Benefits (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Schedule Of Net Benefit Costs Table [Text Block]

		Pension Benefits				Other Postretirement Benefits
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Three Months Ended September 30,
		2011		2010		2011		2010
			(In thousands)
Service cost		$	935	$	767	$	880	$	792
Interest cost			2,526		2,510		1,446		1,410
Expected return on plan assets			(2,646)		(2,337)		(1,450)		(1,270)
Prior service cost (credit)
	amortization		146		138		(453)		(412)
Actuarial loss (gain)
	amortization		1,984		1,997		(402)		(450)
			2,945		3,075		21		70
Regulatory adjustment (1)			192		52		667		667
Net periodic benefit cost		$	3,137	$	3,127	$	688	$	737
		Pension Benefits				Other Postretirement Benefits
		Nine Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2011		2010		2011		2010
			(In thousands)
Service cost		$	2,805	$	2,302	$	2,641	$	2,378
Interest cost			7,576		7,529		4,338		4,229
Expected return on plan assets			(7,939)		(7,011)		(4,349)		(3,581)
Prior service cost (credit)
	amortization		440		414		(1,359)		(1,235)
Actuarial loss (gain)
	amortization		5,951		5,990		(1,208)		(1,351)
			8,833		9,224		63		440
Regulatory adjustment (1)			575		209		1,999		1,999
Net periodic benefit cost		$	9,408	$	9,433	$	2,062	$	2,439

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• In the Distribution segment, the Company recovers certain qualified pension benefit plan and other postretirement benefit plan costs through rates charged to utility customers. Certain utility commissions require that the recovery of these costs be based on the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or other utility commission specific guidelines. The difference between these regulatory-based amounts and the periodic benefit cost calculated pursuant to GAAP is deferred as a regulatory asset or liability and amortized to expense over periods in which this difference will be recovered in rates, as promulgated by the applicable utility commission.