Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Long-term Contracts for Purchase of Electric Power

The Company's expenses under these PUD contracts were as follows for the years ended December 31:



(Dollars in Thousands)	2012		2011		2010
PUD contract costs	$	70,188	$	81,828	$	79,598

As of December 31, 2012, the Company was entitled to purchase portions of the power output of the PUDs' projects as set forth in the following table:



		Company's Current Share of
(Dollars in Thousands)	Contract Expiration	Percent of Output		Megawatt Capacity	Estimated 2013 Costs		2013 Debt Service Costs		Interest included in 2013 Debt Service Costs		Debt Outstanding
Chelan County PUD:
Rock Island Project	2031	25.0	%	156	$	28,601	$	11,206	$	6,635	$	106,546
Rocky Reach Project	2031	25.0	%	325	25,414		8,772		3,810		62,547
Douglas County PUD:
Wells Project	2018	29.9	%	251	15,983		8,548		3,079		76,925
Grant County PUD:
Priest Rapids Development	2052	0.8	%	9	4,043		2,220		1,247		23,967
Wanapum Development	2052	0.8	%	9	4,043		2,220		1,247		23,967
Total				750	$	78,084	$	32,966	$	16,018	$	293,952

Schedule of Long-term Purchase Commitments

The following table summarizes the Company’s estimated obligations for service contracts through the terms of its existing contracts.



Service Contract Obligations (Dollars in Thousands)	2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		Thereafter		Total
Energy production service contracts ¹	$	25,007	$	25,602	$	32,148	$	10,442	$	10,143	$	36,364	$	139,706
Information technology service contracts	13,345		—		—		—		—		—		13,345
Automated meter reading system ²	20,480		21,135		21,899		14,241		103,414		—		181,169
Total	$	58,832	$	46,737	$	54,047	$	24,683	$	113,557	$	36,364	$	334,220

_______________


¹	Energy production service contracts include operations and maintenance contracts on Mint Farm, Wild Horse, Goldendale electric generating facility(Goldendale), Hopkins Ridge, Frederickson 1, Sumas, Ferndale and Lower Snake River facilities.


²	Automated meter reading system contractual obligation is the service component of the Landis and Gyr contract.

The quantified obligations are based on the FERC and NEB (National Energy Board) authorized rates, which are subject to change.



Demand Charge Obligations (Dollars in Thousands)	2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		Thereafter		Total
Firm transportation service	$	160,590	$	157,187	$	144,036	$	139,423	$	136,950	$	555,905	$	1,294,091
Firm storage service	6,135		5,209		5,209		5,209		5,209		5,247		32,218
Total	$	166,725	$	162,396	$	149,245	$	144,632	$	142,159	$	561,152	$	1,326,309

These contracts have varying terms and may include escalation and termination provisions.



(Dollars in Thousands)	2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		Thereafter		Total
Columbia River projects	$	65,839	$	66,313	$	65,425	$	65,485	$	65,030	$	693,057	$	1,021,149
Other utilities	16,928		17,646		16,983		17,230		10,453		—		79,240
Non-utility contracts	63,107		54,352		117,198		148,074		187,099		1,671,444		2,241,274
Total	$	145,874	$	138,311	$	199,606	$	230,789	$	262,582	$	2,364,501	$	3,341,663

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of information concerning the terms and significance of long term contracts to purchase power (generally referred to as purchase power agreements (PPAs) or power sale agreements (PSAs)) including date of contract expiration, share of plant output being purchased, estimated annual cost, annual minimum debt service payment required and amount of related long-term debt or lease obligations outstanding.

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