DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS [Abstract]
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS Ridgewood Electric Power Trust V (the "Trust") is a Delaware trust formed on March 14, 1996. The Trust began offering shares of beneficial interest ("Investor Shares") in April 1996 and concluded its offering in April 1998. The Trust has 932.8877 Investor Shares outstanding. Prior to the adoption of the Trust's Plan of Dissolution (described below), the objective of the Trust was to provide benefits to its shareholders through a combination of distributions of operating cash flow and capital appreciation. The Managing Shareholder of the Trust is Ridgewood Renewable Power LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company (the "Managing Shareholder"). Historically, the Trust focused primarily on independent power generation facilities, water desalinization plants and other infrastructure projects both in the US and abroad. On December 22, 2008, the Plan of Liquidation and Dissolution of Ridgewood Electric Power Trust V (the "Plan of Dissolution") became effective. Under the Plan of Dissolution, the business of the Trust shifted, and became limited to the disposal of its remaining assets and resolution of its remaining liabilities. Upon the completion of these activities, if successful, the Managing Shareholder expects to distribute any remaining cash to the Trust's shareholders and then proceed to terminate the Trust and its reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). The Trust is required to make adequate provisions to satisfy its known and unknown liabilities, which could substantially delay or limit the Trust's ability to make future distributions to shareholders. The process of accounting for the Trust's liabilities, including those that are presently unknown, may involve difficult valuation decisions, which could adversely impact the amount or timing of any future distributions by the Trust. Under the Plan of Dissolution, the Managing Shareholder has sole authority to conduct the Trust's dissolution, liquidation and termination without additional shareholder approval. As of the date of the issuance of these financial statements, the Trust has not been liquidated, primarily due to on-going matters discussed in Note 3. The Managing Shareholder is unable to estimate when these matters will be resolved and what financial impact the matters will have on the Trust's net assets or the timing, likelihood or amount of any future distributions to shareholders. In March 2012, the Trust made distributions to its shareholders of $1,011, or $1,087 per Investor Share, as a result of the settlement agreement discussed in Note 3. The Managing Shareholder, and its affiliates, did not receive any portion of the distribution, including any distributions to Investor Shares held by the Managing Shareholder and its affiliates. It is possible that resolution of the matters discussed in Note 3 could result in a payment to the Trust; however, the Trust does not anticipate making additional distributions until the Trust has completed the liquidation process. At that time, the Trust's remaining cash, if any, will be distributed to holders of Investor Shares. The Trust currently has no cash, and does not expect to have any cash with which to make further distributions to shareholders unless resolution of the matters discussed in Note 3 results in a payment to the Trust. The Trust believes that it currently has access to sufficient resources to meet its anticipated obligations, as the Managing Shareholder has agreed to pay the on-going normal and recurring operating expenses of the Trust and waive all future management fees. Additionally, the Trust is not paying any on-going expenses regarding the matters discussed in Note 3. As a result, no additional estimated expenses for liquidation have been reflected in the accompanying financial statements of the Trust. The Trust has evaluated subsequent events and transactions through the date of the issuance of its financial statements, and concluded that there were no such events or transactions that require adjustment to, or disclosure in the notes to, the condensed financial statements.

1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Ridgewood Electric Power Trust V (the "Trust") is a Delaware trust formed on March 14, 1996. The Trust began offering shares of beneficial interest ("Investor Shares") in April 1996 and concluded its offering in April 1998. The Trust has 932.8877 Investor Shares outstanding. Prior to the adoption of the Trust's Plan of Dissolution (described below), the objective of the Trust was to provide benefits to its shareholders through a combination of distributions of operating cash flow and capital appreciation. The Managing Shareholder of the Trust is Ridgewood Renewable Power LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company (the "Managing Shareholder"). Historically, the Trust focused primarily on independent power generation facilities, water desalinization plants and other infrastructure projects both in the US and abroad.

On December 22, 2008, the Plan of Liquidation and Dissolution of Ridgewood Electric Power Trust V (the "Plan of Dissolution") became effective. Under the Plan of Dissolution, the business of the Trust shifted, and became limited to the disposal of its remaining assets and resolution of its remaining liabilities. Upon the completion of these activities, if successful, the Managing Shareholder expects to distribute any remaining cash to the Trust's shareholders and then proceed to terminate the Trust and its reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). The Trust is required to make adequate provisions to satisfy its known and unknown liabilities, which could substantially delay or limit the Trust's ability to make future distributions to shareholders. The process of accounting for the Trust's liabilities, including those that are presently unknown, may involve difficult valuation decisions, which could adversely impact the amount or timing of any future distributions by the Trust.

Under the Plan of Dissolution, the Managing Shareholder has sole authority to conduct the Trust's dissolution, liquidation and termination without additional shareholder approval. As of the date of the issuance of these financial statements, the Trust has not been liquidated, primarily due to on-going matters discussed in Note 3. The Managing Shareholder is unable to estimate when these matters will be resolved and what financial impact the matters will have on the Trust's net assets or the timing, likelihood or amount of any future distributions to shareholders.

In March 2012, the Trust made distributions to its shareholders of $1,011, or $1,087 per Investor Share, as a result of the settlement agreement discussed in Note 3. The Managing Shareholder, and its affiliates, did not receive any portion of the distribution, including any distributions to Investor Shares held by the Managing Shareholder and its affiliates. It is possible that resolution of the matters discussed in Note 3 could result in a payment to the Trust; however, the Trust does not anticipate making additional distributions until the Trust has completed the liquidation process. At that time, the Trust's remaining cash, if any, will be distributed to holders of Investor Shares. The Trust currently has no cash, and does not expect to have any cash with which to make further distributions to shareholders unless resolution of the matters discussed in Note 3 results in a payment to the Trust.

The Trust believes that it currently has access to sufficient resources to meet its anticipated obligations, as the Managing Shareholder has agreed to pay the on-going normal and recurring operating expenses of the Trust and waive all future management fees. Additionally, the Trust is not paying any on-going expenses regarding the matters discussed in Note 3. As a result, no additional estimated expenses for liquidation have been reflected in the accompanying financial statements of the Trust.

The Trust has evaluated subsequent events and transactions through the date of the issuance of its financial statements, and concluded that there were no such events or transactions that require adjustment to, or disclosure in the notes to, the condensed financial statements.