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Regulatory Accounting: (Tables)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
We had the following regulatory assets and liabilities (in thousands):
 
Maximum
As of
As of
As of
 
Amortization
June 30, 2017
December 31, 2016
June 30, 2016
 
(in years)
 
 
 
Regulatory assets
 
 
 
 
Deferred energy and fuel cost adjustments - current (a)(d)
1
$
20,761

$
17,491

$
20,603

Deferred gas cost adjustments (a)(d)
1
9,060

15,329

12,122

Gas price derivatives (a)
3.5
11,159

8,843

11,515

Deferred taxes on AFUDC (b)
45
15,322

15,227

13,879

Employee benefit plans (c)
12
107,419

108,556

109,522

Environmental (a)
subject to approval
1,070

1,108

1,144

Asset retirement obligations (a)
44
510

505

505

Loss on reacquired debt (a)
30
21,466

22,266

3,061

Renewable energy standard adjustment (b)
5
768

1,605

2,679

Deferred taxes on flow through accounting (c)
35
40,586

37,498

31,554

Decommissioning costs (e)
6
14,681

16,859

18,399

Gas supply contract termination
5
22,793

26,666

28,385

Other regulatory assets (a) (e)
15
31,565

24,189

22,044

 
 
$
297,160

$
296,142

$
275,412

 
 
 
 
 
Regulatory liabilities
 
 
 
 
Deferred energy and gas costs (a) (d)
1
$
16,767

$
10,368

$
32,868

Employee benefit plan costs and related deferred taxes (c)
12
67,297

68,654

62,712

Cost of removal (a)
44
125,247

118,410

126,002

Revenue subject to refund
1
1,518

2,485

1,616

Other regulatory liabilities (c)
25
5,481

6,839

6,243

 
 
$
216,310

$
206,756

$
229,441

__________
(a)
We are allowed recovery of costs, but we are not allowed a rate of return.
(b)
In addition to recovery of costs, we are allowed a rate of return.
(c)
In addition to recovery or repayment of costs, we are allowed a return on a portion of this amount or a reduction in rate base.
(d)
Our deferred energy, fuel cost, and gas cost adjustments represent the cost of electricity and gas delivered to our electric and gas utility customers that is either higher or lower than current rates and will be recovered or refunded in future rates. Our electric and gas utilities file periodic quarterly, semi-annual, and/or annual filings to recover these costs based on the respective cost mechanisms approved by their applicable state utility commissions.
(e)
In accordance with a settlement agreement approved by the SDPUC on June 16, 2017, the amortization of South Dakota Electric’s decommissioning costs of approximately $11 million, vegetation management costs of approximately $14 million, and Winter Storm Atlas costs of approximately $2.0 million will be amortized over 6 years, effective July 1, 2017. Decommissioning costs and Winter Storm Atlas costs were previously amortized over a 10 year period ending September 30, 2024. The vegetation management costs were previously unamortized. The change in amortization periods for these costs will increase annual amortization expense by approximately $2.7 million.