Income Taxes	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Income Taxes
Income Taxes	Note 8. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Measurement of the deferred tax assets and liabilities is at enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company anticipates that future rate actions by the regulatory commissions will reflect revenue requirements for the tax effects of temporary differences recognized, which have previously been passed through to customers. The regulatory commissions have granted us rate increases to reflect the normalization of the tax benefits of the federal accelerated methods and available Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) for all assets placed in service after 1980. ITCs are deferred and amortized over the lives of the related properties for book purposes. During 2012, the Company filed an application for a change in accounting method (section 481 adjustment) with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to implement the new repairs and maintenance deduction. The new deduction is for qualified tangible property placed into service during 2012 and prior years. The new tax regulations allow the Company to deduct a significant amount of costs previously capitalized for book and tax purposes. The 2012 repairs and maintenance deductions resulted in a federal net operating loss (NOL) of $26.0 million and a state NOL of $55.7 million. The NOL carry-forward amounts are more likely than not to be recovered and therefore require no valuation allowance. The NOL carry-forward does not begin to expire until 2033. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 provided the Company with additional 50% first-year bonus depreciation for assets placed in service from December 31, 2012 to December 31, 2013. The federal income tax bonus deduction was estimated at $3.1 million in 2012. The 2012 estimate will be finalized when the Company files its 2012 tax returns during the third quarter of 2013. The IRS is presently auditing the Company’s 2010 and 2011 federal income tax returns. It is uncertain when the IRS will complete its audit. The Company believes that the final resolution of the IRS audit will not have a material adverse impact on its financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations.

Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Note 8. Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Measurement of the deferred tax assets and liabilities is at enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company anticipates that future rate actions by the regulatory commissions will reflect revenue requirements for the tax effects of temporary differences recognized, which have previously been passed through to customers. The regulatory commissions have granted us rate increases to reflect the normalization of the tax benefits of the federal accelerated methods and available Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) for all assets placed in service after 1980. ITCs are deferred and amortized over the lives of the related properties for book purposes.

During 2012, the Company filed an application for a change in accounting method (section 481 adjustment) with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to implement the new repairs and maintenance deduction. The new deduction is for qualified tangible property placed into service during 2012 and prior years. The new tax regulations allow the Company to deduct a significant amount of costs previously capitalized for book and tax purposes. The 2012 repairs and maintenance deductions resulted in a federal net operating loss (NOL) of $26.0 million and a state NOL of $55.7 million. The NOL carry-forward amounts are more likely than not to be recovered and therefore require no valuation allowance. The NOL carry-forward does not begin to expire until 2033.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 provided the Company with additional 50% first-year bonus depreciation for assets placed in service from December 31, 2012 to December 31, 2013. The federal income tax bonus deduction was estimated at $3.1 million in 2012. The 2012 estimate will be finalized when the Company files its 2012 tax returns during the third quarter of 2013.

The IRS is presently auditing the Company’s 2010 and 2011 federal income tax returns. It is uncertain when the IRS will complete its audit. The Company believes that the final resolution of the IRS audit will not have a material adverse impact on its financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations.