CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CAPITAL STOCK AND LONG-TERM DEBT (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Amortizing Secured Note, due December 20, 2021	Sep. 30, 2013 Amortizing Secured Note, due May 19, 2028	Sep. 30, 2013 Amortizing Secured Note, due August 25, 2030	Sep. 30, 2013 Amortizing Secured Note, due September 19, 2031	Sep. 30, 2013 State Revolving Trust Note, due December 31, 2022	Sep. 30, 2013 State Revolving Trust Note, due January 25, 2027	Sep. 30, 2013 State Revolving Trust Note, due December 1, 2026	Sep. 30, 2013 State Revolving Trust Bond 0.00%, due August 1, 2021	Sep. 30, 2013 State Revolving Trust Note, due July 1, 2028	Sep. 30, 2013 State Revolving Trust Note, due January 1, 2028	Sep. 30, 2013 State Revolving Trust Note, due August 1, 2031	Sep. 30, 2013 Amortizing Secured Note, due April 20, 2029	Sep. 30, 2013 Amortizing Secured Note 7.05%, due January 20, 2030	Sep. 30, 2013 Amortizing Secured Note 5.69%, due January 20, 2030	Sep. 30, 2013 State Revolving Trust Note, due July 1, 2031	Sep. 30, 2013 State Revolving Trust Note, due November 30, 2030	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series X	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series Z	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series BB	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series DD	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series EE	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series GG	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series II	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series KK	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series MM	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series OO	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series QQ	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series RR	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series SS	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series TT	Sep. 30, 2013 State Revolving Trust Note, due May 1, 2025	Sep. 30, 2013 State Revolving Trust Bond 4.00% to 5.00%, due August 1, 2021	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series Y	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series AA	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series CC	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series FF	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series HH	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series JJ	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series LL	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series NN	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series PP	Sep. 30, 2013 First Mortgage Bonds - Series UU	Sep. 30, 2013 Convertible Preferred Stock $7.00 Series	Dec. 31, 2012 Convertible Preferred Stock $7.00 Series	Sep. 30, 2013 Convertible Preferred Stock $8.00 Series	Dec. 31, 2012 Convertible Preferred Stock $8.00 Series	Sep. 30, 2013 Nonredeemable Preferred Stock $7.00 Series	Dec. 31, 2012 Nonredeemable Preferred Stock $7.00 Series	Sep. 30, 2013 Nonredeemable Preferred Stock $4.75 Series	Dec. 31, 2012 Nonredeemable Preferred Stock $4.75 Series
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	40,000,000	40,000,000
Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	15,917,000	15,795,000
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized	130,000	130,000
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding	28,000	28,000																																											14,000	14,000	3,000	3,000	1,000	1,000	10,000	10,000
Due date of debt			Dec. 20, 2021	May 19, 2028	Aug. 25, 2030	Sep. 19, 2031	Dec. 31, 2022	Jan. 25, 2027	Dec. 01, 2026	Aug. 01, 2021	Jul. 01, 2028	Jan. 01, 2028	Aug. 01, 2031	Apr. 20, 2029	Jan. 20, 2030	Jan. 20, 2030	Jul. 01, 2031	Nov. 30, 2030	Sep. 01, 2018	Sep. 01, 2019	Sep. 01, 2021	Jan. 01, 2032	Aug. 01, 2023	Aug. 01, 2026	Aug. 01, 2024	Aug. 01, 2028	Aug. 01, 2030	Aug. 01, 2031	Oct. 01, 2023	Oct. 01, 2038	Oct. 01, 2047	Aug. 01, 2032	May 01, 2025	Aug. 01, 2021	Sep. 01, 2018	Sep. 01, 2019	Sep. 01, 2021	Aug. 01, 2024	Aug. 01, 2026	Aug. 01, 2027	Aug. 01, 2028	Aug. 01, 2030	Aug. 01, 2031	Aug. 01, 2032
Interest rate			8.05%	6.25%	6.44%	6.46%	4.22%	3.49%	4.03%	0.00%	3.64%	3.64%	3.45%	6.59%	7.05%	5.69%	3.75%	3.75%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	5.10%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	5.00%	3.80%	4.25%	0.00%
Interest rate - minimum																																	3.30%	4.00%	4.25%	3.25%	4.00%	3.00%	4.00%	3.40%	3.30%	3.00%	2.00%	3.00%
Interest rate - maximum																																	3.60%	5.00%	4.63%	5.75%	5.00%	5.50%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	4.375%	5.00%	3.25%