2.2.0.7 false Property and Investments 01650 - Disclosure - Property and Investments true false false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 EPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 2 Disclosure - Property and Investments 0 nwn_DisclosurePropertyAndInvestments nwn false na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 3 Property and Investments 1 nwn_PropertyAndInvestments nwn false na duration Disclosure of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and... false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 8.       Property and Investments Property Property, plant and equipment – net consists of the following as of September 30, 2010 and 2009 and December 31, 2009:<div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;margin-top:20px;"><tr style="height: 20px"><td style="width: 15px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:15px;"> </td><td style="width: 375px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:375px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td colspan="4" style="width: 200px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:200px;">September 30,</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;">December 31,</td></tr><tr style="height: 20px"><td colspan="2" style="width: 390px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:390px;">Thousands</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;">2010</td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;">2009</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;">2009</td></tr><tr style="height: 20px"><td colspan="2" style="width: 390px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:390px;">Utility plant in service</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;">$</td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 2,222,222</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;">$</td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 2,175,043</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;">$</td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 2,188,176</td></tr><tr style="height: 20px"><td colspan="2" style="width: 390px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:390px;">Utility construction work in progress</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 33,359</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 22,490</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 27,936</td></tr><tr style="height: 20px"><td colspan="2" style="width: 390px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:390px;">Less accumulated depreciation</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 700,193</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 674,575</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 682,060</td></tr><tr style="height: 20px"><td style="width: 15px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:15px;"> </td><td style="width: 375px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:375px;">Utility plant - net</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 1,555,388</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 1,522,958</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 1,534,052</td></tr><tr style="height: 20px"><td colspan="2" style="width: 390px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:390px;">Non-utility plant in service</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 66,299</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 66,016</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 66,084</td></tr><tr style="height: 20px"><td colspan="2" style="width: 390px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:390px;">Non-utility construction work in progress</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 206,823</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 35,958</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 80,538</td></tr><tr style="height: 20px"><td colspan="2" style="width: 390px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:390px;">Less accumulated depreciation</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 10,853</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 10,194</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 10,540</td></tr><tr style="height: 20px"><td style="width: 15px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:15px;"> </td><td style="width: 375px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:375px;">Non-utility plant - net</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 262,269</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 91,780</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 136,082</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px"><td colspan="2" style="width: 390px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:390px;">Total property, plant and equipment - net</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:double;border-bottom-width:3px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;">$</td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:double;border-bottom-width:3px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 1,817,657</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:double;border-bottom-width:3px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;">$</td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:double;border-bottom-width:3px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 1,614,738</td><td style="width: 10px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;"> </td><td style="width: 10px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:double;border-bottom-width:3px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:10px;">$</td><td style="width: 90px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:double;border-bottom-width:3px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:90px;"> 1,670,134</td></tr></table></div>Investments Our other long-term investments include financial investments in life insurance policies, which are accounted for at fair value, and equity investments in certain partnerships and limited liability companies, which are accounted for under the equity or cost methods (see Note 1 above for the newly adopted standard on variable interest entities, and see Part II, Item 8., Note 9, in the 2009 Form 10-K for more detail on our investments). Variable Interest Entities. PGH is a VIE owned 50 percent by us and 50 percent by Gas Transmission Northwest Corporation, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of TransCanada Corporation. PGH intends to develop a natural gas transmission pipeline in Oregon to serve our utility as well as the growing natural gas markets in Oregon and other parts of the Pacific Northwest, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Palomar. Palomar is a development stage entity. As of September 30, 2010, we updated our VIE analysis and determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of PGH's activities as defined by the authoritative guidance related to consolidations (see Note 1). Therefore, we account for our investment in PGH and the Palomar project under the equity method, and our equity investment balance at September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $14.7 million and $12.4 million, respectively, which is included in other investments on our balance sheet. The increase in our equity investment balance over the last 12 months is due to $1.2 million of equity contributions plus $1.1 million for our share of income allocation based on our 50 percent ownership interest. Our maximum loss exposure related to PGH is limited to our equity investment balance, less our share of any cash or other assets available to us as a 50 percent owner.  PGH Impairment Analysis. In May 2010, we learned that the company proposing to build an LNG terminal on the Columbia River had suspended its operations and filed for bankruptcy. This company previously entered into a precedent agreement with Palomar for a majority of the transmission capacity on the proposed pipeline. As of September 30, 2010, Palomar had incurred a total of $45.2 million of capital costs, including AFUDC (allowance for funds used during construction), toward the development of the pipeline (both east and west segments), and it had collected $15.8 million from a letter of credit which supported the bankrupt shipper's obligations under a prior precedent agreement. In addition, Palomar holds credit support in the form of a lien on assets of the bankrupt shipper under terms of the current precedent agreement.  Our equity investment balance in PGH as of September 30, 2010 was $14.7 million. We performed an impairment analysis of our total equity investment as of September 30, 2010 and determined that no impairment write-down is needed because the value of the expected development of this pipeline will exceed our total equity investment. If, however, we learn that the project is not viable, we could be required to recognize an impairment loss of up to $14.1 million based on the amount of our equity investment as of September 30, 2010 net of cash and working capital at Palomar. We will continue to monitor and update our impairment analysis as needed. 8.       Property and Investments Property Property, plant and equipment – net consists of the following as false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock Disclosure of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale, and disclosure of all other long-term investments No authoritative reference available. false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true