Property, Plant and Equipment

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]

Property Plant And Equipment Disclosure Text Block

11. Property, Plant and Equipment

The following table sets forth the major classifications of our property, plant and equipment and accumulated depreciation at December 31:

Thousands		2011		2010
Utility plant in service		$	2,323,467	$	2,247,952
Utility construction work in progress			36,051		29,324
Less accumulated depreciation			749,603		710,214
	Utility plant-net		1,609,915		1,567,062
Non-utility plant in service			293,205		290,038
Non-utility construction work in progress			8,379		9,088
Less accumulated depreciation			17,623		12,025
	Non-utility plant-net		283,961		287,101

Total property plant and equipment		$	1,893,876	$	1,854,163

The weighted average depreciation rate for utility assets was 2.8 percent in 2011 and 2010. The weighted average depreciation rate for non-utility assets was 2.2 percent in 2011 and 2.5 percent in 2010.

Accumulated depreciation does not include the accumulated provision for asset removal costs of $267.4 million and $252.9 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. These accrued asset removal costs are reflected on the balance sheets as regulatory liabilities (see Note 2, “Plant, Property and Accrued Asset Removal Costs”).

- Definition

The entire disclosure for long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software. This disclosure may include property plant and equipment accounting policies and methodology, a schedule of property, plant and equipment gross, additions, deletions, transfers and other changes, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, net, accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and useful lives, income statement disclosures, assets held for sale and public utility disclosures.

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