CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Lease revenue	$ 172,099	$ 151,203	$ 134,415
Operating costs and expenses
General and administrative expense	21,852	64,606	18,625
Depreciation	46,704	40,211	35,080
Total operating costs and expenses	68,556	104,817	53,705
Income from operations	103,543	46,386	80,710
Other (expense) income
Interest expense, net	(36,920)	(28,554)	(32,741)
Other income (expense), net	3,781	3,048	(17,236)
Total other expense	(33,139)	(25,506)	(49,977)
Income before income taxes	70,404	20,880	30,733
Income tax expense	1,103	949	953
Net income	69,301	19,931	29,780
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	19,347	6,664	6,882
Net income attributable to InfraREIT, Inc.	$ 49,954	$ 13,267	$ 22,898
Net income attributable to InfraREIT, Inc. common stockholders per share:
Basic	$ 1.14	$ 0.31	$ 0.65
Diluted	1.14	0.31	0.65
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 1.000	$ 1.075	$ 0.310