Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits (tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

General Discussion Of Pension And Other Postretirement Benefits Abstract

Net Periodic Benefit Cost Components

		Three Months Ended September 30,
							Other Postretirement
			Pension Benefits				Benefits
Thousands			2011		2010		2011		2010
Service cost		$	1,839	$	1,435	$	168	$	156
Interest cost			4,503		4,517		344		343
Expected return on plan assets			(4,455)		(4,528)		-		-
Amortization of net actuarial loss			2,683		2,028		68		7
Amortization of prior service costs			88		(270)		50		50
Amortization of transition obligations			-		-		103		103
	Net periodic benefit cost		4,658		3,182		733		659
Amount allocated to construction			(1,279)		(897)		(234)		(231)
Amount deferred to regulatory balancing account(1)			(1,330)		-		-		-
	Net amount charged to expense	$	2,049	$	2,285	$	499	$	428
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
							Other Postretirement
			Pension Benefits				Benefits
Thousands			2011		2010		2011		2010
Service cost		$	5,638	$	4,981	$	504	$	468
Interest cost			13,556		13,500		1,031		1,028
Expected return on plan assets			(13,367)		(13,655)		-		-
Amortization of net actuarial loss			8,067		5,564		204		22
Amortization of prior service costs			264		140		148		148
Amortization of transition obligations			-		-		309		309
	Net periodic benefit cost		14,158		10,530		2,196		1,975
Amount allocated to construction			(3,765)		(2,797)		(689)		(646)
Amount deferred to regulatory balancing account(1)			(3,989)		-		-		-
	Net amount charged to expense	$	6,404	$	7,733	$	1,507	$	1,329
(1) Effective January 1, 2011, the OPUC approved the deferral of certain pension expenses above or below the amount set in rates, with recovery of these deferred amounts through the implementation of a balancing account, which includes the expectation of lower pension expenses in future years. Our recovery of deferred pension expense balances includes accrued interest at the utility’s authorized rate of return.