Selected Balance Sheet Data, Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$ 3,417,109	$ 3,259,269
Less accumulated depreciation	(1,226,849)	(1,170,541)
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,190,260	2,088,728
Electric plant
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	2,653,711	2,602,671
Natural gas plant
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	339,399	326,723
Common and other property
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	188,934	181,105
Construction work in progress
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$ 235,065	$ 148,770