FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS [Abstract]
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS	NOTE 5. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS The September 30, 2011 carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, current assets, accounts receivable, accounts payable and current liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The total fair value of NVE's consolidated long-term debt at September 30, 2011, is estimated to be $6.0 billion based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to NVE for debt of the same remaining maturities. The total fair value was estimated to be $5.7 billion as of December 31, 2010. The total fair value of NPC's consolidated long-term debt at September 30, 2011, is estimated to be $4.1 billion based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to NPC for debt of the same remaining maturities. The total fair value was estimated to be $3.9 billion at December 31, 2010. The total fair value of SPPC's consolidated long-term debt at September 30, 2011, is estimated to be $1.3 billion based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to SPPC for debt of the same remaining maturities. The total fair value was estimated to be $1.3 billion as of December 31, 2010.

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS [Abstract]

NOTE 5. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The September 30, 2011 carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, current assets, accounts receivable, accounts payable and current liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

The total fair value of NVE's consolidated long-term debt at September 30, 2011, is estimated to be $6.0 billion based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to NVE for debt of the same remaining maturities. The total fair value was estimated to be $5.7 billion as of December 31, 2010.

The total fair value of NPC's consolidated long-term debt at September 30, 2011, is estimated to be $4.1 billion based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to NPC for debt of the same remaining maturities. The total fair value was estimated to be $3.9 billion at December 31, 2010.

The total fair value of SPPC's consolidated long-term debt at September 30, 2011, is estimated to be $1.3 billion based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to SPPC for debt of the same remaining maturities. The total fair value was estimated to be $1.3 billion as of December 31, 2010.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References

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+ Details