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Regulation and Rates (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Regulation and Rates [Line Items]  
Schedule of Allowed Return on the Net Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
Below is a chart with the allowed return on the net regulatory assets and liabilities and the associated time periods:
Period
Rate of Return
After-Tax Return
July 1, 2013 - present
7.77%
6.69%
May 14, 2012 - June 30, 2013
7.80
6.71
April 8, 2010 - May 13, 2012
8.10
6.90
Schedule of Net Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
The net regulatory assets and liabilities at December 31, 2014 and 2013 included the following:
Puget Sound Energy
Remaining Amortization Period
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
2014
2013
PGA deferral of unrealized losses on derivative instruments
(a)
$
69,280

$
27,555

Chelan PUD contract initiation
16.8 Years
119,316

126,404

Storm damage costs electric
1 to 4 years
118,824

116,328

Environmental remediation
(a)
66,018

57,342

Baker Dam licensing operating and maintenance costs
44 years
61,577

57,270

Snoqualmie licensing operating and maintenance costs
30 years
9,202

10,881

Colstrip common property
9.5 years
6,764

7,479

Deferred income taxes
(a)
94,913

146,350

Deferred Washington Commission AFUDC
35 years
53,709

55,495

Energy conservation costs
1 to 2 years
42,374

35,987

Unamortized loss on reacquired debt
1 to 21.5 years
35,667

37,832

White River relicensing and other costs
17.9 years
26,685

28,190

Mint Farm ownership and operating costs
10.3 years
20,320

22,320

Investment in Bonneville Exchange power contract
2.5 years
8,816

12,343

Ferndale
4.8 years
19,232

22,811

Lower Snake River
1.3 to 22.3 years
86,275

92,924

Snoqualmie
3.8 years
6,798

8,009

Property tax tracker
Less than 2 years
32,253

22,134

PGA receivable
1 year
21,073

—

PCA mechanism
(a)
4,623

—

Electron unrecovered loss
4 years
14,008

—

Decoupling under-collection
Less than 2 years
55,363

—

Various other regulatory assets
Varies 
14,312

8,078

Total PSE regulatory assets
 
$
987,402

$
895,732

Cost of removal
(b) 
$
(313,088
)
$
(269,536
)
Production tax credits
(c) 
(93,616
)
(93,618
)
PGA payable
1 year
—

(5,938
)
PCA mechanism
(a)
—

(5,345
)
Decoupling over-collection
Less than 2 years
(12,582
)
(20,535
)
Summit purchase option buy-out
5.8 years
(9,188
)
(10,763
)
Deferred gain on Jefferson County sale
Less than 1 year
(4,731
)
(60,844
)
Deferred credit on Biogas sale
1 year
(1,445
)
(10,908
)
Deferred credit on gas pipeline capacity
Varies up to 3.8 years
(3,564
)
(4,508
)
Renewable energy credits
1 year
(2,383
)
(5,820
)
Treasury grants
5 to 44 years
(180,496
)
(203,889
)
Deferral of treasury grant amortization
Less than 4 years
(8,197
)
—

Various other regulatory liabilities
Up to 4 years
(6,092
)
(5,755
)
Total PSE regulatory liabilities
 
$
(635,382
)
$
(697,459
)
PSE net regulatory assets (liabilities)
 
$
352,020

$
198,273

_______________
(a) 
Amortization periods vary depending on timing of underlying transactions or awaiting regulatory approval in a future Washington Commission rate proceeding.
(b) 
The balance is dependent upon the cost of removal of underlying assets and the life of utility plant.
(c) 
Amortization will begin once PTCs are utilized by PSE on its tax return.
Puget Energy
Remaining Amortization Period
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
2014
2013
Total PSE regulatory assets
(a)
$
987,402

$
895,732

Puget Energy acquisition adjustments:
 
 

 

Regulatory assets related to power contracts
1 to 22 years
29,816

33,753

Various other regulatory assets
Varies
561

517

Total Puget Energy regulatory assets
 
$
1,017,779

$
930,002

Total PSE regulatory liabilities
(a)
$
(635,382
)
$
(697,459
)
Puget Energy acquisition adjustments:
 
 

 

Regulatory liabilities related to power contracts
1 to 37 years
(391,389
)
(443,065
)
Various other regulatory liabilities
Varies
(2,820
)
(2,884
)
Total Puget Energy regulatory liabilities
 
$
(1,029,591
)
$
(1,143,408
)
Puget Energy net regulatory asset (liabilities)
 
$
(11,812
)
$
(213,406
)
_______________
(a) 
Puget Energy’s regulatory assets and liabilities include purchase accounting adjustments under ASC 805 as a result of the merger. 
Schedule of Graduated Scale of Rate Adjustment Mechanisms
The graduated scale is as follows:
Annual Power Cost Variability
Customers’ Share
Company’s Share
+/- $20 million
0%
100%
+/- $20 million - $40 million
50%
50%
+/- $40 million - $120 million
90%
10%
+/- $120 + million
95%
5%
Electric  
Regulation and Rates [Line Items]  
Schedule of Effects on Annual Revenue Due to Approved Rate Adjustments
The following table sets forth electric rate adjustments approved by the Washington Commission and the corresponding impact on PSE’s revenue based on the effective dates:
Type of Rate
Adjustment
Effective Date
Average
Percentage
Increase (Decrease)
in Rates
Increase (Decrease)
in Revenue
(Dollars in Millions)
PCORC
December 1, 2014
(0.9)%
$(19.4)
Conservation Rider
May 1, 2014
0.5%
12.2
Decoupling Rate Filing
May 1, 2014
0.5
10.6
Property Tax Tracker
May 1, 2014
0.5
11.0
PCORC
November 1, 2013
0.5
10.5
Decoupling Rate Filing
July 1, 2013
1.0
21.4
Expedited Rate Filing
July 1, 2013
1.5
30.7
Electric General Rate Case
May 14, 2012
3.2
63.3
Gas  
Regulation and Rates [Line Items]  
Schedule of Effects on Annual Revenue Due to Approved Rate Adjustments
The following table sets forth natural gas rate adjustments that were approved by the Washington Commission and the corresponding impact to PSE’s annual revenue based on the effective dates:
Type of Rate
Adjustment
Effective Date
Average
Percentage
Increase (Decrease)
in Rates
Annual
Increase (Decrease)
 in Revenue
(Dollars in Millions)
Purchased Gas Adjustment
November 1, 2014
(2.5)%
$(23.3)
Decoupling Rate Filing
May 1, 2014
(0.1)
(1.0)
Purchased Gas Adjustment
November 1, 2013
0.4
4.0
Decoupling Rate Filing
July 1, 2013
1.1
10.8
Expedited Rate Filing
July 1, 2013
(0.2)
(2.0)
Purchased Gas Adjustment
November 1, 2012
(7.7)
(77.0)
Natural Gas General Rate Case
May 14, 2012
1.3
13.4
Purchased Gas Adjustment
November 1, 2011
(4.3)
(43.5)
Natural Gas General Tariff Adjustment
April 1, 2011
1.8
19.0