Name:	por_CommodityContractAssetElectricity
Namespace Prefix:	por_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the asset arising from commodity contracts related to purchases or sales of natural gas.

No definition available.

Name:	por_CommodityContractAssetNaturalGas
Namespace Prefix:	por_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the liabilities arising from commodity contracts related to purchases or sales of electricity.

No definition available.

Name:	por_CommodityContractLiabilitiesElectricity
Namespace Prefix:	por_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the liabilities arising from commodity contracts related to purchases or sales of natural gas.

No definition available.

Name:	por_CommodityContractLiabilitiesNaturalGas
Namespace Prefix:	por_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Corporate debt securities held in decommissioning trust assets

No definition available.

Name:	por_CorporateDebtSecuritiesHeldInDecommissioningTrustAssets
Namespace Prefix:	por_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

debt securities - domestic government

No definition available.

Name:	por_DebtSecuritiesDomesticGovernment
Namespace Prefix:	por_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Domestic Equity Securities

No definition available.

Name:	por_DomesticEquitySecurities
Namespace Prefix:	por_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Fair Value - Money market funds

No definition available.

Name:	por_FairValueMoneyMarketFunds
Namespace Prefix:	por_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

International equity securities

No definition available.

Name:	por_InternationalEquitySecurities
Namespace Prefix:	por_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	por_LiabilitiesFromPriceRiskManagementActivitiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	por_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This element represents the portion of a balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents the amount that could be realized under a life insurance contract or contracts owned by the Company as of the date of the statement of financial position. Such Company-owned life insurance policies are commonly known as corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) or bank-owned life insurance (BOLI).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Cash Surrender Value

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507153

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 88-5

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Technical Bulletin (FTB)

-Number 85-4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_CashSurrenderValueFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The aggregate fair value as of the balance sheet date of financial instruments and other positions owned by the entity including: (1) mortgages, mortgage-backed and asset backed securities; (2) US government and agency obligations; (3) state and municipal government obligations; (4) other sovereign government debt; (5) corporate obligations; (6) corporate equities; (7) principal investments; (8) derivative contracts; and (9) physical commodities. Includes both pledged and unpledged holdings.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 940

-SubTopic 320

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6475986&loc=d3e42546-110969

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

-Number AAG-BRD

-Paragraph 38, 40

-IssueDate 2006-05-01

-Chapter 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

-Number AAG-BRD

-Paragraph 80

-Subparagraph Exhibit 4-3

-IssueDate 2006-05-01

-Chapter 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsOwnedAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The fair value as of the balance sheet date of firm holdings in fixed income or other debt securities issued by a corporation or other issuer not elsewhere specified in the taxonomy. Includes both pledged (to counterparties as collateral for financing transactions) and unpledged holdings.

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsOwnedCorporateDebtAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the aggregate of the liabilities reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Investment in short-term money-market instruments (such as commercial paper, banker's acceptances, repurchase agreements, government securities, certificates of deposit, and so forth) which are highly liquid (that is, readily convertible to known amounts of cash) and so near their maturity that they present an insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify as cash equivalents by definition. Original maturity means an original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three-years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Cash Equivalents

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 8, 9

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Debt (bills, notes or bonds) that are issued by the government of the United States which are short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three-years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months.