XML 70 R99.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Commitments and Contingencies Long Term Supply and Capacity Purchase Obligations (Details) (Purchased Coal and Natural Gas Supply And Natural Gas Transportation Contracts [Member], USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]      
Long Term Purchase Committments Costs Incurred $ 402,300,000nwe_LongTermPurchaseCommittmentsCostsIncurred $ 379,400,000nwe_LongTermPurchaseCommittmentsCostsIncurred $ 340,800,000nwe_LongTermPurchaseCommittmentsCostsIncurred
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity Schedule [Abstract]      
2015 206,500,000us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueWithinOneYear    
2016 161,100,000us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInSecondYear    
2017 134,900,000us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInThirdYear    
2018 107,300,000us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInFourthYear    
2019 103,500,000us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInFifthYear    
Thereafter $ 922,700,000us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueAfterFifthYear    
Minimum [Member]
     
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]      
Long Term Purchase Commitments Term In Years 1 year    
Maximum [Member]
     
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]      
Long Term Purchase Commitments Term In Years 27