Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Major classifications of property, plant and equipment

The following table presents the major classifications of our property, plant and equipment (in thousands):



	Estimated Useful Life	December 31,
	Estimated Useful Life	2013			2012
	(years)	(in thousands)
Land, land rights and easements	54 – 96	$	128,123		$	72,550
Building and improvements	27 – 64	163,852			145,989
Transmission, distribution, and storage	15 – 85	2,448,821			2,339,111
Generation	25 – 50	533,450			506,017
Plant acquisition adjustment	34	204,754			204,754
Other	2 - 45	308,345			259,308
Construction work in process	–—	104,891			121,360
		3,892,236			3,649,089
Less accumulated depreciation		(1,202,108		)	(1,213,499		)
		$	2,690,128		$	2,435,590

Schedule of jointly owned utility plants

Information relating to our ownership interest in these facilities is as follows (in thousands):



	Big Stone (SD)			Neal #4 (IA)			Coyote (ND)			Colstrip Unit 4 (MT)
December 31, 2013
Ownership percentages	23.4		%	8.7		%	10.0		%	30.0		%
Plant in service	$	61,186		$	57,633		$	46,003		$	290,163
Accumulated depreciation	45,792			29,841			36,076			70,072
December 31, 2012
Ownership percentages	23.4		%	8.7		%	10.0		%	30.0		%
Plant in service	$	61,084		$	30,009		$	46,188		$	290,607
Accumulated depreciation	38,021			23,994			30,655			67,534

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of proportionate interests in jointly owned utility plants. Includes the amount of plants in service, the accumulated provision for depreciation (if available), the amount of plants under construction, and the proportionate share. The amounts presented may be further subdivided to show amounts applicable to plant subcategories (for example, production, transmission, distribution). Includes statements that the amounts represent the utility's share in each joint plant and that it must provide its own financing. Information concerning two or more generating plants on the same site may be combined. States that the utility's share of direct expenses of the joint plants is included in the corresponding operating expenses on its income statement (for example, fuel, maintenance of plant, other operating expense). If the share of direct expenses is charged to purchased power, then disclose the amount so charged and the proportionate amounts charged to specific operating expenses on the records maintained for the joint plants.

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