INCOME TAXES

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

We calculate our interim period provision for income taxes based on our projected annual effective tax rate as adjusted for certain discrete items.

The table below shows our effective tax rates:

	Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30
	2013		2012		2013		2012
Effective Tax Rate	37.2	%	34.5	%	36.8	%	33.7	%

Our effective tax rate normally differs from the federal statutory tax rate of 35% due to additional provision for state income tax obligations. Other significant items that had an impact on our effective tax rates are noted below.

Our effective tax rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, was lower than the federal statutory tax rate of 35%. This difference was primarily due to the federal income tax benefit of tax credits related to wind production and other miscellaneous tax adjustments.

During the six months ended June 30, 2013, there was not a significant change in our liability for unrecognized tax benefits.