Propety Plant Equipment (tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]

Property, plant and equipment at December 31 consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

				2012				2011
				Weighted				Weighted
				Average				Average	Lives (in years)
	2012			Useful Life (in years)	2011			Useful Life (in years)	Minimum	Maximum
Electric plant:
Production	$	510,674		51	$	504,088		51	45	65
Transmission	115,092			46	115,063			47	40	60
Distribution	304,113			38	289,833			39	16	45
Plant acquisition adjustment (a)	4,870			32	4,870			32	32	32
General	71,802			22	72,045			21	8	45
Construction work in progress	18,217				9,873
Total electric plant	1,024,768				995,772
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(322,830		)		(313,581		)
Electric plant net of accumulated depreciation and amortization	$	701,938			$	682,191

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(a) The plant acquisition adjustment is included in rate base and is being recovered with 18 years remaining.