BENEFIT PLANS: Level 3 (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

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 March 31, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands).

	Pension Plan						SMSP					Postretirement Benefits						Total
	2020			2019			2020		2019			2020			2019			2020			2019
Service cost	$	10,915		$	8,714		$	53	$	(45	)	$	274		$	231		$	11,242		$	8,900
Interest cost	10,018			10,596			1,088		1,143			614			732			11,720			12,471
Expected return on plan assets	(14,030		)	(12,124		)	—		—			(605		)	(553		)	(14,635		)	(12,677		)
Amortization of prior service cost	2			1			72		24			12			12			86			37
Amortization of net loss	4,367			3,480			934		633			—			—			5,301			4,113
Net periodic benefit cost	11,272			10,667			2,147		1,755			295			422			13,714			12,844
Regulatory deferral of net periodic benefit cost(1)	(10,742		)	(10,167		)	—		—			—			—			(10,742		)	(10,167		)
Previously deferred pension costs recognized(1)	4,288			4,288			—		—			—			—			4,288			4,288
Net periodic benefit cost recognized for financial reporting(1)(2)	$	4,818		$	4,788		$	2,147	$	1,755		$	295		$	422		$	7,260		$	6,965

 (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, $4.3 million and $4.2 million, respectively, were recognized in "Other operations and maintenance" and $3.0 million and $2.8 million, respectively, were recognized in "Other expense, net" on the condensed consolidated statements of income of the companies for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.