Income Tax (tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Income Tax Expense Benefit Abstract

Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation

Thousands, except percentages			2011		2010		2009
Income taxes at federal statutory rate		$	37,550	$	42,745	$	42,627
Increase (decrease):
	Current state income tax, net of federal tax benefit		4,945		5,803		5,568
	Amortization of investment and energy tax credits		(442)		(525)		(593)
	Differences required to be flowed-through by
	regulatory commissions		1,647		1,647		(116)
	Gains on company and trust-owned life insurance		(786)		(715)		(1,195)
	Other - net		468		507		380
Total provision for income taxes		$	43,382	$	49,462	$	46,671
Effective tax rate			40.4%		40.5%		38.3%

Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

Thousands			2011		2010		2009
Current
	Federal	$	130	$	(28,592)	$	6,221
	State		(929)		1,441		2,300
			(799)		(27,151)		8,521
Deferred
	Federal		35,481		69,159		31,937
	State		8,700		7,454		6,213
			44,181		76,613		38,150
	Total provision for income taxes	$	43,382	$	49,462	$	46,671
	Total income taxes paid	$	1,756	$	22,600	$	10,000

Schedule Of Regulated Utility And Non Utility Business Segments [Table Text Block]

Thousands			2011		2010		2009
Regulated utility:
	Current	$	(4,646)	$	(1,464)	$	871
	Deferred		50,152		47,741		40,829
	Deferred investment and energy tax credits		(422)		(525)		(593)
			45,084		45,752		41,107
Non-utility business segments:
	Current		3,846		(25,687)		7,650
	Deferred		(5,548)		29,397		(2,086)
			(1,702)		3,710		5,564
Total provision for income taxes		$	43,382	$	49,462	$	46,671

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]

Thousands				2011		2010
Deferred tax liabilities:
	Plant and property		$	292,235	$	255,471
	Regulatory adjustment for income taxes paid			2,106		5,272
	Regulatory income tax assets			65,755		68,822
	Regulatory liabilities			35,638		23,159
	Non-regulated deferred tax liabilities			43,373		34,544
		Total	$	439,107	$	387,268
Deferred tax assets:
	Regulatory assets			(4,727)		(1,402)
	Unfunded pension and postretirement obligations			(5,119)		(4,342)
	Non-regulated deferred tax assets			(1,161)		(772)
	Alternative minimum tax credit carryforward			(1,626)		(1,702)
	Loss and credit carryforwards			(14,255)		(7,071)
		Total		(26,888)		(15,289)
Deferred income tax liabilities - net				412,219		371,979
Deferred investment tax credits				990		1,430
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits			$	413,209	$	373,409