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Regulation and Rates (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Regulation and Rates [Line Items]  
Schedule of Allowed Return on the Net Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
Below is a chart with the allowed return on the net regulatory assets and liabilities and the associated time periods:
Period
Rate of Return
After-Tax Return
May 14, 2012 - present
7.80
%
6.71
%
April 8, 2010 - May 13, 2012
8.10

6.90

November 1, 2008 - April 7, 2010
8.25

7.00
Schedule of Net Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
The net regulatory assets and liabilities at December 31, 2012 and 2011 included the following:
Puget Sound Energy
Remaining
Amortization
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
Period
2012
2011
PGA deferral of unrealized losses on derivative instruments
(a) 
$
95,953

$
200,893

Chelan PUD contract initiation
18.8 years 
133,492

140,580

Storm damage costs electric
1 to 6 years (a) 
131,904

87,303

Environmental remediation
(a) 
66,402

65,167

Baker Dam licensing operating and maintenance costs
46 years 
57,644

60,631

Deferred income taxes
(a) 
119,279

61,344

Deferred Washington Commission AFUDC
Varies up to 26 years 
55,896

56,315

Energy conservation costs
1 to 2 years 
26,940

35,111

Unamortized loss on reacquired debt
1 to 38.8 years 
31,399

33,023

White River relicensing and other costs
(a) 
29,654

30,993

Mint Farm ownership and operating costs
12.3 years 
24,321

26,582

Investment in Bonneville Exchange power contract
4.5 years 
15,870

19,396

PCA mechanism
(a) 
3,773

6,818

Ferndale
(a)
1,789

—

Lower Snake River
3.3 to 24.3 years
126,887

—

Various other regulatory assets
Varies 
15,020

21,347

Total PSE regulatory assets
 
$
936,223

$
845,503

Cost of removal
(b) 
$
(239,243
)
$
(219,087
)
Production tax credits
(c) 
(93,618
)
(93,618
)
PGA payable
1 year 
(32,587
)
(25,940
)
Summit purchase option buy-out
7.8 years 
(12,338
)
(13,913
)
Deferred credit on gas pipeline capacity
Varies up to 5.8 years 
(6,213
)
(7,987
)
Renewable energy credits
(a) 
(11,341
)
(2,780
)
Treasury grants
7 to 10 years
(225,573
)
(23,179
)
Various other regulatory liabilities
Up to 4 years 
(7,998
)
(3,521
)
Total PSE regulatory liabilities
 
$
(628,911
)
$
(390,025
)
PSE net regulatory assets and liabilities
 
$
307,312

$
455,478

_______________
(a) 
Amortization periods vary depending on timing of underlying transactions or awaiting regulatory approval in a future Washington Commission rate proceeding.
(b) 
The balance is dependent upon the cost of removal of underlying assets and the life of utility plant.
(c) 
Amortization will begin once PTCs are utilized by PSE on its tax return.
Puget Energy
Remaining Amortization
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
Period
2012
2011
Total PSE regulatory assets
(a)
$
936,223

$
845,503

Puget Energy acquisition adjustments:
 
 

 

Regulatory assets related to power contracts
1 to 24 years
37,655

46,202

Service provider contracts
1 year
2,614

5,751

Various other regulatory assets
1 year
565

1,449

Total Puget Energy regulatory assets
 
$
977,057

$
898,905

Total PSE regulatory liabilities
(a)
$
(628,911
)
$
(390,025
)
Puget Energy acquisition adjustments:
 
 

 

Regulatory liabilities related to power contracts
1 to 39 years
(507,009
)
(582,836
)
Various other regulatory liabilities
Varies
(4,373
)
(5,318
)
Total Puget Energy regulatory liabilities
 
$
(1,140,293
)
$
(978,179
)
Puget Energy net regulatory asset and liabilities
 
$
(163,236
)
$
(79,274
)
_______________
(a) 
Puget Energy’s regulatory assets and liabilities include purchase accounting adjustments under ASC 805 as a result of the merger. 
Schedule of Graduated Scale of Rate Adjustment Mechanisms
Annual Power Cost Variability
Customers’ Share
Company’s Share
+/- $20 million
0%
100%
+/- $20 million - $40 million
50%
50%
+/- $40 million - $120 million
90%
10%
+/- $120 + million
95%
5%
Electric
  
Regulation and Rates [Line Items]  
Schedule of Effects on Annual Revenue Due to Approved Rate Adjustments
The following table sets forth electric rate adjustments approved by the Washington Commission and the corresponding impact on PSE’s revenue based on the effective dates:
Type of Rate
Adjustment
Effective Date
Average
Percentage
Increase (Decrease)
in Rates
Increase (Decrease)
in Revenue
(Dollars in Millions)
Electric General Rate Case
April 8, 2010, Annual
3.7%
$74.1
Renewable Energy Credit Proceeds
November 1, 2010 - March 31, 2011
(2.9)
(27.7)
Electric General Rate Case
May 14, 2012, Annual
3.2
63.3
Gas
  
Regulation and Rates [Line Items]  
Schedule of Effects on Annual Revenue Due to Approved Rate Adjustments
The following table sets forth natural gas rate adjustments that were approved by the Washington Commission and the corresponding impact to PSE’s annual revenue based on the effective dates:
Type of Rate
Adjustment
Effective Date
Average
Percentage
Increase (Decrease)
in Rates
Annual
Increase (Decrease)
 in Revenue
(Dollars in Millions)
Purchased Gas Adjustment
November 1, 2012
(7.7)%
$(77.0)
Natural Gas General Rate Case
May 14, 2012
1.3%
13.4
Purchased Gas Adjustment
November 1, 2011
(4.3)%
(43.5)
Natural Gas General Tariff Adjustment
April 1, 2011
1.8%
19.0
Purchased Gas Adjustment
November 1, 2010 – October 31, 2011
1.9%
18.3
Natural Gas General Rate Case
April 8, 2010
0.8%
10.1
Purchased Gas Adjustment
October 1, 2009 – October 31, 2010
(17.1)%
(198.1)
Purchased Gas Adjustment
June 1, 2009
(1.8)%
(21.2)