Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities, Derivative Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Collateral, Obligation to Return Cash, Offset		$ 0		$ 0
Derivative Liability, Collateral, Right to Reclaim Cash, Offset		2,700		0
Other Current Assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		5,340		3,197
Other Noncurrent Assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		2,716		1,009
Other Current Liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		5,428		7,348
Other Noncurrent Liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		2,471		3,468
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Current Assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		4,452		1,482
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Liability and Obligation to Return Cash, Offset		9,729	[1]	3,564	[2]
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Current Assets | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		3,533		1,474
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Liability and Obligation to Return Cash, Offset		9,729	[1]	3,554	[2]
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Current Assets | Other Derivative Instruments | Natural Gas Commodity
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		919		8
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Liability and Obligation to Return Cash, Offset		0	[1]	10	[2]
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Noncurrent Assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		2,716		978
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Liability and Obligation to Return Cash, Offset		0	[1]	563	[2]
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Noncurrent Assets | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		2,716		978
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Liability and Obligation to Return Cash, Offset	[1]	0		563
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Current Liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		268		2,312
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Asset and Right to Reclaim Cash, Offset		(12,474)	[1]	(3,441)	[2]
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Current Liabilities | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		268		1,306
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Asset and Right to Reclaim Cash, Offset		(12,474)	[1]	(3,431)	[2]
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Current Liabilities | Other Derivative Instruments | Natural Gas Commodity
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability				1,006
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Asset and Right to Reclaim Cash, Offset	[2]			(10)
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Noncurrent Liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		2,382		799
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Asset and Right to Reclaim Cash, Offset	[2]			(563)
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Noncurrent Liabilities | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		2,382		799
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Asset and Right to Reclaim Cash, Offset		0	[1]	(563)	[2]
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 1 | Other Current Assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		332		528
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 1 | Other Current Assets | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		332		528
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 1 | Other Current Assets | Other Derivative Instruments | Natural Gas Commodity
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		0		0
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 1 | Other Noncurrent Assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		1		0
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 1 | Other Noncurrent Assets | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		1		0
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 1 | Other Current Liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		333		446
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 1 | Other Current Liabilities | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		333		446
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 1 | Other Current Liabilities | Other Derivative Instruments | Natural Gas Commodity
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability				0
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 1 | Other Noncurrent Liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		0		0
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 1 | Other Noncurrent Liabilities | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		0		0
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 2 | Other Current Assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		13,731		4,506
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 2 | Other Current Assets | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		12,812		4,488
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 2 | Other Current Assets | Other Derivative Instruments | Natural Gas Commodity
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		919		18
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 2 | Other Noncurrent Assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		2,715		1,541
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 2 | Other Noncurrent Assets | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		2,715		1,541
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 2 | Other Current Liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		12,409		5,301
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 2 | Other Current Liabilities | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		12,409		4,285
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 2 | Other Current Liabilities | Other Derivative Instruments | Natural Gas Commodity
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability				1,016
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 2 | Other Noncurrent Liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		2,382		1,362
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 2 | Other Noncurrent Liabilities | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		2,382		1,362
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 3 | Other Current Assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		118		12
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 3 | Other Current Assets | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		118		12
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 3 | Other Current Assets | Other Derivative Instruments | Natural Gas Commodity
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		0		0
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 3 | Other Noncurrent Assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		0		0
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 3 | Other Noncurrent Assets | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		0		0
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 3 | Other Current Liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		0		6
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 3 | Other Current Liabilities | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		0		6
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 3 | Other Current Liabilities | Other Derivative Instruments | Natural Gas Commodity
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability				0
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 3 | Other Noncurrent Liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		0		0
Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Level 3 | Other Noncurrent Liabilities | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring | Other Current Assets | Purchased Power Agreements
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		888	[3]	1,715	[4]
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring | Other Noncurrent Assets | Purchased Power Agreements
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		0	[3]	31	[4]
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring | Other Current Liabilities | Purchased Power Agreements
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		5,160	[3]	5,036	[4]
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring | Other Noncurrent Liabilities | Purchased Power Agreements
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		89	[3]	2,669	[4]
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Current Assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		14,181		5,046
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Current Assets | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		13,262		5,028
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Current Assets | Other Derivative Instruments | Natural Gas Commodity
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		919		18
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Noncurrent Assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		2,716		1,541
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Noncurrent Assets | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		2,716		1,541
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Current Liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		12,742		5,753
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Current Liabilities | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		12,742		4,737
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Current Liabilities | Other Derivative Instruments | Natural Gas Commodity
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability				1,016
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Noncurrent Liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		2,382		1,362
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fair Value Measured on a Recurring Basis | Other Noncurrent Liabilities | Other Derivative Instruments | Commodity Trading
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		$ 2,382		$ 1,362

[1] PSCo nets derivative instruments and related collateral in its consolidated balance sheet when supported by a legally enforceable master netting agreement, and all derivative instruments and related collateral amounts were subject to master netting agreements at June 30, 2018. At June 30, 2018, derivative assets and liabilities include no obligations to return cash collateral and rights to reclaim cash collateral of $2.7 million. The counterparty netting amounts presented exclude settlement receivables and payables and non-derivative amounts that may be subject to the same master netting agreements.

[2] PSCo nets derivative instruments and related collateral in its consolidated balance sheet when supported by a legally enforceable master netting agreement, and all derivative instruments and related collateral amounts were subject to master netting agreements at Dec. 31, 2017. At Dec. 31, 2017, derivative assets and liabilities include no obligations to return cash collateral or rights to reclaim cash collateral. The counterparty netting amounts presented exclude settlement receivables and payables and non-derivative amounts that may be subject to the same master netting agreements.

[3] During 2006, PSCo qualified these contracts under the normal purchase exception. Based on this qualification, the contracts are no longer adjusted to fair value and the previous carrying value of these contracts is being amortized over the remaining contract lives along with the offsetting regulatory assets and liabilities.

[4] During 2006, PSCo qualified these contracts under the normal purchase exception. Based on this qualification, the contracts are no longer adjusted to fair value and the previous carrying value of these contracts is being amortized over the remaining contract lives along with the offsetting regulatory assets and liabilities.