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Financial Instruments And Investments (Long-Term Debt and Short-Term Borrowings - Narratives) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Aug. 18, 2010
Financial Instruments and Investments [Line Items]      
Decommissioning Fund Investments $ 237,619us-gaap_DecommissioningFundInvestments $ 234,286us-gaap_DecommissioningFundInvestments  
Nuclear Fuel Financing      
Financial Instruments and Investments [Line Items]      
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding 17,300us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ ee_DebtObligationsByPurposeAxis
= ee_NuclearFuelFinancingMember
14,500us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ ee_DebtObligationsByPurposeAxis
= ee_NuclearFuelFinancingMember
 
Working Capital and General Purpose      
Financial Instruments and Investments [Line Items]      
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding 41,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ ee_DebtObligationsByPurposeAxis
= ee_WorkingCapitalAndGeneralPurposeMember
0us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ ee_DebtObligationsByPurposeAxis
= ee_WorkingCapitalAndGeneralPurposeMember
 
RGRT Senior Notes      
Financial Instruments and Investments [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount     $ 110,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= ee_RgrtSeniorNotesMember