CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CAPITALIZATION (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Long-term debt:
Total Secured Long-term, net	$ 5,432,503	$ 4,796,154
Bank term loan
Notes payable: variable at 1.53% through January 12, 2012, due April 2014	260,000
Total long-term debt	5,692,503	4,796,154
Obligations under capital leases	191,900	212,561
Obligation under Rocky Mountain transactions	132,048	123,573
Patronage capital and membership fees	633,689	595,952
Accumulated other comprehensive margin (deficit)	618	(469)
Subtotal	6,650,758	5,727,771
Less: long-term debt and capital leases due within one year	(172,818)	(170,947)
Less: unamortized bond discounts on long-term debt	(1,879)	(1,353)
Total capitalization	6,476,061	5,555,471
Federal Financing Bank | Mortgage notes payable to the Federal Financing Bank at interest rates varying from 2.70% to 8.43% (average rate of 5.01% at December 31, 2011) due in quarterly installments through 2043
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	2,125,149	1,784,611
National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation | Mortgage notes payable to National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation at interest rates varying from 3.00% to 4.90% (average rate of 4.07% at December 31, 2011) due in quarterly installments through 2020
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	7,388	8,026
Public | Mortgage bonds payable: Series 2006 Term Bonds, 5.534%, due 2031 through 2035
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	300,000	300,000
Public | Mortgage bonds payable: Series 2007 Term Bonds, 6.191%, due 2024 through 2031
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	500,000	500,000
Public | Mortgage bonds payable: Series 2009A Term Bonds, 6.10%, due 2019
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	350,000	350,000
Public | Mortgage bonds payable: Series 2009B Term Bonds, 5.95%, due 2039
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	400,000	400,000
Public | Mortgage bonds payable: Series 2009 Clean renewable energy bond, 1.81%, due 2024
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	13,134	14,145
Public | Mortgage bonds payable: Series 2010A Term bonds, 5.375% due 2040
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	450,000	450,000
Public | Mortagage bonds payable: Series 2011A Term bonds, 5.25% due 2050
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	300,000
Georgia Development Authorities | Mortgage notes issued in connection with the sale of pollution control revenue bonds: Series 1992A Monroe, Serial bonds, 6.80%, due through 2012
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	10,371	20,082
Georgia Development Authorities | Mortgage notes issued in connection with the sale of pollution control revenue bonds: Series 2003A Burke, Heard, Monroe and 2003B Burke Auction rate bonds, 0.44%, due 2024
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	95,230	95,230
Georgia Development Authorities | Mortgage notes issued in connection with the sale of pollution control revenue bonds: Series 2004 Burke and Monroe Auction rate bonds, 0.41%, due 2020
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	11,525	11,525
Georgia Development Authorities | Mortgage notes issued in connection with the sale of pollution control revenue bonds: Series 2005 Burke and Monroe Auction rate bonds, 0.44%, due 2040
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	15,865	15,865
Georgia Development Authorities | Mortgage notes issued in connection with the sale of pollution control revenue bonds: Series 2007A Appling and Monroe, 2007B Appling and Burke, 2007C through F Burke Term rate bonds, fully redeemed April 2011
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding		131,649
Georgia Development Authorities | Mortgage notes issued in connection with the sale of pollution control revenue bonds: Series 2008A through C Burke Fixed rate bonds, 5.30% to 5.70%, due 2032 through 2043
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	255,035	255,035
Georgia Development Authorities | Mortgage notes issued in connection with the sale of pollution control revenue bonds: Series 2008E Burke Fixed rate bonds, 7.00%, due 2020 through 2023
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	144,750	144,750
Georgia Development Authorities | Mortgage notes issued in connection with the sale of pollution control revenue bonds: Series 2008F Burke and 2008A Monroe Term rate bonds, fully redeemed April 2011
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding		41,125
Georgia Development Authorities | Mortgage notes issued in connection with the sale of pollution control revenue bonds: Series 2008G Burke Term rate bonds, 6.75% through March 31, 2012, due 2039
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	22,325	22,325
Georgia Development Authorities | Mortgage notes issued in connection with the sale of pollution control revenue bonds: Series 2009A Heard and Monroe, and 2009B Monroe Weekly rate bonds, 0.07% to 0.08%, due 2030 through 2038
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	112,055	112,055
Georgia Development Authorities | Mortgage notes issued Series 2010A Burke and Monroe, and 2010B Burke Weekly rate bonds, 0.12%, due 2036 through 2037
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	133,550	133,550
Georgia Development Authorities | Mortgage notes issued Series 2011A Burke and Monroe, and 2010B Burke Weekly rate bonds, 0.12%, due 2036 through 2037
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	180,380
CoBank | ACB notes payable: Transmission mortgage note payable: variable at an average rate of 2.19% through January 29, 2012, due in bimonthly installments through November 1, 2018
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	1,125	1,223
CoBank | ACB notes payable: Transmission mortgage note payable: variable at an average rate of 2.18% through January 29, 2012, due in bimonthly installments through September 1, 2019
Long-term debt:
Debt Instrument Principal Outstanding	$ 4,621	$ 4,958