LONG-TERM DEBT (Details 2) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
LONG-TERM DEBT.
Carrying amount of total debt exclusive of capital leases	$ 688,000,000	$ 689,000,000
Fair market value	752,000,000	697,000,000
Long-Term Debt Payout Schedule
2012	933,000
2013	111,913,000
2014	274,000
2015	292,000
2016	25,307,000
Thereafter	555,397,000
Total long-term debt obligations	694,116,000
Less current obligations and unamortized discount	1,857,000
Total long-term debt	692,259,000	693,072,000
Regulated Entity Debt Obligations
Long-Term Debt Payout Schedule
2012	641,000
2013	111,615,000
2016	25,000,000
Thereafter	551,829,000
Total long-term debt obligations	689,085,000
Capital Lease Obligations
Long-Term Debt Payout Schedule
2012	292,000
2013	298,000
2014	274,000
2015	292,000
2016	307,000
Thereafter	3,568,000
Total long-term debt obligations	$ 5,031,000