Selected Balance Sheet Data, Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$ 3,009,780	$ 2,885,022
Less accumulated depreciation	(1,108,084)	(1,056,943)
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,901,696	1,828,079
Electric plant
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	2,471,420	2,411,562
Natural gas plant
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	285,829	275,376
Common and other property
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	134,988	132,329
Construction work in progress
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$ 117,543	$ 65,755