Commitments and Contingencies (Details-2) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012
Chattel Paper Purchase Agreement [Abstract]
Chattel paper purchase agreement maximum interest	$ 10,000,000
Outstanding interest in chattel paper receivables	4,500,000
Servicing asset recognized	200,000
Smart Grid Investment Grant [Abstract]
Smart Grid grant approval amount	5,500,000
Total cost of proposed projects	11,000,000
Smart grid expenditures to date	7,600,000
Investment Capital Contribution Commitment [Abstract]
Capital contribution commitment	2,000,000
One Year From Balance Sheet Date [Member]
Chattel Paper Agreement Principal Payments [Abstract]
Chattel paper agreement principal payments commitments	284,000
Natural Gas Commitments [Abstract]
Natural gas supply commitments	10,830,000
Purchase power commitments	39,266,000
Total purchase contracts	50,096,000
Smart Grid Investment Grant [Abstract]
Smart grid commitments to date	500,000
More Than One And Within Two Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]
Chattel Paper Agreement Principal Payments [Abstract]
Chattel paper agreement principal payments commitments	679,000
Natural Gas Commitments [Abstract]
Natural gas supply commitments	12,266,000
Purchase power commitments	51,455,000
Total purchase contracts	63,721,000
More Than Two And Within Three Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]
Chattel Paper Agreement Principal Payments [Abstract]
Chattel paper agreement principal payments commitments	494,000
Natural Gas Commitments [Abstract]
Natural gas supply commitments	0
Purchase power commitments	49,372,000
Total purchase contracts	49,372,000
More Than Three And Within Four Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]
Chattel Paper Agreement Principal Payments [Abstract]
Chattel paper agreement principal payments commitments	807,000
Natural Gas Commitments [Abstract]
Natural gas supply commitments	0
Purchase power commitments	47,523,000
Total purchase contracts	47,523,000
More Than Four And Within Five Years From Balance Sheet Date [Member]
Chattel Paper Agreement Principal Payments [Abstract]
Chattel paper agreement principal payments commitments	732,000
Natural Gas Commitments [Abstract]
Natural gas supply commitments	0
Purchase power commitments	48,491,000
Total purchase contracts	$ 48,491,000