Retirement benefits (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Retirement benefits

Schedule of components of net periodic benefit cost for consolidated HEI

	Three months ended June 30												Six months ended June 30
	Pension benefits						Other benefits						Pension benefits						Other benefits
(in thousands)	2013			2012			2013			2012			2013			2012			2013			2012
Service cost	$	14,121		$	11,397		$	1,103		$	1,008		$	28,210		$	21,588		$	2,152		$	2,104
Interest cost	16,307			16,973			1,855			2,223			32,413			33,744			3,786			4,504
Expected return on plan assets	(18,182		)	(17,736		)	(2,521		)	(2,557		)	(36,267		)	(35,592		)	(5,083		)	(5,178		)
Amortization of prior service gain	(25		)	(82		)	(449		)	(449		)	(49		)	(163		)	(897		)	(897		)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	9,499			6,403			284			299			19,318			12,826			805			752
Net periodic benefit cost	21,720			16,955			272			524			43,625			32,403			763			1,285
Impact of PUC D&Os	(5,286		)	(4,977		)	(187		)	(416		)	(12,722		)	(8,834		)	(584		)	(1,096		)
Net periodic benefit cost (adjusted for impact of PUC D&Os)	$	16,434		$	11,978		$	85		$	108		$	30,903		$	23,569		$	179		$	189