RISK MANAGEMENT AND DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details 3) (Electric)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 Dth PerDth
Natural Gas Usage - 2012
Volumes and percentage of anticipated volume of natural gas usage
% Hedged (as a percent)	61.00%
Physical	2,511,000
Financial	1,420,000
Average Price (in dollars per dth)	6.459
Minimum Percentage Hedged for Electric Segment
End of Year Minimum % Hedged (as a percent)	61.00%
Natural Gas Usage - 2013
Volumes and percentage of anticipated volume of natural gas usage
% Hedged (as a percent)	44.00%
Physical	2,020,000
Financial	1,440,000
Average Price (in dollars per dth)	6.079
Minimum Percentage Hedged for Electric Segment
End of Year Minimum % Hedged (as a percent)	44.00%
Natural Gas Usage - 2014
Volumes and percentage of anticipated volume of natural gas usage
% Hedged (as a percent)	20.00%
Physical	460,000
Financial	1,240,000
Average Price (in dollars per dth)	5.514
Minimum Percentage Hedged for Electric Segment
End of Year Minimum % Hedged (as a percent)	20.00%
Natural Gas Usage - 2015
Volumes and percentage of anticipated volume of natural gas usage
% Hedged (as a percent)	11.00%
Financial	1,010,000
Average Price (in dollars per dth)	5.439
Minimum Percentage Hedged for Electric Segment
End of Year Minimum % Hedged (as a percent)	11.00%
Natural Gas Usage - 2016
Volumes and percentage of anticipated volume of natural gas usage
% Hedged (as a percent)	0.00%
Minimum Percentage Hedged for Electric Segment
End of Year Minimum % Hedged (as a percent)	0.00%
Current Year Procurement Guidelines
Volumes and percentage of anticipated volume of natural gas usage
% Hedged (as a percent)	100.00%
Procurement guidelines
Maximum flexibility to hedge any future year's expected requirements (as a percent)	80.00%
Maximum percentage of volume to be hedged in any given month	100.00%
Minimum Percentage Hedged for Electric Segment
End of Year Minimum % Hedged (as a percent)	100.00%
First Year Procurement Guidelines
Volumes and percentage of anticipated volume of natural gas usage
% Hedged (as a percent)	60.00%
Minimum Percentage Hedged for Electric Segment
End of Year Minimum % Hedged (as a percent)	60.00%
Second Year Procurement Guidelines
Volumes and percentage of anticipated volume of natural gas usage
% Hedged (as a percent)	40.00%
Minimum Percentage Hedged for Electric Segment
End of Year Minimum % Hedged (as a percent)	40.00%
Third Year Procurement Guidelines
Volumes and percentage of anticipated volume of natural gas usage
% Hedged (as a percent)	20.00%
Minimum Percentage Hedged for Electric Segment
End of Year Minimum % Hedged (as a percent)	20.00%
Fourth Year Procurement Guidelines
Volumes and percentage of anticipated volume of natural gas usage
% Hedged (as a percent)	10.00%
Minimum Percentage Hedged for Electric Segment
End of Year Minimum % Hedged (as a percent)	10.00%