XML 18 R30.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]    
Current regulatory assets $ 3,299us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsCurrent $ 1,300us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsCurrent
Noncurrent regulatory assets 49,923us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent 58,141us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent
Total regulatory assets 53,222us-gaap_RegulatoryAssets 59,441us-gaap_RegulatoryAssets
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 23,375us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityNoncurrent 19,252us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityNoncurrent
Total regulatory liabilities 27,379us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilities 19,890us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilities
Fuel recovery [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 4,004us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityCurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredFuelCostsMember
638us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityCurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredFuelCostsMember
Postretirement benefits [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 23,375us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityAxis
= us-gaap_PostretirementBenefitCostsMember
19,047us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityAxis
= us-gaap_PostretirementBenefitCostsMember
Other [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 0us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityAxis
= us-gaap_OtherRegulatoryAssetsLiabilitiesMember
205us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityAxis
= us-gaap_OtherRegulatoryAssetsLiabilitiesMember
Environmental costs [Member]    
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]    
Current regulatory assets 1,300us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsCurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= us-gaap_EnvironmentalRestorationCostsMember
1,300us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsCurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= us-gaap_EnvironmentalRestorationCostsMember
Noncurrent regulatory assets 2,109us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= us-gaap_EnvironmentalRestorationCostsMember
2,843us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= us-gaap_EnvironmentalRestorationCostsMember
Levelized depreciation [Member]    
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]    
Current regulatory assets 1,999us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsCurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= nwp_LevelizeddepreciationMember
0us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsCurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= nwp_LevelizeddepreciationMember
Noncurrent regulatory assets 29,775us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= nwp_LevelizeddepreciationMember
33,261us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= nwp_LevelizeddepreciationMember
Grossed-up deferred taxes on equity funds used during construction [Member]    
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory assets 14,567us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember
15,325us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember
Asset retirement obligations, net [Member]    
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory assets $ 3,472us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= nwp_AssetretirementobligationsnetMember
$ 6,712us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= nwp_AssetretirementobligationsnetMember