CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CAPITAL STOCK AND LONG-TERM DEBT (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Common Stock, No Par Value	$ 148,186	$ 146,185
Retained Earnings	47,977	42,560
TOTAL COMMON EQUITY	196,163	188,745
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCK	2,436	2,886
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	132,832	133,112
Add: Premium on Issuance of Long-term Debt	1,972	2,072
Less: Current Portion of Long-term Debt	(5,634)	(5,386)
TOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	129,170	129,798
Amortizing Secured Note, due December 20, 2021 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	1,872	2,005
Amortizing Secured Note, due May 19, 2028 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	5,740	6,055
Amortizing Secured Note, due August 25, 2030 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	4,457	4,667
Amortizing Secured Note, due September 19, 2031 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	4,737	4,947
State Revolving Trust Note, due December 31, 2022 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	443	465
State Revolving Trust Note, due May 1, 2025 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	2,559	2,654
State Revolving Trust Note, due March 1, 2026 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	506	541
State Revolving Trust Note, due January 25, 2027 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	536	569
State Revolving Trust Note, due December 1, 2026 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	720	742
State Revolving Trust Bond, due August 1, 2021 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	299	343
0% State Revolving Trust Bond, due August 1, 2021 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	241	281
State Revolving Trust Note, due July 1, 2028 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	322	330
State Revolving Trust Note, due January 1, 2028 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	107	110
State Revolving Trust Note, due August 1, 2031 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	1,115	467
Amortizing Secured Note, due April 20, 2029 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	5,087	5,348
Amortizing Secured Note, due January 20, 2030 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	3,833	4,021
Amortizing Secured Note, due January 20, 2030 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	7,863	8,248
State Revolving Trust Note, due July 1, 2031 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	2,463	2,515
State Revolving Trust Note, due November 30, 2030 [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	1,304	1,333
First Mortgage Bonds - Series X [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	215	268
First Mortgage Bonds - Series Y [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	245	300
First Mortgage Bonds - Series Z [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	559	671
First Mortgage Bonds - Series AA [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	700	830
First Mortgage Bonds - Series BB [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	845	965
First Mortgage Bonds - Series CC [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	1,025	1,145
First Mortgage Bonds - Series EE [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	3,550	3,968
First Mortgage Bonds - Series FF [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	4,900	5,335
First Mortgage Bonds - Series GG [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	1,083	1,171
First Mortgage Bonds - Series HH [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	1,390	1,475
First Mortgage Bonds - Series II [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	881	971
First Mortgage Bonds - Series JJ [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	1,090	1,165
First Mortgage Bonds - Series KK [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	1,255	1,346
First Mortgage Bonds - Series LL [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	1,435	1,505
First Mortgage Bonds - Series MM [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	1,537	1,637
First Mortgage Bonds - Series NN [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	1,755	1,835
First Mortgage Bonds - Series OO [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	2,559	2,709
First Mortgage Bonds - Series PP [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	850	885
First Mortgage Bonds - Series QQ [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	9,915	9,915
First Mortgage Bonds - Series RR [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	22,500	22,500
First Mortgage Bonds - Series SS [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	23,000	23,000
First Mortgage Bonds - Series TT [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	2,709	2,860
First Mortgage Bonds - Series UU [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	975	1,015
First Mortgage Bonds - Series VV [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	2,720
First Mortgage Bonds - Series WW [Member]
SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT	935
Convertible Preferred Stock $7.00 Series [Member]
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCK	1,007	1,457
Convertible Preferred Stock $8.00 Series [Member]
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCK	349	349
Nonredeemable Preferred Stock $7.00 Series [Member]
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCK	80	80
Nonredeemable Preferred Stock $4.75 Series [Member]
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCK	$ 1,000	$ 1,000