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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Assets, Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
 
IDACORP and Idaho Power have categorized their financial instruments into a three-level fair value hierarchy, based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique.  The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3).  If the inputs used to measure the financial instruments fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the categorization is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument.
 
Financial assets and liabilities recorded on the consolidated balance sheets are categorized based on the inputs to the valuation techniques as follows:
 
•      Level 1:  Financial assets and liabilities whose values are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market that IDACORP and Idaho Power has the ability to access.
 
•      Level 2:  Financial assets and liabilities whose values are based on the following:
a) quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
b) quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in non-active markets;
c) pricing models whose inputs are observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and
d) pricing models whose inputs are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data through correlation or other means for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
 
IDACORP and Idaho Power Level 2 inputs are based on quoted market prices adjusted for location using corroborated, observable market data.
 
•      Level 3:  Financial assets and liabilities whose values are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.  These inputs reflect management’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the asset or liability.
 
IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s assessment of a particular input's significance to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy.  An item recorded at fair value is reclassified among levels when changes in the nature of valuation inputs cause the item to no longer meet the criteria for the level in which it was previously categorized. There were no transfers between levels or material changes in valuation techniques or inputs during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

The following table presents information about IDACORP’s and Idaho Power’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands of dollars): 
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
IDACORP - Parent
 
$
1,000

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,000

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

Idaho Power
 
10,000

 

 

 
10,000

 
100

 

 

 
100

Derivatives
 
340

 
64

 

 
404

 
506

 
128

 

 
634

Trading securities:  Equity securities
 
102

 

 

 
102

 
141

 

 

 
141

Available-for-sale securities: ETFs
 
24,459

 

 

 
24,459

 
44,942

 

 

 
44,942

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives
 
$
286

 
$
4,686

 
$

 
$
4,972

 
$
17

 
$
3,944

 
$

 
$
3,961


Idaho Power’s derivatives are contracts entered into as part of its management of loads and resources.  Electricity derivatives are valued on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) with quoted prices in an active market.  Natural gas and diesel derivative valuations are performed using New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and ICE pricing, adjusted for location basis, which are also quoted under NYMEX and ICE pricing.  Trading securities consist of employee-directed investments held in a Rabbi Trust and are related to an executive deferred compensation plan.  Available-for-sale securities are exchange-traded short-term bond and money market funds related to the SMSP and are held in a Rabbi Trust.

The table below presents the carrying value and estimated fair value of financial instruments that are not reported at fair value, as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies (in thousands of dollars):
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
Carrying Amount
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Carrying Amount
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
 
(thousands of dollars)
IDACORP
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Notes receivable(1)
 
$
3,804

 
$
3,804

 
$
3,804

 
$
3,804

Liabilities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Long-term debt(1)
 
1,726,474

 
1,813,243

 
1,615,502

 
1,788,197

Idaho Power
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Liabilities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Long-term debt(1)
 
$
1,726,474

 
$
1,813,243

 
$
1,615,502

 
$
1,788,197

 
(1) Notes receivable and long-term debt are categorized as Level 3 and Level 2, respectively, of the fair value hierarchy, as defined earlier in this Note 16.

Notes receivable are related to Ida-West and are valued based on unobservable inputs, including discounted cash flows, which are partially based on forecasted hydroelectric conditions. Long-term debt is not traded on an exchange and is valued using quoted rates for similar debt in active markets. Carrying values for cash and cash equivalents, deposits, customer and other receivables, notes payable, accounts payable, interest accrued, and taxes accrued approximate fair value.