Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Operating activities
Net margins including noncontrolling interest	$ 38,122	$ 74,322
Adjustments to reconcile net margins to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and depletion	126,090	109,317
Amortization of intangible asset	5,493	5,493
Amortization of NRECA Retirement Security Plan prepayment	4,029	4,140
Amortization of debt issuance costs	1,436	1,400
Deferred membership withdrawal income	47,572
Capital credit allocations from cooperatives and income from coal mines over refund distributions	(2,546)	(3,698)
Change in restricted cash and investments	(121)	29,148
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(865)	21,026
Coal inventory	733	(29,170)
Materials and supplies	(3,402)	(4,132)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(4,360)	(10,845)
Accrued interest	17,582	16,565
Accrued property taxes	(744)	(112)
Other deferred credits - BNSF settlement		(29,381)
Other	(2,471)	11,084
Net cash provided by operating activities	226,548	195,157
Investing activities
Purchases of plant	(150,336)	(217,929)
Changes in deferred charges	(7,390)	1,495
Proceeds from other investments	313	407
Net cash used in investing activities	(157,413)	(216,027)
Financing activities
Changes in Member advances	(980)	(5,134)
Payments of long-term debt	(416,532)	(101,772)
Proceeds from issuance of debt	307,000	230,185
Increase in short-term borrowings, net	74,951
Retirement of patronage capital	(15,345)	(4,213)
Proceeds from investment in securities pledged as collateral	4,647	4,222
Other	(231)	323
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(46,490)	123,611
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	22,645	102,741
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning	144,587	92,468
Cash and cash equivalents - end	167,232	195,209
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	101,066	101,480
Cash paid for income taxes	700
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in plant expenditures included in accounts payable	$ (4,974)	$ (1,152)