SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Asset retirement obligation activity

ARO activity was as follows (in thousands):

	2012		2011
AROs as of January 1,	29,430		27,965
Accretion	1,872		1,398
Additions	1,438		460
Settlements	(1,603	)	(872	)
Revisions in Estimated Cash Flows (A)	8,248		479
ARO's as of December 31,	39,385		29,430

(A) The revision in estimated cash flows reflects an increase in the contractual cost and change in discount rates to settle the ARO. A corresponding increase was made to Regulatory Assets, thus having no impact on earnings.