BENEFIT PLANS: Level 3 (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block]

The table below shows the components of net periodic benefit costs for the pension, SMSP, and postretirement benefits plans for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands).

	Pension Plan						SMSP						Postretirement Benefits						Total
	2019			2018			2019			2018			2019			2018			2019			2018
Service cost	$	8,316		$	9,742		$	(45	)	$	(79	)	$	196		$	242		$	8,467		$	9,905
Interest cost	10,560			9,683			1,145			1,061			762			656			12,467			11,400
Expected return on plan assets	(12,187		)	(13,056		)	—			—			(557		)	(605		)	(12,744		)	(13,661		)
Amortization of prior service cost	2			2			24			25			12			12			38			39
Amortization of net loss	3,302			3,394			633			947			—			—			3,935			4,341
Net periodic benefit cost	9,993			9,765			1,757			1,954			413			305			12,163			12,024
Regulatory deferral of net periodic benefit cost(1)	(9,523		)	(9,309		)	—			—			—			—			(9,523		)	(9,309		)
Previously deferred pension costs recognized(1)	4,289			4,289			—			—			—			—			4,289			4,289
Net periodic benefit cost recognized for financial reporting(1)(2)	$	4,759		$	4,745		$	1,757		$	1,954		$	413		$	305		$	6,929		$	7,004

 (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, the Idaho portion of net periodic benefit cost is recorded as a regulatory asset and is recognized in the income statement as those costs are recovered through rates.

 (2) Of total net periodic benefit cost recognized for financial reporting, $4.2 million and $4.1 million, respectively, were recognized in "Other operations and maintenance" and $2.7 million and $2.9 million, respectively, were recognized in "Other expense, net" on the condensed consolidated statements of income of the companies for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018.

The table below shows the components of net periodic benefit costs for the pension, SMSP, and postretirement benefits plans for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands).

	Pension Plan						SMSP						Postretirement Benefits						Total
	2019			2018			2019			2018			2019			2018			2019			2018
Service cost	$	17,030		$	19,485		$	(90	)	$	(158	)	$	427		$	526		$	17,367		$	19,853
Interest cost	21,156			19,365			2,288			2,124			1,494			1,322			24,938			22,811
Expected return on plan assets	(24,311		)	(26,111		)	—			—			(1,110		)	(1,234		)	(25,421		)	(27,345		)
Amortization of prior service cost	3			3			48			49			24			24			75			76
Amortization of net loss	6,782			6,788			1,266			1,894			—			—			8,048			8,682
Net periodic benefit cost	20,660			19,530			3,512			3,909			835			638			25,007			24,077
Regulatory deferral of net periodic benefit cost(1)	(19,690		)	(18,616		)	—			—			—			—			(19,690		)	(18,616		)
Previously deferred pension costs recognized(1)	8,577			8,577			—			—			—			—			8,577			8,577
Net periodic benefit cost recognized for financial reporting(1)(2)	$	9,547		$	9,491		$	3,512		$	3,909		$	835		$	638		$	13,894		$	14,038

 (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, the Idaho portion of net periodic benefit cost is recorded as a regulatory asset and is recognized in the income statement as those costs are recovered through rates.

 (2) Of total net periodic benefit cost recognized for financial reporting, $8.4 million and $8.2 million, respectively, were recognized in "Other operations and maintenance" and $5.5 million and $5.8 million, respectively, were recognized in "Other expense, net" on the condensed consolidated statements of income of the companies for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018.