BENEFIT PLANS: Level 3 (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block]

The following table shows the components of net periodic benefit costs for the pension, SMSP, and postretirement benefits plans for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands of dollars). 

	Pension Plan						SMSP				Postretirement Benefits
	2015			2014			2015		2014		2015			2014
Service cost	$	8,291		$	6,323		$	422	$	411	$	308		$	252
Interest cost	8,792			8,853			967		964		670			711
Expected return on plan assets	(10,994		)	(10,561		)	—		—		(669		)	(648		)
Amortization of prior service cost	56			86			47		55		3			45
Amortization of net loss	3,482			978			1,048		654		—			—
Net periodic benefit cost	9,627			5,679			2,484		2,084		312			360
Adjustments due to the effects of regulation(1)	(4,902		)	(1,140		)	—		—		—			—
Net periodic benefit cost recognized for financial reporting(1)	$	4,725		$	4,539		$	2,484	$	2,084	$	312		$	360

⁽¹⁾ Net periodic benefit costs for the pension plan are recognized for financial reporting based upon the authorization of each regulatory jurisdiction in which Idaho Power operates. Under IPUC order, income statement recognition of pension plan costs is deferred until costs are recovered through rates.

The table below shows the components of net periodic benefit costs for the pension, SMSP, and postretirement benefits plans for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands of dollars). 

	Pension Plan						SMSP				Postretirement Benefits
	2015			2014			2015		2014		2015			2014
Service cost	$	24,873		$	18,969		$	1,267	$	1,234	$	926		$	758
Interest cost	26,378			26,561			2,901		2,892		2,009			2,131
Expected return on plan assets	(31,733		)	(31,717		)	—		—		(2,010		)	(1,946		)
Amortization of prior service cost	166			260			139		165		11			137
Amortization of net loss	10,446			2,933			3,146		1,963		—			—
Net periodic benefit cost	30,130			17,006			7,453		6,254		936			1,080
Adjustments due to the effects of regulation(1)	(15,873		)	(3,437		)	—		—		—			—
Net periodic benefit cost recognized for financial reporting(1)	$	14,257		$	13,569		$	7,453	$	6,254	$	936		$	1,080

⁽¹⁾ Net periodic benefit costs for the pension plan are recognized for financial reporting based upon the authorization of each regulatory jurisdiction in which Idaho Power operates. Under IPUC order, income statement recognition of pension plan costs is deferred until costs are recovered through rates.