to loss in these developments is limited to its net carrying value, which was $60 million at March 31, 2012. Regulation of Utility Operations IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial statements reflect the effects of the different ratemaking principles followed by the jurisdictions regulating Idaho Power. The application of accounting principles related to regulated operations sometimes results in Idaho Power recording expenses and revenues in a different period than when an unregulated enterprise would otherwise record expenses and revenues. In these instances, the amounts are deferred as regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities on the balance sheet and recorded on the income statement when recovered or returned in rates. Additionally, regulators can impose regulatory liabilities upon a regulated company for amounts previously collected from customers and for amounts that are expected to be refunded to customers. The effects of applying these regulatory accounting principles to Idaho Power's operations are discussed in more detail in Note 3. Financial Statements In the opinion of management of IDACORP and Idaho Power, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly each company's consolidated financial position as of March 31, 2012, consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. These adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. These financial statements do not contain the complete detail or footnote disclosure concerning accounting policies and other matters that would be included in full-year financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. The results of operations for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. Use of Estimates The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosures of contingent liabilities, as of the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results experienced could differ materially from those estimates.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is a combined report of IDACORP, Inc. (IDACORP) and Idaho Power Company (Idaho Power). Therefore, these Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements apply to both IDACORP and Idaho Power. However, Idaho Power makes no representation as to the information relating to IDACORP’s other operations.

Nature of Business

IDACORP is a holding company formed in 1998 whose principal operating subsidiary is Idaho Power. Idaho Power is an electric utility with a service territory covering approximately 24,000 square miles in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. Idaho Power's utility operations are regulated primarily by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the state regulatory commissions of Idaho and Oregon. Idaho Power is the parent of Idaho Energy Resources Co. (IERCo), a joint venturer in Bridger Coal Company (BCC), which mines and supplies coal to the Jim Bridger generating plant owned in part by Idaho Power.

IDACORP’s other subsidiaries include IDACORP Financial Services, Inc. (IFS), an investor in affordable housing and other real estate investments; Ida-West Energy Company (Ida-West), an operator of small hydroelectric generation projects that satisfy the requirements of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA); and IDACORP Energy (IE), a marketer of energy commodities, which wound down operations in 2003.

Principles of Consolidation

IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of each company, the subsidiaries that the companies control, and any variable interest entities (VIEs) for which the companies are the primary beneficiaries. Intercompany balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Investments in subsidiaries that the companies do not control and investments in VIEs for which the companies are not the primary beneficiaries, but have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

The entities that IDACORP and Idaho Power consolidate consist primarily of the wholly-owned subsidiaries discussed above. In addition, IDACORP consolidates one VIE, Marysville Hydro Partners (Marysville), which is a joint venture owned 50 percent by Ida-West and 50 percent by Environmental Energy Company (EEC). Marysville has approximately $20 million of assets, primarily a hydroelectric plant, and approximately $15 million of intercompany long-term debt, which is eliminated in consolidation. EEC has borrowed amounts from Ida-West to fund a portion of its required capital contributions to Marysville. The loans are payable from EEC’s share of distributions and are secured by the stock of EEC and EEC’s interest in Marysville. Ida-West is the primary beneficiary because the ownership of the intercompany note and the EEC note result in it controlling the entity. Creditors of Marysville have no recourse to the general credit of IDACORP and there are no other arrangements that could require IDACORP to provide financial support to Marysville or expose IDACORP to losses.

Through IERCo, Idaho Power holds a variable interest in BCC, a VIE for which it is not the primary beneficiary. IERCo is not the primary beneficiary because the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of BCC is shared with the joint venture partner. The carrying value of BCC was $97 million at March 31, 2012, and Idaho Power's maximum exposure to loss is the carrying value, plus any additional future contributions to BCC and a $63 million guarantee for mine reclamation costs, which is discussed further in Note 8.

Through IFS, IDACORP also holds variable interests in VIEs for which it is not the primary beneficiary. These VIEs are affordable housing developments and other real estate investments in which IFS holds limited partnership interests ranging from 5 to 99 percent. As a limited partner, IFS does not control these entities and they are not consolidated. These investments were acquired between 1996 and 2010. IFS’s maximum exposure to loss in these developments is limited to its net carrying value, which was $60 million at March 31, 2012.

Regulation of Utility Operations

IDACORP's and Idaho Power's financial statements reflect the effects of the different ratemaking principles followed by the jurisdictions regulating Idaho Power. The application of accounting principles related to regulated operations sometimes results in Idaho Power recording expenses and revenues in a different period than when an unregulated enterprise would otherwise record expenses and revenues. In these instances, the amounts are deferred as regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities on the balance sheet and recorded on the income statement when recovered or returned in rates. Additionally, regulators can impose regulatory liabilities upon a regulated company for amounts previously collected from customers and for amounts that are expected to be refunded to customers. The effects of applying these regulatory accounting principles to Idaho Power's operations are discussed in more detail in Note 3.

Financial Statements

In the opinion of management of IDACORP and Idaho Power, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly each company's consolidated financial position as of March 31, 2012, consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. These adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. These financial statements do not contain the complete detail or footnote disclosure concerning accounting policies and other matters that would be included in full-year financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. The results of operations for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosures of contingent liabilities, as of the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results experienced could differ materially from those estimates.