Jointly-owned Plant Schedule of Jointly-owned plant (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Proportionate Ownership Share of Boardman	90.00%
Jointly Owned Plant, Boardman Plant In Service Year	1980
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Gross Ownership Amount of Boardman Plant In Service	$ 514
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Ownership Amount of Boardman Plant Accumulated Depreciation	400
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Ownership Amount of Construction Work In Progress Boardman	$ 0
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Proportionate Ownership Share of Colstrip	20.00%
Jointly Owned Plant, Colstrip Plant In Service Year	1986
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Gross Ownership Amount of Colstrip Plant In Service	$ 528
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Ownership Amount of Colstrip Plant Accumulated Depreciation	342
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Ownership Amount Of Construction Work In Progress Colstrip	$ 9
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Proportionate Ownership Share of Pelton/Round Butte	66.67%
Jointly Owned Plant, Pelton Plant in Service Year	1958
Jointly Owned Plant, Round Butte in Service Year	1964
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Gross Ownership Amount of Pelton/Round Butte Plant In Service	$ 255
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Ownership Amount of Pelton/Round Butte Plant Accumulated Depreciation	63
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Ownership Amount Of Construction Work In Progress Pelton/Round Butte	5
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Gross Ownership Amount of Plant in Service	1,297
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Ownership Amount of Plant Accumulated Depreciation	805
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Ownership Amount of Construction Work in Progress	$ 14